Hallmarking of jewelry: everyone should know this - hallmarks, hallmarks, name tags

When receiving a piece of jewelry as a gift or purchasing it, each of us at least once in our lives paid attention to the numbers hidden on the inside. What do they mean and how to decipher them? Knowing how to parse the information hidden in this symbolism, you can easily read the data on any product that has a sample.

The purest, 100% alloy of precious metals is practically impossible to find in nature, and in this form they are not very resistant to external factors. Impurities added to metal are called alloys. A variety of components can be added, often nickel, copper, zinc and silver. Depending on what characteristics of the alloy need to be improved, a certain amount of the desired ingredient is added to it.

The stamp on the jewelry is a sample consisting of numbers, letters and an image, which are framed with a special frame. Its appearance is different and depends on the material used in the manufacture of the product. For gold it will be in the shape of a spatula, for silver it will be a barrel, you will recognize platinum by its octagon-shaped frame, and for palladium it will be a teardrop shape.

Classification of testing types

There are three main gold assay systems in the world:

• metric;
• carat;
• spool valve

For the spool test, the Russian pound was taken as a basis, which consisted of 96 spools. Accordingly, the highest sample and the starting point was 96 samples. This measurement system also included such samples as: 92, 82, 72, 56. It operated in Russia until 1927 and is not currently used.

The karate scoring system is more common in Europe and originates in Germany. The weight of one carat is 9.7 grams. gold. The starting point and indicator of the highest gold content is the 24th sample. There are also samples such as: 22, 18, 14 and 9.

The metric testing system is the most common and understandable. The stamp displays numbers that show the amount of pure gold in a kilogram of the alloy. The stamp also depicts a letter that denotes the code of the state inspection inspection for trial supervision. Each assay office has its own and it can be used to determine who carried out the research. In addition to the numbers indicating the amount of gold, the sample depicts a symbol with a hammer and sickle against the background of a star or a newer one, in the form of a girl’s head in a traditional headdress. This system has been in use since 1994.

Correlation of sample values ​​in different sampling systems

The following samples are used for silver: 750, 800, 875, 916 and 925.

On platinum you can find a mark marked 850, 900 or 950.

Palladium can be 500 or 850 fine.

Voluntary certification: why it is needed, design features and required documents

Obtaining a voluntary certificate is necessary for several reasons:

1. A certified product has a competitive advantage and is more trusted.
2. The document will allow us to develop international markets.
3. And also participate in tenders and receive government orders.

In order for the process to start, you must submit an application to the relevant authorities, be sure to attach the following data:

• FULL NAME. applicant and manufacturer;
• product characteristics;
• Passport products;
• agreement for rent or ownership of production space;
• copies of OGRN and TIN, charter, extract from the register of OPF, State Statistics;
• Specifications and other standards according to which jewelry is manufactured;
• supply contracts.

The document can be issued for both the batch and the name of the product. The receiving procedure takes place in several stages :

1. Selecting a certification scheme.
2. Providing samples for testing.
3. Analysis of results in the laboratory.
4. Drawing up a test report and making a decision on issuing a certificate.

The document is drawn up on a special form with several degrees of protection. It displays the following information:

• details of the certification body, including certificate number;
• data of the applicant and manufacturer;
• full name of the product with code according to the Commodity Nomenclature of Foreign Economic Activity;
• regulatory and technical documentation, the compliance of which is confirmed;
• selected assessment scheme;
• details of the test report, production analysis report;
• validity period (no more than three years).

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Sample location on the product

On any type of product, the sample must be located parallel to the element of the product on which the mark is applied. The numbers and image must have a clear, even outline and be placed on the same level. In different types of jewelry, the mark is placed on different areas. So, when applying the sample to a ring, it will take place on the inside of the shank, on chains and bracelets - on the link that connects the main part of the jewelry and the clasp, on earrings - it is a earring or a pin, and on pendants and pendants - it is a hanging ring.

Who has the right to draw up documents

Registration is carried out by a specialized center with a license. For example, “LenTechCertification”. Experienced employees know the procedure for collecting and processing all the necessary papers and will help you navigate the confusing bureaucratic procedure.

We will advise and draw up the required package of documents, and send a sample of the jewelry for examination. All you have to do is pick up the finished certificate!

Increase the value of your product and earn the trust of customers, and we will do everything possible to make this happen as quickly as possible! Just leave a request, our staff will call you back shortly.

What is a name tag?

