Palladium Assay & Hallmarking
Compulsory since 2010, find out more about how we assay and hallmark palladium at Birmingham Assay Office.
Palladium Assay & Hallmarking in the UK
Palladium is a rare and valuable precious metal, prized for its naturally white colour, durability, and lightweight properties. Widely used in fine jewellery and specialist applications, palladium offers an attractive alternative to platinum and white gold. To ensure that palladium items are accurately described and meet legal standards, they must be independently tested and verified through the assay and hallmarking process. Hallmarking provides assurance that a palladium item contains the precious metal content claimed by its manufacturer or retailer.
What Is Palladium Assay?
Assaying is the process of testing a precious metal item to determine its purity. Before a palladium item can be hallmarked, it must be independently examined by an authorised UK Assay Office to confirm that it meets the required legal standard.
During the assay process, Birmingham Assay Office specialists analyse the metal content using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to verify the proportion of pure palladium present in the alloy. Only items that meet the required standard are eligible to receive a hallmark.
How to Identify UK Palladium Hallmarks
Palladium hallmarks are marks applied to precious metal items to confirm their purity and provide information about where and when they were assayed. Understanding these marks can help you verify the authenticity, age, and origin of your platinum jewellery and collectable pieces.
What Is a UK Palladium Hallmark?
A UK hallmark is a series of symbols stamped onto an item made from precious metal. Hallmarking is a legal requirement in the UK for palladium items weighing 1 gram and over, and provides assurance that the metal meets the required standards of fineness.
A typical UK palladium hallmark typically contains several key marks:
The Sponsor’s Mark
(Previously known as a Maker’s Mark)
The Fineness Mark
950, 95% Palladium
The Assay Office Mark
Birmingham Assay Office
Step 1: Identify the Palladium Purity Mark
The fineness mark indicates the purity of the palladium. The number represents the parts of pure palladium per thousand.
For example, a hallmark reading “950” confirms the alloy is 950 parts palladium and 50 parts other elements, containing 95% pure palladium. This is the most common fineness for palladium jewellery.
Common UK palladium standards include:
500, 50% Palladium
950, 95% Palladium
999, 99% Palladium
Step 2: Look for the Assay Office Mark
Every hallmarked palladium item is tested and certified by an authorised UK Assay Office. The assay office mark shows where the item was independently tested and hallmarked.
Each office has its own unique symbol:
Birmingham Assay Office
London Assay Office
Sheffield Assay Office
Edinburgh Assay Office
Step 3: Find the Sponsor's Mark
The sponsor’s mark (sometimes called the maker’s mark) identifies the company or individual who submitted the item for hallmarking.
This mark usually consists of two to four initials within a shaped shield.
Sponsor’s Mark: Birmingham Assay Office
Step 4: Check the Date Letter (If Present)
Many older British items feature a date letter. This alphabetical mark changes each year and can help determine when an item was hallmarked. The date letter was a compulsory hallmark until 1999.
Date letter styles vary between assay offices and different hallmarking periods, so a specialist date letter chart is usually required for accurate identification. You can find ours here.
The palladium hallmark was not introduced until 2009, and it did not become mandatory to hallmark palladium until 2010. While many customers still opt for a date letter mark, you may find both second-hand and contemporary pieces without a date letter.
Date Letter 2026: Letter B
Traditional Fineness Mark for Palladium
Palladium was not required to be hallmarked until 2010, and traditional fineness marks became optional in 1999. Much like the date letter, you may find pieces both with and without the fineness symbol.
British palladium can be identified using the Greek goddess Athena, or “Pallas Athena”, a symbolic standard mark.
Fineness Mark: Palladium
Convention Marks
The Convention Mark is an optional hallmark that indicates a precious metal item complies with the standards of the International Hallmarking Convention, also known as the Vienna Convention. Introduced in 1972, the Convention enables hallmarked items to be more easily recognised and traded between member countries without the need for re-testing or re-hallmarking.
On palladium items, the Convention Mark takes the form of a set of scales either containing the fineness number or alongside the fineness mark. When present alongside UK hallmarks, the Convention Mark provides additional assurance that the item meets internationally recognised standards of purity and has been independently tested by an authorised assay office.
Common Control Mark Type 1: 950 Palladium
Common Control Mark Type 2
Common Misconceptions About Palladium Marks
Older Palladium Items May Have Different Marks
Though it wasn’t mandatory to hallmark palladium until 2010, it was offered as an option in 2009. Palladium fineness marks from this short period were contained in a trapezium shape, whereas those marked after becoming compulsory are housed in three connected ovals.
Palladium Mark: 2009 Mark
What’s Your Treasure Worth?
Here at Birmingham Assay Office, we offer valuations of watches, jewellery and silverware, whether you need them for insurance replacement, probate, family division, private sale or other official purposes. Our expert valuers are experienced and trusted to deliver accurate, detailed valuation reports that are widely recognised by insurers, legal professionals and the trade.