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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Apr- 2017 -5 AprilEvents
UK’s ‘first responsible jewellery conference’ announces 2017 speakers
Flux Fair Luxury – the UK’s first responsible jewellery conference – has announced the speakers who will be taking part in this year’s two-day conference. The event, which takes place in three weeks, has confirmed that Lisa Levinson from Forevermark, Claus Teilmann-Petersen, vice-president of group ethics at Danish jewellery brand…
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Mar- 2017 -14 MarchEconomy
Hallmarking figures plummet in February
The total number of hallmarked items plummeted 24.8% in February, a decrease of 189,700 pieces when compared with the same month last year. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, showed there was a total of 576,610 articles hallmarked during the month…
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2 MarchCurrent Affairs
Earliest example of Iron Age gold jewellery found in Staffordshire
The earliest example of Iron Age gold jewellery in Britain has been found in a farmland field in Staffordshire. The collection, which has been named the Leekfrith Iron Age Torcs, was discovered by two metal detectorists – Mark Hambleton and Joa Kania – just before Christmas. At an unveiling on…
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Feb- 2017 -21 FebruaryEconomy
Gold drags down January hallmarking figures
Gold hallmarking has continued to fall at the start of 2017, dragging down overall hallmarking figures for the month of January. Figures released by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, found there was a total of 266,613 gold articles hallmarked during the month –…
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14 FebruaryCrime
VIDEO: Three jailed after armed raid on Leicester jewellers
Three men from Birmingham have been jailed for a total of 21 years after an armed raid on a jewellery store in Leicester. The men entered G Naran Jewellers on Belgrave Road on the afternoon of Saturday 14 November 2015, where they stole a “large quantity” of Asian gold jewellery.…
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10 FebruaryTrade Organisations
NAJ secures 56 applications for membership in new Spring Fair recruitment drive
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) attracted a record number of membership applications during this year’s iteration of Jewellery & Watch in Birmingham. Applications came from across the whole supply chain including 17 suppliers, 17 designers, three international, one jewellery industry associate and 19 retailers. NAJ chairman, Simon Johnson, said: “I…
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8 FebruaryEvents
Ruth Hallows wins Weston Beamor design competition
Ruth Hallows, a mature student at Birmingham City University (BCU), has been named as the winner of the annual jewellery design competition for students organised by Weston Beamor. Her win was announced by Patrick Fuller, chairman of Weston Beamor, on the company’s stand at the Jewellery and Watch show in Birmingham.…
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Jan- 2017 -23 JanuaryAppointments
Birmingham Assay Office set to appoint Doug Henry as new CEO
The Birmingham Assay Office (BAO) has announced the appointment of Doug Henry as its chief executive and assay master. The news comes after incumbent Stella Layton announced she would leave the role at the AnchorCert Group – comprising BAO, AnchorCert Analytical, AnchorCert Gem Lab, SafeGuard Valuations and AnchorCert Academy –…
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20 JanuaryEvents
BCU students shortlisted in Weston Beamor design competition
Weston Beamor has announced the three Birmingham City University (BCU) students shortlisted to win the company’s annual design competition. Three second year students studying for a Higher National Diploma in Jewellery and Silversmithing at BCU’s School of Jewellery were shortlisted for the Live Project, after being given the brief to…
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13 JanuaryEconomy
Hallmarking falls sharply in December amid weak full-year results
The total number of hallmarked items nose-dived in December by 15.7%, a decrease of 145,007 pieces when compared with December 2015. Figures released by the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 781,200 articles hallmarked during the month, down…
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