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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Apr- 2017 -5 AprilEvents
UK’s ‘first responsible jewellery conference’ announces 2017 speakers
Flux Fair Luxury – the UK’s first responsible jewellery conference – has announced the speakers who will be taking part in this year’s two-day conference. The event, which takes place in three weeks, has confirmed that Lisa Levinson from Forevermark, Claus Teilmann-Petersen, vice-president of group ethics at Danish jewellery brand…
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Mar- 2017 -14 MarchEconomy
Hallmarking figures plummet in February
The total number of hallmarked items plummeted 24.8% in February, a decrease of 189,700 pieces when compared with the same month last year. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, showed there was a total of 576,610 articles hallmarked during the month…
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Feb- 2017 -21 FebruaryEconomy
Gold drags down January hallmarking figures
Gold hallmarking has continued to fall at the start of 2017, dragging down overall hallmarking figures for the month of January. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, found there was a total of 266,613 gold articles hallmarked during the month –…
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Jan- 2017 -25 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
First glimpse of Grand National trophy after hallmarking
The first glimpse of this year’s Grand National trophy has been released after the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office hallmarked it earlier this week. The announcement follows the news that, for the first time in the Grand National’s history, a new trophy will be designed every year during the horse race’s…
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23 JanuaryAppointments
Birmingham Assay Office set to appoint Doug Henry as new CEO
The Birmingham Assay Office (BAO) has announced the appointment of Doug Henry as its chief executive and assay master. The news comes after incumbent Stella Layton announced she would leave the role at the AnchorCert Group – comprising BAO, AnchorCert Analytical, AnchorCert Gem Lab, SafeGuard Valuations and AnchorCert Academy –…
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13 JanuaryEconomy
Hallmarking falls sharply in December amid weak full-year results
The total number of hallmarked items nose-dived in December by 15.7%, a decrease of 145,007 pieces when compared with December 2015. Figures released by the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 781,200 articles hallmarked during the month, down…
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Dec- 2016 -9 DecemberEconomy
Hallmarking falls 4.6% in November
The total number of hallmarked items fell 4.6% in November, a decrease of 57,075 pieces when compared with the same month last year. The latest figures from the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 1,196,702 articles hallmarked during…
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Nov- 2016 -10 NovemberEconomy
Gold pieces slump 20.6% in bleak October hallmarking results
The number of gold items hallmarked fell 20.6% to 489,924 articles – from 617,421 in the same month last year – as hallmarking recorded a gloomy month in October. Latest figures released from the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, found overall hallmarking during the…
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7 NovemberAnalysis
Make Your Mark: The winners
Following the Make Your Mark Awards hosted at the Goldsmiths’ Hall last week (1 November), we take a look at the young designers who won the awards. [divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Silversmithing category winner: Annabel Hood Annabel Hood has won the chance to have her ‘London’s Leopard’ design made in…
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7 NovemberEvents
Make Your Mark winners announced
The winners of the inaugural Make Your Mark Awards were announced at a reception held at Goldsmiths’ Hall last week (1 November). The awards, which aimed to celebrate the hallmark and challenge entrants to use creativity in where it is placed on their design, featured six judges who assessed the…
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