Hallmarking & Authenticity

Guaranteed Provenance & Purity

Every piece of Scottish gold jewellery is independently tested, legally stamped, and certified for complete peace of mind.

The Meaning of Hallmarking

Independent Verification & Heritage Quality

A hallmark is an official, legally recognised stamp applied to precious metal items to verify their fineness and purity. Governed by British law under the Hallmarking Act 1973, precious metals cannot be sold as gold without passing rigorous testing by an independent UK Assay Office.

When you purchase a piece of Scottish gold jewellery, you are investing in both rare heritage and absolute authenticity. Every ring and custom commission undergoes official testing (assaying) to guarantee that the metal content meets strict UK government standards before reaching your hands.

Our Distinctive Sponsor’s Mark & Provenance Stamp

The ACL Maker’s Mark (Sponsor’s Mark)

Every piece crafted in our workshop is stamped with our unique initials, ACL. This registered mark identifies us as the official maker and serves as a permanent signature of our craftsmanship.

100% Scottish Gold Mark

In addition to the official fineness marks, our pure Scottish gold creations are stamped with the wording ‘100% Scottish Gold‘ to mark the gold content in your item for years to come.

Decoding the UK Hallmark Symbols

For a full guide to Hallmarks & International Convention Marks visit the main Assay Office website.

Anatomy of a British Hallmark

An official UK hallmark consists of several distinct symbols stamped into the metal as shown on these images:

Sponsor’s / Maker’s Mark: Identifies the goldsmith or workshop that created the piece (our ACL stamp).
Metal Fineness Mark: A numerical stamp inside a shaped badge indicating purity (e.g., 375 for 9ct, 750 for 18ct, or 999 for fine gold).
Assay Office Mark: Shows which of the four UK Assay Offices tested the item (such as the Castle for Edinburgh, the Leopard’s Head for London, the Anchor for Birmingham, or the Tudor Rose for Sheffield).
Date Letter: Indicates the exact year the item was hallmarked (non compulsory).
International Convention Mark: to verify the purity of the precious metal.

Your Certificate of Provenance

Along with its official hallmarks, every ring and piece of bespoke jewellery arrives accompanied by a signed Certificate of Authenticity. This officially verifies the exact proportion and carat blend of Scottish gold incorporated into your piece.

Frequently Asked Questions

Each of the four active UK Assay Offices uses an iconic emblem to mark verified pieces: the Castle represents Edinburgh, the Anchor represents Birmingham, the Leopard’s Head represents London, and the Tudor Rose represents Sheffield.

A British hallmark provides legally binding proof of a piece’s precious metal purity. Because raw gold cannot be evaluated by sight or touch, an independent government-approved Assay Office tests the metal content to protect buyers against fraud.

The three-digit number indicates the exact parts-per-thousand of pure gold in the alloy. For example, 375 represents 9-carat gold (37.5% pure), 750 indicates 18-carat gold (75% pure), and 999 signifies 24-carat fine gold (99.9% pure).

Authentic hallmarks are applied with high-precision lasers or steel punches by an official Assay Office, resulting in crisp, uniform impressions. Real gold is non-magnetic and marked with correct statutory symbols. Every piece we make carries our registered ACL mark alongside its official Assay office stamp and signed certificate.

Authentic, ethically sourced wild gold panned by hand from Scottish streams.

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INFORMATION

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CONTACT

The Wild Gold Company Limited t/a Scottish Gold
1 Seamer Road Corner
Scarborough
North Yorkshire
YO12 5BB

01723 368485