What is full form of hallmark?

Answer 1

A Hallmark today must have:

• A sponsors mark (Who made the item, not where it was purchased from).
• A Fineness Mark (The precious metal content, expressed in parts per thousand E.g. 375 for 9 carat gold. This number will be inside a shape, which represents the metal).
• Assay office mark (which assay office tested and marked the item).

Below is a brief explanation of why, courtesy of The Birmingham Assay Office:

Hallmarking was originally introduced in 1300 by a Statute of Edward I and is one of the earliest forms of consumer protection.

Hallmarking is necessary because when jewellery and silverware are manufactured, precious metals are not used in their pure form, as they are too soft. Gold, Silver, and Platinum are always alloyed with copper or other metals to create an alloy that is more suitable to the requirements of the jeweller. Such an alloy needs to be strong, workable, yet still attractive.

Owing to the high value of gold, platinum and silver, there are significant profits to be gained by reducing the precious metal content of an alloy at the manufacturing stage. Base metal articles plated with a thin coat of gold or silver look the same as articles made wholly of precious metal, at least until the plating wears, and even an expert cannot determine the quality or standard of precious metal items by eye or touch alone.