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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Dec- 2015 -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…
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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…
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Oct- 2015 -26 OctoberE-Commerce
70% of jewellery shoppers look for a ‘trust mark’ online
More than 90% of shoppers say knowing their online jewellery purchase is the genuine article is ‘very important’, while 70% of consumers will look for a trust scheme on the site before committing to a purchase. This is according to a survey commissioned by the Edinburgh Assay Office in partnership…
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13 OctoberEconomy
Hallmarking back on the rise but down Q3
Hallmarking figures resumed their upward trajectory in September after two consecutive monthly falls, but total hallmarking for Q3 is down. This is according to data released today by the UK’s four assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found that during September there were a total of…
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6 OctoberEvents
NAJ Awards shortlisted members announced
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has announced the shortlist for its first ever award ceremony. The awards, which will take place on December 3 this year in conjunction with the benevolent ball, offers members of the newly-formed NAJ an opportunity to gain recognition for the excellence of their products…
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Sep- 2015 -23 SeptemberProduct Launches
Edinburgh Assay Office launches diamond certification in Heathrow office
The Edinburgh Assay Office has introduced a new diamond certification option to its Hallmarking in Transit offering at its London Heathrow sub-office. The office said the service, which is provided by Solitaire Gem Labs (SGL), will enable its Hallmarking in Transit customers to add a “one-stop, secure diamond certification” to…
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17 SeptemberEconomy
Hallmarking dips 12.4% in August
Hallmarking figures have dipped for the second consecutive month, down 12.4% in August compared with the same period the previous year. Platinum and palladium enjoyed 3.1% and 14.9% rises respectively, but the much larger categories of gold and silver dropped 8.5% and 17% respectively. In July, the total number of…
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Aug- 2015 -14 AugustEconomy
Hallmarking slumps 10.5% in July
The total number of hallmarked items fell 10.5% in July, a decrease of 91,949 articles when compared with July 2014. This is according to data released today by the UK’s four assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found that during the month there was a total…
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Jul- 2015 -28 JulyTrade Organisations
Birmingham Assay Office opens doors to new headquarters
The Birmingham Assay Office has officially opened its new purpose-built headquarters in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. After 137 years based in its previous headquarters in Birmingham’s Newhall Street, the assay office has now relocated to a newly built headquarters in Moreton Street. The building, which was supported by a European Regional…
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24 JulyTrade Organisations
AnchorCert backs new Diamond ISO Standard
The Birmingham Assay Office’s AnchorCert Gem Lab has welcomed the recent publication of a new diamond ISO Standard. The standard, entitled ‘Consumer Confidence in the Diamond Industry’, was published on 1st July, and AnchorCert described it as a “refreshingly simple and concise document intended to help the consumer understand the different choices available to them”.…
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