Precious Metal Control

Observations

The provisions about precious metals control regulate the trade with articles in gold, silver, platinum, palladium and articles coated with precious metals.
The prescription are valid as well for precious metal articles, as for articles coated with precious metals.
In Switzerland, precious metals articles must bear the mark for a standard of fineness and a responsibility mark registered at the Central Office for Precious Metals Control.
Precious metal watch-cases must be officially hallmarked (official hallmark for all precious metals and for all legal standards is the "head of a St. Bernhard dog").
Switzerland is member of the "Vienna Convention", which means that the "Common Control Mark" stamped in addition to the "head of a St. Bernhard dog" on gold, silver, platinum and palladium articles facilitates the exportation of goods to the other contracting States of this international agreement.
On importation, the Precious Metals Control carries out risk-based controls; it supervises the internal market of precious metals articles.
The Swiss Precious Metals Control is accredited in accordance with SN ISO 17025 as testing laboratory STS 071 for analysis of gold, silver, platinum and palladium.