Hallmarking

In Ireland, any item made from precious metal - silver, gold, platinum or palladium, legally requires evaluation and marking of its level of purity (or fineness) by the Assay Office - irrespective of its weight, prior to being sold. This system of quality assurance has existed since 1637. The Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin governs the Assay Office. The Company was established and incorporated by royal charter of Charles I on 22nd December 1637. It is based in Dublin Castle.

A piece is marked with several compulsory marks which include the Maker’s Mark, The Dublin Assay Office Mark (Hibernia) and the Metal and Fineness Mark. Please refer to the Statutory Notice below for a summary of these marks.

My Maker’s Mark registered with The Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin consists of my initials ALL, with each letter contained within a diamond-shaped lozenge. This means that every piece I sell journeys from West Cork to Dublin Castle and back again, so that you can be assured that it was indeed made by me out of the specified metal fineness.

Please note that Argentium silver, being a relatively new type of silver alloy combining silver, copper and germanium, comes in several levels of fineness, 930/940 and 960, however the Assay office will only mark it as either 925 or 958, as these are their recognized silver fineness marks. When I list a piece made from Argentium, I will list the Argentium fineness as well as its marked fineness eg. Argentium 930, marked 925.