This free tool guides you through hallmark identification. Whether you're checking the tiny symbols or stamps inside a ring (called hallmarks) investigating vintage marks on a family heirloom, or decoding Victorian hallmarks on your latest find, you can identify its gold or platinum fineness, the UK assay office that tested it, and the year it was hallmarked—all in seconds.
Simply select the symbols / stamps from your jewellery to find out:
Gold fineness – Includes carat and fineness stamps like 375 (9ct), 585 (14ct), 750 (18ct), 916 (22ct)
Platinum marks – Numbers such as 850, 900, 950 plus oval or "PLAT" stamps
Assay office – Identify where it was tested: London (leopard's head), Birmingham (anchor), Sheffield (rose), Chester (three wheat sheaves), Edinburgh (castle), Glasgow (tree), York (five lions passant)
Date letter – Discover the official year of hallmarking, going back as far as 1700
Office
Purity
Letter
Year
Result
Step 1: Select the office stamp you see.
Step 2: Now select the fineness stamp. For silver, or if
you're unsure, just choose "Skip".
Step 3: Now select the single letter you see. These letters became optional after 1975 so you may not see one and can choose 'Skip'.
Step 4: Finally, select the matching year stamp.
Your Hallmark Identified
Here's what we discovered about your piece
Assay Office{{ APP.runningResult.assayOfficeName }}Imported metal
Hallmarking in Britain began in 1300 under King Edward I, requiring precious metals to meet minimum fineness and be officially marked. Today, those marks—or stamps—are still your best guide to a piece's quality, origin, and history.
What Do Gold Hallmark Numbers Mean?
Hallmarks on gold usually appear as either a fineness number or a carat value:
375 = 9 carat gold
585 = 14 carat gold
750 = 18 carat gold
916 = 22 carat gold
Older pieces might be stamped with carat numbers like 9, 12, 15, 18, 22. These numbers indicate the gold content as a percentage—e.g., "750" means 75% gold (18 ct). Browse our 18ct gold rings and 22ct gold rings.
Platinum Hallmarks
British platinum is marked with fineness numbers such as:
850, 900, 950, 999
You may also see the word "PLATINUM", the abbreviation "PLAT", or an oval stamp. Our tool matches these marks with assay office records. Explore our platinum rings.
Decoding Date Letters
British hallmarks include a date letter, which corresponds to the year the item was hallmarked. This system began in 1478 and continues today. Each year has its own unique letter (e.g. "A", "B", "C"), which restarts in different styles each cycle.
Our tool covers hallmark date letters back to 1700, making it easy to date antique and vintage items.
UK Assay Offices and Their Symbols
London – Leopard's Head
Birmingham – Anchor
Sheffield – Rose
Chester – Three Wheat Sheaves (closed 1962)
Edinburgh – Castle
Glasgow – Tree (closed 1964)
York – Five Lions Passant (closed 1856)
Why Hallmarks Matter
Authentication – Proves the metal is genuine
Fineness – Shows exactly how pure the gold or platinum is
Dating – Reveals when the item was officially stamped
Origin – Links the item to a specific UK assay office
Using the Hallmark Finder Tool
Instead of relying on guesswork or reference books, our hallmark finder lets you:
Select the symbols or numbers from your item
Instantly get the fineness, assay office, and date letter meaning
Learn more about the item's origin and composition
Pro Tip: Use a 10× magnifying loupe or zoom with your phone camera to spot faint or worn hallmarks. Look inside ring bands, bracelet clasps, or behind pendants and brooches.
Common Hallmark & Jewellery Stamp Questions (FAQ)
What do the symbols or stamps inside my ring mean?
They are hallmarks - official UK stamps that reveal the metal fineness, the city where the item was tested, and its year of hallmarking.
Why does my ring have stamps on it?
Hallmarking is a legal requirement for most precious-metal jewellery sold in the UK today. These stamps protect buyers by proving authenticity and purity.
My gold ring has no hallmark - does that mean it's fake?
Not necessarily. Many genuine rings, particularly those made before the 1973 Hallmarking Act or those below historic weight exemptions, may carry no stamp. Hallmarks can also wear away over centuries or be lost during resizing.
Do antique rings always have hallmarks?
No. Prior to 1973, it was not uncommon for some UK rings - especially lightweight pieces - to be sold without hallmarks. Imported or handmade items sometimes lacked them too. That's why jewellers rely on additional tests (acid, XRF) and stylistic analysis when appraising antique rings.
What does the anchor symbol mean on a ring?
An anchor stamp shows your jewellery was tested at the Birmingham Assay Office.
What does 585 mean on gold?
"585" indicates 14 carat gold - 58.5% pure.
What does 9 ct mean on a ring?
A simple "9 ct" or "9 c" stamp means the piece is made of 9-carat (37.5 %) gold; it's a fineness mark rather than a full UK hallmark set.
What does DIA mean inside a ring?
"DIA" tells you the ring was originally set with diamonds.
What does CZ mean on jewellery?
The "CZ" stamp indicates the stones are cubic-zirconia; the setting metal may be silver or another metal.
What does 925 mean on a ring?
"925" is sterling silver (92.5 % silver). It is not used on gold jewellery.
What does "PLAT" or "PT" mean?
Both abbreviations stand for platinum; they may appear with a fineness number such as 950.
