The Essential Guide to Silver Hallmarks: How to Ensure Your Silver Animal Figures are Authentic
Our sterling silver animals
Quick Summary: A UK hallmark is your legal guarantee of purity. It proves that your silver animal figurine has been independently tested by an Assay Office. At The Silver Basket, our figurines carry the Sheffield Assay mark, ensuring they are genuine Sterling Silver (.925)
To create the intricate, lifelike detail and satisfying weight found in our animal collection, we use a specialised 'filled' technique. Filled sterling silver has been in use since Georgian times. A thick skin of genuine Sterling Silver far in excess of the weight of standard silver plating, is bonded to a sturdy core. This ensures your figurine is durable enough for a lifetime of display while carrying the official Hallmark of quality.
Solid Silver animal figures are available.
We can make your chosen silver model in solid silver if you prefer. This would increase the price by approximately tenfold. Please do enquire if you would prefer a solid silver animal model.
When buying a silver animal figure, whether online or from a shop, please do check for the presence of a hallmark. Silver items can be deceptive and the hallmark gives you the reassurance that it is a genuine silver piece.
History of hallmarked silver.
The tradition of hallmarking gold and silver dates back to 1300’s when it became necessary to protect the public against fraud. At this time, under a statute by Edward I all precious metals had to be tested and stamped accordingly.
What do the symbols mean?
The Maker’s Mark: CS Who made the piece (e.g. our silversmiths unique Stamp)
The Standard Mark: 925 Guarantees it is .925 Sterling Silver.
The Assay Office Mark: ROSE Shows which city tested it (e.g., the Yorkshire Rose for Sheffield).
The Date Letter: ie Z Tells you exactly which year it was hallmarked.
Trust in the Assay Office for purity of silver
It is now a legal requirement in the UK for all articles consisting of platinum, gold or silver to be hallmarked, and particularly if silver is to be described as sterling silver and not silver-plate.
Silver-plate does not warrant a hallmark. However it is worth knowing that in other countries a hallmark is not essential. Some silversmiths may stamp their silver as 925 or give it a maker’s mark but it is not a legal requirement and may not have been tested or assayed at any point.
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