- Jewelry Identifier
- Assay offices
- Exeter Assay Office
* Assay office
Exeter Assay Office: hallmarks, history, and town mark
Operated 1701-1883. West Country English jewelry with this mark dates to pre-1883.
Published May 30, 2026
Quick facts
- Operator
- Exeter Assay Office (closed)
- Location
- Exeter, United Kingdom
- Founded
- 1701
- Status
- Closed 1883
- Town mark
- Letter X (crowned)
About the Exeter Assay Office
Operated 1701-1883. West Country English jewelry with this mark dates to pre-1883.
The town mark
The Exeter Assay Office strikes a distinctive symbol — Letter X (crowned). This town mark identifies where a piece was assayed, so spotting it on a ring, chain, or piece of silverware tells you which office tested and guaranteed its metal content.
* Frequently asked
FAQ
- Q. Where is the Exeter Assay Office?
- A. It is based in Exeter, United Kingdom. It is run by Exeter Assay Office (closed).
- Q. Is the Exeter Assay Office still operating?
- A. No. It closed in 1883, having operated since 1701. A piece bearing its mark therefore predates 1883.
- Q. What hallmark symbol does the Exeter Assay Office use?
- A. Its town mark is letter x (crowned). That symbol identifies the office where a piece was tested for purity, so you can use it to trace where the item was assayed.
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