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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Feb- 2021 -24 FebruaryEconomy
Hallmarking plummets 45.5% in January
The total number of pieces hallmarked during January 2021 plummeted 45.5% against last year, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay office. Total hallmarked pieces fell from 685,768 in January 2020 down to 373,720, with the rate of decline significantly lower than figures recorded in December 2020, when…
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19 FebruaryTrade Organisations
Birmingham Assay Office launches search for new guardians
The Birmingham Assay Office has announced it has begun its search for “seasoned individuals” to become the organisation’s new guardians. Controlled by a group of 36 elected guardians of the Standard of Wrought Plate in the city of Birmingham, the Assay Office was founded by an Act of Parliament in…
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1 FebruaryBrand Profiles
Meet the authenticator
Many television shows are associated with controversy, whether it be contestants inadvertently sabotaging each other on Great British Bake Off or an Ann Widdecombe-style upset on Strictly. A controversial episode of Bargain Hunt? Not really a thing… until now. The afternoon telly staple was censured by the Beeb’s complaints watchdog…
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Jan- 2021 -15 JanuaryEconomy
Hallmarking down by 12.1% in December
The total number of pieces hallmarked during December 2020 decreased by only 12.1% compared with the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay office. Gold hallmarked pieces decreased 4.7% from 290,186 to 276,475 and silver items decreased17.7% from 326,442 to 268,709. Platinum hallmarking also…
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Nov- 2020 -16 NovemberEconomy
Hallmarking slightly improves in October
The total number of pieces hallmarked in October 2020 fell by 17.5% compared with the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay office. This marked a total improvement against September’s figures, where total hallmarking was down by 19.5% against the prior year. Gold hallmarked…
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3 NovemberCoronavirus
Assay offices to remain open in England
The three assay offices based in England are set to remain open during the upcoming nationwide lockdown, they have confirmed. It comes after prime minister Boris Johnson announced that the country would enter a nationwide lockdown from 5 November to 2 December. The Edinburgh Assay Office in Scotland is exempt…
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Oct- 2020 -14 OctoberQ&A Sessions
Q&A with 247 Diamonds
Tell me about the history of the business? We started the very first UK jewellery presence on the Internet, launching a ‘net based B2B service in the text based black hole that was the Internet before the World Wide Web, we are talking late 1980’s, way too early, we must…
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13 OctoberEconomy
Hallmarking falls 19.5% in September
The total number of pieces hallmarked during September 2020 decreased by 19.5% compared with the same month last year, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay office. Gold hallmarked pieces decreased 17.2% from 355,522 to 294,451 and silver items decreased 24.1% from 377, 587 to 286,401. Palladium hallmarking…
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Aug- 2020 -14 AugustNews
UK hallmarking slumps 42.7% in July
The total number of pieces hallmarked during July 2020 decreased by 42.7% compared with the same month last, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay office. Gold hallmarked pieces decreased from 308,297 to 212,620 and silver items decreased from 372,259 to 1741,592 during the month – a decline…
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Jun- 2020 -23 JuneFeatures
Coronavirus: The jewellery industry’s story
At the time of writing, the UK’s embattled high street has been given a glimmer of hope, after prime minister Boris Johnson announced plans on 25 May to allow non-essential retailers to open by mid-June. The announcement will be welcome news for many jewellers who have struggled over the past…
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