My ring says 950 - does that mean platinum or silver?
In the UK, "950" usually indicates 95 % platinum. Silver uses different symbols.
Can resizing remove hallmarks?
Yes. Hallmarks sitting where a ring is cut for resizing can be partially or completely lost. The resizing experts at Antique Jewellers always try to preserve hallmarks when resizing. Learn more about our complimentary resizing service.
How do I identify the year from hallmark letters?
Match the letter style to the cycle for the assay office. Our free hallmark-finder tool provides instant results.
Is there a free British hallmark checker online?
Yes - The Anique Jewellers Hallmark Finder covers UK hallmarks from 1700 onward.
How old is my silver?
Sterling silver has a lion passant rather than a fineness stamp, but you can still use the free Anique Jewellers Hallmark Finder to determine its age; select the assay office stamp you see, skip the fineness step and select the letter stamp to determine the year of your silver.
Commemorative and Other Special Hallmarks
Special hallmarks celebrate national events. For example, the Diamond Jubilee mark (July 2011 – October 2012) shows Queen Elizabeth II wearing a crown. Such optional stamps add collectability but are not part of the core hallmark set.
Beyond the Basics
After identifying an item's metal, assay office, and date, you've unlocked its story. Hallmarks can:
This tool offers general guidance on UK hallmarks from 1700 onward. For authentication, valuation, or legal matters, consult a certified jeweller or the relevant UK Assay Office.
UK Hallmark Reference Tables
UK Gold Fineness Standards
UK Gold Purity Marks: Current and Historical Standards
Fineness
Carat
Gold Content
Period
Common Use
375
9ct
37.5%
1854–present
UK everyday jewellery; durable, affordable
500
12ct
50.0%
1854–1932
Abolished – antique pieces only
585
14ct
58.5%
1932–present
European/US standard; good balance of durability
625
15ct
62.5%
1854–1932
Abolished – antique pieces only
750
18ct
75.0%
1798–present
Fine jewellery; rich colour, prestige standard
916
22ct
91.6%
1300–present
Wedding rings; traditional/Asian jewellery
990
23.76ct
99.0%
1999–present
Investment pieces; very soft
999
24ct
99.9%
1999–present
Pure gold; investment/bullion; too soft for wear
Note: 12ct and 15ct gold were abolished in 1932 and replaced by 14ct. Items bearing these marks are antique pieces made before 1932. 22ct gold remains widely used today, particularly for wedding rings, and is the traditional standard in Asian markets. The 990 and 999 standards were introduced in 1999.
UK Assay Offices
UK Assay Office Town Marks and Operating Dates
Assay Office
Town Mark
Years Active
Status
Notes
London
Leopard's Head
1478–present
Active
Oldest UK assay office
Birmingham
Anchor
1773–present
Active
Largest by volume today
Sheffield
Rose (Crown until 1975)
1773–present
Active
Symbol changed from Crown to Rose
Edinburgh
Castle
1457–present
Active
Scottish assay office
Chester
Three Wheatsheaves & Sword
1701–1962
Closed
Closed August 1962
Glasgow
Tree, Fish, Bell, Bird
1819–1964
Closed
Closed 1964
York
Five Lions Passant
1559–1858
Closed
Formal assay office from 1559; closed 1858
Dublin
Crowned Harp
1637–present
Active
Irish jurisdiction (separate)
UK Platinum Standards
UK Platinum Fineness Standards (from 1975)
Fineness
Platinum Content
Notes
850
85%
Minimum UK standard (added 1999)
900
90%
Added 1999
950
95%
Most common standard; original 1975 standard
999
99.9%
Pure platinum (added 1999)
Note: Platinum hallmarking in the UK began in 1975 with the 950 standard. The 850, 900, and 999 standards were added in 1999. Earlier platinum items may bear "PLAT" or "PT" stamps but were not officially hallmarked.
UK Silver Standards
UK and Common Silver Fineness Standards
Fineness
Name
Silver Content
Notes
800
Continental silver
80%
European standard; UK-legal since 1999
925
Sterling silver
92.5%
British standard since 1300; most common
958
Britannia silver
95.8%
Higher purity; compulsory 1697–1720, optional since
999
Fine silver
99.9%
Pure silver; too soft for most jewellery
Note: Sterling silver (925) has been the British standard since 1300. Britannia silver (958) was the only legal standard from 1697–1720, introduced to prevent coin clipping. The 800 standard became UK-legal in 1999 to harmonise with European standards.
Key Dates in British Hallmarking History
Timeline of UK Hallmarking Legislation and Changes
Year
Event
1300
First hallmarking statute enacted under Edward I
1478
Leopard's head date letter system established at Goldsmiths' Hall
1544
Lion passant mark introduced for sterling silver
1773
Birmingham and Sheffield assay offices established
1854
9ct, 12ct, and 15ct gold legalised for domestic sale
1858
York assay office closes
1867
Import marks introduced for foreign-made goods
1904
Import mark design changes
1932
12ct and 15ct gold abolished; 14ct (585) introduced
1962
Chester assay office closes
1964
Glasgow assay office closes
1975
New unified marking system introduced; platinum hallmarking begins
1999
Additional fineness standards introduced (990/999 gold, 800 silver, 850/900/999 platinum); Common Control Mark (CCM) for international recognition
