The Palenque Online 100% satisfaction guarantee

All of our online jewellery carries a full money back guarantee. Any items, except earrings*, can be returned within seven days for a full refund or exchange. Please ensure that the goods are in perfect condition, unused and in their original packaging. Remember to include your name, address and order number and to specify whether you would like a refund or exchange. (Please note that refunds only apply to our online orders and not to purchases made in our shops). 

Returned goods which are lost in the post, arrive damaged or in an unfit condition for re-sale, will NOT be refunded, and the delivery charge for the original order will not credited.

Goods despatched by Palenque that are damaged in transit, will be replaced at no extra cost, with free delivery. Please inform us of breakages immediately upon receipt of your order or within three days.

* Palenque reserves the right to refuse exchange of earrings for reasons of health and hygiene.

Hallmarking

Hallmarks are small markings stamped on the backs of gold, silver or platinum articles which guarantee the fineness of the metal.

They show the object has been independently tested. In the UK, this is carried out by an Assay Office.

This piece of consumer protection was introduced in 1300 AD by Edward 1. The law which currently governs hallmarking in the UK is the Hallmarking Act 1973. The Act makes it illegal for articles of precious metal above a minimum weight to be described as being wholly or partly made of gold, silver or platinum, or to be offered for sale as such, unless they carry an approved hallmark.

Changes to the Hallmarking Act have altered the way articles of precious metals are marked in the UK and allow articles of a lower standard of fineness, or purity, to be sold. These changes, which took effect from 1 January 1999, have brought UK law into line with European law and ensure that UK manufacturers can compete on equal terms with their European counterparts.

For silver, a lower fineness of 800 parts per thousand (or 80 per cent) has been added to the Sterling and Britannia marks already in use, 925 (92.5 per cent) and 958 (95.8 per cent) respectively. 

Any silver article that weighs 7.78 grammes and over must be hallmarked.

If an item is hallmarked today, you will see: a sponsor's mark which identifies the manufacturer, importer or distributor; a standard mark e.g. 925; a mark identifying the Assay Office where the article was tested and you may see a date letter showing the year in which the article was tested, although this is no longer compulsory.

All Palenque jewellery is hallmarked in the Edinburgh Assay Office and as we are a specialist in silver jewellery, our silver items are no less than Sterling standard (at least 925 parts per 1000).