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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Feb- 2020 -17 FebruaryEconomy
Gold and platinum up single digits in January hallmarking
The number of gold and platinum pieces hallmarked in January 2020 increased by 1.4% and 7.6% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. Gold hallmarked pieces increased from 281,752 to 285,647 and platinum items increased from 24,900 to 26794 during the month. However, this was offset slightly…
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6 FebruaryAuctions
Historical timepiece to be auctioned
A Jaeger watch that was gifted to a WWII aircraft engineer is due to go for auction at Fellows in Birmingham on 10 February. The watch was originally gifted to aircraft engine designer, Donald Chapman, who manufactured planes at The Bristol Aeroplane Company during WWII and beyond. The timepiece, which…
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3 FebruaryAuctions
England brooch sells for £1,200 at action
An England brooch formerly owned by Sir Bert Millichip has sold for over £1,200 at an auction, it has been revealed. The 18ct gold diamond England crest brooch which belonged to a former West Bromwich Albion and Football Association chairman was sold at Fellows Auctioneers in Birmingham. The brooch, owned…
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Jan- 2020 -17 JanuaryEconomy
Gold and silver fall in December hallmarking
The number of gold and silver pieces hallmarked in December 2019 decreased by 7.1% and 12.7% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. Gold hallmarked pieces decreased from 312,281 to 290,186 and silver items decreased from 373,756 to 326,442 during the month. Additionally, palladium decreased by 37.7%…
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Dec- 2019 -2 DecemberAppointments
New ‘Jeweller in Residence’ for Birmingham museum
The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter has announced the appointment of Vanessa Miller as its second ever ‘Jeweller in Residence’. Miller will work for the museum over the next year, creating an exclusive collection as part of a project to promote local designers through a partnership with the Birmingham City…
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Nov- 2019 -12 NovemberMetal Prices
Platinum hallmarking increases 22.2% in October
Platinum hallmarking increased by 22.2% in October 2019 compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The number of platinum pieces hallmarked increased from 28,652 in October 2018 to 35,026 in 2019. Despite overall volumes decreasing by 5.6% during the month,…
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Oct- 2019 -15 OctoberMetal Prices
Silver and platinum up in September hallmarking
Both the number of silver and platinum pieces hallmarked in September 2019 increased by 4.5% and 14.4% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. Silver hallmarked pieces increased from 361,441 to 377,587 and platinum items increased from 23,055 to 26,383 during the month. However, this was offset…
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Sep- 2019 -27 SeptemberEconomy
BHC introduces new Hallmarking Dealer’s Notice
The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has introduced a new Hallmarking Dealer’s Notice which is now available and becomes compulsory on 1 May 2020. The Dealer’s Notice, which must be displayed by all dealers supplying precious metal jewellery, has been updated to add two new marks. The updated version incorporates a…
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Aug- 2019 -21 AugustSponsored
Inverness Ear Piercing announces new UK partnership with Goodman Bros.
Inverness, maker of the world’s safest & gentlest ear piercing system*, is pleased to announce that Goodman Bros, a leading distributor of Connoisseurs and Lox, has signed on to distribute the company’s ear piercing products to jewellery retailers throughout the UK. The partnership will launch formally at IJL September 1-3,…
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20 AugustEconomy
Gold slumps 7.3% in July hallmarking
The number of gold pieces hallmarked in July 2019 decreased by 7.3%, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. Palladium also decreased by 30.3% to 4356 pieces hallmarked, and the amount of platinum pieces hallmarked during the month decreased by 2% to 26,599 items. However, the average volume…
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