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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Aug- 2016 -16 AugustEconomy
Hallmarking slumps 11.8% in July
The total number of hallmarked items dropped 11.8% in July, a decrease of 92,333 pieces when compared with the same month last year. New figures from all four of the UKโs assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found the total number of hallmarked items in July…
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8 AugustEvents
Holts Academy named finalist for National Business Awards
Holts Academy of Jewellery has been shortlisted for the Positive Social Impact award, part of the 2016 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards. Holts Academy – a training provider for the jewellery industry – was chosen from the hundreds of businesses that entered or were nominated across 18 award categories. It…
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Jul- 2016 -8 JulyEvents
NAJ Awards open for nomination
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has announced its annual awards ceremony is now open for nominations. Itโs second awards since the association was formed from a unification between the National Association of Goldsmiths (NAG) and the British Jewellers Association (BJA), businesses within the industry will be nominated across seven…
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Jun- 2016 -21 JuneManufacturers
Stephen Betts Group acquires Unity Wedding Bands
Precious metal specialist Stephen Betts Group has announced the acquisition of wedding band manufacturer Unity Wedding Bands. The sale will put Betts Metal Sales (BMS) in full control of all aspects of the manufacturing process for its wedding rings, as well as bringing a dedicated team of skilled, innovative designers…
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20 JuneAnalysis
FOCUS ON: Education and training in the jewellery industry
Training methods in the jewellery industry havenโt changed much over the years, although new establishments have provided a structured approach and increased access to funding. As technical skills and mass manufacturing continue gradually to move abroad, whatโs next for the industry? [divider style=”solid” top=”20″ bottom=”20″] Education and training may seem…
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15 JuneCurrent Affairs
Brexit could trigger ‘gold bullion rush’
British online gold bullion and coin dealer, BullionByPost, is forecasting its busiest every trading day of voters decide on a Brexit, citing there could be a โgold bullion rushโ. Rob Halliday-Stein, who founded the Birmingham-based company in 2008, has predicted that a decision to leave the EU will prompt an…
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15 JuneEconomy
Gold continues to perform well as overall hallmarking figures fall in May
Gold jewellery continued to perform well in May as overall hallmarking figures fell 7.2% when compared with the same month last year. Hallmarking figures from the four UK assay offices – and compiled by the Assay Office Birmingham – found there was a total of 713,564 items hallmarked in May,…
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May- 2016 -31 MayTrade Organisations
NAJ plans โMade in Britainโ mark to boost jewellery sales
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) is considering plans to launch a โMade in Britainโ mark in a bid to drive jewellery sales. Hallmarking of gold and silver is currently undertaken by British assay offices which determine the metal content of the product rather than where the product was made.…
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31 MayQ&A Sessions
Company Q&A: Betts Metals
Following the company’s acquisition of Sutton Tools, we stopped by the company’s base in Birminghamย and spoke to Rosannah Fellows, operations and marketing manager, to find out more. Give us a quick summary of Betts Metals’ history. Betts Metal Sales is a member of the Stephen Betts Group. The original family…
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16 MayEconomy
9-carat gold soars 15.8% as overall hallmarking figures fall
The number of 9-carat items hallmarked in April jumped 15.8%, despite an overall decline in hallmarking figures. The latest data from the four UK assay offices – compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office – found there was a total of 790,594 items hallmarked in April, compared with 810,831 in April…
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