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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Jul- 2018 -6 JulyDesigners
Goldsmiths reveals newly-refurbished Birmingham store
High street jeweller Goldsmiths has launched its newly-transformed Birmingham store following a ยฃ1m investment. Located in Birminghamโs Bullring leisure and retail centre, the showroom re-opened with a new shop-fit and a 52 sq mt dedicated watch room. Craig Bolton, Goldsmiths executive director, said: โWeโre delighted to reopen our Bullring showroom…
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Jun- 2018 -26 JuneDesigners
Gay couple accuses high street jeweller of discrimination after not having โhers and hersโ rings
A gay couple has accused H.Samuel of discrimination due to its lack of โhers and hersโ rings. The couple Astria Battisa and Rebecca Miscallef, 28 and 34, visited the high street jeweller in Birmingham Bullring on 7 June asking for identical white gold rings, which cost ยฃ1,399. However, the jeweller…
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19 JuneEconomy
Hallmarking figures fall 11%
Hallmarking fell by an average of 11% in May 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of all precious metals fell this month when compared to the same period the previous year. Gold fell by 8.5%…
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8 JuneFeatures
What does the offshore hallmark mean for the jewellery industry?
“We were extremely happy when the British Hallmarking Council (BHC) finally, after a great deal of pushing and shoving from all sides, agreed that jewellery pieces hallmarked overseas should have a different mark to the ones we strike domestically,โ says John Langford, director of Braybrook and Britten, triumphantly. For many…
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8 JuneEvents
Birmingham City University reproduces historic American coin for Trump
Birmingham City University has reproduced a 227-year-old coin that will be presented to US President Donald Trump. The coin is to commemorate Birmingham hosting the annual British-American Business Council (BABC) transatlantic conference this week. The event at the Universityโs Royal Birmingham Conservatoire on 7 June will welcome delegates from all…
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May- 2018 -17 MayMetal Prices
Gold and platinum hallmarking sees double digit increase
The number of gold and platinum pieces hallmarked in April 2018 increased significantly by 12.1% and 10.9% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. However, the average volume of silver fell by 13.8% to 335,827 compared with 389,707, while palladium decreased by 21.6% to 5,513 hallmarked items.…
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2 MayCurrent Affairs
Industry figures comment on overseas hallmark outcome
Leading figures in the industry have commented on the outcome of the British Hallmarking Councilโs consultation on overseas hallmarking styles. The Council decided in principle that hallmarks struck overseas by UK assay offices should be distinguished by way of a special mark. Discussions are now taking place with assay offices…
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Apr- 2018 -18 AprilMetal Prices
Hallmarking figures drop by 8.5% for March
Hallmarking fell by an average of 8.5% in March 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of all precious metals fell this month. Palladium pieces hallmarked fell considerably by 36% to 5,475 compared with 8,593 the…
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13 AprilDesigners
Diamond Heaven to launch fourth store in Scotland
Independent jeweller Diamond Heaven will be opening its fourth store in Glasgow, Scotland. The store will be located in Princes Square, near Argyll Arcade and the group said it will bring high quality engagement rings, wedding rings, eternity rings and other diamond jewellery to the Scottish people. The Glasgow store…
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Mar- 2018 -27 MarchEconomy
Surprise 12% jump in gold hallmarking in February
The number of gold jewellery articles hallmarked in February this year was up by 12% compared with the 2017, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The high-value category saw numbers increase from 280,283 to 313,532, an increase of over 33,000 articles, providing a boon for the jewellery…
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