Legal information

Most Filigrana Portuguesa pieces carry two marks:

• The sponsor's (maker's) mark, which belongs to the manufacturer;
• The Assay Office hallmark (recognised by the Portuguese State and by the International Association of Assay Offices).

EXCEPTIONS — silver pieces weighing 2 grams or less, and gold pieces weighing 0.5 g or less, are NOT required to carry the Assay Office hallmark, only the maker's mark.

A magnifying glass makes the marks and punches on your piece much easier to find.

Our pieces may be in silver, gold-plated silver, 9-carat gold or 19-carat gold.

The hallmarks in force since 1 January 2021 are as follows:

• SILVER 925 — a rabbit's head facing left;
• GOLD 375 — a ram's head facing right;
• GOLD 800 — a ram's head facing left.

Pieces made BEFORE 1 January 2021carry these hallmarks instead:

• SILVER 925 — an eagle's head facing left;
• GOLD 375 — a swallow facing left;
• GOLD 800 — a stag's head facing left.

If you would like to know anything else, please do get in touch. And if you ever want to confirm that a piece is genuine, you can take it to an Assay Office in Portugal or abroad and have it checked.

What do 925 (silver), 375 (9-carat gold) and 800 (19-carat gold) mean in the hallmark?

They are parts per thousand. A piece marked 925 contains 925 parts of pure silver in every 1,000 parts of metal — in other words, 92.5% pure silver. In the same way, 375 means 37.5% pure gold and 800 means 80% pure gold. The remainder is an alloy of other metals, which is what gives the piece its strength. You can see every Portuguese hallmark in force until 1 January 2021 here, and the current table of hallmarks here. Today's silver and gold prices are here.

Portuguese gold is 19.2 carats — the highest gold content of any alloy in Europe, and one of the highest in the world. Only a few Arab countries work in a purer gold still, and that gold is too soft to be worked into filigree.

Looking after your silver and gold

Silver reacts to humidity, heat, chemicals and air pollution, among other things. Over time it darkens — this is oxidation, and it changes the colour but not the quality of your piece. A piece that has darkened has not lost anything.

To keep your piece looking wonderful (always!):

• Keep it in its own box, lined with velvet or silk — our packaging does the job. Stored on its own, it is far less likely to be scratched or tangled.
• To bring the shine back, use a silver or gold cleaning product and follow the instructions on the label carefully — but only if you are certain the piece has no plating (rhodium or gold). If it is plated, please contact us instead: we will re-plate it for you free of charge.
• And we have kept the best for last — a guarantee that is short and says what it means.

At first glance these may look like fragile things. They are not: they are sturdy pieces, and with a little care they will stay perfect for a very long time.

• 2-year guarantee against manufacturing defects*;
• For 2 years from the date of purchase, Filigrana Portuguesa maintains your piece free of charge, including re-plating.

*The Filigrana Portuguesa guarantee lasts 2 years and covers defects in the making of the piece or in the materials used. It does not cover damage from drops, misuse, accidents of any kind, or contact with chemicals that harm the materials. If a piece cannot be repaired under the guarantee, we will replace it with the same piece or a similar one of the same value, at no extra cost.