Assay Offices

Welcome to this site. For those that are familiar with the fantastic site https://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk

You will see I have tried to keep the format the same so to make it easy to use. Please note that while I am in contact with the owner of silvermakersmarks we each run our own individual sites.

The aim of this web site is to provide an aid in the identification of British, Irish and other foreign country’s Gold, platinum and occasionally palladium and silver makers marks that are seen on jewellery today.

All images are taken from real hallmarks. The quality of the original pictures will vary greatly. I am constantly trying to improve the quality of the examples and to expand the number of makers represented. This is very much an ongoing research data base project.

Please note that I am not retired and as such I will add new / correct any mistakes as soon as I am aware, but this might be several days once notified.

This site commenced in March 2020 and as such has only a fraction of makers marks are listed so far.

I have not included a hallmark identification guide as the one provided by silvermakersmark cannot be bettered in my opinion.

The makers’ marks are listed by Assay Office. To get started click on the link for the Assay Office you want and follow the alphabetical links. Each mark is indexed by its first 2 letters. If it is not clear which are the first 2 letters (for example for 4 letters arranged in a cross shape), try whatever looks most likely first.

Some notes on the tables:

  1. The dates in the “Maker” column are the earliest and latest dates for which I have seen the accompanying mark – If after the name of the maker two different years are given eg 1976 – 1996 this represents the dates that this mark was registered at that Assay office. They do not necessarily represent the fulltime span during which the maker was working. A year in brackets indicates the exact year (date letter) for that mark if it was present. If in the makers column ‘A Private Individual’ note is seen this means that while the Assay Office concerned knows who that maker is, that maker has not confirmed they want their details made public (GDPR) so unfortunately that is all I can say.
  2. The “Maker” column may show the name of the silversmith who made the item; however, the mark is more properly known as a Sponsor’s Mark. This may be that of a retailer, importer or representative of the company which made the item.
  3. In the comments column If a maker was making for a large jeweller, I have noted this.

Caveat:

Despite every effort at accuracy, there is no guarantee that the attributions within these pages are correct. Use the information contained herein with care.
If you would like to suggest amendments to attributions or to expand some of the initials into names, click on the “Contact” link below. I will also be pleased to receive pictures for incorporation into the site. In this case please include in your message a link to the image together with a ‘brief’ description of the item it was taken from. If at all possible, make sure that the picture includes the full hallmark with assay office and date letter marks.

Thank You.

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