My gold chain falsely failed the authenticity guarantee check

neededthingies
Engager

‎07-03-2026 2:11 PM

I recently sold a 20" gold belcher chain and sent it off to be authenticated. It failed thecheck with them saying 'The item is not hallmarked, or the hallmark is illegible'. I just told ebay customer services that it IS hallmarked and they dont care, instead batting me off with some pedantic definition of a 'hallmark'. No hallmark heh? Its as clear as crystal.

Don't sell jewellery on ebay, it will definitively fail the check because ALL hallmarks look like this

HallmarkHallmark

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neededthingies
Engager

‎07-03-2026 2:12 PM

I absolutely wont be selling anything else that requires the authenticity check

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jckl1957
Experienced Mentor
In response to neededthingies

‎07-03-2026 2:46 PM - edited ‎07-03-2026 2:48 PM

The image you added to your post does not show a UK hallmark.  As a minimum, it should have the maker's mark (initials), the metal purity, and the Assay Office mark.

All jewellery listed on Ebay should follow the jewellery policy.  This becomes very important when jewellery has to be authenticated.

This is the key part - the link to the 'Guidance Notes' will show you what a full hallmark looks like.

 

 

"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
Søren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (1813 - 1855)

neededthingies
Engager

‎07-03-2026 3:17 PM

Fair enough, it does not have a full UK hallmark as if I had bought it in Harrods. But it as 'A' hallmark, as opposed to "not hallmarked, or the hallmark is illegible".

It has a generic EU hallmark, as you will find 90% of high street used jewellery has. Are we saying that most jewellery therefore cannot pass the authenticity check, as most budget High Street jewellery is hallmarked as mine is?

If so, I would say the bar is set way too high. Surely the test that it is genuine gold should be enough? Lets face it, that is what most buyers care about. My own buyer said as much.

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jckl1957
Experienced Mentor
In response to neededthingies

‎07-03-2026 3:29 PM

I don't think your chain would count as budget jewellery.

Anyway, at least you are now aware of the rules regarding selling jewellery on Ebay,

 

I have to say my experience of buying jewellery is different to yours.

Most of my jewellery, either bought from High Street jewellers or secondhand, does have a complete UK hallmark.

Even gold earrings usually have a full hallmark on the post,

i would be reluctant to buy anything that didn't have a full hallmark.  I like to know who made my jewellery, where it was assyed and how old it is.

"There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”
Søren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher (1813 - 1855)