The Anchor hallmark has been a guarantee of the quality of gold for around 250 years. Now the Birmingham Assay Office has allowed the the use of the historic hallmark at its newly opened Mumbai office. British jewellers fear the significance of the historic stamp will be devalued.
The anchor, has been used by the Birmingham office to verify the quality of gold, sliver, platinum and palladium jewellery since 1773. The government announced in 2013 the four of the assay offices could use the different hallmarks in foreign branches when they open.
The British Hallmarking Council said the law allowing assay branches abroad did not state that a different symbol must be used.
