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 UKโs assay officesโBirmingham, London, Sheffield, and Edinburghโis 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.
-
Aug- 2016 -24 AugustCurrent Affairs
UK Jewellers launch parliamentary petition to restrict offshore UK hallmarks
A group of UK silversmiths and jewellers have launched a campaign to restrict the use of distinctive traditional UK hallmarks, including city marks, to items hallmarked in the UK. For over 700 years UK hallmarks have only been struck in the UK, but the campaign said that there is now…
Read More » -
16 AugustEconomy
Hallmarking slumps 11.8% in July
The total number of hallmarked items dropped 11.8% in July, a decrease of 92,333 pieces when compared with the same month last year. New figures from all four of the UKโs assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found the total number of hallmarked items in July…
Read More » -
1 AugustQ&A Sessions
Q&A SESSION: Simon Johnson, National Association of Jewellers
The National Association of Jewellers recently announced that Simon Johnson, owner of Marmalade Fine Jewellery, has been named chairman. TOM DAVIS sat down with him to find out about the new role and what his plans are for the future of the UKโs newly merged trade body. For the…
Read More » -
Jun- 2016 -20 JuneAnalysis
FOCUS ON: Education and training in the jewellery industry
Training methods in the jewellery industry havenโt 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, whatโs next for the industry? [divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Education and training may seem…
Read More » -
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,…
Read More » -
May- 2016 -31 MayTrade Organisations
NAJ plans โMade in Britainโ mark to boost jewellery sales
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) is considering plans to launch a โMade in Britainโ 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.…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
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. Thatโs 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…
Read More » -
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 governmentโs 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…
Read More » -
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. Thatโs 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…
Read More »
