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Hallmarking Handmade Silver Chain Bracelets: What It Means for You
Wondering what the tiny stamp on your silver bracelet means? Learn what UK hallmarks are, why they're required by law, and what they tell you about your Andy Kashtan handmade jewellery.
Andy Kashtan Jewellery
6/6/20262 min read
When you buy a handmade silver chain bracelet from Andy Kashtan Jewellery, you might notice a tiny stamp on the clasp or link—this is called a hallmark. In the UK, hallmarking is required for sterling silver pieces weighing over 7.78 grams, which includes most of our chain bracelets. But what does it actually mean, and why is it important? Here’s a simple guide to what happens behind the scenes
1. What is Hallmarking?
Hallmarking is a legal and quality assurance process for precious metals like silver, gold, and platinum. It officially confirms the metal’s purity and authenticity. For sterling silver, this means the metal is at least 92.5% pure silver—the standard for high-quality silver jewellery.
Final note...
Hallmarking might seem like a tiny detail, but it’s a big deal for ensuring your silver chain bracelet is genuine, high-quality, and built to last. Every handmade chain bracelet over 7.78 grams goes through official hallmarking, while lighter pieces proudly carry 925 and AKJ marks—so you can enjoy them with confidence.
Warm regards,
— Andy Kashtan Jewellery team
2. Who Does the Hallmarking?
In the UK, hallmarking is carried out by Assay Offices, such as the London Assay Office. These official organizations test and verify precious metals. When we send your handmade silver chain bracelet for hallmarking, trained experts check the metal and apply the official marks.
3. What Happens During Hallmarking?
Here’s a quick behind-the-scenes look:
Testing the Silver: The Assay Office tests a small sample of the metal to ensure it meets sterling silver standards.
Applying the Marks: Once verified, tiny stamps are applied to the bracelet. You’ll usually see marks indicating the metal type, the Assay Office, and sometimes the year of hallmarking.
Returning Your Jewellery: After hallmarking, your bracelet comes back ready to wear—authentic, certified, and perfect for daily use or gifting.
4. Why Hallmarks Matter
Authenticity: You know your silver bracelet is genuine.
Quality Assurance: Hallmarks confirm the metal meets strict standards.
Resale and Longevity: Properly hallmarked jewellery holds value over time and is easy to sell or pass down.
5. Handmade and Lower-Weight Pieces
For silver jewellery under 7.78 grams, hallmarking isn’t legally required in the UK. For these lighter pieces, we still ensure authenticity by adding a 925 stamp to indicate sterling silver, and sometimes our brand mark AKJ to show it’s an Andy Kashtan Jewellery creation. This way, even smaller pieces carry the same care, quality, and trust as our hallmark-certified bracelets.
Andy Kashtan Jewellery
Handcrafted minimalist jewellery in sterling silver with gemstones, made to order in London. Unique designs crafted with care.
© 2025 Andy Kashtan Jewellery. All rights reserved.
Email: info@andykashtan.com