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New Trustmark Scheme to crackdown on counterfeit jewellery sold in the UK

The Assay Assured Trustmark scheme has re-launched with the support of all four UK Assay offices for the first time.

The relaunch includes a brand-new Trustmark design featuring a crown in place of a castle, allows for a unique certification number for each jeweller and will incorporate new options for multi-channel retailers.

When it was first launched in 2012 by the Edinburgh Assay office it was the world’s first consumer online assurance scheme for the jewellery industry.

Businesses that sign up to the scheme can display Assay Office credentials to shoppers browsing their website. Details of the business’ registration are visible to shoppers giving them the assurance of adherence to the hallmarking law. An additional layer of reassurance is provided within the product itself if the hallmark cannot be seen in the product image.

A recent survey conducted on behalf of the British Hallmarking Council by brand protection group, WRi, found that a third of “gold” jewellery being sold online is suspected not to be hallmarked and therefore may be fake, raising concerns that UK consumers are being duped by internet traders.

The UK hallmark is the original trustmark and one of the oldest forms of consumer protection. It is important because it helps to establish trust and confidence between businesses and customers by providing assurance of security, privacy, authenticity, and reputation.

Scott Walter, Assay Master and Chief Executive at the Edinburgh Assay office and Assay Assured, said:

“We are really excited that the Assay Assured certification scheme will now incorporate the combined weight of all 4 UK Assay Offices. As online retail channels evolve for the jewellery industry the importance of independently verified data points must evolve too.

Independent, digital verification is critical and allows a range of stakeholders to know that they can trust the marketing claims they read and be assured that the product is compliant. Assay Assured will remain focused on building trust, promoting excellence, and levelling the playing field.”

Will Evans, General Manager of The Goldsmiths Company Assay office, London, said:

“Assay Offices have been protecting customers in the UK for almost 700 years, this initiative aims to bring that protection to shoppers who increasingly purchase luxury products online. Giving them extra reassurance that their retailer of choice complies with the Hallmarking Act.”

Doug Henry, Assay Master and Chief Executive of the Assay office in Birmingham, said:

“Assay Assured is an excellent programme, driven by the UK Assay Offices, designed to safeguard consumers and prevent mis-selling through the provision of an independent verification of compliance of their chosen retailer, be that in-store or online.”

Ashely Carson, Assay Master and Chief Executive of the Sheffield Assay office, said:

“Each UK Assay has been engaged separately in initiatives to encourage legitimate online retailers promote hallmarking. The re-launch of Assay Assured to include all 4 Assay Offices will create a single vehicle to aid digital verification, education, and enforcement.”

Migrating to the new Trustmark

Legacy Trustmark and certificates, along with the GUID technology that supports them, will continue to be supported for a further 6 months. Assay Assured Jewellery Retailers will all be given the option to migrate to the new Trustmark and certificates from the 1st of March 2023.

New Pricing Structure

The old 3 tier structure of pricing based on site traffic will be replaced with a simple two-tier structure. New fees will only become payable on your annual renewal date.

1. Assay Assured – £195 +VAT.

Trustmark (for display on single website)

Digital certificate

Listing on the new website when it launches.

2. Assay Assured Plus – £295 +VAT.

Trustmark (for display on single website)

Digital certificate

Listing on the new website when it launches

Display Trustmark on up to 2 marketplaces.

Print Trustmark on point-of-sale promotional material.

About Assay Assured

Assay Assured is administered by the Edinburgh Assay Office on behalf of the four Assay Offices of the UK (Edinburgh, Sheffield, Birmingham and London).

The four UK Assay Offices are independent, not-for-profit regulators, with a statutory duty to provide a hallmarking service to the jewellery industry for compliance with the 1973 Hallmarking Act. To do this, they “assay” (measure the precious metal content of) articles described as being made of precious metal. If the precious metal content matches the description a hallmark is applied to confirm it has been tested. The UK assay offices apply hallmarks to articles of gold, silver, platinum and palladium in compliance with national and international regulations. They have provided this service, without interruption, for over 700 years.

For more information about Assay Assured please visit www.assayassured.co.uk

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