How to arrange UK hallmarking for China jewellery
Check exemptions and existing recognised marks before ordering. For jewellery needing UK hallmarking, register a sponsor’s mark with an assay office and agree submission arrangements before releasing stock for sale. Include the dealer notice in your retail preparations. Factory coordination can be handled by Cambridge China Bridge.
Check exemptions against the actual construction
Start with the jewellery sourcing guide for the basic metal and weight thresholds. Ask the factory for the metal specification, weight information and construction photographs for each design. A catalogue description is a poor basis for deciding whether an exemption applies.
For precious metal combined with base metal, the exemption calculation includes the base metal weight. Ask the assay office to assess mixed-metal or borderline designs before production. Keep its response with the specification, and check production pieces against that specification.
Choose the office and register the sponsor
The UK assay offices are in London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh. Register your sponsor’s mark with the office you intend to use. The mark identifies the sponsor; its design needs assay-office approval. Agree who will manage registration and submissions rather than leaving this between the factory, importer and retailer.
Before approving production, send the office photographs and drawings showing the intended marking area. Ask about marking method, finish, stone setting and packaging. Obtain its current registration and submission instructions, and include the quoted charges in your buying calculation.
Prepare a submission the office can reconcile
Ask the office which submission form and declarations it needs. Prepare a batch list identifying each design, quantity, metal and claimed fineness, alongside the sponsor details. Agree delivery, insurance and return arrangements, and ask how unsuccessful assays or damaged pieces will be handled.
Keep designs separately labelled and reconcile the returned pieces against the submission list before releasing stock. Retain the office’s paperwork, correspondence and mark photographs in your product compliance file. Cambridge China Bridge’s staff in China can coordinate factory specifications, labels and packing with your agreed submission plan.
Check recognised marks before ordering another assay
A Chinese factory’s own stamp does not replace a recognised hallmark. The jewellery sourcing guide explains the UK and Convention routes. Convention hallmarks from other member countries are legally recognised in the UK.
Ask for clear photographs of the complete marks and have the assay office confirm recognition before deciding that further hallmarking is unnecessary. Match the photographs to the stock you receive. Keep hallmark checks separate from the material and chemical checks covered in the existing guide.
Prepare the dealer notice before retail launch
Dealers supplying precious-metal items must display the British Hallmarking Council’s approved notice where customers can see it. Online retail sites must prominently display hallmark information. Ask an assay office to confirm whether Dealer’s Notice A or B is appropriate for your online selling arrangements, and obtain the official version from it.
Include the notice in your shop-opening or website-release checklist. Check its visibility in the actual selling environment, and ask any retailer taking your stock to confirm its arrangements. Keep the notice task alongside the stock-release check so neither is forgotten.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a sponsor’s mark for imported jewellery?
For the UK assay-office route, register a sponsor’s mark with the office you intend to use. Agree who will manage registration and submissions before dispatch.
Does base metal count towards the exemption weight?
Yes. For an article combining precious metal and base metal, the exemption calculation includes the base metal weight. Ask the assay office about your actual construction.
Can I sell jewellery with a Chinese factory stamp?
A factory stamp alone does not replace a recognised hallmark. Check exemptions and ask an assay office to confirm any claimed recognised marks before releasing stock.
Do online jewellery shops need a dealer notice?
Online retail sites must prominently display explanatory hallmark information. Ask an assay office to confirm whether Dealer’s Notice A or B is appropriate for your online selling arrangements.