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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Apr- 2014 -7 AprilEconomy
Q1 hallmarking figures rise 23%, gold jewellery on the up-and-up
The number of articles hallmarked across the four UK assay offices rose by 23 per cent in the first three months of 2014 compared with the same period the previous year, according to the latest figures. In a statement, the Birmingham Assay Office revealed that the best performers were 9ct…
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1 AprilTrade Organisations
Gary Wroe elected as new BJA chairman
The British Jewellers’ Association (BJA) has appointed Gary Wroe as its new chairman.ย Wroe, who is managing director of Birmingham-based Hockley Mint, was elected by a vote of the BJA’s national committee late last week. He will succeed Gary Williams who steps down at the end of April. Speaking toย Jewellery…
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Mar- 2014 -14 MarchEvents
Weston Beamor to sponsor New Designersโ Award
Birmingham casting and rapid-prototyping firm, Weston Beamor, has announced that it will once again be sponsoring an award at New Designers, the annual exhibition showcasing work of newly graduated designers from the UKโs leading universities. The Weston Beamor Award for โThe Most Innovative Use of CAD in Jewellery Designโ will…
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14 MarchEconomy
Hallmarking figures for 9ct gold rise more than 33%
Figures released today by the Birmingham Assay Office show that the number of 9ct gold items hallmarked across all four UK assay offices rose more than 33% in February, compared with the same period the previous year. After 9ct gold, the next best performing category was sterling silver, which is…
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8 MarchTaking Stock
Presman Mastermelt
Scrap and workshop waste specialist processors based in Hatton Garden opened the Birmingham counter just under a year ago and it is trading well, partly thanks to the advertising campaign reminding traders that it is a long-established company (1945) which is still expanding worldwide because of its reputation as an…
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6 MarchEvents
Birmingham council to sell NEC for ยฃ1bn
The venue for Jewellery & Watch Birmingham, the NEC, has announced that its owners Birmingham City Council are planning to sell the entire complex for around ยฃ1bn. Birmingham’s council has been at the centre of a lengthy dispute over equal pay. ย The legal bill and the money needed to settle…
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Feb- 2014 -20 FebruaryEvents
CARAT* hails record number of customers at Spring Fair
Wholesale jewellery brand CARAT* says it expects its growth this year to surpass that of 2013, thanks to a strong order book and a successful exhibition and Jewellery & Watch Birmingham. The firm said it had welcomed โrecord numbers new and existing customersโ onto its stand during the five-day event,…
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14 FebruaryCurrent Affairs
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter reaches another milestone in quest for ยฃ2m investment
Birminghamโs largest business improvement district (BID) has this week been successful in the first round of seeking a potential award of ยฃ2 million Townscape Heritage Grant, to be invested in the Jewellery Quarter. The grant, which assists communities in the regeneration of conservation areas and isย awarded by the Heritage Lottery…
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Jan- 2014 -28 JanuaryEconomy
Talbots Group see 1.05% increase during December
Birmingham-based packaging solution providers Talbots Group experienced a 1.05 per cent sales increase year on year during December 2013. The company saw card based packing popular amongst jewellery brands and retailers during the Christmas period, which helped to boost sales. Julie Fowler-Drake, managing director of Talbots Group said: โTalbots Group…
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14 JanuaryCurrent Affairs
BAO announce 1.9% decline in hallmarking
Hallmarking has dropped 1.9 per cent on last year according to The Birmingham Assay Office 2013 hallmarking figures. The decline, compared to figures for 2012, show that the four UK Assay Offices hallmarked 9,156,858 articles in 2013 compared to 9,331,451 the previous year. This slight drop however is an improvement…
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