The practice of hallmarking in the UK dates back to the 14th century, when King Edward I passed a law requiring all silver items to be tested and marked with the symbol of the town or city where they were made. This was done to ensure that the silver met the required standards of purity and quality.
Over time, the hallmarking system was expanded to include gold and other precious metals, and in the 16th century, the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths was established to oversee the process. The hallmarking system was further refined in the 18th and 19th centuries, with the introduction of different marks to indicate the year of manufacture, the type of metal, and the maker.
In 1953, a new hallmark was introduced to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, featuring her profile surrounded by the words “Elizabeth II Coronation”. In 1961, a similar hallmark was introduced to mark the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, featuring their initials and the date of the wedding and the Queens Jubilee in 2022.
This year, a new coronation hallmark was introduced to mark the ascension of King Charles II to the throne. The new hallmark features a profile of King Charles II, and can be used on all new items, including wedding and engagement rings made of precious metal, manufactured in the UK. This hallmark will be used in addition to the existing hallmarks that indicate the purity of the metal, the year of manufacture, and the maker. The new coronation hallmark will be available from 1st March 2023 – 31st December 2024.
Rivoli will be including the coronation hallmark free of charge on all wedding rings purchased during 2023.
