The Irish Assay office plays an important role in our jewellery manufacturing process. They ensure that every piece we make from precious metal is genuine and meets a certain finesse. But exactly who are they and what do they do?
A Brief History on The Irish Assay Office
Our assay office is one of the oldest in the world, it was established in 1637 to test and hallmark all items of silver and gold made in Ireland. Up until 1922 it was subject to the same hallmarking laws in England, and it was only after the Free State was formed that it fell under Irish law and the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin. Not much has changed since then and today the hallmarking system is more less the same as the one used back then.
Who are the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin?
The Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin were also established and incorporated in 1637, by royal charter of Charles I. The company governs the Irish Assay Office and enforce prescribed minimum standards of finesse for precious metals. They also have the power to make byelaws, search, seize and even destroy items that do not meet their requirements.
Why is Hallmarking so Important?
Most items of jewellery are not made from pure precious metals because, some like gold, are too soft for everyday jewellery. Gold is mixed with other metals for added strength such as 18K gold which is 75% pure gold and 25% other metal. A hallmark guaranties the amount of precious metal used in any piece and that it has been subject to testing by a formal body. This helps stop rouge dealers passing off an 9K ring as an 18K ring and hinders them from selling sub-standard items.
Which Hallmarks Does the Assay Office Use?
There are several different types of hallmarks in Ireland that range from compulsory and optional marks to convention and other legal marks. You will usually find three compulsory marks on all Irish-made jewellery:
- Maker’s Mark: the maker’s mark is used to identify which smith made the item. It usually consists of the first letter from each of the maker’s given names, for example “MTG” for Martin Gear.
- Hibernia: the assay office has its own hallmarking symbol which is that of Hibernia. It was used on Irish made items up until 2002 and on all items, regardless of where they came from, from 2002 onwards.
- Metal and Finesse: these marks are used to indicate the content of a precious metal in any given hallmarked item. It is expressed in parts per thousand with each precious metal having its own mark such as those in the image below
What Happens If You Break a Hallmarking Law?
Counterfeiting, falsifying and modifying a hallmark is punishable by law. In the past, people have been executed for breaking a hallmark law, whereas today it is punishable by fines or imprisonment.
Conclusion
The Irish Assay Office is governed by the Company of Goldsmiths of Dublin who enforce hallmarking laws on all precious metal items made in Ireland or imported from abroad. It protects the consumer by guaranteeing that a precious metal is real and meets a certain finesse. Come by our jewellery workshop in Dublin City Centre where we can explain more about hallmarking and show you a few examples