It's been a busy few weeks here:
one offspring safely installed at uni
one offspring safely returned from 3 months travelling
a month of covering swim teaching
a busy season in my admin role - including a 16mile sponsored walk
displaying and selling jewellery at a charity event
I've recently been reminded of this word in Colossians which says,
"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people."
I think I had lost sight of that a little during the busy weeks, and wasn't always especially cheerful about how much there was to do! Most of it was pretty enjoyable, there was just so much of it! But perhaps I didn't include Jesus in all of it - I left him out of my calendar a bit. But, thankfully a few things have calmed a little and I can begin to catch up with plans for Poema, especially with that special time of year approaching!* But that season can also feel busy, so I may be holding onto that verse in the coming weeks... But before we get onto the subject of 'that special time of year', I think I left you with a little teaser last time. Something about the Assay Office as I recall... So, what do you know about hallmarking? Can't say I knew much until I began making silver jewellery and I've learned even more in the past month or so. By law, in the UK, precious metals above a certain weight require a hallmark. For silver, which is what I mostly work with, that weight is 7.78g. So anything I make to sell above that weight will legally require a trip to the Assay Office in London, where it will be hallmarked with the following marks:
a sponsor's mark - which is my own registered mark, unique to me
a fineness marks - which tell the precious metal and its content in parts per thousand
the assay office mark - there are 4 assay offices in the UK
the date mark - which is shown by a letter
Much of my work is small and not legally required to be marked, though as time goes on, I hope that the majority of my work will carry a hallmark. Recently, though, I have had the privilege of making a significantly heavier piece, so it took a little trip via Royal Mail to the London Assay office, along with a few other smaller pieces. It was pretty exciting seeing my own maker's mark on my work for the first time!
So, from left to right, you can see my registered sponsor's mark (my initials, PTA), the lion mark denoting that the piece is silver, 925 is the silver fineness (sterling silver is 925 parts silver per thousand), the leopard mark tells it has been tested and hallmarked in London Assay office and the X represents 2022, the year it was marked.
The UK has pretty strict assay rules compared to many other countries. Often you may see a 925 stamp on a piece of jewellery. It's actually very easy to buy a 925 stamp and stamp your own metal, however, it's also therefore, very easy to stamp silver plated jewellery with 925, offering little guarantee it really is sterling silver. So you can see that a UK assay office hallmark is an assurance to you, the customer, that what you are buying has been thoroughly checked for it's precious metal content.
It's also pretty special as the maker, to have the sponsor's mark. A bit like a painting will be signed by the artist or an author has their name on a book, it's a lovely way to demonstrate you are acknowledged as the creator of a piece of jewellery.
So although many of my smaller pieces of jewellery will not always carry a hallmark (they are significantly less than 7.78g), if you would like that assurance, I am always happy to have it added should you wish it. It does take time (it is sent to London and back again - argh, postal strikes!) and there is a cost attached, but it that is something you would like, it is always an option - just ask.
Christmas is coming!
* so with that aforementioned special time of year approaching, I'm holding a few open house events. I'm excited as it's been a few years since I've done this (blame global pandemic!)
If you are local enough and want to come along for a very informal opportunity to browse and possibly buy some Christmas gifts, I'd love to see you there.
Absolutely no hard sell, I promise you.
I'm really looking forward to opening my house like this again. Much as I appreciate online selling, there is nothing quite like meeting people face to face, with cake and a chat included!
And if you'd like something especially made for Christmas, please get in touch as soon as you can to see if it's something I can help with. I will take orders until the end of November but would like to enjoy the season of Advent as much as possible.
Naturally, if what you'd like is in stock, you can continue to make purchases well into December!
If it's half term where you are, I hope you have a lovely week. I'll be in my creative hideaway preparing jewellery for the Christmas season - happy days!
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