Hallmarks in the Netherlands and Belgium: fineness, maker and date

The four marks at a glance

• Fineness mark – how many thousandths of precious metal it contains, for example 925 or 585, often within a set figure.
• Responsibility mark or maker’s mark – who made or imported it. Usually letters with a symbol in a small frame.
• Assay office mark – which assay office tested the object.
• Date letter – the year in which it was assayed.

The Netherlands today: what is compulsory

Under the Dutch Hallmarking Act, two marks are compulsory: the fineness mark and the responsibility mark. On large objects the assay office mark and the date letter are added. Light pieces are exempt: platinum under 0.5 grams, gold under 1 gram and silver under 8 grams need not carry a fineness mark.

There are two assay institutions: WaarborgHolland in Gouda and Edelmetaal Waarborg Nederland in Joure. Each has its own office mark. Supervision lies with the Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure. The international Convention mark (CCM), a small pair of scales with the fineness, is also valid in the Netherlands.

Fineness marks on Dutch gold

The legal gold finenesses are 916 (22 carat), 833 (20 carat), 750 (18 carat) and 585 (14 carat). The number sits in a set figure that differs per fineness. The best known: 585 in an oak leaf, the usual mark on 14 carat jewellery. On large new work in 750 or 833 a small lion is added.

When a used object is re-assayed, the number appears in its own rectangular frame. Below 585 there is no legal fineness in the Netherlands: 375 and 333 receive no hallmark here.

Fineness marks on Dutch silver

For silver there are two eras, with 1953 as the dividing line.

• 1814–1953, first standard – a lion with the figure 1: at least 934 thousandths.
• 1814–1953, second standard – a lion with the figure 2: 833 thousandths.
• Since 1953, large work, 925 – a standing lion in a shield with a Roman I.
• Since 1953, large work, 835 – a walking lion in a hexagon with a Roman II.
• Large work, 800 – a lion with a Roman III.
• Small work – a sword containing 925 or 835; for 800 a Z with 800. Small silver already carried a sword before 1953.

The date letter: how to date a piece

The Netherlands has struck date letters on large silver since 1814. The letters run in cycles of 25 years, and each cycle has its own typeface and frame. The letter alone therefore says little; letter, typeface and frame together point to a single year.

The current cycle began in 2010 with A and ends in 2034 with Z. So P stands for 2025 and Q for 2026. Tables for older cycles can be found at the assay institutions and in reference works on Dutch silver.

Maker’s mark and assay office mark

The responsibility mark belongs to the maker or importer and is registered with the assay institution. It used to be called the maker’s mark: usually the silversmith’s initials with a symbol. To look one up, use the registers and reference works on Dutch silver marks; a piece by a well-known silversmith can be worth more as an object than as material.

The assay office mark showed where an object was tested. On older Dutch large silver it is a Minerva head with a letter in the helmet that refers to the assay office. Today WaarborgHolland and Edelmetaal Waarborg Nederland each use their own mark.

Belgian hallmarks

Belgium had compulsory state hallmarking until 1869; from 1815 to 1830 the same marks applied as in the Netherlands. Since 1869 official assaying has been voluntary. As a result, much Belgian work carries fewer marks than Dutch work.

• 1869–1942 – voluntary hallmarking of silver at 900 and 800.
• 1942–1990 – voluntary; silver often shows an A with the fineness in an oval, such as A900 or A800.
• Since the Act of 11 August 1987 – the manufacturer must strike two marks: a responsibility mark and the fineness in thousandths, preceded by au (gold, lower case), AG (silver, capitals) or PT (platinum). For example au 750 or AG 925.
• Legal finenesses – gold 833, 750 and 585; silver 925 and 835; platinum 950.

Foreign marks you often come across here

A hallmark confirms the fineness, but we always check it ourselves with a measurement during the valuation.

• Minerva head (France) – French silver since 1838; a 1 in the frame means 950, a 2 means 800. Common on Belgian and French table silver.
• Eagle’s head (France) – French 18 carat gold.
• Crescent moon and crown (Germany) – German silver, usually with 800.
• Scales with a number (CCM) – the international Convention mark, with the fineness inside.