Previous Press Releases
improved precious metals melting and assay service from the laboratory at the birmingham assay office.
The Heat Is On…………….. at The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office.
With the price of gold and other precious metals rising, the demand for precious metal reclamation is increasing. The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office has responded by significantly upgrading its melting facility. New induction furnaces now enable the Laboratory to offer a faster and more efficient precious metals melting service.....more >
The Birmingham Assay Office - continues to support British Silver Week
As part of British Silver Week the RBSA are holding a "Meet the Silversmiths" event on Saturday 13th June....more >
New Furnaces Improve Precious Metal Melting Services
To melt and assay scrap containing gold, silver, platinum and palladium please call
Tel: 0871 871 6020 or email: testing@theassayoffice.co.uk
Click here for more information >
Matthew Boulton Celebrations In Birmingham City Centre Chamberlain Square 11am-4pm Saturday 30th May.
COME AND JOIN US as we celebrate the life, work and legacy of the greatest industrial pioneer
of the 18th century – a true gentleman of Birmingham and founder of The Birmingham Assay Office - Mr Matthew Boulton.
A major exhibition to commemorate the bicentenary of Matthew Boulton opens in Birmingham on Saturday May 30th. To mark the opening, activities...click here for more >
anchorCert Certificates
STRENGHTEN SUCCESSFUL SALE OF BELLE EPOQUE PENDANT
A beautiful Belle Epoque pearl and diamond pendant, circa 1905 sold at a recent Bonhams Fine Jewellery Sale for £57,600....click for more >
Hallmarking - The Law, Don't get caught out. Click for more >
Trading Standards checks are being carried out on stores nationwide.
The Birmingham Assay Office and SafeGuard Jewellery Valuation Service participate in Coutts London Jewellery Week with 2 Jewellery Valuation Events at Mappin & Webb,
Regent Street, London. Click the link below for further information.
www.londonjewelleryweek.co.uk/whos-who/the-birmingham-assay-office
CIBJO Precious metals commission special report
Michael Allchin, CEO & Assay Master of The Birmingham Assay Office has been busy in his role as President of the CIBJO (International Jewellery Confederation) Precious Metals Commision following on from the approval of the CIBJO Precious Metals Blue Book - a definitive international standard for precious metals - which was given in April 2008...more>
Birmingham Anti Money Laundering Conference
- 12th March 2009
Businesses in the Birmingham area are invited to a free one day conference to learn how to safeguard themselves against serious organised crime and money laundering...more>
The Birmingham Assay Office Joins The Giftware Association
The Birmingham Assay Office has extended its association with the British Jewellers’ Association and the Jewellery Distributors’ Association by becoming a full member of sister Trade Association, The Giftware Association...more>
Palladium update...click for more >
Valuation day at the birmingham Assay office
Do you really know what your precious jewellery possessions are worth ? Are your valuables adequately insured against, theft, loss or even repair? Would you be able to prove ownership of all of your valuable jewellery items should they go missing ?...more >
iT’S A SPRING AFFAIR AND WE’VE GOT SOMETHING NEW……..
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE AT SPRING FAIR , NEC 1-5 February 2009
THE JEWELLERY SHOW – HALL 17 STAND A19 More NEW Innovative Services from The Birmingham Assay Office...more >
SO MUCH MORE THAN SIMPLY AN ASSAY OFFICE ...
The Birmingham Assay Office, now the largest Assay Office in the world, has broadened its range of services to include diamond certification, jewellery, watch and silverware valuation and a host of other product testing services.....more >
the assay office, name the bear competition ...
The Birmingham Assay Office Bear has been won in a Name The Bear Competition by Sanita Varma of the Preparation Department at The Birmingham Assay Office.
.......more >
E Tickets available for Free Spring Fair 09 entry. Click here to register online to receive your free entry ticket.
Christmas Opening Times - and a Merry Christmas from The Birmingham Assay Office......more >
Celebrating The Glory Days Both Past And Present Of Birmingham Silverware...
