NEW - NEW HERITAGE AND TRAINING OFFICER FOR THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE
Sally Hoban has joined The Birmingham Assay Office in a new role as Heritage & Training Officer. The role is two-fold, bringing together aspects of the history and heritage of the Assay Office with a key strand of its future development, which is to provide a high-quality education and training service for the professional jewellery trade and members of the public... more >

NEW - When All Is Gold - Stephen Webster
View the movie .. more >

NEW - Calling all Jewellers & Jewellery Designers: Urgent Opportunity
The luxury shopping destination The Mailbox, Birmingham is hosting a wonderful 14 week event in the run up to Christmas starting this week. The event consists of 30 hand picked brand new concession spaces for jewellery designers, jewellery businesses, retailers and boutiques offering a unique selling speace for the Christmas period.. more >

NEW - THE GREAT DEBATE 2011 AT IJL A TRULY NTERNATIONAL EVENT
As IJL (International Jewellery London) celebrated an increase in visitor numbers for its 2011 trade show (nearly 10,000 visitors, providing a 2% increase), Sam Willoughby, Event co-director, noted that The Great Debate was not only very well attended by key buyers and retailers alike but was a truly international event.. more >

NEW -CHERYL OWEN – HALLMARKER AT THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE ACHIEVES TOP GEMMOLOGICAL QUALIFICATION
Cheryl Owen, a member of the Hallmarking team at The Birmingham Assay Office has recently achieved her FGA status –as a graduate of the Gemmology Diploma from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. This is in addition to the DGA (Diploma in Diamond Grading) qualification that Cheryl achieved in 2009. more >

NEW - ANCHORCERT UNVEILS THE GEMSTONE CARAT WEIGHT
ESTIMATOR APP
Estimating the carat weight of gemstones which are already mounted is something which experienced jewellers, pawnbrokers and valuers need to do every day. Over the past few decades the equipment to assist them has grown increasingly sophisticated but now the AnchorCert Gemstone Certification Service has propelled the process into the 21st century with its Gemstone Carat Weight Estimator App for smart phones.- more >

NEW - Diamond jubilee hallmark retail pack
Create maximum impact and awarness at point of sale
Order your Queens Diamond Jubilee Commemortaive Hallmark Retail Pack here - more >

NEW - RON RETIRES FROM BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE AFTER 50 YEARS DEDICATED SERVICE
Staff at The Birmingham Assay Office said a sad farewell to their long time colleague Ron Hodgetts who recently completed 50 years of service and then combined both his birthday celebrations and retirement party to mark the
end of an era. - more >

NEW - Red Tape Challenge endorses Hallmarking as a good regulation - After a vigorous nationwide campaign championed by The Birmingham Assay Office the results of the first “retail” round of the Governments’ Red Tape Challenge has recognised hallmarking as a “good regulation”. Minister for Business and Enterprise Mark Prisk listed some confusing and overlapping regulations which were to be scrapped, but said “we are preserving good regulation, such as the hallmarking regime, for which there was strong support”. more >

NEW - Red Tape Challenge endorses Hallmarking as a good regulation - Thanks to overwhelming support from the industry, Hallmarking has been endorsed by the Red Tape Challenge. It has been singled out in the Government’s report as one of the “well designed and valuable regulations”
that have widespread support and will therefore be retained in its existing
form. more >

NEW - The Birmingham Assay Office Staff at the launch of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Hallmark at Goldsmiths’ Hall - more >

NEW - come and see us at IJL 4th to 7th September 2011 - Earls court 2 - stand h109, in the fine jewellery section.
click here to register for free - more >

NEW - ANCHORCERT GEMMOLOGICAL SERVICES CELEBRATES 10 YEARS - Anchortcert Independent Diamond and Gemstone Certification Service was founded ten years ago as a separate division of The Birmingham Assay Office.  From its early beginnings as a diamond certification service AnchorCert has grown and consolidated its expertise. - more >

NEW - JEWELLERY INDUSTRY LAUNCHES QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS
The UK Jewellery and Precious Metals Industry celebrated in style last night at a glittering event to launch the Commemorative Hallmark for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Key members of the industry, including retailers, designers and manufacturers gathered in Goldsmiths’ Hall at an event jointly hosted by the Goldsmiths’ Company and the four UK Assay Offices, London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh. The launch was attended by HRH Princess Michael of Kent who witnessed the first Jubilee marks being formally struck. - more >

NEW - your last chance to book your place on assay office open visit
The Birmingham Assay Office is pleased to announce that it is uniquely opening its doors to the General Public and offering limited places on its popular Silver Collection Visits programme –
on TWO DATES ONLY. - more >

NEW - The Great Debate At International Jewellery London, IJL – in collaboration with The Birmingham Assay Office - Earls Court II
The Great Debate MONDAY 5th September 11.15 – 12.30
The fifth Great Debate, facilitated by The Birmingham Assay Office, in partnership with IJL. This is an opportunity to share news and air your views about ethical issues, with industry practitioners - more >

lead in fine and fashion jewellery - the facts
The presence of Lead in jewellery and accessories is an increasing matter for concern due to the harmful effects that Lead can have, particularly on children. Many suppliers are testing for Lead as part of their “due diligence” and Lead will certainly be included in the final REACH regulations. The current situation and the latest EU proposal are set out below. more>

get closer and be inspired
The Birmingham Assay Office and all its divisions are now on Facebook and Twitter...more>

NEW -THE BIRMINGHAM ASSAY OFFICE PLANS SPARKLING FUTURE IN THE JEWELLERY QUARTER
The Birmingham Assay Office is seeking a new site in Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter in order to fully develop its potential in the 21st Century.
After nearly 135 years in its current home in Newhall Street the Wardens of the Assay Office have made the decision to leave the Victorian grandeur of the iconic Grade II listed building and find larger, more suitable premises elsewhere....more >

NEW - FASHION JEWELLERY COMPLIANCE & SCRAP GOLD ANALYSIS FROM THE LABORATORY
Visitors to Spring Fair who trade in costume jewellery and accessories need to understand increasingly demanding legislation, and growing concerns about nickel, lead, cadmium and other potentially harmful metals.
Click here to learn more.....more>

NEW - DOWNLOAD THE JEWELLERY SHOW PRESS PACK
Here to help you sell more in 2011.....more>

NEW - Lead and its compounds in jewellery
The issue of lead, and the potential danger of ingestion of lead from children’s fashion jewellery, has regularly been highlighted in the International Press. France has prepared a report (an Annex XV report) proposing to restrict lead and its compounds in jewellery under the REACH Regulations. .....more>

NEW - Education &Training at The Birmingham Assay Office
Hallmarking Seminars - Diamond Training - Gold Assay Courses and Tailored Programmes. Call today for more details.....more>

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 >