Assay offices are institutions setup to test the purity of precious metal items, to protect consumers.
UK Assay Offices
In the United Kingdom (UK), the Hallmarking Act of 1973 makes it an offence to describe as platinum, gold or silver an item which is not hallmarked as appropriate or exempt from hallmarking.
The first UK Assay Office was Goldsmiths' Hall, founded around 1300, and where the term 'hallmarking' originates, meaning 'marked in Goldsmiths' Hall'. Since then, there have been ten Assay Offices in the UK.
There are four remaining Assay Offices in the UK:
Historic Assay Offices:
- Exeter (closed 1883)
- Chester (closed 1961)
- Glasgow (closed 1964)
- Newcastle (closed 1884)
- Norwich
- York (closed 1857)