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Assay Offices

By law all items sold as gold, silver, platinum or palladium in the UK must be hallmarked to confirm that they meet the legal standard of alloy proportionality for the precious metal they are being sold as. This can only be carried out by one of the four UK Assay Offices, or an Assay Office belonging to the International Convention. Here are where to find the four UK offices... Assay Office London Goldsmiths' Hall Gutter Lane London EC2V 8AQ www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk                 Birmingham Assay Office 1 Moreton Street Birmingham B1 3AX theassayoffice.co.uk    

The Goldsmiths’ Company appoints Jos Skeates to its Court of Assistants

The Goldsmiths’ Company has appointed Jos Skeates, founder and Managing Director of the award-winning jewellers E.C.One, to its Court of Assistants The Court of Assistants is equivalent to a non-executive board and has overall responsibility for the Company’s affairs. Assistants are elected from within the Company’s membership following a recruitment process focused on key skills and requirements. There are 26 Assistants on the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Court of Assistants, of which 27% are women and 73% men. On Friday 8 March 2024, The Goldsmiths’ Company announced the appointment of a new member of its Court of Assistants – Jos Skeates – who

Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office Retires

The Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London, Dr Robert Organ, is to retire after 21 years of service. Robert began his career at the Goldsmiths’ Company in 2000 as Superintendent Assayer of the London Assay Office, before taking over as Deputy Warden (Managing Director-equivalent) in 2006. The Goldsmiths’ Company has been responsible for guaranteeing the purity of items made of precious metals since 1300, when the hallmarking statute was passed. Commenting on his retirement, Robert said, “It has been a privilege and honour to serve as Deputy Warden. I have taken great pride in adding to

Edinburgh Assay Office’s CEO and Assay Master assumes international Chairman role

Scott Walter, who is the chief executive and master of the Edinburgh Assay Office will take up the role of chairman of the Convention on the Control & Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (CCMAPM) at the end of November. Mr Walter held previous roles within the Convention sitting on the Standing Technical committee and the Vision and Strategy Working group. Mr Walter has recently completed a five-year term as chairman of the International Association of Assay Offices, which culminated in its merger with the CCMAPM. The Edinburgh Assay Office has been testing and hallmarking precious metals since 1457 and is the trading arm of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths

PRESS RELEASE: Birmingham Assay Office Transforms The Future Of Valuations

Introducing: Valued & Vaulted. Seamless Experience. One Digital Vault. Total Peace of Mind. Birmingham Assay Office is entering the next era of Jewellery and Luxury Valuations. Inpartnership with Vaultik, a cutting-edge digital platform, and Renoon, enablingtraceability and transparency, they are launching fully digital, blockchain-backedvaluation certificates designed for speed, security, and simplicity. Now, customers can receive valuations straight to their digital vault. No paper. Nowaiting. Just fast, secure access to certified valuations, whenever and wherever they need them. And it’s not just jewellery. Their expertise now extends to luxury fashion and designeritems like handbags and trainers. Every item is authenticated and

Showstoppers Talk: Shining silver commissions from the Sheffield Assay Office collection; the work of Junko Mori

Showstoppers Silver Centrepieces Silver is a seductive, glamorous material and the centrepiece is one of its most wondrous uses. ‘Showstoppers’ takes two iconic centrepieces from Leeds’ historic silver collection and presents them alongside contemporary masterpieces by artists Junko Mori and Miriam Hanid. The exhibition showcases the continuation and reinvention of traditional silversmithing techniques and celebrates women in silver, as makers and owners. Junko Mori Willaume & Tanqueray Miriam Hanid Thomas Pitts Events Programme Talk: Miriam Hanid Date: 9 June 2017 Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm Tickets: £7 (inc. admission), booking required. Event: Silversmithing Demonstration Date: 10 June 2017 Time: 11.00am –

