Irish jewellers face penalties if they trade without a dealers’ notice

Changes to Irish Hallmarking legislations at the beginning of July mean it is now an offence to sell precious metal articles without displaying a new dealers’ notice.

Guidance from the Irish Assay Office has been issued reminding all Irish jewellery retailers that all gold, silver and platinum articles, regardless of weight, must be legally hallmarked prior to being offered for sale, and that failure to comply could result in fines or imprisonment.

Edinburgh’s Assay master and chief executive Scott Walter said: “Unlike the UK, Ireland has no minimum exemption weights for precious metal articles. This effectively means that any article being described as gold, silver or platinum must be hallmarked before it is offered for sale.

“The guidance issued by the Dublin Assay Office defines a legal hallmark as being an Irish Hallmark, an International Convention Hallmark or an approved Hallmark. Although the UK Assay Offices are able to apply International Convention Hallmarks I have had written confirmation from the Irish authorities that UK Domestic Hallmarks are also approved.

“A large percentage of Ireland’s jewellery imports come from UK based companies and this has led to an influx of inquiries about hallmarking stock that would normally fall below the UK’s exemption weights. Some companies choose to hallmark orders on an individual basis for Irish customers while others choose to hold hallmarked stock of their normally weight exempt product, in order to satisfy Irish orders more quickly.”

Companies requiring advice on complying with Irish Hallmarking regulations are advised to contact their Assay Office.