How to check the date of manufacture?
Most gold hallmarks use the same date identification as silver hallmarks, there may be some variations depending on the assay office.
1773 to 1797
Hallmarks dated from 1773 to 1779 will be an alphabetical value within a shield shape. The shield will be almost square in shape with a pointed bottom. The letter stamp will be in UPPERCASE only and in a heavy new roman type font if your gold is dated between 1773 & 1797
The dates and letters are as follows:
| A = 1773 | F = 1778 | L = 1783 | Q = 1788 | V = 1793 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B = 1774 | G = 1779 | M = 1784 | R = 1789 | W= 1794 |
| C = 1775 | H = 1780 | N = 1785 | S = 1790 | X = 1795 |
| D = 1776 | I = 1781 | O = 1786 | T = 1791 | Y = 1796 |
| E = 1777 | k = 1782 | P = 1787 | U = 1792 | Z = 1797 |
1798 to 1823
Hallmarks dated from 1798 onwards feature the alphabetical letter in the same shield type shape but in lowercase this time. Again the typeface is a bold roman type font and is usually very readable.
| a = 1798 | g = 1804 | m = 1810 | s = 1816 | y = 1822 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b = 1799 | h = 1805 | n = 1811 | t = 1817 | z = 1823 |
| c = 1800 | i = 1806 | o = 1812 | u = 1818 | |
| d = 1801 | j = 1807 | p = 1813 | v = 1819 | |
| e = 1802 | k = 1808 | q = 1814 | w = 1820 | |
| f = 1803 | l = 1809 | r = 1815 | x = 1821 |
1824 to 1848
From 1824 onwards a classic old English calligraphy font was used, this can be particularly hard to read the hallmark if the piece of jewellery is small or intricate.
| a = 1824 | g = 1830 | m = 1836 | s = 1842 | y = 1848 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b = 1825 | h = 1831 | n = 1837 | t = 1843 | z = 1849 |
| c = 1826 | i = 1832 | o = 1838 | u = 1844 | |
| d= 1827 | j = 1833 | p = 1839 | v = 1845 | |
| e= 1828 | k = 1834 | q = 1840 | w = 1846 | |
| f = 1829 | L = 1835 | r = 1841 | x = 1847 |