guidance
Nowadays there are four assay offices in Great Britain, London (town mark leopards head), Birmingham (town mark Anchor), Sheffield (town mark Rose) and Edinburgh (town mark Castle). All these offices work to assay (test) precious metals and mark them to show that this has been done and the UK standards have been met.
It is mandatory in Great Britain for precious metals that meet the weight criteria to be assayed and hallmarked (stamped) to indicate the type and fineness of the metal. Without a hallmark the metal can only be described as yellow or white metal. The assay offices of Great Britain have been guaranteeing the quality of precious metals since 1327. Download more information here.
Gold items above 1gram must be hallmarked
Silver items above 7.78 grams
Platinum 0.5 grams
Palladium 1.0 grams
Items may have a convention mark; these are marks struck by countries within the convention (an agreement between governments) and are accepted by Great Britain as stamps of fineness .
The hallmark also contains a fineness mark which could be 750 which denotes 18ct gold. Pure gold is 1000 parts gold. The parts thereof make the lesser carats. 9ct gold is 375 and 14ct 585.
The hallmark has also to show who made or sponsored the making of the item. This is called the sponsors mark.
An optional mark is a date letter. This used to be a compulsory mark but nowadays it is the choice of the person sending the item to decide whether to have this mark struck. In important years, such as the millennium it is another way of marking history. There are some special marks that may be struck from time to time to commemorate occasions. Recently we have had the Diamond Jubilee mark and the Millennium mark, these special marks really do make an item that little bit more special.
With just three things in place, who, what, where, and a hallmark or convention mark supporting these, you can be certain you are buying the genuine article.
Gold has many qualities and has been used in jewellery for over six thousand years. Gold is a “noble metal” - which means it will not tarnish, corrode or rust and most acids will not harm it - except in the most unusual of situations. (Sometimes perfumes and perspiration can discolour the other metals gold is mixed with).It is a wonderful metal to work – it can be drawn into fine wire, flattened or bent into shape. It can be highly reflective or matt finished making it an ideal metal to create exquisite, beautiful and fine jewellery.Pure Gold is 24 carats, yellow in colour and very soft so is mixed with other metals to give it strength and make is suitable for making jewellery.
White gold is very popular and is created by mixing gold with other metals and then finished by rhodium plating. Rhodium is a member of the platinum family and is used on white gold jewellery items to give the item a beautiful finish.
The rhodium plating on white gold will eventually wear and it is advised that these items are periodically re-rhodium plated. It is difficult to say how often this may be as different people have different wear rates. If you think the item purchased from Nightingale may need re-plating in the years to come please don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.
There are four standards of platinum available in the UK, 999, 950, 900 and 850.Platinum is an ideal metal to use for setting diamonds because of its pure white colour and its reflective qualities. It is also a very strong metal so even the finest of settings will hold your diamond secure.Platinum is a naturally white metal and does not discolour, tarnish or corrode so your jewellery will always be a pleasure to wear.
Palladium has been used in jewellery since 1939, but it is only really in recent years that is has become more mainstream. It is a precious white metal and it carries a hallmark. There are three standards available, 500, 950and 999.
Silver is a relatively light metal making it practical to use and comfortable to wear. Silver is the most reflective of all metals. Silver is an ideal metal to produce exquisite and stunningly beautiful jewellery.Silver fineness is expressed as parts per thousand and is normally alloyed with copper to make it stronger and harder. There are four legal standards of silver in the UK with 925, Sterling Silver, being used mainly for jewellery and 958, Britannia Silver, being mostly used for ceremonial items. The other two standards are 800 and 999 but these are not often used in the jewellery industry.
Silver naturally tarnishes due to sulphur dioxide in the atmosphere reacting with the surface of the metal. The very best way to keep your silver bright is to wear it regularly, silver loves to be seen so show it off as much as possible. If it does become dull wipe gently with a soft silver cloth to restore the shine.
Further reading
The stunning teal coloured sapphires from Montana are fast becoming one of the most popular engagement ring style choices of 2022.
At Nightingale we love their distinctive aesthetic and their ethical origins and they frequently appear in our ethical engagement rings.
