What Is a Jewellery Hallmark and Why Does It Matter?

What Is a Hallmark and Why Does It Matter?

Every piece of my custom gold jewellery (over the required weight) carries a hallmark, and it’s something I’m really proud of. A hallmark is a legally recognised stamp that shows the purity of the metal and where it was tested. In the UK, it’s a requirement for all gold items above a certain weight — it’s your guarantee of quality and authenticity.

My own registered hallmark is SEH, which stands for Sian Elizabeth Hughes. It’s been officially registered with the Birmingham Assay Office, and it’s one of the ways you know your jewellery was made by me. I send pieces off to be tested and marked — they come back with those tiny but meaningful symbols that show it’s solid gold, made in Britain, and crafted by hand.

It’s a little detail, but it means a lot. It connects your piece to a long history of British craftsmanship, and to my own name and values as a maker.

So if you spot SEH in tiny letters on your ring or necklace — that’s me. That’s my promise to you.