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 Birminghamโs 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 cityโs continuing influence on the UK jewellery sector.
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Mar- 2020 -25 MarchCoronavirus
Assay offices close their doors
All four assay offices across the UK have closed their doors amid the coronavirus crisis. The assay offices, in Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Sheffield, will now be closed for business for โat leastโ three weeks. In a statement, the British Hallmarking Council said: โThe pandemic has caused many disruptions to…
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24 MarchCurrent Affairs
Birmingham Assay Office closes operations
The Birmingham Assay Office has announced that it will be โclosing all operationsโ from today (24 March) for the three weeks stipulated by the government.ย ย The office said that the decision came in light of the Prime Ministerโs lockdown announcement on Monday evening, and said that the move would โprotect…
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20 MarchFeatures
Waste not, want not: the designers driving ethical change
Last month marked a watershed moment as Rosh Mahtini became the first ever jeweller to receive the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. Mahtini received the esteemed award based on her commitment to sustainability and ethical practices, exemplified by her innovative jewellery brand, Alighieri.ย As the first jewellery designer…
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19 MarchEconomy
Gold and silver down double digits in February hallmarking
The number of gold and silver pieces hallmarked in February 2020ย decreased by 13.3% and 25.3% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. Gold hallmarked pieces decreased from 281,938 to 244,558 and silver items decreased from 344,104 to 257,212 during the month. Additionally, palladium decreased by 70.3%…
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4 MarchTips
Your Guide to Jewellery Hallmarks – What to Know
A piece of jewellery is one of the most priced possessions a person can haveโthey are precious and can be pretty expensive, with some even costing as much as a brand new car. It is only ideal that when you choose jewellery, whether for yourself or as a gift, you…
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Feb- 2020 -27 FebruaryEvents
Tom Rucker claims Cartier Award at GC&DA 2020
Jewellery designer Tom Rucker has been awarded the Jacques Cartier Memorial award at the 2020 Goldsmithsโ Craftsmanship and Design Awards ceremony held on Monday (24 February). The award was presented to Rucker for his suite of coloured platinum jewellery, and is given at the discretion of the Goldsmithsโ Craft and…
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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.ย The timepiece, which…
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3 FebruaryAuctions
England brooch sells for ยฃ1,200 at action
An England brooch formerly owned by Sir Bert Millichip has sold for over ยฃ1,200 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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