Near the state testing mark you can often find an additional stamp with the image of four large letters; this is the nameplate. This sign has a rectangular shape and is placed directly by the manufacturer itself. The first letter is the code for the year of manufacture of the product; all enterprises have their own code and change it every year in accordance with the Russian alphabet. The second is the code of the State Inspectorate of Assay Supervision, which relates to a specific location of the manufacturer. And the third and fourth are the manufacturer’s individual code. If the jewelry has gone through the restoration process, then the letter “P” will appear next to the nameplate, which means restoration.

Important Details

There are three ways to apply impressions:

• impact - applied mechanically to the stamp matrix;
• electric spark - applied with special equipment, the contour is not completed;
• laser - applying an imprint using laser engraving.

In Russia, the metric system of gold and silver samples has been adopted. The fineness of the alloy determines its value - the more precious metal, the more expensive. The remaining components (copper, zinc, nickel) are used to give the alloy strength and wear resistance, as well as some color. The color of the alloy does not depend on the standard: for example, 585 gold can be red, yellow, white and other colors, depending on the combination of alloys used.

The law does not require the marking of jewelry weighing up to three grams. Therefore, if you suspect that you have been sold a counterfeit item due to the lack of a stamp, first weigh the jewelry.

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Jewelry testing from UvelirMoscow

Only government institutions, namely the Assay Supervision Inspectorate of the State Assay Chamber of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, are involved in applying and registering the hallmark on products from the UvelirMoscow studio.

The testing process itself occurs at the stage of 90-100% readiness, the specialist rubs the product with a special touchstone and after that the reagent of the required sample is applied. If the composition of the metal that was submitted for testing corresponds to the declared sample, then a sample is placed on it; if not, it is returned. In special cases, the metal is checked for its chemical composition by performing spectral analysis using X-rays or laser beams.

The jewelry workshop “UvelirMoscow” is a manufacturer of high-quality and reliable products, this is confirmed by relevant samples and documentation. When ordering or purchasing jewelry from us, you can be 100% confident in the authenticity of the products and the materials from which they were made.

Legal requirements

Within the Eurasian Union, as well as in domestic technical regulations, jewelry is not mentioned, which means they are not subject to mandatory certification. However, there are GOST standards that specify quality standards specific to jewelry:

• GOST 30649-99 – regulates products made of silver, gold, other precious metals and their alloys;
• GOST R 52599-2006 – sets requirements for methods of analysis of metals and their alloys;
• GOST R 53196-2008 - describes the proper characteristics of jewelry made with gold alloy coating;
• GOST R 53197-2008 - contains standards for samples of alloys used in the production of jewelry from precious metals.

In the case of jewelry for children, things are different: the jewelry falls under the category of children's products, which means it must be certified. More information about the technical regulations TR CU 007/2011, which sets out the requirements for this category, can be read in this article.

What is meant by jewelry

This category includes jewelry that contains valuable metals, their alloys and precious stones. It is important to understand that even objects half made from valuable metals and stones are considered jewelry. For example, a gold ring with a glass insert or a copper brooch with an emerald.

In addition, there are items that unofficially belong to the jewelry category. Among them are attributes of a cult, awards, medals, coins and, in rare cases, haberdashery.

What needs to be completed

For legal trade in the Russian Federation and the European Union, a jewelry store will need the following documents:

• Refusal letter , which indicates that the product does not fall into the category of products requiring mandatory certification. Useful for transporting goods through customs, as well as in controversial situations when the client requires a quality certificate. It is issued on a regular sheet of paper and is valid indefinitely.
• Voluntary quality certificate according to GOST R. Not required, but its presence will provide a significant advantage over competitors.
• The expert’s conclusion that the item complies with all accepted sanitary and hygienic standards is drawn up on state letterhead with the coat of arms.
• The conclusion of specialized examinations and checks is proof that the jewelry is not a fake.

Unlike many categories, there are no penalties for missing any jewelry paper. The entrepreneur is free to decide for himself what to formalize and what can be ignored.

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Marking and stamping of jewelry

If a certificate for jewelry is voluntary, then the mark has always been a mandatory attribute. It was by this method that authenticity was tracked, belonging to a particular workshop, and, more importantly, a test was set showing how many grams of pure precious metal are contained in the alloy from which a particular piece of jewelry is made.

Today, progress has stepped further, and from 2021, the practice of nanotags - QR codes - is being introduced on jewelry, using which you can go to the seller’s website and read everything about a specific item: what metal and how many grams, how many stones, how many carats. Now, shadow traders willy-nilly will have to come out of the darkness, and the sale of stolen or counterfeit goods will become impossible - using this code you can familiarize yourself with all the documentation, an expert opinion, and also track the geographical location of the item online.

Labeling will be fully implemented by 2023, but for now, applying the code to products is experimental in nature - QR codes are placed on premium jewelry.