Hallmarking Act 1973

Part III U.K. Use of the Words “Carats”, “Sterling” and “Britannia”

1 This Part of this Schedule applies for the purposes of section 1 of this Act, this Schedule and the Act of 1968.

2 (1) A description indicating that an article, or the metal in an article, is of so many carats is to be presumed to be an indication that the article or metal is of gold, and that its fineness is that specified in the following table for that number of carats. U.K.

(2) This paragraph shall not apply if (as in a case where the article is a precious stone) the word ’carat’ is used as a measure of weight for precious stones, and not as a measure of fineness.

Table

Number of carats	indicates gold of a standard of fineness of
9	375 parts per thousand
12	500 parts per thousand
14	585 parts per thousand
15	625 parts per thousand
18	750 parts per thousand
22	916·6 parts per thousand

and so in proportion for any other number of carats.

3 (1) A description of an article, or of the metal in an article, as “sterling” or (except in the phrase “Britannia metal”) “Britannia” is to be presumed to be an indication that the article, or the metal, is of silver. U.K.

(2) If “sterling” is the word used, the description is to be presumed to be an indication that the silver is of a standard of fineness of 925.

(3) If the word used is “Britannia” the description is to be presumed to be an indication that the silver is of a standard of fineness of 958·4.