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- 2015 -23 DecemberAnalysis
RIDING HIGH: Will the gold price ever return to its pre-recession levels?
This year has been defined by a sense that we have finally escaped the clutches of recession. But with China’s growth slowing dramatically and stock markets gripped by panic in recent weeks, some are suggesting we’re on the verge of another, much worse, crash. MICHAEL NORTHCOTT explores where we currently…
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16 DecemberEconomy
Hallmarking up 13% in November
Hallmarking figures in November were up 13% as all metals recorded an overall increase in the amount of articles hallmarked. That is according to the latest data released today by the four UK assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found the total number of articles hallmarked…
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14 DecemberEditor's Blog
Every reason for Christmas cheer
The industry has done a good job of holding steady and ending a decade of contraction this year. The hallmarking figures graph ‘bottomed-out’ showing modest but definite increases in almost every month of the last 12. If you take the year-to-date from the latest figures available, we are only down…
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14 DecemberEvents
Weston Beamor to showcase model-versions of 3D printing team at JWS
Birmingham-based Weston Beamor (WB) is to showcase model versions of the members of its 3D printing team at the upcoming Jewellery and Watch Show (JWS) in February. The casting house, 3D printing and bespoke manufacturing company will be demonstrating its skill in model making and rapid prototyping by scanning its…
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3 DecemberEvents
BCU to launch technology hub for jewellery students
Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Jewellery will officially open its new ‘Digital Technology Hub’ next week – housing 3D printing and laser technologies. The investment in the hub is part of an effort to enable both the industry and students to benefit from being able to create complex jewellery…
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Nov- 2015 -13 NovemberEconomy
Hallmarking figures drop 4.4%
Hallmarking figures fell by 4.4 in October, with gold taking a particular hit. Data compiled from the four UK assay offices by the Birmingham Assay Office showed that the total number of items hallmarked during the period was 1,186,648, down from 1,240,717 last year. Gold was down 3.5%, silver 5.5%, and…
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Oct- 2015 -13 OctoberEconomy
Hallmarking back on the rise but down Q3
Hallmarking figures resumed their upward trajectory in September after two consecutive monthly falls, but total hallmarking for Q3 is down. This is according to data released today by the UK’s four assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found that during September there were a total of…
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8 OctoberWatch Focus
Watches of Switzerland opens Oxford Street store
Luxury watch retailer Watches of Switzerland has opened a new boutique on London’s iconic Oxford Street. Watches of Switzerland said that the store, which is 7,000 sq ft, will embrace the “digital world”. Clients visiting the store will be greeted by a multi-lingual, 98 inch interactive digital touch screen, showcasing…
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6 OctoberEvents
NAJ Awards shortlisted members announced
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has announced the shortlist for its first ever award ceremony. The awards, which will take place on December 3 this year in conjunction with the benevolent ball, offers members of the newly-formed NAJ an opportunity to gain recognition for the excellence of their products…
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Sep- 2015 -17 SeptemberEconomy
Hallmarking dips 12.4% in August
Hallmarking figures have dipped for the second consecutive month, down 12.4% in August compared with the same period the previous year. Platinum and palladium enjoyed 3.1% and 14.9% rises respectively, but the much larger categories of gold and silver dropped 8.5% and 17% respectively. In July, the total number of…
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