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The Merchandise Marks Act 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. c. 28) was an Act of the
Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. ...
of the
United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and No ...
. The Act stopped foreign manufacturers from falsely claiming that their goods were British-made and selling them in Britain and Europe on that pretence. It also makes it illegal for companies to falsely claim that they have a Royal Warrant. Swiss
watch A watch is a portable timepiece intended to be carried or worn by a person. It is designed to keep a consistent movement despite the motions caused by the person's activities. A wristwatch is designed to be worn around the wrist, attached b ...
cases imported to Britain before this date were of 875
millesimal fineness The fineness of a precious metal object (coin, bar, jewelry, etc.) represents the weight of ''fine metal'' therein, in proportion to the total weight which includes alloying base metals and any impurities. Alloy metals are added to increase hardn ...
standard. This did not meet the 925 standard for
sterling silver Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by weight of silver and 7.5% by weight of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925. '' Fine silver'', which is 99.9% pure silver, is ...
and so could not be
hallmark A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of metal, mostly to certify the content of noble metals—such as platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium. In a more general sense, the term ''hallmark'' can al ...
ed, as the new Act required. The Swiss thus increased the fineness of their silver alloy. However they chose an alloy of 935, in excess of the sterling grade. This has sometimes been claimed to have arisen as a Swiss misunderstanding of the standard required for British Sterling. Such cases were marked in Switzerland with three Swiss bears. This persisted until 1907, when a requirement for hallmarking to be done in Britain, after which the Swiss changed to a 925 alloy.


See also

* Made in Germany


Notes


References

{{Reflist United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1887