August 2009 will see the centenary of the death of the legendary Birmingham silversmith, Matthew Boulton and The Birmingham Assay Office is already preparing to celebrate his memory in style........more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE DARE TO WEAR IT PINK...in support of the Breast Cancer Campaign...
Forget the Credit Crunch. The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter is in the ‘Pink’ – and looking Fabulous........more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE SPONSORS CENTREPIECE 2008....
The Birmingham Assay Office is pleased to once again be at the heart of Centrepiece 2008......more >
You can Trust Our Old Fashioned Values....
If you want to know the real value of a piece of antique jewellery, watch or silverware talk to the experts at The Birmingham Assay Office......more >
YOUR INVITATION TO JOIN THE GREAT DEBATE - CLICK FOR MORE >
The birmingham assay office – principal financial supporter of the national association of goldsmiths conference for valuers and jewellers 2008
The Birmingham Assay Office is pleased to be the Principal Financial Supporter of the annual National Association of Goldsmiths Conference for Valuers and Jewellers to be held in Loughborough from 20–22 September 2008.....more >
International Jewellery London. The Great Debate
The Birmingham Assay Office continues to be concerned about ethical, humanitarian and social issues associated with the Jewellery trade and is keen that these be confronted and the challenges met in a transparent way....more >
The Laboratory At The Birmingham Assay Office Exhibits For The First Time At Autumn Fair
The Laboratory goes it alone at Autumn Fair. The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office now offers a wide range of tests for the Fashion and Costume Jewellery Industry and will be exhibiting at Autumn Fair, NEC, Birmingham for the first time this year.
...more >
A CELEBRATION OF BIRMINGHAM SILVER A SHINING SUCCESS ON A WARM SUMMERS EVENING IN JUNE
An Exclusive Viewing Of The Finest Birmingham Silversmiths took place on Tuesday 10th June at The Birmingham Assay Office. The continuing skill, imagination and creativity of Birmingham Silversmiths’ was celebrated in style on a warm summer’s evening in June at The Birmingham Assay Office. Over 150 invited guests visited the Celebration of Birmingham Silver exhibition which marked the first ever British Silver Week....more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE AND SAFEGUARD INDEPENDENT
JEWELLERY VALUATION SERVICE PARTICIPATE IN COUTTS SUCCESSFUL LONDON JEWELLERY WEEK
The Birmingham Assay Office celebrated the first London Jewellery Week with a successful educational Event at Goldsmiths’ Canary Wharf store.........more >
An Invitation to attend an exclusive viewing of A celebration of birmingham silver
The Birmingham Assay Office is holding a unique exhibition within the Office, on Tuesday 10th June 2008.To coincide with the first British Silver Week, a national event to highlight the talents of contemporary British Silversmiths, The Birmingham Assay Office will showcase pieces which demonstrate the development of Birmingham silver during the past 235 years....more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE CELEBRATES HISTORIC SILVER AT
THE PEN ROOM - The Birmingham Assay Office is pleased to be working in partnership with the Pen Room on the exhibition A Celebration of Silver. The exhibition provides a rare opportunity to see pieces from The Birmingham Assay Office Silver Collection, and it opens at the Pen Room on May 1st and will run until June 30th........more >
INTERNATIONAL REFERENCE STANDARD ESTABLISHED FOR
CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, has approved a Blue Book for Precious Metal Jewellery, Flatware and Hollow-ware. On the last day of its Annual Congress 2008, held in Dubai, the CIBJO Executive and an assembly of delegates voted unanimously to accept the definitive industry standard presented for approval by the Precious Metals Commission.........more >
AMAZING SUPPORT FOR THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY- THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE STAFF HOLD A SUCCESSFUL CHARITY CAR WASH
People in the “Trade” may not all be aware of the wonderful and mainly unsung work that the registered charity of the British Jewellery Giftware and Finishing Federation,“THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY” has been carrying out since 1924. ........more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE CELEBRATE A SUCCESSFUL SPRING FAIR 2008 The Birmingham Assay Office celebrated a very successful Spring Fair where for the first time it was able to show visitors the complete range of services that it provides to the jewellery industry........more >
