British Hallmarking Council
The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) is the statutory body overseeing the hallmarking system in the UK, ensuring precious metals adhere to legal standards of purity and authenticity. Its decisions directly influence assay office operations, hallmark integrity, compliance burdens, import regulations, and retailer liability. Jewellery Focus delivers thorough coverage of the BHC’s policy updates, statutory reviews, consultation outcomes, and enforcement actions, offering insight into how changes to hallmarking rules impact design, manufacturing, sourcing, and retail risk. Our specialist reporting helps jewellers, manufacturers, assay offices, and suppliers understand and adapt to evolving hallmarking legislation, maintain compliance, and uphold consumer confidence across the UK market.
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Mar- 2025 -20 MarchManufacturers
Government to review British Hallmarking Council
The UK government has announced that it will commence a review into the British Hallmarking Council (BHC) which will look at the role, remit and governance of the BHC, including options to merge, abolish or reform it. The BHC is an executive, non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for…
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10 MarchAppointments
British Hallmarking Council appoints three new members
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade has appointed Kerry Gregory, Sally Leonard and Frederick Toye as the three new members to the British Hallmarking Council from January 2025 for a period of three years. They will work with the chair Noel Hunter, OBE and existing members of council…
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Jan- 2025 -20 JanuaryDesigners
Allied Gold Group unveils in-house Assay Office
Allied Gold Group has marked the opening of its in-house assay office during an official ribbon cutting ceremony by Ashley Carson, Assay Master and CEO of the Sheffield Assay Office. The occasion was also attended by members of the British Hallmarking Council. The first hallmark struck at the new facility…
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Oct- 2024 -29 OctoberManufacturers
AG Group announces in-house assay office
Allied Gold and Brown and Newirth owner AG Group has announced that it has opened an in-house assay office at its group headquarters. The move follows a historic agreement with the Sheffield Assay Office, marking the first-ever fine jewellery manufacturing Sheffield sub-office. The partnership has received full approval from the…
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Feb- 2024 -26 FebruaryTrade Organisations
NAJ roundtable discusses future of trade with Chris Bryant MP
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) hosted a special 23 person industry wide roundtable on 8 February, bringing together all facets of the UK Jewellery, Silverware and Allied Crafts sectors, to meet with Sir Chris Bryant MP, shadow minister for creative and digital, part of the Department for Digital, Media…
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Apr- 2023 -21 AprilRetailers
Fabergé introduces two new lockets to its Heritage Collection
In celebration of the coronation of King Charles III, Fabergé has introduced two new commemorative lockets to its Heritage collection. The Heritage Gold State Coach Surprise Locket features a miniature replica of the “iconic Gold State Coach, built in 1762 to transport British kings and queens. The miniature carriage sits…
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11 AprilNews
BHC reappoints chair for third three-year term
The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has appointed its current chair, Noel Hunter OBE, to serve for a third three-year term. In his final term as chair, Hunter aims to improve the protection of UK consumers buying from the internet, where an increasing level of non-compliance has been detected, and therefore…
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Mar- 2023 -2 MarchNews
New Trustmark Scheme relaunched in March
The world’s first consumer online assurance scheme for the jewellery industry, the Trustmark Scheme, relaunched on 1 March with the support of all four UK Assay offices for the first time. It was first launched in 2012 by the Edinburgh Assay office to reassure consumers that hallmarked jewellery was not…
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Nov- 2021 -3 NovemberTrade Organisations
Birmingham Assay Office strikes first mark for Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
The Birmingham Assay Office welcomed Dan Higgs from local manufacturer F G H Products Ltd to witness the first commemorative mark struck on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Their silver ingots are the first items to be struck with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Mark. Designed by Thomas Fattorini Ltd, the mark…
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Oct- 2021 -18 OctoberNews
Hallmarking Dealer’s Notice goes digital
A new free digital Dealers Notice has launched to support the sale of jewellery items online, The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has announced. Launching this month, the online Dealers Notice will encourage engagement with customers, indicate responsible and lawful trading, and help explain the role and value of the Hallmark.…
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