In the terms of the Judicial Regime of the Goldsmiths and Assays, approved by law no. 98/2015, 18 August, an article with precious metal is legally marked when the following markings have been applied:
- Marking of responsibility, fabrication or equivalent;
- Marking of the assay and puncture mark of the touch when it is not applied.
The mark of responsibility, fabrication or equivalent is the marking that contains the engraving with the identification of the responsible party that provided the article with precious metal in the market and produce a brand with a privative design and a lettering of their own naming scheme, with their surnames or of their firms, ensuring that the design and lettering are distinctively visible in the contours periphery.
The assay marking produces a mark that guarantees the legal touch of the articles with precious metals, or signifies particular circumstances, and identifies the assay by the specific parameters that were utilized, which consists, respectively, applied on a curved form, or an irregular octagonal shape, depending on the respective Assayers of Lisbon or Porto (see the brand designs below). The symbol varies depending on the metals:
- Gold – deer head for touches equal or superior to 800 thousandths and a dove in flight for touches inferior to 800 thousandths;
- Silver – eagle head (turned to the left on legal touches equal to or superior to 925 thousandths and turned to the right on legal touches equal or inferior to 835 thousandths);
- Platinum – parrot head.
- Palladium – lynx head (turned to the left).
Legal Marking
Marking of responsibility, fabrication or equivalent
Assay Marking
Assay Marking
Platinum
Palladium
Gold
Silver
Bars
Platinum, gold, palladium or silver (accompanied by the designation of the respective metal)
Goldsmith Artifacts of Special interest
Goldsmith artifacts containing extinct assay markings.
Goldsmith artifacts officially recognized to merit archaeological, historical or artistic standards.
Mixed artifacts (platinum, gold, palladium, silver)
Articles composed by a combination of different precious metals are marked with the markings of the respective metals and touches.
Other Markings
Goldsmith artifacts officially recognized to merit archaeological, historical or artistic standards, with fabrication later than 1882, but older than 50 years (with registered proof).
Articles containing precious metals presented individually, signifying the guarantee that the touch was branded to a clean metal.
Articles with precious metals imported for unlicensed entities or in the case where the responsible party is unknown.
Articles containing platinum with touch 500 and older than 50 years (with registered proof).
Articles containing gold with touch 800 and older than 50 years (with registered proof).
Articles containing silver with touch 833 and older than 50 years (with registered proof).
Articles such as watches, eyeglasses, bezels with touch 750 and older than 50 years (with registered proof).
Articles comprised of precious metals and common metals.
Common Control Markings (CCM):
Convention’s marking
The markings to be applied on the articles are, at the least: one responsibility marking, the assay marking, the common control marking and the touch numbering, in Arabic numbering.
Markings from Other EU or EEA Countries
Markings originated from a member state of the European Union or the European Economic Area that comply with the requirements expressed in the article 11.º do RJOC are recognized. For additional information you may consult the Assay of Lisboa or the Assay of Porto.
For more information related to the entities, the metals and the recognized markings, you may consult Portuguese Institute of Quality.
Articles with precious metals originating from a member state of the European Union or of the European Economic Area (EEA) that find themselves deprived of the markings related to the respective legislation, but that are not deprived of the markings harbored by Portuguese legislation, should be tested and marked in advance by the Portuguese Assays or the Assay of the recognized country of origin, for the effect of them being placed on the national market.
All articles are legally marked, whenever applicable. The buyer may, in case of doubt about the authenticity of the marks, resort, for verification purposes, to the Assay’s services (cfr al. a) e d) do nº2 do artigo 64º RJOC.
All articles can be viewed physically by the competent authorities at:
Tempus Distribuição – Sociedade Comercial de Relojoaria, S. A.,
Avenida Infante D. Henrique, lote 1679, r/c Dtº.
1950-420 Lisboa
You can consult here the list, managed and organized by INCM, of valuers of articles with precious metals and gemological materials.
Click here if you would like to know more information in relation to the daily quota of gold, silver, platinum, or palladium, in the terms of the document delineated a) no. 1 & no. 2 in the previous article.