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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Sep- 2022 -13 SeptemberEvents
NAJ partners with Sheffield Assay Office for futures event
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and Sheffield Assay Office have announced Striking Futures, a new collaborative event designed to help businesses and students get ahead in the jewellery industry. The event will take place on 3 November, and features a hallmarking presentation from Kerry Gregory of Gemmology Books, a…
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Aug- 2022 -30 AugustTrade Organisations
Sheffield Assay Office joins the NAJ
The Sheffield Assay Office has announced that it has recently become a member of the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), in a bid to engage “more fully and effectively” with the trade as a whole. The Sheffield Assay Office is currently looking at a number of collaborations with other NAJ…
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23 AugustTrade Organisations
The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office joins Created in the UK
The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office has joined the Created in the UK movement by supporting the striking of the new mark on jewellery, silverware and related products. Created in the UK is a scheme developed by the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) to help designers, manufacturers and retailers promote the…
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18 AugustNews
Hallmarking rises 27.4% in July
The total number of hallmarked pieces in July 2022 rose 27.4% to 876,281 from 687,952 compared to the same period 2021, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay Office. However, gold pieces dropped 9.6% from 339,167 to 306,535. Silver saw the highest jump, rising 71.2% to 536,154 from…
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Jul- 2022 -26 JulyInternational
Global jewellery industry to grow by 4%
The jewellery industry is expected to rebound and grow globally between 3-4% over the next four to five years, with demand expected to increase from younger consumers and domestic markets with less international travel taking place, according to The Sheffield Assay Office. During the pandemic, the jewellery industry saw revenues…
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21 JulyRetailers
Hallmarking rises 14.6% in June but Gold sees drop
The total number of pieces hallmarked in June 2022 rose 14.6% when compared with June 2021, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay Office. Some 770,358 pieces were hallmarked, compared with 672,021 pieces over the same period in 2021. Silver hallmarked pieces saw the only increase, rising 39.3%…
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Jun- 2022 -15 JuneNews
Hallmarking surges 69.5% in May
The total number of hallmarked pieces climbed 69.5% to 842,236 in May 2022, up from 496,964 for the same period in 2021. According to the Birmingham Assay Office, Gold hallmarked pieces increased 31.8% to 336,108, against last year’s 254,995. Silver saw an increase of 118.5% year-on-year, from 212,299 to 463,849.…
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7 JuneAppointments
Birmingham Assay Office elects new Guardians
The Birmingham Assay Office has announced the election of four new Guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate. They are Carla Goodfellow, Petro Nicolaides, Rachel Eade and Charles Barwell. The role of ‘Guardian of the Standard of Wrought Plate in Birmingham’ was defined within the 1773 Act of Parliament that…
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May- 2022 -25 MayRetailers
Birmingham Assay Office operations and business director to retire
Carla Goodfellow, operations and business development at the Birmingham Assay Office, is set to retire later this month. Goodfellow, who has been in the jewellery industry for 35 years, 18 of which working at the Birmingham Assay Office, started her career at Birmingham based jewellery manufacturer Gallery Jewellers. Goodfellow said:…
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24 MayRetailers
Deakin & Francis launches silver cufflink for Queen’s anniversary
Deakin and Francis has launched a new regal sterling silver cufflink to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years of service. The new exclusive piece will feature a limited-edition hallmark designed by Thomas Fattorini and will also be available for all existing Deakin and Francis’ pieces on request. The new pieces will…
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