Birmingham
Birmingham has a rich heritage as a centre for jewellery manufacturing and trade, with its historic Jewellery Quarter still home to hundreds of workshops and businesses. For UK jewellers, wholesalers, and suppliers, the city remains a vital hub for production, design, and distribution. Jewellery Focus covers Birmingham’s role in the industry, from updates on local businesses and manufacturing trends to insights into policy developments and events shaping the trade. Our reporting helps professionals understand the city’s continuing influence on the UK jewellery sector.
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May- 2021 -7 MayAppointments
Birmingham Assay Office appoints new wardens
Birmingham Assay Office has announced the appointment of two new wardens, Russell Jeans, founder and CEO of Sefton and Associates, and Andrew Lee, senior board executive, following the retirement of long-standing wardens, Tim Clay and John Wood. Jeans is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and a…
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Apr- 2021 -19 AprilEconomy
Hallmarking rises 10% in March
The total number of pieces hallmarked in March 2021 has increased 10% year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay Office. Total hallmarked pieces climbed from 448,583 in March 2020 to 493,423 this year, representing a swing from the 28.8% year-on-year decline seen in February 2021. March’s figures…
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Mar- 2021 -17 MarchEconomy
Hallmarking falls 28.8% in February
The total number of pieces hallmarked throughout February 2021 decreased 28.8% when compared to last year, according to the latest figures from the Birmingham Assay office. Total hallmarked pieces dropped from 536,656 in February 2020 to 375,183, with a year-on-year rate of decline lower than the 45.5% seen in January…
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2 MarchTrade Organisations
BATF invites businesses to view premises
The British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) has issued an open invitation to businesses looking to review their businesses premises to register interest with the organisation’s Vyse Street offices. The National Association of Jewellers’ (NAJ) parent organisation’s offices are based in the heart of Birmingham’s jewellery quarter. Garry Lane, BATF’s commercial…
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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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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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15 JanuaryRetailers
Just Diamonds sees 8% year-on-year rise in turnover
Just Diamonds has announced an 8% year-on-year rise in turnover in the second half of 2020 compared with the same period last year. The company supplies high-quality ring mounts, finished jewellery and mainly bespoke items to customers upon request. The Birmingham-based jewellery supplier said it made the decision to supply…
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Dec- 2020 -23 DecemberEvents
BLM-inspired jewellery training programme set to launch
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has partnered with the Black Jewellery Quarter to launch “culturally relevant” jewellery training to young adults in Birmingham, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement. Norman Jean Baton approached the trade body for support in delivering the training under the banner of the MasterPeace…
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16 DecemberTrade Organisations
NAJ lobbies to support Birmingham’s jewellery quarter
The National Association of Jewellers has written to Birmingham’s mayor, as well as the MP for Birmingham Ladywood, calling for “urgent action” to support its members in the city’s jewellery quarter. David Doyle, the NAJ’s president, and the association’s chair Gary Wroe have urged for support to reverse the government’s…
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