Assay Office
Assay offices are central to the UK jewellery trade, ensuring the integrity of precious metal goods through hallmarking and quality assurance. For jewellers, manufacturers, and suppliers, staying informed about the activities and developments of the UK’s assay offices—Birmingham, London, Sheffield, and Edinburgh—is vital. Jewellery Focus provides comprehensive coverage on hallmarking standards, regulatory updates, innovations in testing and certification, and the broader role assay offices play in supporting the trade.
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Jun- 2018 -8 JuneFeatures
What does the offshore hallmark mean for the jewellery industry?
“We were extremely happy when the British Hallmarking Council (BHC) finally, after a great deal of pushing and shoving from all sides, agreed that jewellery pieces hallmarked overseas should have a different mark to the ones we strike domestically,” says John Langford, director of Braybrook and Britten, triumphantly. For many…
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May- 2018 -17 MayMetal Prices
Gold and platinum hallmarking sees double digit increase
The number of gold and platinum pieces hallmarked in April 2018 increased significantly by 12.1% and 10.9% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. However, the average volume of silver fell by 13.8% to 335,827 compared with 389,707, while palladium decreased by 21.6% to 5,513 hallmarked items.…
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2 MayCurrent Affairs
Industry figures comment on overseas hallmark outcome
Leading figures in the industry have commented on the outcome of the British Hallmarking Council’s consultation on overseas hallmarking styles. The Council decided in principle that hallmarks struck overseas by UK assay offices should be distinguished by way of a special mark. Discussions are now taking place with assay offices…
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Apr- 2018 -18 AprilMetal Prices
Hallmarking figures drop by 8.5% for March
Hallmarking fell by an average of 8.5% in March 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of all precious metals fell this month. Palladium pieces hallmarked fell considerably by 36% to 5,475 compared with 8,593 the…
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Mar- 2018 -27 MarchEconomy
Surprise 12% jump in gold hallmarking in February
The number of gold jewellery articles hallmarked in February this year was up by 12% compared with the 2017, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The high-value category saw numbers increase from 280,283 to 313,532, an increase of over 33,000 articles, providing a boon for the jewellery…
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Feb- 2018 -19 FebruaryEconomy
Hallmarking figures increase by 13% for January 2018
Hallmarking rose by an average of 13% in January 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of silver pieces hallmarked rose considerably by 29% to 425,631 compared with 330,067 the previous year. Palladium on the other…
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Jan- 2018 -25 JanuaryAppointments
Anchorcert appoints new sales director
AnchorCert Group, including Assay Office Birmingham, has appointed new Steve Hamon as its new sales director. Hamon, who was officially appointed in December, has more than 17 years experience as a senior sales and business development professional, including more than four years leading the UK and Eire Product Division for…
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17 JanuaryEconomy
Hallmarking figures drop by 7.4% for December
Hallmarking fell by an average of 7.4% in December 2017 compared to the same period in the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of gold hallmarked in December fell by 6.9% to 322,033 compared with 346,082 the previous year. Silver fell by…
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Dec- 2017 -22 DecemberEconomy
Hallmarking figures drop by 11% in November
The volume of jewellery hallmarked by the four UK assay offices fell by an average of 11% in November compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of gold pieces hallmarked fell by 12.1% to 492,537 compared with…
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Nov- 2017 -9 NovemberE-Commerce
Jewlr and Edinburgh Assay Office announce quality control partnership
North American online jewellery retailer Jewlr has announced its partnership with the Edinburgh Assay Office (EAO). The EAO’s hallmarking services will be combined with Jewlr’s craftsmanship and personalised styles, to bring fine jewellery of the highest quality to customers in the United Kingdom. Since 1457, the EAO has been verifying…
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