What Is A Hallmark?
In modern usage, a hallmark is a distinguishing characteristic or trait. For example we say “Honesty is the hallmark of a good judge.” But the origins of the term comes from the practice of making a mark on precious metal – gold, silver, platinum and palladium – to signify that it meets certain standards of purity and quality.
Hallmarks first came into being when reputed craftsmen such as gold and silver smiths placed a distinguishing mark on their products to denote that they had made it and that it was up to their standard. A gold platter with the mark of a reputed craftsman would be worth more than a similar piece without such a mark because the value of the marked piece was guaranteed by the maker. Obviously the greater the reputation of the craftsman, the more value the hallmark was given.
Over time, the craftsmen formed themselves into guilds or unions. And these guilds took over the tasks of marking the products made by their members or allowed their members to place the marks of the guild they belonged to on what they produced. Thus a member of the goldsmith’s guild could place the common mark of his guild on everything her produces. This signified that his products met the standards of the guild. Since the guilds held their meeting in large halls, the mark that the members were authorized to use was known as a hallmark.
In time, the responsibility of certifying the purity of precious metals was given to independent bodies known as assay offices. The word assay means to test and the institutions test the purity of precious metals and certify them so that the consumer knows what he is buying and can not be cheated by being sold impure metals and alloys under the guise of pure metals.
This practice continues today. A common mistake people often make is confusing the trademarks and hallmarks. Trademarks are the sign of the party that has made the object so its origin is known. Hallmarks are the sign of the purity of the metal used in the manufacture. In all countries with a formal hallmarking scheme the manufacturer is first required to certify the purity of the metal used. The object is then assayed to confirm that it is as pure as is stated and only then is the hall mark applied.
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