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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Jan- 2016 -18 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
2015 full-year hallmarking edges upwards
The total number of hallmarked items fell by 1% in December suggesting a flat Christmas, but the annual figures for full-year 2015 edged up by 1% compared with the previous year. Data from all four assay offices in the UK – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – showed the…
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15 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
BCU teams with Birmingham Assay Office for gemmology hub
The Birmingham Assay Office has announced a new collaborative tenancy and partnership with Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Jewellery. As part of the agreement the university’s gemmology department will move into new premises at 1 Moreton Street in the Jewellery Quarter, which it hopes will enable further development of gemmological…
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Dec- 2015 -23 DecemberOpinion
Another step forward in an ongoing challenge
Diamond grading issues have been a hot topic in recent months, but a new ISO Standard could benefit the consumer and retailer. STELLA LAYTON, chief assay master at the Birmingham Assay Office, explains.[divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] The industry has come a long way since we staged our first Great Debate…
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23 DecemberAnalysis
RIDING HIGH: Will the gold price ever return to its pre-recession levels?
This year has been defined by a sense that we have finally escaped the clutches of recession. But with China’s growth slowing dramatically and stock markets gripped by panic in recent weeks, some are suggesting we’re on the verge of another, much worse, crash. MICHAEL NORTHCOTT explores where we currently…
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16 DecemberEconomy
Hallmarking up 13% in November
Hallmarking figures in November were up 13% as all metals recorded an overall increase in the amount of articles hallmarked. That is according to the latest data released today by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found the total number of articles hallmarked…
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14 DecemberEditor's Blog
Every reason for Christmas cheer
The industry has done a good job of holding steady and ending a decade of contraction this year. The hallmarking figures graph ‘bottomed-out’ showing modest but definite increases in almost every month of the last 12. If you take the year-to-date from the latest figures available, we are only down…
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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 -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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Sep- 2015 -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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