[Jewelry making - Article 00702] - Re: [Orchid] Selling internationally

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Dear Ann.

    This will be a large reply I'm afraid. 

    Let me start with the situation in The Netherlands (I live here, so
    this will be the easiest for me). 

    The Netherlands: 

    The legal standards for gold are 916/000 - 833/000 - 750/000 -
    585/000 

    For silver: 925/000 - 835/000 - 800/000 

    For platinum: 950/000 

    You (or an importer) are forced by law to have these items fully
    hallmarked before selling to the public by an independent assay
    office. This can be done by the jeweller you sell to or you can apply
    for a responsibility (maker's) mark yourself at the assay office in
    Gouda, The Netherlands. 

    After that you can ship your goods to Gouda and they will return it
    to your country or forward it to any jeweller in Europe you like.
    These hallmarks are recognized in the whole of the European union. If
    you choose for the first option, then just ship it to the jeweller
    (with or without your own maker's mark) and they will have to go
    through that process. That jeweller will have to stamp their own
    responsibility mark on the items aswell. 

    Austria: 

    The legal standards for gold: 986/000 - 900/000 - 750/000 - 585/000 

    For silver: 925/000 - 900/000 - 835/000 - 800/000 

    For platinum: 950/000 

    The rules are much like they are in The Netherlands. 

    France: 

    The legal standards for gold: 999/000 - 916/000 - 750/000 - 585/000 

    For silver: 999/000 - 925/000 - 800/000 

    For platinum: 999/000 - 950/000 

    Again the rules are similar to The Netherlands. There are 30 assay
    offices in France. 

    Ireland: 

    The legal standards for gold: 999/000 - 990/000 - 916/000 - 833/000
    - 750/00 - 585/000 

    For silver: 999/000 - 958/000 - 925/000 - 800/000 

    For platinum: 999/000 - 950/000 

    Rules will be similar to The Netherlands. The assay office is in
    Dublin. 

    Portugal: 

    The legal standards for gold: 999/000 - 916/000 - 800/000 750/000 -
    	585/000 

    For silver: 999/000 - 925/000 - 835/000 830/000 - 800/000 

    For platinum: 999/000 - 950/000 

    Rules similar to The Netherlands. There are two assay offices (Lisbon
    and Porto). 

    Spain: 

    The legal standards for gold: 999/000 - 916/000 - 750/000 - 585/000 

    For silver: 999/000 - 925/000 - 800/000 

    For platinum: 999/000 - 950/000 

    The system will be similar to The Netherlands. 

    United Kingdom: 

    The legal standards for gold: 999/000 - 990/000 - 916/000 - 750/000
    - 585/000 

    For silver: 999/000 - 958/000 - 925/000 - 800/000 

    For platinum: 999/000 - 950/000 

    Again similar rules as in The Netherlands. There are four assay
    offices. 


    All the countries above have strict rules in hallmarking. I don't
    know the particulars for each country, but I'm sure some orchids will
    jump in if you need specific information. 

    The following four countries have a voluntary hallmarking system.
    This means that you can choose to have them hallmarked or not. If you
    don't, than stamp your own marks on them (don't fraud). If you do
    then there are the following standards. 

    Belgium: 

    The standards for gold: 833/000 - 750/000 - 585/000 

    For silver: 925/000 - 835/000 

    For platinum: 950/000 

    Denmark: 

    Standards for gold: anything above 333/000 

    For silver: anything above 800/000 

    For platinum: anything above 850/000 

    Finland: 

    The standards for gold: 999/000 - 916/000 - 750/000 - 585/000 

    For silver: 999/000 - 925/000 - 830/000 - 800/000 

    For platinum: 999/000 - 950/000 

    Sweden: 

    The standard for gold: anything above 375/000 

    For silver: anything above 800/000 

    For platinum: anything above 850/000 

    For the four above you must yourself stamp your maker's mark and the
    finesses of the material. These marks may, or may not be recognized
    in the first seven countries. If your work is marked in Denmark f.i.
    as below 585/000 then you can not sell those items in any of those
    seven countries (at least not as gold). Also your maker's mark should
    be registered in these countries. 

    The following countries do not have any hallmarking system at all.
    You are basically free to do whatever you like (don't fraud). 

    Germany, Greece, Italy and Luxembourg. 

    I hope I gave you an impression and that I didn't make too many
    errors. 

Ask if anything is not clear to you.

Alain


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