Overall UK Hallmarking numbers for 2007 were 25,413,275, a small increase against 2006 of 2.1%, ie 523,000 articles. Much of the increase occurred in the second and third quarters while the final quarter was relatively flat at 0.5%. .. .......more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE AT SPRING FAIR 2008 BENEFITING FROM CHANGE BREAKFAST SEMINAR –5th FEBRUARY 2008 – BY INVITATION ONLY
The UK jewellery market is changing faster than ever before and it is increasingly important that suppliers and retailers understand what is happening to customer demand and are able to respond accordingly.. .......more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE AT SPRING FAIR 2008 NOW OFFERS A COMPLETE SERVICE TO THE JEWELLERY INDUSTRY
Since The Birmingham Assay Office Act was passed in 1995, allowing the organisation to offer products in addition to its statutory Hallmarking services, the company has developed a complete portfolio of independent, innovative, user-friendly products and services for the jewellery, precious metal and gemstone trade.. .......more >
A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE PIECES FROM THE PRIVATE SILVER COLLECTION OF THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE ON SHOW
AT SPRING FAIR 2008
The Birmingham Assay Office Stand at the Spring Fair will feature a rare opportunity to see pieces from its unique Silver Collection, which tells the remarkable story of the history of hallmarking in Birmingham. .......more >
Exciting Job Opportunities ! .......more >
Toward a new CIBJO Prescious metals Blue Book - by Michael Allchin, Vice President CIBJO Precious Metals Commission and Chieve Ececutive and Assay Master of The Birmingham Assay Office.
The Birmingham Assay Office is proud to be sponsoring Centrepiece 2007. Centrepiece is a selling exhibition of Jewellery and Silverware from Birmingham's leading contemporary designers. .......more >
CENTREPIECE - At Symphony Hall and Town Hall Birmingham 16th Nov - 23rd Dec. A Selling Exhibition of Jewellery and Silverware by Birmingham's leading contemporary designers.
The Birmingham Assay Office is proud to be sponsoring Centrepiece 2007. Centrepiece is a selling exhibition of Jewellery and Silverware from Birmingham's leading contemporary designers. .......more >
THE IJL GREAT DEBATE – 5TH SEPTEMBER 2007 –A SYNOPSIS
Among the many events supporting the Exhibition at International Jewellery London, was the first IJL Great Debate, hosted by The Birmingham Assay Office in partnership with Reed Exhibitions. .......more >
DIGBY, LORD JONES OF BIRMINGHAM ADDRESSES THE GUARDIANS OF THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY
Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, spoke today of his commitment to his new role as Minster of State for Trade and Industry, his desire to include his home City of Birmingham in his title and his pride in being able to “do something” for the country.......more >
LEAD - THE FACTS
The Birmingham Assay Office has been inundated with requests for advice and additional testing since the recent National Press coverage with regard to unsafe levels of lead being found in some items of Children’s Jewellery and Toys......more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE OPENS NEW SUB-OFFICE AT QVC
The Birmingham Assay Office is always keen to respond to the changing demands of the market and improve customer service. The latest advance is the opening of a “sub-Office” hallmarking facility for QVC, within the shopping channel’s Customer Operations and Distribution Centre at Knowsley, Merseyside....more >
A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR THE JEWELLERY TRADE - HALLMARKING OF MIXED METALS NOW LEGAL
Changes to the Hallmarking legislation which came into force on April 6th 2007 have created new opportunities for the Jewellery industry and offer consumers more accurate descriptions of the items they are purchasing. ...more >
A MUST FOR YOUR COFFEE TABLE, NEW CORPORATE BROCHURE FROM THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE
A new Corporate Brochure is nowavailable which details all the services provided by The Birmingham Assay Office to the Trade and Consumers alike...more >
