The Beginning of a New Legacy
At Links London, we’re not just restoring the legacy of vintage Links of London jewellery—we’re also creating a new chapter. That means embracing British hallmarking traditions and ensuring every piece we produce meets the highest standards of craftsmanship and authenticity.
In a major milestone for our journey, we’ve officially registered with The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London, the original home of hallmarking. And in our latest video, we unbox our very first Links London hallmarking punches, marking the beginning of our own hallmarking process.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
What is Hallmarking, and Why Does It Matter?
Hallmarking is an essential part of British jewellery history—a system that guarantees the purity of precious metals and protects consumers from fraud.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
Under UK law, all silver jewellery over 7.78 grams (as well as all gold, platinum, and palladium above their respective legal weights) must be independently tested and hallmarked by one of the UK’s four assay offices:
- The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office (London) – Established in 1300, the oldest and most prestigious.
- Edinburgh Assay Office – Scotland’s historic hallmarking authority.
- Birmingham Assay Office – Known for innovation and large-scale hallmarking.
- Sheffield Assay Office – A hallmarking powerhouse in the north of England.
Each hallmark consists of several elements:
The Maker’s Mark (Sponsor’s Mark) – A unique symbol identifying the brand or jeweller. The Fineness Mark – The purity of the metal (e.g., 925 for sterling silver). The Assay Office Mark – The city mark (a leopard’s head for London). The Date Letter – Indicates the year the piece was hallmarked.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
Now that Links London is officially registered, we can hallmark our own creations, ensuring that every new piece carries a mark of quality, authenticity, and heritage.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
Why We Chose London for Our Hallmarking
The original Links of London used the Edinburgh Assay Office for hallmarking. But as Links London, we wanted to register in London—not just for convenience, but also to honour British jewellery traditions.
Links London hallmarking registration and makers mark punches.
The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London has been testing and marking silver and gold for over 700 years, making it the oldest operating assay office in the world. By registering here, we’re aligning our brand with a centuries-old institution and continuing a legacy of British craftsmanship.
Links London’s First Hallmarks | Official Registration with The Goldsmiths’ Company
However, this decision came with a surprising cost factor—hallmarking fees in London are significantly higher than those in Edinburgh. Despite this, we believe the authenticity and prestige of a London hallmark outweigh the additional expense.
A set of hallmarking punches made by The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office.
Unboxing Our First Links London Hallmarking Punches
Every jeweller or brand that registers for hallmarking must create a unique Sponsor’s Mark. The original Links of London hallmark featured “LL” in an oval shield, so we wanted something that paid homage to the past while distinguishing us as a new brand.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
We selected an elongated oval shape (a pill-shaped shield) for our punches—something slightly different from the original oval but still recognisably “Links” in style.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
The punches were handcrafted by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office and took about a month to produce. We ordered four sizes:
- 0.5mm – For small jewellery pieces and delicate items.
- 0.75mm – A versatile size for standard jewellery.
- 1mm – For larger jewellery pieces and feature hallmarks.
- 2.5mm – A statement hallmark for future cufflinks and silverware.
Hand-stamping silver with a Links London sponsor’s mark.
With these, we can now hand-stamp our own pieces before sending them to be fully hallmarked—giving us more control over placement and ensuring our branding is consistent.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
The Next Step: Hallmarking Our First Jewellery Pieces
Receiving our hallmarking punches is just the first step. The next phase is to start creating brand-new Links London jewellery, stamping them with our unique Sponsor’s Mark, and submitting them to the Goldsmiths’ Company for full hallmarking.
Close-up of sterling silver with fresh hallmarks.
We’ll be documenting the entire process—from making our first pieces to sending them for independent testing and receiving them back with the full set of hallmarks.
Close-up of Links London hallmarking punches
This is an exciting moment for Links London, as we move beyond restoring vintage jewellery and take our first steps towards crafting new, high-quality pieces under our own mark.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
Watch the Full Video
Want to see the unboxing of our first Links London hallmarking punches? Watch the video now:
We’ll be sharing more about our hallmarking journey and what it means for our upcoming collections. Stay tuned for updates on our first hallmarked pieces, behind-the-scenes content, and a deep dive into the art of hallmarking in British jewellery.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
Join the Journey
Follow @links_london on Instagram and YouTube for the latest updates on our hallmarking journey and new jewellery releases.
Links London Hallmarking: Our First Hallmarks with The Goldsmiths’ Company
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