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.
-
Jan- 2016 -20 JanuaryAppointments
NAJ to propose Simon Johnson as chairman
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) says its current vice-chairman and co-owner of retail jeweller Marmalade, Simon Johnson, will be proposed as its new chairman at the next annual general meeting. At the association’s first meeting of 2016 – held on 14 January at the Birmingham Assay Office – current NAJ…
Read More » -
18 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
2015 full-year hallmarking edges upwards
The total number of hallmarked items fell by 1% in December suggesting a flat Christmas, but the annual figures for full-year 2015 edged up by 1% compared with the previous year. Data from all four assay offices in the UK – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – showed the…
Read More » -
15 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
BCU teams with Birmingham Assay Office for gemmology hub
The Birmingham Assay Office has announced a new collaborative tenancy and partnership with Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Jewellery. As part of the agreement the university’s gemmology department will move into new premises at 1 Moreton Street in the Jewellery Quarter, which it hopes will enable further development of gemmological…
Read More » -
Dec- 2015 -23 DecemberOpinion
Another step forward in an ongoing challenge
Diamond grading issues have been a hot topic in recent months, but a new ISO Standard could benefit the consumer and retailer. STELLA LAYTON, chief assay master at the Birmingham Assay Office, explains.[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] The industry has come a long way since we staged our first Great Debate…
Read More » -
23 DecemberAnalysis
RIDING HIGH: Will the gold price ever return to its pre-recession levels?
This year has been defined by a sense that we have finally escaped the clutches of recession. But with China’s growth slowing dramatically and stock markets gripped by panic in recent weeks, some are suggesting we’re on the verge of another, much worse, crash. MICHAEL NORTHCOTT explores where we currently…
Read More » -
16 DecemberEconomy
Hallmarking up 13% in November
Hallmarking figures in November were up 13% as all metals recorded an overall increase in the amount of articles hallmarked. That is according to the latest data released today by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found the total number of articles hallmarked…
Read More » -
14 DecemberEditor's Blog
Every reason for Christmas cheer
The industry has done a good job of holding steady and ending a decade of contraction this year. The hallmarking figures graph ‘bottomed-out’ showing modest but definite increases in almost every month of the last 12. If you take the year-to-date from the latest figures available, we are only down…
Read More » -
7 DecemberTrade Organisations
Inaugural NAJ Awards incorporated in Benevolent Society Ball
The 80th British Jewellery Giftware & Finishing Federation Benevolent Society Ball, incorporating the NAJ Awards, took place in Solihull on December 3. This year’s event incorporated very first National Association of Jewellers Member Awards, designed to “flag up all that is most excellent about the UK’s extremely diverse jewellery industry”. The NAJ…
Read More » -
3 DecemberEvents
Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office opens first retail hallmarking facility
The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office has announced the opening of its first hallmarking facility within a retail jeweller. The in-house assay office, which opened in November, is located within a purpose-built facility at Graff Diamonds’ London workshop in Mayfair. The facility, which has its own dedicated member of the assay…
Read More » -
Nov- 2015 -13 NovemberEconomy
Hallmarking figures drop 4.4%
Hallmarking figures fell by 4.4 in October, with gold taking a particular hit. Data compiled from the four UK assay offices by the Birmingham Assay Office showed that the total number of items hallmarked during the period was 1,186,648, down from 1,240,717 last year. Gold was down 3.5%, silver 5.5%, and…
Read More »
