The Iranian hallmark is the official mark applied to gold and silver jewellery in Iran under the Iranian Standard system, administered by the Iran National Standardisation Organisation. Hallmarking on precious metals has long been a part of Iranian commerce, and the modern statutory system regulates fineness declarations and applies official marks at recognised assay centres.

The lion mark and 18 karat

The most widely encountered Iranian hallmark in the contemporary domestic trade is the 18-karat (750-fineness) lion mark, applied to articles of gold meeting the 750-thousandths fineness requirement. The lion is a symbol with deep roots in Persian iconography, used in royal heraldry and on Iranian coinage going back centuries; its appearance on the modern hallmark links the assay system to that broader visual tradition. Other karat declarations, including 21-karat (875-fineness) and 22-karat (916-fineness), have their own corresponding marks, with 21-karat material common in the domestic market.

Silver hallmarks

Silver is hallmarked under the same general system, with the standard fineness for jewellery silver being 925 (sterling) and 900 (coin standard) marks in use. The structure parallels gold hallmarking, with the standardisation organisation responsible for assay and the relevant fineness mark applied alongside maker's identification.

Trade context

The Iranian hallmarking system serves the domestic market. International trade in Iranian-marked jewellery is constrained by sanctions, particularly US sanctions affecting Iranian-origin commerce, and the export market is therefore limited. Estate pieces with older Iranian hallmarks circulate in regional markets and occasionally come up at auction with appropriate provenance documentation.