Hallmarking jewelry in Poland — what a brand has to do

Poland operates a compulsory assay system. Precious metal articles placed on the market must be tested and hallmarked by an assay office — and the duty lies with whoever places them on the market, not solely with the workshop.

The law sets weight thresholds. Silver articles up to 5 grams and gold, platinum or palladium articles up to 1 gram are exempt from mandatory testing and hallmarking — they may be hallmarked voluntarily on request. Above those thresholds it is required.

In practice, silver studs or small pendants often fall below the threshold, while a bracelet, signet ring or heavier chain almost always exceeds it. Weight is counted per individual item, not per batch.

This distinction confuses most people starting a brand. The assay mark is an official mark struck by the assay office after testing the alloy — it certifies the precious metal content. A brand cannot apply it itself.

The maker's mark is the producer's individual mark — your signature on the piece. The manufacturer applies it, but it must be registered with the assay office beforehand. One does not replace the other; above the weight threshold an item should carry both.

The procedure has three steps. First the graphic form is agreed with an officer of the District Assay Office in Warsaw or Kraków — usually the applicant's initials. Then a physical punch is ordered from an engraving workshop. Finally the punch and the application go to the office, which enters the mark in the register.

The registration fee is PLN 180 per mark. The register is public, so a mark cannot duplicate an existing one — have a back-up variant ready.

Registration is one-off and does not expire with a single order, so for a brand planning ongoing sales the cost is symbolic. It is worth ordering the punch in several sizes — one suits a wide band, another a thin earring sheet.

Articles are submitted in batches. The office tests the precious metal content and, if the result is positive, applies the mark. Two techniques are used: mechanical punching and laser marking — the latter is safer for thin-walled, openwork and stone-set pieces, where a punch would risk deformation.

Time and cost depend on the number of pieces and the technique. When planning a run, add this stage to the schedule — goods come back from the office before packing, not after.

If you order private label jewelry, agree in writing who submits the goods and whose maker's mark appears on the product. Two models are common: the manufacturer marks with its own punch, or the brand registers its own and the goods carry the brand's mark.

The second option is stronger for brand building — your mark stays on the piece forever and creates recognition on the secondary market. It does require your own registration and an agreed procedure with the workshop.

Hallmarking requirements differ by country and do not disappear on export. Poland is party to the convention on the control and marking of precious metal articles, which uses a Common Control Mark. Articles bearing it are recognised by the other convention states without re-marking.

The United Kingdom needs special attention. Post-Brexit, goods placed on the UK market must meet British rules: exemption thresholds are 7.78 g for silver and 1 g for gold, and items should carry a UK assay office mark or the Convention mark. Settle this before the first shipment, not after.

For a brand starting with silver or gold, a sensible order is: check whether your items exceed the weight thresholds; if so, decide whose maker's mark goes on the product; register the mark if it should be yours; add the marking stage to the production schedule and budget.

This text is informational and does not replace a binding interpretation from the authority — confirm the details for your specific range with the District Assay Office. If you want goods to leave production already hallmarked, write to us with a description of the collection.