Latest UK Hallmarking Figures: May 2022

The figures for all four assay offices - Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh - for May 2022 vs May 2021 have been released. Birmingham Assay Office compiled the May 2022 UK Hallmarking figures.  Author:  Published: 

PRESS RELEASE: Brigadier Ed Butler CBE DSO appointed 698th Prime Warden

Brigadier Ed Butler CBE DSO has been appointed 698th Prime Warden (chairperson-equivalent) of the Goldsmiths’ Company – a new Prime Warden is elected from the Court of Assistants (board-equivalent) every year. Now a highly respected specialist in strategic risk and resilience, Ed spent 24 years serving in the British Army, achieving his career ambition at the age of 38 when he took command of 22 SAS (the 22nd Special Air Service regiment). He chairs the Lloyds’ Patriotic Fund, chairs the Development Committee of the Clocktower Foundation (the SAS charity), and is City Colonel, Rifles’ Regiment for Greater London. A self-professed

Appointment: Michael Prideaux elected as Prime Warden for 2018-19

Each year, four Assistants at the Goldsmiths' Company are elected to become Wardens, who meet regularly and act as the Company's executive committee. The senior warden is known as the Prime Warden and serves for a year, changing over in May. Michael Prideaux has been elected as Prime Warden for 2018-19. Michael spent much of his executive career at British American Tobacco, where he was a member of the Management Board and responsible for Corporate and Regulatory Affairs from 1998 - 2012.  He joined B.A.T.  Industries, then a diversified conglomerate spanning tobacco, financial services, retailing and paper and pulp in

Striking Futures

The NAJ and Sheffield Assay Office Join Forces for Striking Futures Event The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and Sheffield Assay Office are pleased to announce Striking Futures, a new collaborative event designed to help businesses and students get ahead in the jewellery industry. Taking place on Thursday, 3rd November, Striking Futures promises to be a must-attend afternoon,   whether embarking on a career in the sector or looking to boost your business. Register NAJ’s Principal Officer, Ben Massey, states, “We’re excited to collaborate with the Sheffield Assay Office to deliver an educational industry event that will provide great value,

Q&A: Robert Organ

Robert Organ is the Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Assay Office in London. Robert, of Welsh heritage, hails from Gwent. He gained a degree in Natural Sciences and a PhD from Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.  He joined the Assay Office London as Superintendent Assayer in 2000, and has been responsible, over the seventeen years of his tenure, for the introduction of new technologies such as laser marking and XRF machines within the modern day assaying process, as well as the introduction of sub-assay offices. He also played an active part in the successful lobbying for the exclusion of

January 2024 Hallmarking Figures

Birmingham Assay Office has compiled t he latest UK Hallmarking figures for all four offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh for January 2024 vs January 2023 .. Hallmarking figures from Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh:  January 2024     Compiled by Birmingham Assay Office Author:  Published: 

May Hallmarking Figures

Birmingham Assay Office has compiled the latest UK Hallmarking figures like for like from May 2024 in comparison with May 2025. The figures are for all four UK offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh. Author:  Published: 

January Hallmarking Figures

Birmingham Assay Office has compiled the latest UK Hallmarking figures like for like from January 2024 in comparison with january 2025. The figures are for all four UK offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh. Author:  Published: 

June Hallmarking Figures

Birmingham Assay Office has compiled the latest UK Hallmarking figures like for like from June 2024 in comparison with June 2025. The figures are for all four UK offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh. Author:  Published: 

PRESS RELEASE: Anna McLoughlin Fine Jewellery Wins UK Award for Hallmarking Awareness

Anna McLoughlin Fine Jewellery has been awarded the prestigious HALO Award in recognition of her innovative work to engage customers with the importance of hallmarking and consumer protection in the jewellery sector.  Awarded by Assay Assured, a joint venture between the four Assay Offices of the UK (Birmingham, Edinburgh, London and Sheffield), the HALO Award is given annually. HALO recognises the UK-based jewellery business that uses their online platform in the most creative ways to leverage the added value that hallmarking provides and to educate their audience on the meaning and importance of the hallmark. Applicants this year ranged from

