Tuncer Tanriverdi, from Enfield Island Village in Enfield pleaded guilty to six charges of offering to supply unhallmarked silver jewellery and five charges of offering to supply counterfeit jewellery at Snarebrook Crown Court on 3 December 2008.

Mr Tanriverdi aged 32, who sells silver jewellery on a stall in Ridley Road market was ordered to pay £500 in fines and costs and was issued a forfeiture order for stock worth £150. The fakes included copies of Chanel, Nike, Playboy, Bvlgari and Tiffany & Co jewellery.

Trading Standards officers have been cracking down on jewellers who sell unhallmarked and counterfeit jewellery. Last year, they carried out checks in 30 jewellers across the borough.

In October of this year Mr Mehmet IIdes, owner of SM Berke Jewellers on Stoke Newington Road pleaded guilty to six charges of offering to supply unhallmarked silver jeweller at Thames Magistrates Court on 15/10/08.The court ordered Mr Iides to pay a fine of £450 plus £1445 costs, as well as issuing a forfeiture order for the seized articles of unhallmarked jewellery.

Also in September of this year, Mr Michael Graham, owner of Gemini-eye jewellers on Bradbury Street in Dalston pleaded guilty to six charges of offering to supply unhallmarked silver jewellery at Thames Magistrates Court and was fined £4500, plus £1300.

Cllr Alan Laing, Cabinet member for neighbourhoods said: “It costs a jeweller £70 to register to have items hallmarked and 60 pence per item. There is absolutely no excuse for misleading customers, by selling items without proof that they are the genuine article. The same goes for counterfeit items, which are often very poor quality and a real rip-off for consumers.”

Consumers who believe they may have bought un-hallmarked jewellery in the borough of Hackney can contact Trading Standards on 020 8356 4929.