Precious Metals Control Ordinance (PMCO)
Amended by No I of the O of 19 June 1995, in force since 1 Aug. 1995 (AS 1995 3113). Amended by No I of the O of 26 May 2010, in force since 1 July 2010 (AS 2010 2219).
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Alloys and fineness
Art. 35
1 A metal alloy within the meaning of Article 3 paragraph 1 of the Act is a solid combination of a precious metal with other metals. Products made of homogeneous mixtures of precious metals with other substances and products manufactured using other methods such as electroforming or powder metallurgy are classified as alloys. 2 Objects that have a precious-metal or precious-metal-alloy layer produced by electrolysis which is sufficiently thick and resistant to be self-supporting when separated from the substrate are classified as precious metal articles made by electroforming. 3 For articles made by electroforming, the fineness of the melted object must at least correspond to the applied fineness mark.
Waste products
Art. 35a
Waste products from the processing of precious metals or their alloys within the meaning of Article 1 paragraph 3 letter b of the Act are defined as: a. filings, turnings, cuttings, polishing waste, waste from silvering, gilding, platinisation and palladisation, ashes, refuse, unprocessed and pre-processed pieces no longer in use, waste from ingots, slabs, wire, rondelles, etc., waste from plating manufacture; b. precious metal waste stemming from dental technology; c. precious metal waste and scrap from all other trades and industries.
Art. 35a — Inserted by No I of the O of 26 May 2010, in force since 1 July 2010 (AS 2010 2219).
Solders
Art. 36
1 In principle, solders must consist of the same metal and an alloy of the same fineness as the article itself. 2 The Central Office may permit the use of solders of an alloy with a lower fineness or of another material where this is necessary for technical reasons (Art. 7 para. 2 of the Act). 3 In the case of solders under paragraph 2, a tolerance not exceeding ten parts per thousand is permitted on the fully melted object.
Filled-in objects
Art. 37
1 Precious metal articles and precious metal parts of multi-metal articles must not contain inside any metals or substances that differ from the precious metal of the main mass. 2 The Central Office may provide for exceptions for technical reasons (Art. 7 para. 2 of the Act).
Watch-cases
Art. 38
Watch-cases within the meaning of the Act are defined as all surroundings of watch mechanisms. The Central Office shall decide whether and which types of surroundings of watch mechanisms must be classified as watch-cases within the meaning of the Act.
Coins, medals
Art. 39
1 Coins are defined as pieces of metal that have been issued as a means of payment by the entity authorised to mint coins or on its behalf and whose weight, fineness and nominal value are specified by law. 2 Coins that are out of circulation are classified as coins. 3 Medals within the meaning of Annex 2 to the Act are metal collector pieces that resemble coins but have no market value. Small bars designed to be used as jewellery items are classified as medals if they have been manufactured by assayers/melters recognised by the Central Office.
Mixed articles
Art. 40
Mixed articles are articles that have been manufactured from different precious metals with a legal standard of fineness.
Multi-metal articles
Art. 41
The Central Office shall regulate the technical details concerning the requirements for multi-metal articles.
Mechanisms and other components
Art. 42
Precious metal articles may have mechanisms and other components made of other materials if this is necessary for technical reasons. The Central Office shall specify the details.
Plated articles
Art. 43
1 With plated articles, the precious metal layer must be applied by a mechanical, electroplating, chemical or physical method at least on the surface that determines the article’s appearance or function. 2 The precious metal layer must be of the thickness prescribed in Annex 1 to the Act over the entire surface in accordance with paragraph 1, with the exception of those points that cannot be touched by a sphere measuring 5 mm in diameter. 3 A «coiffe or» within the meaning of Annex 1 to the Act is a gold cap at least 200 microns thick that is inseparably attached to watch-cases and additional parts, specifically watch straps. 4 The permissible minimum tolerance for the thickness of the precious metal layer is 20 percent. 5 The mean fineness of the precious metal coating must not fall below the minimum fineness in accordance with Annex 1 to the Act. 6 The Central Office shall determine the test and measurement method to be used.
Surface coatings and colour combinations
Art. 44
The Central Office issues the required provisions on: a. the permissible surface coatings for precious metal articles, multi-metal articles and plated articles; b. the colour combinations of metal alloys in the case of mixed articles and multi-metal articles.
