All items being sold as silver, gold, platinum or palladium in the UK must be hallmarked to confirm that they meet the legal standard.

For silver this is any piece over 7.78g, 1g for gold or palladium and 0.5g for platinum.

Ruth Sims Jewellery is registered with the Birmingham Assay Office, and all pieces will be hallmarked accordingly.

Hallmarking is made up of 3 compulsory symbols:

1. The Sponsor’s or Maker’s Mark

This indicates the maker or sponsor of the article. In the UK this mark consists of at least two letters within a surround. No two Sponsor’s marks are the same at any one Assay Office.

My Sponsor Mark is RAS.

2. Metal and fineness (purity) Mark

Indicates the precious metal content of the article and that it is not less than the fineness of the article indicated. The fineness is indicated by a millesimal number (parts per thousand) and the metal type is indicated by the shape of the surround.

3. Assay Office Mark

Indicates the particular Assay Office at which the article was tested and marked.
There are 4 Assay Offices in the UK – London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Sheffield.

There is also a range of optional marks that can be applied alongside the Hallmark if requested.