Our Hallmarks and why they matter

If you look closely enough you’ll see that each of our jewellery pieces has a group of tiny hallmarks: the Alison Macleod Jewellery Sponsors Mark which is AM, the metal and carat marks, the date letter which for 2019 is U and a castle which is the mark for the Edinburgh Assay Office. 

Hallmarks in an 18ct gold Catkin Bangle. l-r: our sponsors mark, the gold mark, the carat mark, the Edinburgh Assay Office mark, the date mark.

Our Assay Office is located at Goldsmiths Hall in Edinburgh, an institution which has been in operation since 1457 as the guild responsible for maintaining the reputation of the jewellery and silversmithing trade. Testing and hallmarking precious metal was developed as a way of assuring quality and building trust. 

Alison outside the Edinburgh Assay Office

We recently got privileged access into the Assay Office where Assay Master Scott Walter showed us the journey each jewellery piece takes around the various departments, through testing then on to being marked. Scientists test each piece using an X-ray giving an open spectrum reading or a metal sample is taken and chemically tested. After the metal quality is approved the marks are applied by punch or laser. Our visit culminated in seeing a pair of our own Dotty Frame Hoops being punched.  

Our Dotty Frame Hoops being punched with the Alison Macleod sponsors mark at the Edinburgh Assay Office

We are lucky to have such a fastidious institution keeping a watchful eye over the jewellery industry. We witnessed the great care taken on each of the many thousands of jewellery pieces passing though the Assay Office every day and left with a greater appreciation of the importance of the tiny hallmarks on our jewellery.