On any given piece of jewellery of high quality manufactured in Denmark, you will find two hallmarks. The first bears the name of the goldsmith or jewellery company that made the jewel – the other hallmark denotes the content of precious metal in the creation. Naturally, Rosing Jewelry’s jewellery bears our name – ROSING.
Our jewellery is made of 14 carat gold, and that is why it is hallmarked ”585”. Since 1893 a decimal scale has been used for gold. The content of gold is measured in thousandths, also known as per mille – the symbol ‰. 24 carats corresponds to 1000 per mille, and 14 carats is 585 ‰. Of course, Rosing Jewelry does not use nickel or other harmful metals in our creations.
More than two thousand years ago, the direct connection between silver, gold and coinage required a stamp for fineness, because authorities tried to guard against forgeries and gold/silver content below the legal limits. Furthermore, all objects made of precious metals had to be hallmarked with their maker’s mark, so the person responsible for the manufacture of a particular object was easily identifiable. If the gold content of an object did not measure up to its fineness mark, authorities wanted to know where they could lodge their complaint. What we understand today by hallmarking, stamps of fineness and responsibility for the gold content of an object was a system first introduced in the city state of Rome in the year 380.
Goldsmiths are accountable for the gold and silver content of the objects which bear their hallmarks. The system of punching symbols into objects made of gold and silver has long been a very efficient quality control. Usually a stamp would be the initials of the goldsmith masters. The stamps can be compared to the artist’s signature on a painting, but more importantly: The stamp was and is also a way to protect consumers from buying jewellery made with less gold than the symbol punched into them.
The next time you see one of our jewels, take note of the stamp. It is with great pride that this is hand-punched on the inside of our rings and bangles, and on the back of a pendant or a pair of earrings.