JAMES THOMPSON UCE SCHOOL OF JEWELLERY STUDENT WINS
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE AWARD
The Birmingham Assay Office was pleased to once again provide an Award for the annual Prize Giving to Students at the Birmingham School of Jewellery...more>
THE GREAT DEBATE AT IJL
The Birmingham Assay Office, in association with Exhibition Organisers Reed, will be chairing a new event at the International Jewellery London Show on 5th September 2007...more >
4TH GENERATION SILVER MANUFACTURER CELEBRATES AN
IMPORTANT MILESTONE
C Robathan & Sons, the Birmingham based silverware manufacturer, has plenty to celebrate as they reach an important anniversary in 2008 – 90 years in business!..more>
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE JOINS SPONSORS OF
CONNECT CONFERENCE
The Association of British Designer Silversmiths are hosting CONNECT - an exciting two-day event to be held 6 & 7 July 2007 at Aston University, Birmingham. This event will bring together designers and manufacturers to examine ways in which design, new technology and traditional manufacture can combine to provide an edge in our highly competitive international market.. ...more >>
EXCELLENT ADMINISTRATIVE JOB OPPORTUNITY......more....>>
DOWNLOAD - THE NEW SILVER VISITS LITERATURE ... Click here....>>
SILVER SPARKLE SUCCESS AT RECENT ANTIQUES FOR EVERYONE SHOW
Every spring Birmingham’s NEC takes a step back several centuries and hosts Antiques for Everyone, one of the world’s leading antique events. This year The Birmingham Assay Office were the star attraction, with “A Celebration of Silver” exhibition that gave visitors a once in a lifetime opportunity to see pieces that have rarely if ever been on show to the general public. ...more >>
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE NEW WEBSITE – EARLY SILVER HALLMARKS
The Birmingham Assay Office has just launched its new, Early Silver Hallmarks website. Any silver collector who may have acquired, for example an early Birmingham silver snuff box with a maker’s mark they don’t recognise ......more >
The Birmingham Assay Office – a hidden gem in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter - it truly is the genuine article......more >
Lord Sebastion Coe, Chairman of London 2012, is due to visit Birmingham during the European Indoor Athletics Championships 2-4th March, and in honour of his visit and his role in securing the Olympics, he will be presented with a unique silver baton ......more >
Over 50 of the leading figures in the UK Jewellery industry attended a presentation given by Michael Allchin, Chief Executive and Assay Master of The Birmingham Assay Office, during the 2007 Spring Fair which was held at the NEC, in Birmingham ......more >
Kay Alexander, the BBC broadcaster, journalist and Chairman of the Birmingham Assay Office, officially declared open The 4th National Fine Art & Antiques Fair at The National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham at 11am on Wednesday 17th January 2007......more >
The Birmingham Assay Office will be out in force at Spring Fair 07 at theNEC from 4th – 8th February......more >
Imminent changes to the Hallmarking legislation will create new opportunities for the Jewellery industry and offer consumers more accurate descriptions of the items they are purchasing.......more >
The Birmingham Assay Office is delighted to announce that it is to provide a feature event at the Antiques for Everyone show which will take place at the NEC from the 12th to 15th April.......more >
A new brochure, designed to provide a brief but comprehensive overview of the Hallmarking services provided by The Birmingham Assay Office, has recently been completed.......more >
EXCELLENT CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR VALUERS
Click to find out more about this excitign career opportunity.....more >
QUICK NICKEL - NICKEL TESTING
Frequently Asked Questions about The Birmingham Assay Office
"Quick Nickel Test".....more >
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE AND LICHFIELD HERITAGE CENTRE CELEBRATE THE WORK OF MATTHEW BOULTON / OCT 06
Together The Birmingham Assay Office and Lichfield Heritage Centre are offering a rare opportunity to see the unique work of Matthew Boulton, Birmingham’s celebrated silversmith and founder of The Birmingham Assay Office. These pieces from The Birmingham Assay Office Silver Collection have not been shown to the general public for many years. ......more >>
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE WEBSITE SETS NEW STANDARDS FOR THE INDUSTRY / SEP 06
