Hallmarking
Hallmarking is a cornerstone of the UK jewellery trade, ensuring the authenticity and quality of precious metal items through independent verification. For jewellers, manufacturers, and suppliers, staying up to date with hallmarking legislation, standards, and practices is essential to maintaining compliance and consumer trust. Jewellery Focus provides expert coverage on hallmarking, including updates from the UK’s assay offices, regulatory changes, innovations in testing, and insights into the role hallmarking plays in supporting the trade.
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Aug- 2018 -14 AugustEconomy
Gold and Platinum up double digits in latest Hallmarking figures
The number of gold and platinum pieces hallmarked in July 2018 increased significantly by 12.5% and 20.2% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. However, the average volume of silver fell by 22.2% to 331,498 compared with 426,156, while palladium decreased by 21.4% to 6,252 hallmarked items.…
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6 AugustFeatures
Understanding international jewellery
The first month at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham is well underway. Bustling workshop demonstrations and creative experimentations are taking place, contextual study-trips and talking practice events are stimulating minds and the students are settling into the routine of formative lectures and seminars. But there is nothing routine about…
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Jul- 2018 -18 JulyMetal Prices
Hallmarking figures drop 9.3% in June
Hallmarking fell by an average of 9.3% in June 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, according to the latest figures from the four UK assay offices and compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of all precious metals apart from platinum fell this month, with…
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Jun- 2018 -29 JuneDesigners
New Designers reveal ‘Goldsmiths’ Company Awards’ winners
Design exhibition firm New Designers has announced the winners of its ‘Goldsmiths’ Company Awards’. Students exhibiting jewellery and silver in the group’s Jewellery and Contemporary Design and Crafts event were automatically considered for the awards. The judges selected the following winners: Silversmithing: Rachel Hardie of Glasgow School of Art Rachel…
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19 JuneEconomy
Hallmarking figures fall 11%
Hallmarking fell by an average of 11% in May 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of all precious metals fell this month when compared to the same period the previous year. Gold fell by 8.5%…
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8 JuneFeatures
What does the offshore hallmark mean for the jewellery industry?
“We were extremely happy when the British Hallmarking Council (BHC) finally, after a great deal of pushing and shoving from all sides, agreed that jewellery pieces hallmarked overseas should have a different mark to the ones we strike domestically,” says John Langford, director of Braybrook and Britten, triumphantly. For many…
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May- 2018 -17 MayMetal Prices
Gold and platinum hallmarking sees double digit increase
The number of gold and platinum pieces hallmarked in April 2018 increased significantly by 12.1% and 10.9% respectively, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. However, the average volume of silver fell by 13.8% to 335,827 compared with 389,707, while palladium decreased by 21.6% to 5,513 hallmarked items.…
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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…
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Apr- 2018 -18 AprilMetal Prices
Hallmarking figures drop by 8.5% for March
Hallmarking fell by an average of 8.5% in March 2018 compared with the same period the previous year, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The average volume of all precious metals fell this month. Palladium pieces hallmarked fell considerably by 36% to 5,475 compared with 8,593 the…
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Mar- 2018 -27 MarchEconomy
Surprise 12% jump in gold hallmarking in February
The number of gold jewellery articles hallmarked in February this year was up by 12% compared with the 2017, according to figures compiled by the Birmingham Assay Office. The high-value category saw numbers increase from 280,283 to 313,532, an increase of over 33,000 articles, providing a boon for the jewellery…
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