Q1 hallmarking figures rise 23%, gold jewellery on the up-and-up

The number of articles hallmarked across the four UK assay offices rose by 23 per cent in the first three months of 2014 compared with the same period the previous year, according to the latest figures.

In a statement, the Birmingham Assay Office revealed that the best performers were 9ct gold which was up 31.5 per cent to 175,803 articles, and sterling silver up 21 per cent to 194,231 articles.

The number of platinum articles hallmarked remained flat and palladium fell by 10 per cent.

The figures for the month of March 2014 compared with the same period the previous year (instead of the whole quarter), were similarly encouraging.

The number of 18ct gold articles hallmarked rose by 9.6 per cent, 9ct jumped 30.4 per cent, and silver hallmarking increased 11.6 per cent.

[button link=”https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgKDEFPQlPGadFUwWFg2SHBJYmhkLUx2eGgyNjRBbXc&usp=sharing” icon=”128077″ target=”” color=”129612″ textcolor=”ffffff” size=”small”]The March Comparison[/button]   [button link=”https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AgKDEFPQlPGadEFhZ3RkRGcxWWZWMTlSeGg5dGZER2c&usp=sharing” icon=”128077″ target=”” color=”129612″ textcolor=”ffffff” size=”small”]The Q1 Comparison[/button]