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- 2016 -20 JuneAnalysis
FOCUS ON: Education and training in the jewellery industry
Training methods in the jewellery industry haven’t changed much over the years, although new establishments have provided a structured approach and increased access to funding. As technical skills and mass manufacturing continue gradually to move abroad, what’s next for the industry? [divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Education and training may seem…
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15 JuneEconomy
Gold continues to perform well as overall hallmarking figures fall in May
Gold jewellery continued to perform well in May as overall hallmarking figures fell 7.2% when compared with the same month last year. Hallmarking figures from the four UK assay offices – and compiled by the Assay Office Birmingham – found there was a total of 713,564 items hallmarked in May,…
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May- 2016 -31 MayTrade Organisations
NAJ plans ‘Made in Britain’ mark to boost jewellery sales
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) is considering plans to launch a ‘Made in Britain’ mark in a bid to drive jewellery sales. Hallmarking of gold and silver is currently undertaken by British assay offices which determine the metal content of the product rather than where the product was made.…
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16 MayEconomy
9-carat gold soars 15.8% as overall hallmarking figures fall
The number of 9-carat items hallmarked in April jumped 15.8%, despite an overall decline in hallmarking figures. The latest data from the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 790,594 items hallmarked in April, compared with 810,831 in April…
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Apr- 2016 -18 AprilEconomy
9-carat rockets 16.4% in upbeat March hallmarking figures
The total number of hallmarked items grew 5.4% in March, boosted by an 8.2% jump in the number of gold articles. That’s according to the latest data from the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – which found there was a total of 740,976 articles…
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13 AprilBrand Profiles
EXPORTING: find the path to overseas selling
Creative industries in the UK are thriving, and the opportunities do not stop within our shores. We asked Exporting is Great, the government’s campaign to promote exports from UK businesses, to tell us about a UK jewellery business benefiting from having taken the leap.[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Jewellery designer Katie…
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Mar- 2016 -15 MarchEconomy
Hallmarking edges up in February as number of gold articles jump
The total number of hallmarked items rose by 0.8% in February, an increase of 5,970 articles compared with February 2015. That’s according to the latest figures released today by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found there was a total of 766,310 articles…
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Feb- 2016 -18 FebruaryEconomy
Hallmarking down 9.1% in January
The total number of hallmarked items fell 9.1% in January, a decrease of 67,252 articles when compared with January 2015. That is according to latest figures released today by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found during the month there was a total…
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Jan- 2016 -29 JanuaryTrade Organisations
Edinburgh Assay Office celebrates one year of Heathrow sub office
The Edinburgh Assay Office is celebrating its first full year of operating a sub office at Heathrow Airport. The Hallmarking in Transit (HIT) service, which launched in January last year, was developed to streamline the supply chain for gold and gem set importers. It allows importers of precious metal jewellery…
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25 JanuaryE-Commerce
Online sales ‘nearly double’ for jewellery on ‘Cyber Weekend’
Online sales of jewellery over Cyber Weekend – the weekend following Black Friday – nearly doubled, according to the Edinburgh Assay Office. Figures from the office’s Hallmarking and Fulfillment Service, which provides online jewellery retailers with integrated hallmarking and direct final mile delivery to consumers, increased “significantly” in 2015 compared…
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