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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Dec- 2015 -3 DecemberEvents
BCU to launch technology hub for jewellery students
Birmingham City Universityโs (BCU) School of Jewellery will officially open its new โDigital Technology Hubโ 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 fromย 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 UKโs 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 Londonโs iconic Oxford Street. Watches of Switzerland said that the store, which is 7,000 sq ft, will embrace the โdigital worldโ. 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.ย 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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Aug- 2015 -26 AugustRetailers
Folli Follie and Links of London launch in Boutique Goldsmiths
Boutique Goldsmiths, a concept store for fashion jewellery and watches from jewellery chain Goldsmiths, has announced it is to stock Links of London and Folli Follie. The launch of the two brands today (Wednesday, August 26) comes on the first day of the opening of the retailerโs first stand alone…
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14 AugustEconomy
Hallmarking slumps 10.5% in July
The total number of hallmarked items fell 10.5% in July, a decrease of 91,949 articles when compared with July 2014. This is according to data released today by the UKโs four assay offices, and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office, which found that during the month there was a total…
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3 AugustEvents
โHeritage Walksโ to launch in Birmingham Jewellery Quarter
The Birmingham Museum Trust has announced that it will launch a series of heritage walks allowing visitors to understand the history of the cityโs famous jewellery quarter.ย The Jewellery Quarter Heritage Walks will allow visitors to explore the themes, people and places that once helped to make the area the…
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Jul- 2015 -28 JulyTrade Organisations
Birmingham Assay Office opens doors to new headquarters
The Birmingham Assay Office has officially opened its new purpose-built headquarters in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.ย After 137 years based in its previous headquarters in Birminghamโs Newhall Street, the assay office has now relocated to a newly built headquarters in Moreton Street. The building, which was supported by a European Regional…
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