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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Dec- 2016 -9 DecemberEconomy
Hallmarking falls 4.6% in November
The total number of hallmarked items fell 4.6% in November, a decrease of 57,075 pieces when compared with the same month last year. The latest figures from the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 1,196,702 articles hallmarked during…
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Nov- 2016 -15 NovemberVoice On The Highstreet
VOHS: Cupitt Jeweller
Name: Asa Cupitt, Cupitt Jeweller Location: Bromsgrove Year established: 1946 Number of staff: 7 Website: www.cupittjeweller.co.uk What’s the history of Cupitt Jeweller? Claude Cupitt started the business in Bromsgrove, in 1946. When he retired in 1979 his son Jim took over the business with his wife Sue. They relocated the shop…
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10 NovemberEconomy
Gold pieces slump 20.6% in bleak October hallmarking results
The number of gold items hallmarked fell 20.6% to 489,924 articles – from 617,421 in the same month last year – as hallmarking recorded a gloomy month in October. Latest figures released from the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, found overall hallmarking during the…
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Oct- 2016 -27 OctoberManufacturers
Deakin & Francis launches new LED skull cufflinks ahead of Halloween
Birmingham-based jewellery manufacturer Deakin & Francis has announced the launch of a new set of LED skull cufflinks ahead of the Halloween weekend. In a choice of finishes – including rose gold satin and smooth black matte – the British brand has created a part of skull head designs, which…
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24 OctoberCurrent Affairs
Birmingham Assay Office CEO to step down next year
The Birmingham Assay Office (BAO) has announced that its CEO and assay master, Stella Layton, is to leave the role at the end of March 2017. The BAO also announced that Doug Henry, an experienced managing director who has been responsible for several of the organisation’s key projects over the…
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13 OctoberEconomy
Hallmarking falls 11.5% in September
The total number of hallmarked items fell 11.5% in September, a decrease of 115,994 pieces when compared with the same month last year. The figure – from all four UK assay offices and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found the total number of hallmarked items in September stood…
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5 OctoberCurrent Affairs
UK jewellers consider legal challenge to BAO over Indian hallmarking
A group of jewellers and silversmiths in the UK are considering a legal challenge to the Birmingham Assay Office over its practice of using UK hallmarking overseas. The news comes after the Birmingham and Sheffield Assay Offices’ marks have been approved by the British Hallmarking Council for use in their…
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4 OctoberEvents
NAJ unveils awards shortlist
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has unveiled the shortlist for its annual awards, which celebrate the contribution of itsmembers to the jewellery industry. New to awards this year is the category ‘Workshop Employee of the Year’, which aims to recognise the importance of specialist skills in the industry and…
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Sep- 2016 -22 SeptemberEvents
Worcestershire jeweller named as finalist in local awards
The owner of a Worcestershire jewellery shop has been shortlisted in the annual Midlands Family Business Awards. The awards, which celebrate the work and achievements of family businesses across the region, will see Asa Cupitt – owner of Cupitt Jewellers in Bromsgrove – named as one of the five finalists…
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13 SeptemberEconomy
9ct gold soars 32% in positive August hallmarking figures
The number of 9-carat gold items hallmarked in August soared 32% in a positive month for overall hallmarking figures. That’s according to latest figures released from the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found overall hallmarking figures soared 10.4% from 696,251 items last year…
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