The Birmingham Assay Office website (www.theassayoffice.co.uk) has been completely revised and since its recent relaunch it has met with universal approval from manufacturing and retail customers, staff, industry experts, students and members of the public alike. ......more >>
LARGEST ASSAY OFFICE IN THE WORLD ELECTS FIRST WOMAN CHAIRMAN
For the first time in its 233-year history, the Birmingham Assay Office is to have a woman as its chairman. Kay Alexander, the BBC broadcaster and journalist, is to take up the position when the current Chairman, Roger Burman CBE, retires in October 2006. ......more >>
/ JULY 06
Palladium is the new white metal that took the recent Las Vegas Jewelry Show by storm. Michael Allchin, Chief Executive and Assay Master at the Birmingham Assay Office, will be detailing the opportunities it offers to retail jewellers in the UK when he speaks at the IJL International Jewellery Exhibition at Earls Court from 3rd to 6th September. Michael’s Seminar entitled “Palladium – A new Opportunity” will take place on Monday 4th September at 2pm......more >>
STUDENT HALLMARKING PACKAGE LAUNCHED / JULY 06
The Birmingham Assay Office has for many years recognised the importance of supporting and encouraging the new lifeblood of the jewellery and silversmithing industries and is delighted to announce details of a new Hallmarking Package for Students.....more >>
The Birmingham Assay Office has recently launched its new corporate marketing identity which has met with admiration and the approval of its retail and manufacturing customers, industry experts, staff and members of the public alike......more >> FEBRUARY 2006 New Directors Appointed
The Assay Office has reconfirmed its strategy of continued investment in both statutory and non-hallmarking activities and announced the appointment of four new Directors, to bring more customer focus to its forward planning and day to day operations...................more
AUGUST 2005 Simplified Nickel Regulations
The nickel legislation addresses a serious problem. The regulation of Nickel was prompted by concern over the growing number of people becoming sensitized to it. It is estimated that in Europe between at least 10% of females and 1% of males are sensitized to Nickel and will suffer problems for the rest of their life as a result. ..................more
1ST MAY 2005 Measurement Not Judgement –
Setting the Standard for White Gold
White Gold has risen in popularity over the past few years and so have the number of queries from consumers and jewelers as to what exactly can be called “White”. To date there has been no established or recognised means of defining the composition of White Gold, nor the colour it should be. Confusion and inconsistency reign..................more
Summer 2004 The Birmingham Assay Office aquires
The London precious Stone Laboratory
A world-class diamond, coloured stone and pearl identification and certification service is now available in London. In addition to existing operations in Birmingham and New York, The Birmingham Assay Office has opened its third gemmological facility; the AnchorCert Gemmological Office in Hatton Garden..................more
16TH MARCH 2004 SafeGuard Valuation Service spots first synthetic diamond
Synthetic diamonds have hit the headlines in both Trade and Consumer press over the past few months. They are now becoming a major concern to Valuers and Diamond Graders as even the most highly skilled and experienced gemmologists have no way of guaranteeing that they can identify modern synthetics without expensive equipment.................more
TROPICAL LINK
Horizon - Diamond Labs BBCi Best Link Horizon explores how scientists are making synthetic diamonds, and finds out how it is affecting the diamond mining industry.................more
Laser Marking Service for Diamonds
Birmingham Assay Office has created fantastic new potential for the UK Jewellery market with the launch of its new laser marking service for diamonds .................more
The first Sub-Office at a jewellery manufacturer
Following the decision made by the British Hallmarking Council to authorise Assay Offices, in certain circumstances, to assay and mark products on sites away from the main Office, the first Sub-Office at a jewellery manufacturer's operating under the new system was opened on 1st August 2002 in the premises of Curteis Ltd., at Ellesmere, Shropshire. ............more
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