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- 2014 -8 DecemberEconomy
Hallmarking set to top 10m items for first time in three years
The total number of hallmarked items is set to top 10 million for the first time since 2011, the latest data from the four UK assay offices suggests. Overall hallmarking figures, collated by the Assay Office Birmingham, dropped by 7.8% in November compared with the same period last year, mainly…
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Nov- 2014 -12 NovemberEconomy
HALLMARKING: Gold keeps climbing, silver lets the side down
Gold continued its upward trajectory in the month of October with a 22.1% rise in the number of articles hallmarked, totalling 115,815 overall. The figures, released by the Birmingham Assay Office using data collated from the four UK assay offices, showed that 9ct remained the strongest performer of all metal…
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Oct- 2014 -31 OctoberTrade Organisations
GALLERY: Photos released of Birmingham Assay Office under construction
The Birmingham Assay Office has released images of its new premises under the latest phase of construction. Almost two months have passed since the last batch of images revealed details of how the construction of the new building was progressing. The new site of Assay Office Birmingham is located within the St George’s development,…
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13 OctoberTrade Organisations
September hallmarking figures up 18%, 9ct gold continues to shine
Rising hallmarking figures showed no sign of abating in September, as the latest results compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office showed an overall rise of 18.2% across all precious metals, compared with September last year.The standout performer was, as has become the norm this year, gold, with 9ct rising 100,644 items to…
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Sep- 2014 -12 SeptemberTrade Organisations
New Birmingham Assay Office building starting to take shape
The construction of the new assay office building in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is starting to take shape. The new site, located within the St George’s development in Icknield Street, now has its steel skeleton structure in place. Founded in 1773 by Matthew Boulton, a leading industrialist, the current Grade II…
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9 SeptemberEditor's Blog
Don’t argue with the data…just wait for your slice
It is beginning to feel more like a job as a leader-writer for the Financial Times than a jewellery trade magazine, but there is just so much positive news out there it cannot go without comment. Yesterday the Birmingham Assay Office release the all-office hallmarking figures, showing a year-on-year rise yet again,…
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8 SeptemberManufacturers
Upward hallmarking trajectory continues in August
The positive trend for UK hallmarking figures continued in August, according to the latest figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The total number of articles marked rose by 12.5% compared with August last year. Particularly strong performers were 9ct gold (which rose 10.2%) and silver (which rose 18.2%), which…
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Aug- 2014 -20 AugustTrade Organisations
Birmingham Assay Office receives £70,900 grant
The Birmingham Assay Office (BAO) has received a grant of £70,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The grant aims to help the Assay Office bring collections dating back to the 18th Century into the digital age. Collection articles include private silver, coin and metal collections that chronicle the changes in…
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13 AugustEconomy
July hallmarking rises 9.4%, gold carries poor performers
July 2014 showed a continued growth trajectory in gold hallmarking figures, with 9ct gold rising 28.1%, and 14ct and 18ct gold increasing 30% and 22.3%, compared with July 2013. But the figures, collated from the UK’s four major assay offices by the Birmingham Assay Office, showed a mixed picture for…
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Jul- 2014 -31 JulyEvents
Goldsmiths’ Fair announces new events
The Goldsmiths’ Fair has announced it will be back with a “fresh new look, a raft of exhibitors and a star-studded events programme”. Organisers have revealed details of more than 30 special events, including paid-for breakfast talks and free ‘In Conversation’ drop-in sessions. The programme comes in addition to Zaha…
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