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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Feb- 2015 -12 FebruaryEconomy
Hallmarking figures drop in January
After a strong year of growth for hallmarking figures in 2014 the total number of articles hallmarked was down 7.6% in January 2015 compared to the same time last year. According to data from the four UK assay offices and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, there was a total…
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Jan- 2015 -23 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
Birmingham Assay Office receives RJC recertification
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) has announced that the Birmingham Assay Office has achieved re-certification. The re-certification was achieved by meeting the “highest ethical, social and environmental standards” established by the RJC. Stella Layton, chief executive and assay master, who was recently appointed chairman of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, said: “[The…
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20 JanuaryAppointments
Stella Layton named new Jewellery Quarter chairman
Stella Layton, the chief executive and assay master of the Birmingham Assay Office, has been named as the new chairman of the town’s Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT). Layton succeeds David Mahony, managing director of PCPT Architects. The JQDT, formed in May 2011, is a community interest company that operates…
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Dec- 2014 -9 DecemberEvents
Benevolent Society Ball raises £30,000 for charity
The 79th British Jewellery & Giftware Federation Benevolent Society Ball has raised some £30,000 for the charity, the Benevolent Society. The Benevolent Society Ball, which took place on December 4 at The St John’s Hotel, Solihull, attracted over 370 guests from the jewellery trade, The Giftware Association and other member…
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Nov- 2014 -12 NovemberEconomy
HALLMARKING: Gold keeps climbing, silver lets the side down
Gold continued its upward trajectory in the month of October with a 22.1% rise in the number of articles hallmarked, totalling 115,815 overall. The figures, released by the Birmingham Assay Office using data collated from the four UK assay offices, showed that 9ct remained the strongest performer of all metal…
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Oct- 2014 -31 OctoberTrade Organisations
GALLERY: Photos released of Birmingham Assay Office under construction
The Birmingham Assay Office has released images of its new premises under the latest phase of construction. Almost two months have passed since the last batch of images revealed details of how the construction of the new building was progressing. The new site of Assay Office Birmingham is located within the St George’s development,…
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13 OctoberTrade Organisations
September hallmarking figures up 18%, 9ct gold continues to shine
Rising hallmarking figures showed no sign of abating in September, as the latest results compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office showed an overall rise of 18.2% across all precious metals, compared with September last year.The standout performer was, as has become the norm this year, gold, with 9ct rising 100,644 items to…
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Sep- 2014 -12 SeptemberTrade Organisations
New Birmingham Assay Office building starting to take shape
The construction of the new assay office building in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter is starting to take shape. The new site, located within the St George’s development in Icknield Street, now has its steel skeleton structure in place. Founded in 1773 by Matthew Boulton, a leading industrialist, the current Grade II…
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9 SeptemberEditor's Blog
Don’t argue with the data…just wait for your slice
It is beginning to feel more like a job as a leader-writer for the Financial Times than a jewellery trade magazine, but there is just so much positive news out there it cannot go without comment. Yesterday the Birmingham Assay Office release the all-office hallmarking figures, showing a year-on-year rise yet again,…
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8 SeptemberManufacturers
Upward hallmarking trajectory continues in August
The positive trend for UK hallmarking figures continued in August, according to the latest figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The total number of articles marked rose by 12.5% compared with August last year. Particularly strong performers were 9ct gold (which rose 10.2%) and silver (which rose 18.2%), which…
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