Make Your Mark Competition

Call for Applications: Make Your Mark design competition *Applications are now closed* Students are invited to Make Their Mark on the Industry - The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office launches design competition to encourage creativity in the use of the Hallmark The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office is launching the Make Your Mark Awards , a new design competition that aims to challenge today’s students working in precious metal. The Awards, which will open in September, will be presented at a special event on Tuesday 1 November 2016, during Make Your Mark . This year’s benchpeg Awards will also be on display, with

Q&A: Patrick Fuller

Patrick Fuller has been at the helm of the jewellery industry for some 30 years. A charismatic individual who has held every senior influential position in the British jewellery industry going. He is currently a Guardian of the Birmingham Assay Office, a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths Company and President of the National Association of Jewellers as well as a Freeman of the City of London. A former President of the National Association of Goldsmiths; President of Emagold Europe; Director of the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation; President of the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation; Member of the British Hallmarking Council

PRESS RELEASE: Winners announced of the Touchstone Award- for hallmarking enforcement and education

The British Hallmarking Council has awarded the Touchstone Award 2025 to London Trading Standards (LTS) for their role in Operation Stamping it Out, at the recent Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) annual conference in Blackpool.  The Touchstone Award, launched by the British Hallmarking Council in 2012, sponsored by the National Association of Jewellers and supported by the CTSI, recognises the most effective initiative relating to hallmarking enforcement or education delivered by a local authority. Launched in 2023, Operation Stamping It Out, is a pioneering hallmarking education and enforcement project, established and funded by the London Assay Office and delivered in

PRESS RELEASE: London Trading Standards win 2025 Touchstone Award for “Stamping Out” hallmarking infractions

London Trading Standards – a collective of trading standards teams from the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Camden, Westminster, Hackney, Ealing, Waltham Forest, and Newham, and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – have been awarded the British Hallmarking Council’s (BHC) Touchstone Award 2025, for their role in  Operation Stamping It Out . A pioneering hallmarking education and enforcement project, which is delivered by WRi Group on behalf of the London Assay Office.  Launched in 2023,  Operation Stamping It Out  aims to ensure retailers of silver, gold, platinum and palladium jewellery and artworks, in London and the Southeast are

PRESS RELEASE: Antique Jewellers Launches Free Online Hallmark Finder for British Jewellery ​

Antique Jewellers Ltd , a UK-based antique ring specialist, has launched a free online Hallmark Finder to help collectors, dealers, valuers, and jewellery-trade professionals quickly identify British hallmarks.  The tool provides an instant way to decode the tiny symbols stamped on antique and vintage jewellery, helping users determine a piece’s gold or platinum purity, assay office location, and hallmark date — all in seconds.  Hallmarks are the official stamps that certify precious-metal items and are essential for authenticating and valuing jewellery. Britain’s hallmarking system, one of the most stringent in the world, dates back to 1300. Yet correctly identifying these

The Goldsmiths' Company Jewellery Materials Congress

The Goldsmiths' Company Jewellery Materials Congress Monday, 8 - Tuesday, 9 July 2019 Goldsmiths' Hall, London The Goldsmiths' Company will be holding its first Jewellery Meterials Conference from 8 to 9 July 2019 at Goldsmiths’ Hall. This Congress forms part of a series of activities designed to advance and disseminate knowledge and to encourage research and its exploitation in the field of jewellery & silverware technology.  About the Congress The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office will be holding a major international conference on 8 and 9 July 2019, at Goldsmiths' Hall.  The Jewellery Materials Congress will support the jewellery and silverware community by providing a collaborative,

