Crafted by CIELA.
Eligible precious-metal jewellery is prepared and submitted for independent assay where required.
INDEPENDENT ASSAY
CIELA × Birmingham Assay Office
Where hallmarking is required, eligible CIELA precious-metal jewellery is submitted for independent assay before it reaches you.
Not sure what a hallmark is? Read our guide to understand UK hallmarking in detail
Independently assayed and hallmarked.
The precious metal is independently assessed before the recognised UK hallmark is applied.
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Independently verified.
Hallmarks are applied by an independent Assay Office, not by CIELA.
FROM CIELA TO HALLMARK
Independent verification, built into the journey.
Where hallmarking is required, your CIELA jewellery goes through an independent assay process before returning to us for final quality inspection and dispatch.
01
Finished jewellery
Your CIELA piece is completed and prepared for independent assay.
02
Submitted for assay
Eligible pieces are sent to the Birmingham Assay Office for independent testing.
03
Independently assayed
The precious metal is tested to confirm that it meets the required fineness standard.
04
Hallmarked
Once verified, the recognised UK hallmark is applied to the jewellery.
05
Returned to CIELA
After hallmarking, your piece returns to CIELA for final inspection and preparation.
06
Final quality check & dispatch
CIELA completes a final quality check before your jewellery is carefully packaged and dispatched to you.
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The hallmarking stage is carried out independently from CIELA, followed by our own final quality inspection before your jewellery is dispatched.
READ YOUR HALLMARK
Small marks. Clear meaning.
A hallmark records key information about your precious-metal jewellery and the independent Assay Office responsible for testing it.
Sponsor’s Mark
COMPULSORYIdentifies the registered sponsor that submitted the jewellery for hallmarking. Here, CI represents CIELA.
Fineness Mark
COMPULSORYRecords the precious-metal fineness in parts per thousand. 750 denotes 18ct gold.
Assay Office Mark
COMPULSORYIdentifies the Assay Office that independently tested and hallmarked the piece. The Anchor represents Birmingham.
Date Letter
OPTIONALAn optional date letter can record the year in which the hallmark was applied. The example shown carries the letter q.
Independently applied.
The recognised hallmark is applied through an independent Assay Office,
not by CIELA itself.
UK HALLMARKING REQUIREMENTS
When is hallmarking required?
UK law sets minimum weight thresholds for precious-metal articles. Above the relevant threshold, jewellery described and sold as gold, silver, platinum or palladium must carry a legally recognised hallmark.
01
Au
1.00
gram
Gold
Gold articles weighing 1 gram or more require a legally recognised hallmark when sold as gold in the UK.
02
Ag
7.78
grams
Silver
Silver articles weighing 7.78 grams or more require a legally recognised hallmark when sold as silver in the UK.
03
Pt
0.50
gram
Platinum
Platinum articles weighing 0.5 gram or more require a legally recognised hallmark when sold as platinum in the UK.
04
Pd
1.00
gram
Palladium
Palladium articles weighing 1 gram or more require a legally recognised hallmark when sold as palladium in the UK.
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Below the threshold
A full hallmark is not compulsory under UK law when an article falls below the applicable exemption weight.
Where hallmarking is required
Eligible CIELA jewellery is submitted for independent assay and hallmarking before final preparation and dispatch.
The exemption threshold relates to the weight of the article for hallmarking purposes. Other exemptions and technical rules can also apply under UK hallmarking legislation.
FAQ
What is a UK hallmark?
A UK hallmark is a legally recognised set of marks used to independently verify the precious-metal content of an article. A complete hallmark includes compulsory marks identifying the sponsor, the metal fineness and the Assay Office.
Is “18ct”, “750” or “925” the same as a hallmark?
Not necessarily. Numbers such as 750 or 925 describe a metal fineness, but a complete UK hallmark contains additional compulsory marks, including a Sponsor’s Mark and an Assay Office Mark.
Which CIELA jewellery requires hallmarking?
Hallmarking requirements depend on the precious metal and the relevant statutory weight threshold. Where hallmarking is required, eligible CIELA jewellery is submitted for independent assay before final preparation and dispatch.
What does the Anchor mark mean?
The Anchor is the Assay Office Mark of the Birmingham Assay Office. It identifies Birmingham as the Assay Office responsible for testing and hallmarking the piece.
Why might a lightweight piece not carry a full hallmark?
UK hallmarking law provides weight-based exemptions for certain precious-metal articles. A piece below the applicable exemption weight may therefore be legally sold without a full hallmark.
Does a hallmark verify the diamond too?
No. Hallmarking relates to the precious metal, not the diamond. Diamond grading and certification are separate. Eligible CIELA diamonds may be supplied with independent grading information such as an IGI report.
Where is the hallmark placed on jewellery?
Placement depends on the design, construction and available space. For example, a hallmark may appear inside a ring, on a clasp, or on another suitable part of the jewellery.
Does CIELA apply the hallmark itself?
No. Where hallmarking is required, the precious metal is independently assessed and the recognised hallmark is applied through an Assay Office. This independent stage is separate from CIELA’s own quality control.
CRAFTED WITH CONFIDENCE
Precious metal, independently verified.
Discover CIELA jewellery crafted in precious metals and independently hallmarked where required.
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