A commemorative mark has been designed to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Historically, commemorative marks have been added to the regular hallmark to signify a special event. The mark, designed by Thomas Fattorini Ltd, depicts an orb, and reflects the traditional fineness mark for platinum An official announcement from the British Hallmarking Council on behalf of the Assay Offices of the UK on 5th October 2021 said: "In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, seventy years of service, having acceded to the throne in 1952. To celebrate the occasion, the body which oversees UK hallmarking, the British Hallmarking Council, has sanctioned a commemorative component mark. Designed by Thomas Fattorini Ltd, the mark depicts an orb, and can be applied to precious metal, alongside a hallmark, by any one of the four UK Assay Offices. The approval process of the mark took place over the last year and involved engineers at Goldsmiths’ Hall refining designs for use by laser, or punches ranging in size from 1mm – 6mm in height. Commemorative marks have proved popular with UK consumers. In 1934 a voluntary mark celebrating the Silver Jubilee of H.M. King George V and H.M. Queen Mary was available to silversmiths for two years between 1934 and 1935. Its popularity led to further commemorative marks: for the Coronation of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and 1954; for the Silver Jubilee in 1977; for the Millennium in 1999 and 2000; for the Golden Jubilee in 2002 and the Golden Jubilee in 2012." A spokesperson for the Assay Offices of the UK said “The UK Assay Offices have a long tradition of capturing special occasions with the creation of commemorative marks. Not only does it provide the trade with an additional narrative for the products that carry the mark, but it also brings the importance of the hallmark into focus with the jewellery and silver buying consumer.” Jewellers, silversmiths and retailers can request the mark on any metal type from their assay office. Throughout all of 2022 the commemorative component mark can be applied along with the new year date letter.
Thanks,
The Team at Woods
Source: The Assay Office 2021