July hallmarking rises 9.4%, gold carries poor performers

July 2014 showed a continued growth trajectory in gold hallmarking figures, with 9ct gold rising 28.1%, and 14ct and 18ct gold increasing 30% and 22.3%, compared with July 2013.

But the figures, collated from the UK’s four major assay offices by the Birmingham Assay Office, showed a mixed picture for other metals. Silver was down 1.1% overall (to 414,255 items), despite having enjoyed a 15% rise in June. Specifically 958 silver fell sharply by 76.8% to only 582 items.

Platinum did not fare much better, dropping by a more significant 10.4% (to 23,671 items), and palladium 500  fell 31.3% compared to July 2013, despite having shown signs of an upward trajectory in the June figures.

Gold carried the table into an overall growth figure of 9.4%.

UK Hallmarking figures July 2014 vs July 2013

Gold

24ct (999) – down 96.8% (34 items)
24ct (990) – down 100% (0 items)
22ct (916) – up 7.8% (41,452 items)
18ct (750) – up 22.3% (79,253 items)
14ct (585) – up 30% (7,650 items)
9ct (375) – up 28.1% (296,907 items)

Total gold items – up 24.3% (425,296 items)

Silver 

Fine silver (999) – up 148.1% (2,751items)
Britannia silver (958) – down 76.8% (582 items)
Sterling silver (925) – down 1% (410,922 items)
800 parts silver – down 100% (0 items)

Total silver items – down 1.1% (414,255 items)

Platinum

999 parts – down 100% (0 items)
950 parts – down 10.5% (23,630 items)
900 parts – up 111.1% (38 items)
850 parts – down 50% (3 items)

Total platinum items – down 10.4% (23,671 items)

Palladium

999 parts – level (0 items)
950 parts – down 4.9% (7,376 items)
500 parts – down 31.3% (1,232 items)

Total palladium items – down 9.9% (8,606 items)

Total items hallmarked in Q2 2014: 871,830 – up 9.4%