TWO JEWELLERS were fined £1,000 each by Bolton Magistrates for breaching the Hallmark Act after a man who had bought an eternity ring for his wife found it was not the 18 carat gold it was supposed to be.

Graham Morris, aged 36, trading as Broomveer Jewellers, Bradshawgate, Bolton and Peter Rowland, 34, a self-employed jeweller who was said to "do work" for Morris, both pleaded guilty to an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act and one under the Hallmarks Act.

Mr Andrew Morris, prosecuting for Bolton Council, said that the hallmark offence was a rare prosecution.

He added that a Mr Andrew Moran bought a gold eternity ring, which had a cluster of diamonds, as an anniversary present for his wife.

He added that the ring was nine carat which meant that it had 431 parts of gold per thousand, but Mr Moran was told it was 18 carat which should have had 750 parts of gold per thousand.

Mr Morris said that later Mr Moran complained that the ring, which cost him £350, was not hallmarked.

He said that Rowland stamped it as 18 carat when legally it should have been sent to the Assay Office in Sheffield to be stamped.

He added that the Hallmark Act of 1993 had been brought in to protect the public.

Mr John Connolly, defending, said that Mr Morris had run the business for the last three years and the offences had not been committed to make a 'great profit'.

He added that the net gain from the sale was £100 which would have been divided between the two men and the cost of having the ring hallmarked would only have been £8.

He added that Mr Rowland made the sale and Mr Morris had been unaware of his actions but as the shop owner he was jointly responsible.

They were each fined £1,000 with £141 costs.

They were also ordered to pay £200 compensation to Mr Moran who still has the eternity ring.

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