In these days of faltering markets, volatile exchange rates and recession warnings, we at the Corporate Gifts Company are always a little heartened when we see the price of gold and silver increasing. It says that people still value the precious metals above all else – and in these troubled times, to receive a corporate gift made from sterling silver….well, what does that say about the company or individual who sent it?
The Hallmark of Quality
One of the desirable qualities of sterling silver is the hallmark; so what’s it all about?
A Hallmark is made up of four symbols each representing a different aspect of the product, the items have to be sent to an assay office which test the material and then produces the hallmark symbols onto the promotional gifts;
See this image for reference : http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/info%5fcorporate%5fgifts%5fhallmarked%5fsterling%5fsilver%5fcufflinks%2ehtml
1. The Makers or Sponsors mark. Normally individual’s or company’s initials or shortened version of the name.
2. The material and fineness (eg 925 for sterling silver) – it used to be a lion – much nicer – never mind)
3. The Assay Office at which the article was tested and marked (in our case Birmingham, England which has an anchor symbol). There are now only four British Assay Offices in existance; Birminham, London, Edinburgh, Sheffield.
4. The year in which the article was tested and marked – like an old car registration, this is the way of dating when an item was made.
5. We use an optional extra one – a lion which is the old symbol for sterling silver (much nicer than just 925).
REGISTER YOUR OWN HALLMARK
As manufacturers we can register a hallmark on a corporate company’s behalf. This is a fantastic way of adding real value and cache to your premium incentive. Combined with the date symbol, this is a great device for commemoratiing an important event; a merger, opening a new office, a landmark date or anniversary. We have done this many times before and it especially popular with international corporates and financial companies. We include an official assay office card explaining the hallmark and can also produce an information card to further exlplain the significance of the corporate gift.
Check out our standard range of sterling silver promotional items at http://www.corporate-gifts-co.com/acatalog/corporate_gifts_sterling_silver.html
Call our sales team for more information.
