NEW - IJL - Be Part of it. Click here to register...more >

NEW - HALLMARKING SEMINAR - A GUIDE TO HALLMARKING...more >

NEW -Arts Council England is Supporting the Birmingham Launch Event of British Silver Week
The Birmingham Assay Office is pleased to announce that it has recently been successful in gaining support from the Arts Council England and has been awarded funding from the National Lottery to assist with the Birmingham Launch Event of British Silver Week which takes place from 7th – 27th June...more >

NEW - SUMMER SILVER EXHIBITION – BIRMINGHAM LAUNCH - ‘From Songsmith to Silversmith” A Fusion Of Midlands Arts and Creativity - MONDAY 7th JUNE – 5.30 – 8.30pm
The Birmingham Assay Office is delighted to support the official launch of the British Silver Week selling exhibition on Monday 7th June. The venue for this exciting spectacle of Midlands silversmithing skill is St Pauls Gallery, located a short walk from The Birmingham Assay Office and the largest commercial art gallery in the UK outside London...more >

NEW - NEW TOY SAFETY DIRECTIVE ENFORCEABLE JULY 2011 THE LABORATORY AT BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE CAN HELP
Forthcoming changes to toy safety legislation will impact on many organisations.  The new European Toy Safety Directive, enforceable from July 2011 has widened the definition of toys to  “products designed or intended, whether or not exclusively, for use in play by children under 14 years of age”....more >

A call to the jewellery industry to support the launch of fairtrade gold
I am writing to invite you to take part in a secure online survey entitled ‘fairtrade and fairmined gold market survey’. This survey has been commissioned by the Fairtrade Foundation in London aimed at gaining a greater level of understanding into the UK jewellery industry and beyond...more >

first UK testing house to become UKAS accredited to new Lead Safety Standard
The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office is the first UK testing house  to become UKAS accredited to new Lead Safety Standard....more >

Palladium hits the mark
Palladium has been officially acknowledged as the latest precious metal trend for the fine jewellery industry with the advent of a hallmark to guarantee its fineness. From today, 22nd July 2009,  the four UK Assay Offices can mark Palladium articles with a legally recognised Hallmark, applied under an amendment to the Hallmarking Act 1973.....more »

THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE PARTICIPATES IN THE 100TH ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Birmingham is ready to welcome more than 20,000 people from over 151 different countries to the City...more >

CELEBRATE THE LIFE, WORK AND LEGACY OF THE FOUNDER OF THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE - MATTHEW BOULTON - THE MOST INFLUENTIAL INDUSTRIALIST OF THE 18TH CENTURY AND ONE OF BIRMINGHAM'S FINEST MEN...more >

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 >

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 >

26.02.09 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>

26.01.09 Demand for packaging testing increases
The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office pioneered testing for the susceptibility of packaging materials to influence tarnishing three years ago and has amassed a huge amount of research and knowledge. The tests are based on international standards and have been developed specifically for the jewellery and precious metal trade...more >

26.01.09 Flammability Test now available
The Laboratory has been carrying out an increasing amount of testing to BS EN 71-3: 1995, a standard that places restrictions on the migration rate of eight potentially toxic elements; Arsenic, Mercury, Selenium, Chromium, Antimony, Cadmium, Lead and Barium...more>

26.01.09 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>

13.01.09 - 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 >

12.12.08 - E Tickets available for Free Spring Fair 09 entry. Click here to register online to receive your free entry ticket.

11.12.08 - CHRISTMAS OPENING TIMES - AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE......more >

01.08.08 - The Laboratory At The Birmingham Assay Office Exhibits For The First Time 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>

01.08.08 - The Consumer Challenge Quiz  - a major success story for Birmingham
The Birmingham Assay Office is proud to be a sponsor of the successful Consumer Challenge Quiz, an event for teenagers with special needs organised by Birmingham Trading Standards.......more>

01.08.08 - Download the latest edition of Lab Notes - click here

01.08.08 - TRADING STANDARDS AND THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE
In all aspects of its business, The Birmingham Assay Office works closely with Trading Standards to protect the consumer, and in November, The Office was pleased to welcome Mr. Chris Neville, Acting Head of Trading Standards and Birmingham City Laboratories and Councillor Neil Eustace, Chair of the Public Protection Committee. ......more>

01.08.08 - HUGE DEMAND FOR LEAD TESTING FROM THE LABORATORY AT THE BIRMINGHAM
ASSAY OFFICE
The media focus on lead testing of Children’s Toys and Jewellery in August 2007 prompted an immediate response from the jewellery, watch and fashion trade, as well as from Toy Manufacturers, retailers and Trading Standards Authorities. ......more >

01.08.08 - NEW NICKEL TESTING ADVERT FROM THE LABORATORY AT
THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE
The Laboratory at The Birmingham Assay Office will be launching a new advert in 2008 aimed at promoting its highly successful Quick Nickel Testing service. Look out for it in a range of industry magazines. . ......more >