Concern has arisen at the Birmingham Assay Office, over sale of non-hallmarked jewellery items on a few social auction websites, reports say. Hallmarking regulations deem it necessary that all jewellery sold via the internet or mail order should be hallmarked, reports add. Reports say that the Office is aware about traders exchanging such non-hallmarked jewellery online, which could have arisen out of the jewellery being picked from countries where hallmarking is not applicable.

Consumers who purchase jewellery from these websites may not be aware of the importance and need of hallmarking, in turn not being able to decide for themselves if the price they are paying for is appropriate. Also, non-hallmarked jewellery makes it tough for jewellers to state the quality of the jewellery.

Although the existence of non-hallmarked jewellery is a reality, the case is not on a big scale, reports add, although such items must be regulated and checked for the benefit of consumer confidence and to maintain a control in the market. It is being advised that when jewellery is not hallmarked, it is beneficial to buy it from a website that also has a brick and mortar store in a close-by locality, ensuring that one is making the right purchase.