Month: April 2020

Sheffield Assay Office re-opens

The Sheffield Assay Office has announced it will re-open in order to “provide safe support for valued customers”.  From tomorrow (21 April),  the office will offer a restricted service every Tuesday at its premises in Hillsbrough, Sheffield. Both its hallmarking and analytical services will now be available to customers once…

Read More »

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme portal goes live

The portal for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is now live, with the government saying that businesses with validated claims will receive payments within at least six days. Under the scheme announced last month, employers can claim a grant covering 80% of the wages for a furloughed employee, subject to…

Read More »

Robinson Pelham launches competition to raises money for the NET

Jewellery store Robinson Pelham is calling upon all its friends, customers and colleagues to come together and help it raise money for the National Emergencies Trust (NET). The jeweller said that having spent some time thinking about how it can help during the current Covid-19 situation, it is “excited” to…

Read More »

Former NAJ CEO Michael Hoare passes away

The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has announced that the former chief executive of the association, Michael Hoare, has died. President of the NAJ, David Doyle, delivered the news “with a heavy heart” and said that Hoare was known to many from serving in the NAJ (formerly the National Association…

Read More »

Hallmarking falls by 35% as coronavirus impact hits

The extent to which the coronavirus outbreak has impacted UK hallmarking has been revealed as the latest figures show both the number of gold and silver pieces hallmarked during March fell by over 30% each. The number of gold and silver pieces hallmarked in March 2020 decreased by 32.3% and…

Read More »

Government extends lockdown for ‘at least’ three more weeks

The government has announced an extension to the coronavirus lockdown for “at least” a further three weeks. The decision was announced at today’s (16 April) press briefing which was led by foreign secretary Dominic Raab. It also comes after Raab led an emergency Cobra committee and cabinet meetings about the…

Read More »

National Association of Jewellers furloughs CEO

The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has furloughed its CEO Simon Forrester as a “temporary measure” in response to pandemic. A statement issued by the NAJ read: “As all are acutely aware we are in unprecedented times, and uncharted waters lie ahead. The government have made it clear that we…

Read More »

Covid-19 & designer watches: The impact of the outbreak

The coronavirus outbreak has caused widespread devastation across the entire globe. Not only are the numbers of cases and deaths caused by the COVID-19 virus already in the tens of thousands, but industries and societal constructs are continuing to struggle as a result.  One such industry to suffer the consequences…

Read More »

Oroarezzo show moved to July amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) has decided to move Oroarezzo 2020 (OA) to July and said it is working to “guarantee” customers, visitors, partners and its own workers, with the highest safety standards. OA 2020 will be held from 18  to 21 July in the Arezzo Expo Centre with a “proactive…

Read More »

World’s biggest watch brands exit Baselworld

Five of the world’s biggest watch brands have released a joint statement announcing their withdrawal from Baselworld 2021, following the cancellation of this year’s event due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In a joint statement, Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Chopard and Tudor said they will no longer participate in the world’s…

Read More »