Responsibility mark: Registration and renewal
On May 1, 2024, PREZIUS, the new digital application for the control of precious metals, was launched. In the future, this application will become the sole tool for registering and renewing responsibility marks in Switzerland. All precious metal articles sold in Switzerland must bear a registered mark to ensure accurate designations and compositions.
PREZIUS – The new numeric application of the Precious Metal Control
From 1 January 2027, the registration and management of responsibility marks can only be carried out digitally via the PREZIUS application. Applications for new responsibility marks will only be accepted until 31 October 2026.
Pending applications for new marks must be finalized by 30 November 2026. If not all the necessary documents have been submitted and not all procedures have been completed by this date, your application will be closed and must be reopened via PREZIUS in January 2027. Any fees already paid will be refunded.
Pending applications for the renewal of responsibility marks must also be finalized by 30 November 2026. If your mark cannot be renewed by this date, it will be automatically deleted from the system upon expiry.
As this deletion is solely related to the switch to PREZIUS, it has no legal consequences during this transition phase. From 1 January 2027, you will be able to re-register your responsibility mark in its current form by submitting a new application via PREZIUS.
In order to use PREZIUS, you must set up a user account on the ePortal of the FOCBS. Instructions on how to create your account, as well as the further steps required to access PREZIUS, can be found via the following link.
Precious metal articles, multi-metal articles and plated articles sold in Switzerland must bear a responsibility mark registered in Switzerland.
Registration of a responsibility mark
Besides the other designations prescribed by law (standards of fineness, designations for plated articles, etc.), precious metal, multimetal and plated articles have to bear a Responsibility Mark (RM) registered at the Central Office for Precious Metals Control.
One might compare the responsibility mark with a signature; by striking his mark the owner vouches for the accuracy of the article's composition and accepts the consequences of any further dispute.
The registration applies for a period of 20 years after the date of registration. The registration fee is CHF 800.00.
There are few binding provisions concerning the shape and the appearance of the RM; however it may not be confounded with official hallmarks, it should not be similar or identical to other already registered RMs, to registered trade marks or brand names, or to the abbreviations of international organizations.
In order to start the registration process, we kindly ask you to send us the following documents (by post or e-mail):
- Form for responsibility mark (see on «Services», on duly filled in and signed)
- 1 reproduction of your mark, sharp and impeccable, in black and white, suitable for typographic reproduction (several proposals possible; numbered in the order of your preference; PDF, JPG, PNG or TIF)
- A certified extract of your registration in the commercial registry or, if you are not registered in the commercial registry, an official attestation of the seat of your company or of your workshop or domicile (the document must be less than 1 year old)
- The confirmation of your successful registration on the ePortal
After receiving the confirmation, the documents mentioned below are required for the final registration:
- A stamping plate (ideally made of brass) with the impressions / engravings of your mark (you will receive more detailed information about the dimensions of the stamps / engravings with the email confirmation)
- The registration fee of CHF 800.00 (Swiss francs) (for each mark)
Important information about the stamping plate
The stamping plate (preferably brass or silver) has to be marked five times in different intensities with your steel stamp. If you do not apply the markings with a steel stamp but by laser engraving, please engrave all sizes on the plate, which will be used for your objects in the future.
The imprints of the steel stamp / the laser engravings have to correspond exactly to the submitted image in reduced form.
Example of a stamped brass plate
Examples of responsibility marks
Black on the image means recessed on the object (impressed into the surface).
White on the image means embossed on the object (in relief).
Renewal of the responsibility mark
In accordance with article 12 paragraph 1bis of the Precious Metals Control Act, the registration applies for a period of 20 years after the date of registration. Before expiry of this period, it may be extended for a further 20 years. The registration renewal fee is CHF 800.00.
Before the expiration date, the owners of a responsibility mark receive a reminder with the documents for the renewal. The responsibility mark can either be renewed for another 20 years or deleted from the register by means of a written notification (by post or e-mail).
The legal regulations do not permit a renewal of shorter period (less than 20 years). For responsibility mark owners, who stand shortly before the closing of their business, the possibility exists of selling their responsibility mark. In this case, the mark must be deleted and re-registered under the new owner. To do so, the former owner must provide written confirmation of the deletion and the transfer of the corresponding mark.
Collective responsibility mark
The collective responsibility mark is a specific mark reserved for use on watch-cases and must be registered with the Central Office for Precious Metals Control. It can be used by several manufacturers to mark their compositions if they are members of the same organisation or professional association.