Appointment: Anchorcert Appoints Steve Hamon as New Sales Director

AnchorCert Group, including Assay Office Birmingham, is pleased to confirm that it has appointed new Sales Director, Steve Hamon. Steve has more than 17 years’ experience as a senior sales and business development professional, including more than 4 years’ leading the UK and Eire Product Division for global testing laboratory Intertek and more than 5 years’ managing the BSI (British Standards Institution) Engineering, Testing and Kitemark divisions. Steve was officially appointed in December 2017 and has been working closely with the senior management and executive team to understand the complexities of the jewellery industry, as well as familiarise himself with

The Little Black Book of Jewellery Terms

Ever felt like you’ve stumbled into a foreign land of unknown territory like Alice falling into wonderland whilst a constant whirlwind of name-drops and fancy words are thrown your way? Welcome to the Jewellery world! Welcome to the Benchpeg library of learning! Listen up and take note as there's a lot to be said for confidently slipping some technical babble into conversation to elevate your respect and cachet within the Jewellery world... Assay Hallmark: The hallmark and coding indicating the office which has assayed a piece of Jewellery. Baguette Cut: A gemstone which has been cut and set into a

Make Your Mark - Day 1

Make Your Mark is the leading event for students on a precious metal related course. It will be held on the 1st - 2nd November 2016 at Goldsmiths' Hall, London. Who should attend? Make Your Mark  is a completely free tutor–student event open to anyone studying on a UK-based precious-metal-related course (full- or part-time), whether at degree level or on a short adult education or private tutored course. What's it all about? Led by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Goldsmiths’ Centre, the event provides a packed programme of fascinating talks from leading figures in

Make Your Mark - Day 2

Make Your Mark is the leading event for students on a precious metal related course. It will be held on the 1st - 2nd November 2016 at Goldsmiths' Hall, London. Who should attend? Make Your Mark  is a completely free tutor–student event open to anyone studying on a UK-based precious-metal-related course (full- or part-time), whether at degree level or on a short adult education or private tutored course. What's it all about? Led by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Goldsmiths’ Centre, the event provides a packed programme of fascinating talks from leading figures in

Make Your Mark

Make  Your  Mark is t he leading event for students on a precious metal related course. It will be held on the 1st - 2nd November 2016 at Goldsmiths' Hall, London. Make Your Mark is a completely free tutor–student event open to anyone studying on a UK-based precious-metal-related course (full- or part-time), whether at degree level or on a short adult education or private tutored course. Led by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Goldsmiths’ Centre, the event provides a packed programme of fascinating talks from leading figures in the trade, live demos,

Awards

Every year Benchpeg holds the Benchpeg Awards. This year, we are extremely excited to announce that we are partnering with the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office London and the annual 'Make Your Mark' event to deliver the awards. As part of our ten year anniversary celebrations, the Benchpeg Awards have changed for 2016 and are now open to entry by all current students , recent graduates and new businesses . Previous awards reception at City Lit The Aim of the Benchpeg Awards The Benchpeg Awards have always been aimed at helping students and fledgling businesses, or those emerging to create a

Make Your Mark 2019

Make Your Mark 2019 Once again Goldsmiths’ Hall will be opening its doors to all students, graduates and apprentices of the jewellery and allied trades to help you make your mark in industry. This free one day event led by The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office will be a one stop shop to learn everything you need to know about hallmarking, manufacturing and support networks to help you in your career, alongside a packed schedule of talks and demonstrations and our Make Your Mark awards.  Exhibitor List Who to see at this year's Make Your Mark Association for Contemporary Jewellery Bellore

Women's Jewellery Network - Birmingham Event

Women's Jewellery Network - Birmingham Event The  Women's Jewellery Network  is pleased to confirm a Birmingham sister event to the launch in London taking place at the same time on  International Women's Day , 8th March 2018. Attendees will hear from the following speakers, at this event, kindly hosted by the team at  AnchorCert Acdemy , part of the  AnchorCert Group : UK’s first female Assay Master and former Cookson Precious Metals CEO, Stella Layton Company of Master Jeweller’s Executive Director of Business Development & Marketing, Lucy Reece-Raybould A panel discussion will focus on the folllowing topic: What changes need to be