The 1V1 LONDON Guide to British Hallmarking & Diamond Standards
1. Why Hallmarking Matters (The Law)
In the UK, it is an offence to describe an item as gold, silver, platinum, or palladium unless it bears a recognised hallmark. A hallmark is your Consumer Protection—it is the only way to guarantee that the 18ct gold you paid for isn't actually brass.
2. The Weight Thresholds (When is a stamp required?)
Not every piece needs a hallmark. Small items fall under "Exemption Weights." If an item is below these weights, it does not legally require a hallmark:
• Gold: 1.0 gram
• Silver: 7.78 grams
• Platinum: 0.5 grams
• Palladium: 1.0 gram
The 1V1 Standard: Even if an item is under 1g (like some small studs), we often hallmark them anyway to maintain our engineering integrity.
3. Anatomy of a UK Hallmark (The 3 Compulsory Marks)
When you look at your 1V1 LONDON jewellery through a loupe, you will see three distinct stamps:
1. The Sponsor’s Mark: The unique mark of the company (ONE).
2. The Metal Fineness Mark: Tells you the purity.
◦ 375: 9ct Gold (37.5% pure gold)
◦ 750: 18ct Gold (75.0% pure gold)
◦ 950: Platinum (95.0% pure platinum)
3. The Assay Office Mark: Tells you where it was tested.
◦ Leopard's Head: London
◦ Castle: Edinburgh - I am registered with Edinburgh Assay Office. REF: 338064
◦ Anchor: Birmingham
◦ Rose: Sheffield
4. Diamond Clarity: From SI2 to FL
Clarity measures the "purity" of a diamond under 10x magnification.
• FL (Flawless): No internal or external flaws. The "Engineering Peak."
• VVS1–VVS2: Minute inclusions, nearly impossible for an expert to find.
• VS1–VS2: Very slight inclusions, invisible to the naked eye.
• SI1–SI2 (Slightly Included): Inclusions are visible under magnification and may be visible to a keen naked eye.
• I1–I3 (Included): Flaws are visible to the naked eye and affect the diamond's structural integrity.
The 1V1 Choice: We specialise in GIA-Certified diamonds, focusing on the VS range, where you get maximum "Performance" (shimmer) without paying the "Collector's Premium" of a Flawless stone.
