Dutch Hallmarks: Understanding the Hallmarks on Our Precious Metal Jewelry

We are committed to transparency, quality, and compliance with Dutch regulations for all our gold, silver, and platinum jewelry. One key aspect of this commitment is the use of official Dutch hallmarks (keurtekens), which guarantee the authenticity and purity of the precious metal in each piece.

Dutch hallmarks are legally required marks applied to precious metal items sold in the Netherlands. They indicate the fineness (purity) of the metal, the assay office or responsibility mark, and other details to protect consumers and ensure items meet strict standards under the Waarborgwet (Dutch Precious Metals Act).
Minimum Weight Requirements for Dutch Hallmarks
According to Dutch law, hallmarking is obligatory for precious metal jewelry and objects above certain minimum weights:

  • Gold: Items weighing 1 gram or more must be hallmarked.
  • Silver: Items weighing 8 grams or more must be hallmarked.
  • Platinum: Items weighing 0.5 grams or more must be hallmarked.
Items below these weights are exempt from mandatory hallmarking. All jewelry in our collection that reaches or exceeds these minimum gram thresholds is professionally assayed and hallmarked by an authorized Dutch assay office (such as WaarborgHolland or Edelmetaal Waarborg Nederland). This ensures every qualifying piece bears the appropriate Dutch hallmarks for your peace of mind.
The first two photos above show actual examples of the purity and responsibility hallmarks found on our jewelry pieces:
These include the Dutch common control mark (e.g., the lion in a shield for gold/silver or specific platinum marks), fineness indicators (such as 750 for 18k gold, 925 for sterling silver, or 950 for platinum), and responsibility marks like "WH" (WaarborgHolland) combined with the maker's or sponsor's mark (e.g., R.M. for responsibility + the Dutch hallmark mark on newer items). For new items, you will often see a responsibility mark (such as initials like R.M.) alongside the Dutch hallmark and fineness.
For used or pre-owned items, the hallmarks may appear in different formats, but they still certify the metal's purity.

These marks confirm that your jewelry is genuine precious metal of the stated fineness.

Full Reference: Dutch Hallmarks Overview
For a comprehensive reference, we've included detailed charts below showing the official Dutch hallmarks for silver, gold, and platinum. These cover purity marks (e.g., 925, 835, 800 for silver; 750, 585 for gold; 950, 900 for platinum), assay office marks (e.g., WH for WaarborgHolland, common lion mark), year letters (from 2000 to 2024), and distinctions between new and used items, as well as small/large objects.

These charts serve as a handy guide to help you identify and understand the hallmarks on your pieces or any Dutch precious metal jewelry.

If you have questions about a specific item's hallmarks, need help identifying marks, or want details on a particular piece from our collection, feel free to contact our customer support team. We're here to ensure you shop with complete confidence.

Thank you for choosing us for your fine jewelry needs!
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