Australian Laws on Hallmarking

Jewelry Discussion
1

Hi i am new to this hobby and would like to sell some of the Silver
Jewellery i make at my local markets, and would like to mark the
jewellery i make with “Sterling” or “925” I’ve seen a few postings
asking about Laws and regulations on Hallmarking in the US and UK,
but cannot seem to find any on the current Australian
Laws.

if anyone could sheld some light on this it would be great.

Thanks!!!
Louise

2 
    Jewellery i make at my local markets, and would like to mark
the jewellery i make with "Sterling" or "925" I've seen a few
postings asking about Laws and regulations on Hallmarking in the US
and UK, but cannot seem to find any on the current
Australian Laws.

Hi Louise, we don’t have anything in place like the British system,
in Australia it seems to rely on the individual jeweller’s honesty.(
I suppose that’s why the JAA is so keen on advertising about the
reliability of its members. :wink: ). Twin Plaza Metals sell the 925
stamps.

3

Hi Louise, Hallmarking is practiced in Australia in three ways.

The first is by those easy-going jewellers who are are happy to go
along with accepted practice in the jewellery trade and mark their
jewellery according to the metal quality. i.e. 18ct or 750, 9ct or
375, sterling silver or 925, plat for platinum.

The second is that done by jewellers who not only do the above, but
have sufficient pride and confidence in their own work to mark it
with a personal stamp or logo. (You would be surprised at the number
of jewellers who don’t want to be identified with their work - more
to their shame.)

The third practice is by those jewellers who belong to the Gold and
Silversmiths Guild of Australia. This Guild was founded in 1988, the
year of the Australian Bicentenary and is actively pushing for a
legal standard of hallmarking for Australian hand-made jewellery.
Guild members have their own official hallmarks which are used with
the Guild Mark and standard metal quality marks.

This movement is growing in strength and is supported by many
professional working jewellers Australia-wide. When the Australian
Standards Association formulates an official, legal code of
hallmarking practice, it will be largely due to the integrity and
high standards which are already recognised in Guild members’ work.

If you’d like to get in touch with me off-line, I’d be happy to send
you more details about the Gold and Silversmiths Guild of Australia.
The Guild will also have a stand (No B26) at the imminent Jewellery
Trade Fair at Darling Harbour in Sydney, starting the first week in
September. Hope this helps. Kind regards, Rex Steele Merten
CEO, NSW Branch, Gold and Silversmiths Guild of Australia