Marks on Silver & Gold Imported into the UK

In the United Kingdom marks have been struck on precious metals for many centuries. From the end of the 12th century the production of all goods in Gold and Silver was regulated by Royal Ordinances and Acts of Parliament.

From that point on most articles were struck with marks that would enable the year of manufacture,the location of the Assay Office and the name of the Silversmith or Goldsmith to be identified.

For watch collectors the subject of British Hallmarking is extremely useful and very interesting.We can ascertain the date of a vintage wristwatch or pocket watch by these marks struck inside the case.

Many of the Vintage Wristwatch cases were made in Switzerland and Imported into the UK. These in the main will be struck with Import Marks and it is these marks which I will briefly cover here. Import marking was first introduced in 1867, the item being struck with an " f ". Articles made in the UK have a different combination of marks.

This was changed in 1906 to the system of marks we find on articles today, and more relevant to Vintage Wristwatches.

The British Hallmarks on a typical Imported vintage watch case will consist of the assay office mark, the year letter mark and the carat value of gold or the decimal value of the standard of Silver used.

The illustrations bellow show some, but by no means all examples of these marks.

For detailed information on all British Hallmarks I would recommend purchasing "Bradbury's Book Of Hallmarks".

Marks showing the carat and decimal value of gold used

Marks showing the decimal value of the Silver used.

Glasgow date letter marks, all other assay office date letters will be different.(See"Bradbury's Book Of Hallmarks").

A group of typical Import marks showing the assay office mark of Glasgow, the date letter for 1924 and the Sterling decimal mark.