Hallmarking Act
The Hallmarking Act is the foundational legislation that governs the UK’s precious metal certification system, mandating the testing and hallmarking of items made from gold, silver, platinum, and palladium to guarantee purity and consumer protection. It sets the legal framework for assay office operations, import approvals, licensing, and enforcement—shaping manufacturing, sourcing, compliance, and retail practices across the jewellery supply chain. Jewellery Focus offers comprehensive, trade-centric analysis of the Act’s ongoing relevance, including consultations, regulatory amendments, enforcement updates, cross-border implications, and stakeholder responses. Our reporting equips UK retailers, manufacturers, designers, assay offices, and suppliers with the knowledge to navigate legal obligations, ensure compliance, protect brand reputation, and confidently communicate authenticity to consumers.
-
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…
Read More » -
Apr- 2024 -23 AprilTrade Organisations
The NAJ launches Codes of Practice for whole UK industry
The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has announced that its Codes of Practice are now available to all jewellery businesses in the UK, irrespective of whether they are a member of the association or not. In 2022, the NAJ launched its strategy centred around compliance, profitability, and responsibility. This strategy…
Read More » -
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…
Read More » -
Jun- 2021 -21 JuneNews
The British Hallmarking Council is seeking new members
The British Hallmarking Council is seeking new members! If you are interested in the historic practice of Hallmarking, which protects consumers by the assay (testing) of the precious metal content of an item such as jewellery, then you may be interested to hear that the British Hallmarking Council is looking for…
Read More » -
Nov- 2019 -4 NovemberCurrent Affairs
Third of UK gold jewellery sold online suspected as fake, warns BHC
A third of “gold” jewellery being sold online is suspected to be unhallmarked and therefore may be fake, raising concerns that UK consumers are being duped by internet traders, according to data released today from the British Hallmarking Council (BHC). A 10-day internet sweep by WRi Group in partnership with…
Read More » -
Sep- 2019 -27 SeptemberEconomy
BHC introduces new Hallmarking Dealer’s Notice
The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has introduced a new Hallmarking Dealer’s Notice which is now available and becomes compulsory on 1 May 2020. The Dealer’s Notice, which must be displayed by all dealers supplying precious metal jewellery, has been updated to add two new marks. The updated version incorporates a…
Read More » -
Jan- 2019 -4 JanuaryEvents
Goldsmith’s Fair 2019 opens for applications
Goldsmith’s Fair has opened applications for designers to submit their work for the 37th edition of the showcase. Jewellery professionals have until midnight on 28 February 2019 to submit their work before The Goldsmiths’ Fair Selection Committee meet in March to deliberate applications. Last year, 138 exhibitors took part and…
Read More » -
Nov- 2018 -16 NovemberFeatures
Saying ‘Yes’ to platinum
Platinum has been successfully marketed as the ultimate precious metal and has proved relatively resilient to recent financial turmoil. Volume in the platinum market is very much driven by the bridal market and it has fared slightly better than gold and silver. Platinum is firmly established as the luxury option…
Read More » -
May- 2018 -2 MayCurrent Affairs
Industry figures comment on overseas hallmark outcome
Leading figures in the industry have commented on the outcome of the British Hallmarking Council’s consultation on overseas hallmarking styles. The Council decided in principle that hallmarks struck overseas by UK assay offices should be distinguished by way of a special mark. Discussions are now taking place with assay offices…
Read More » -
Aug- 2016 -24 AugustCurrent Affairs
UK Jewellers launch parliamentary petition to restrict offshore UK hallmarks
A group of UK silversmiths and jewellers have launched a campaign to restrict the use of distinctive traditional UK hallmarks, including city marks, to items hallmarked in the UK. For over 700 years UK hallmarks have only been struck in the UK, but the campaign said that there is now…
Read More »