If you'd like to learn more about these beautiful gemstones then read our full guide now!
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Rubies are famed for their signature deep red colour and have been treasured by all cultures throughout history.
Often referred to as the ‘King of precious stones’ they make a perfect gemstone for engagement rings due to their beauty, hardness and symbology, often conjuring feelings of passion, love and loyalty.
If you’re looking for an ethical engagement ring with these beautiful gems you’re in the perfect place to learn more. Read on for the full story.
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The beautiful green emerald sits alongside diamonds, sapphires and rubies in the ‘Big 4’ of gemstones.
A favourite of the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra, emeralds have been mined since at least 300BC, leaving their mark on history whilst still being one of the most sought after gems of modern times.
Today we’re going to help you get familiar with these luscious gemstones as well as giving you some practical tips if you’re looking to use them in your engagement ring.
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At Nightingale we’re all about ethical diamonds. And as far as we’re concerned, they should be the minimum standard when making jewellery.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. It took a lot of time and effort for us to find sustainable diamond suppliers for our ethical engagement rings and we'd rather you didn’t have to go through the same trouble.
So we’re going to lay out all the knowledge we have to help you find a truly ethical diamond.
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One of our favourite times of year is nearly upon us. Valentine’s Day!
Being the most popular engagement date of the year, we naturally get a lot of questions from customers. So we thought why not put everything we know into a handy engagement ring guide for Valentine’s Day 2022!
Here’s what we’ll cover...
A firm contender for the most romantic style of engagement ring, the symbolism of the Toi et Moi ring (or Moi et Toi as they're also known) is plain for all to see. Two gemstones. One representing you. One representing your soulmate.
This beautiful design style is enjoying a revival which looks to continue well into 2022 and beyond. If you're interested in a toi et moi engagement ring you'll find all the information you need to know right here in our easy guide.
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White gold and platinum can give a similar aesthetic to your engagement ring, but there are some important differences between the two metals which can be important when choosing between them.
Both are very popular choices for engagement rings, so we thought it best to give you a simple guide to help you decide.
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Deciding to propose to your partner is a big decision. And along with that decision usually comes a big financial commitment to buy a suitable engagement ring.
Here's 6 tips to help you get a ring that's perfect for you and your budget.
Choosing the right metal for your bespoke engagement ring is one of the most important choices you can make when creating a ring. The right material sets the overall style of your ring and if done correctly, complements your choice of gemstone and mount.
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It seems like so many industries are making great sustainability strides, but the jewellery trade continues to drag it's heels. Confusing and ineffective 'green' schemes. A lack of transparency in the origins of diamonds and other materials.
It all combines to make buying ethically a minefield, but at Nightingale, we're doing our best to make it as simple and transparent as possible.
So whether you want to buy ethical diamond jewellery from us, or somebody else, this guide will give you the information you need, all the key questions you need to ask and the best possible chance of buying beautiful jewellery from somewhere that is making a positive difference in the world.
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Curious about moissanite? Having trouble deciding which gemstone to use for your ring? Read on to find out more about the key difference between moissanite and diamonds (both mined and lab grown!)
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Prized and admired for millennia. As the first true gems ever to be used as adornments, the history of pearls in jewellery is nearly as old as the history of civilisation itself.
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A diamond certificate is the evaluation by a third party accredited gemological laboratory of your diamond. In addition to the diamonds carat weight and measurements, a certificate includes grades for the diamonds cut colour and clarity.
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The last thing we at Nightingale want is to supply a ring and at the crucial ‘down on one knee’ moment it turns out to be too large or too small. Nightingale offer one adjustment free in the first three months.
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There are many beautiful gemstones that have been created by nature and mined from the earth but the most regal of them all is the diamond. The mysterious diamond is the most popular gemstone of them all and the one that has the most myths and legends associated with it.
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Wondering what exactly a lab grown diamond is and why they're a perfect ethical alternative to mined diamonds? Find out here...
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Nightingale can supply an outstanding collection of coloured diamonds loose or set within a bespoke or finished piece of Nightingale jewellery.
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Ready to take the first step towards the perfect engagement ring?
Get in touch if you'd like our help, or keep browsing our ethical engagement rings!
