Birmingham Assay Office
The Birmingham Assay Office is a cornerstone of the UK jewellery trade, providing hallmarking, testing, and certification services that ensure the quality and integrity of precious metal goods. For jewellers, manufacturers, and suppliers, staying informed about its developments is essential to maintaining compliance and understanding industry standards. Jewellery Focus offers in-depth coverage on the Birmingham Assay Office, including regulatory updates, innovations in testing and hallmarking, and its role in supporting the jewellery sector’s operational and ethical standards.
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May- 2017 -25 MayAppointments
Noel Hunter OBE appointed chairman of British Hallmarking Council
Noel Hunter OBE has been appointed as the new chairman for the British Hallmarking Council. Hunter said: “I am delighted to be elected to lead this prestigious and important body. Hallmarking verifies the integrity of some of the most precious items we possess, both on a personal and a monetary…
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16 MayEconomy
Hallmarking down 13% compared to last year
Hallmarking figures for the month of April has shown a 13.2% decrease when compared to the same period last year. Figures from the Birmingham Assay office showed there was a decrease among all metals apart from silver, which saw an increase of 19.2%. There were 62,636 more silver pieces hallmarked…
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Apr- 2017 -16 AprilEconomy
Hallmarking down from 2016
Hallmarking has shown a year-on-year decrease for the first quarter of 2017. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, showed that there was a total of 1,921,716 articles hallmarked in the first quarter of 2017, an 11.9% drop from 2016. Comparing the…
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Mar- 2017 -14 MarchEconomy
Hallmarking figures plummet in February
The total number of hallmarked items plummeted 24.8% in February, a decrease of 189,700 pieces when compared with the same month last year. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, showed there was a total of 576,610 articles hallmarked during the month…
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Feb- 2017 -21 FebruaryEconomy
Gold drags down January hallmarking figures
Gold hallmarking has continued to fall at the start of 2017, dragging down overall hallmarking figures for the month of January. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, found there was a total of 266,613 gold articles hallmarked during the month –…
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Jan- 2017 -23 JanuaryAppointments
Birmingham Assay Office set to appoint Doug Henry as new CEO
The Birmingham Assay Office (BAO) has announced the appointment of Doug Henry as its chief executive and assay master. The news comes after incumbent Stella Layton announced she would leave the role at the AnchorCert Group – comprising BAO, AnchorCert Analytical, AnchorCert Gem Lab, SafeGuard Valuations and AnchorCert Academy –…
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13 JanuaryEconomy
Hallmarking falls sharply in December amid weak full-year results
The total number of hallmarked items nose-dived in December by 15.7%, a decrease of 145,007 pieces when compared with December 2015. Figures released by the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 781,200 articles hallmarked during the month, down…
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Dec- 2016 -9 DecemberEconomy
Hallmarking falls 4.6% in November
The total number of hallmarked items fell 4.6% in November, a decrease of 57,075 pieces when compared with the same month last year. The latest figures from the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 1,196,702 articles hallmarked during…
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Nov- 2016 -10 NovemberEconomy
Gold pieces slump 20.6% in bleak October hallmarking results
The number of gold items hallmarked fell 20.6% to 489,924 articles – from 617,421 in the same month last year – as hallmarking recorded a gloomy month in October. Latest figures released from the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, found overall hallmarking during the…
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Oct- 2016 -24 OctoberCurrent Affairs
Birmingham Assay Office CEO to step down next year
The Birmingham Assay Office (BAO) has announced that its CEO and assay master, Stella Layton, is to leave the role at the end of March 2017. The BAO also announced that Doug Henry, an experienced managing director who has been responsible for several of the organisation’s key projects over the…
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