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.
-
Jul- 2015 -28 JulyTrade Organisations
Birmingham Assay Office opens doors to new headquarters
The Birmingham Assay Office has officially opened its new purpose-built headquarters in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. After 137 years based in its previous headquarters in Birmingham’s Newhall Street, the assay office has now relocated to a newly built headquarters in Moreton Street. The building, which was supported by a European Regional…
Read More » -
24 JulyTrade Organisations
AnchorCert backs new Diamond ISO Standard
The Birmingham Assay Office’s AnchorCert Gem Lab has welcomed the recent publication of a new diamond ISO Standard. The standard, entitled ‘Consumer Confidence in the Diamond Industry’, was published on 1st July, and AnchorCert described it as a “refreshingly simple and concise document intended to help the consumer understand the different choices available to them”.…
Read More » -
14 JulyEconomy
June hallmarking jumps 12.3%
The total number of hallmarked items surged 12.3% in June, an increase of 94,023 articles when compared with the same month in 2014. This is according to data released today by the four UK assay offices – and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – which found the total number…
Read More » -
Jun- 2015 -12 JuneProduct Launches
Birmingham Assay Office launches historical Assay Archives online
The Birmingham Assay Office has launched its Assay Archives online, showcasing its historical silver, coin and library collections to the wider public. After receiving a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund – which enabled the assay office to transfer paper records of its museum collection online – the public can…
Read More » -
11 JuneEconomy
Hallmarking up 3.1% in May
The total number of hallmarked articles in May grew by 3.1% compared with the same time last year, according to new figures released from all four of the UK’s assay offices. According to the data, which was compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, there was a total of 770,075 articles…
Read More » -
May- 2015 -13 MayEconomy
Hallmarking figures up 10% in April
The total number of hallmarked articles grew 10% in April following a disappointing March, according to new figures released from all four of the UK’s assay offices. According to the data, which was compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office , there was a total of 810,831 articles hallmarked in April…
Read More » -
Apr- 2015 -2 AprilCrime
Birmingham jewellers fined over unhallmarked gold
A Birmingham jewellery firm has been ordered to pay a total of £8,288 after it was found to be selling unhallmarked gold. Yousaf Jewellers, based in Coventry Road, Small Heath in Birmingham, was fined £500 for each offence (£6,500), ordered to pay costs of £1,738 and a £50 victim surcharge…
Read More » -
1 AprilTrade Organisations
Marked feature bricks laid in new BAO premises
The new premises currently being constructed for the Birmingham Assay Office this weekend saw the addition of several ‘feature bricks’, bearing key hallmarking symbols used during the office’s 240 years in operation. The marks include the traditional hallmarking symbols; a lion for sterling silver, crown for gold, orb for platinum and Pallas…
Read More » -
Mar- 2015 -11 MarchEconomy
Hallmarking figures climb in February
The total number of articles hallmarked across all four of the UK’s assay offices saw a 7.9% increase in February, compared with the same month last year. According to the data (compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office), there was a total of 55,419 more articles hallmarked in February this year…
Read More » -
Feb- 2015 -24 FebruaryProduct Launches
Birmingham Assay Office’s ‘Analytical Laboratory’ rebrands
The Birmingham Assay Office (BAO) has rebranded its Analytical Laboratory as AnchorCert Analytical. The BAO said that the rebrand is due to the scope of its services expanding “enormously”. Originally specialising in precious metals, AnchorCert Analytical continues to analyse precious metals from 999 gold to platinum, but services are expanding…
Read More »
