SUMMER 2009
Crackdown
by Trading Standards
V
isits by Birmingham Trading
Standards Officers to retail
jewellers in March resulted in a
spate of enquiries being received
by The Birmingham Assay Office as jewellers
were reminded of their obligation to ensure
that all precious metal articles are hallmarked
and Dealers Notices are displayed in-store.
The Birmingham Assay Office co-operated with
the project by offering help and advice to retail
jewellers and by distributing leaflets warning of
the crackdown to the local trade, resulting in
several new customer registrations.
Despite these efforts, follow up calls by Trading
Standards in June revealed that not all retailers
had responded and hundreds of items were seized
and delivered to The Birmingham Assay Office for
checking and subsequent hallmarking - if they
proved to be of the correct fineness. This project by our local TSO’s. The jewellery trade is having a
is ongoing and more articles are expected. very difficult time at the moment and consumer
confidence is crucial to its survival. The Great
Debate 2009
Consumer enquiries about the quality of jewellery
are on the increase and, while the vast majority “As precious metal prices rise, the money that
of traders in the jewellery business are totally could be made from under-carating is significant
honest, a number of fraudulent sales have been and it is even more vital that the UK hallmarking
investigated. Heavy gold plating over base metals legislation is properly enforced.”
Following the success of the Great Debate
is always difficult to spot without sophisticated Birmingham also led another successful campaign during the last two years, The Birmingham
equipment and The Laboratory has been involved recently to ensure that an advertisement by the Assay Office will once again be staging the
in several cases where a plated article has been “Tru Diamonds” brand for Cubic Zirconia or “CZ” event at the International London Jewellery
mis-sold as 18ct or 22ct gold. was reworded, because it was felt that the original Show, in partnership with Reed Exhibitions.
Michael Allchin, Chief Executive and Assay Master promotion was extremely misleading in the way
said: “ We are very pleased with the action taken it compared diamond and CZ prices.
Further Delays to
Palladium hallmark Previous debates on important ethical issues
for the trade have proved worthwhile and
The Palladium Offices are pressuring the entertaining and have concluded that the
legislation is still Government to push the jewellery trade should be more ethically
awaiting ratification legislation through but there responsible.
by Parliament and the is still no certainty that the
frustration continues required amendments to Now the question is how to achieve this goal.
at all levels of the UK the Hallmarking Act will be Building on previous discussions, this year’s
jewellery supply chain. approved before the end of theme is “Working together to deliver an ethically
the summer recess. responsible supply chain”. The event will take the
There are already tens of form of a “round the table” discussion, giving all
thousands of pieces of The delay is due to a technical glitch in the those present an opportunity to have their say.
un-hallmarked Palladium drafting of the amendment as opposed to any Potential participants are encouraged to attend
on the market in the UK opposition to its content. A possible date for to exchange views and share experiences and
and many companies are in limbo, unwilling to the introduction of voluntary hallmarking for problems. The event takes place at 4.30pm on
commit to volumes of Palladium articles which Palladium is now August 23, but this is still Monday, September 7 at Earls Court 2. Places are
would subsequently have to be recalled for provisional. It is expected that the mark will very limited so if you would like to participate,
hallmarking. become compulsory in January 2010 but until the please contact gem@theassayoffice to book your
legislation goes through The Assay Offices cannot place.
The British Hallmarking Council and the Assay strike the mark.
in this issue...
AnchorCert
2 Over 100 silversmiths take
part in British Silver Week
New look AnchorCert
website
Matthew Boulton to feature
on new £50 note
Hallmarking
British Silver Week 2009 Support for
students at
B the School of
ritish Silver Week 2009 was
launched at Goldsmiths Hall on
June 2 with a private view for
Patrons and Sponsors of the work
Jewellery
of over 100 participating silversmiths.
British Silver Week 09 aims to promote Simon Pattison
contemporary British silversmithing to an even The Birmingham Assay Office’s current MA
wider audience at over 20 events in galleries and student, Simon Pattison recently became
specialist shops across the UK. the first winner of the National FREVD
In addition, there will be a major, month long, Open Design Competition. Another design
by Simon took third place. FREVD Ltd is a
British Silver Week exhibition at Chatsworth
design house established in 1986 to produce
House, home of silver collector and connoisseur,
objects of the highest quality for use in the
the Duke of Devonshire. home.
The exhibition tells the story of British
silversmithing since the 1950s and includes
sample pieces from the Pearson Collection, one
of Britain’s largest private collections of modern
silver. The centrepiece will be individual signature
pieces by 12 of the UK’s finest contemporary
silversmiths, and the show will also feature the
Pangolin collection of fine art sculptures in silver,
which demonstrate how far silversmithing has The Birmingham Assay Office is pleased to support
progressed. British Silver Week again this year by sponsoring
Both successful designs
the participation of three talented silversmiths - will be put into production,
Shona Marsh, Theresa Nguyen and Clare Pardo. with Simon receiving a royalty from each
Clare Pardoe and Becca Williams, both Birmingham item sold. The winning entries are a set of
Silversmiths, also took part in a ‘Meet the candlesticks and tumbler bowls which Simon
Silversmiths’ event at the RBSA Gallery on June has been developing as part of his MA course.
13 when they gave talks about various aspects of
silversmithing. For full details about British Silver
Week visit www.britishsilverweek.co.uk Showcase
Example of work by Example of work by
Clare Pardoe Theresa Nguyen
Celebrating Birmingham’s Gem Students from the
Design for Industry
Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter Festival took Course at the School
place on Saturday, July 4th when ‘Matthew of Jewellery recently
Boulton’ was once again seen walking round showcased their latest
St Paul’s Square.
creations at Helen
The festival included a Jewellers Market in Hulston, an independent
St Paul’s Square – where staff from The jewellery outlet in
Birmingham Assay Office manned a stall selling Birmingham’s Great
small Sterling silver gift items – a ’24 Carrot’ Western Arcade.
Farmers Market, and live music, ranging from Jazz
to Classical, throughout the day. This latest collection of work has been
created using laser technology, which offers
Smooth Radio sponsored a Matthew Boulton- designers exciting new opportunities.
themed treasure hunt, with a £1000 prize on The students used the laser marking facilities
offer, and the Museums and Galleries in the area Matthew Boulton with Marion Wilson, Toni Collins and at The Birmingham Assay Office to create
all ran events. Sophie Whitehouse
pattern within their pieces of jewellery.
Spotlight Independent
Contemporary Jeweller Special Award
James Newman is one of the UK’s leading Such is his success that Winner
contemporary jewellery designers and his James has recently The Birmingham Assay Office was pleased
collections are exhibited throughout the been commissioned by
to sponsor a Special Award again this
UK at design-led shops and galleries. All his a leading Milan Fashion
year at the School of Jewellery’s Annual
designs are original and the materials used House to design and
Prize Giving Ceremony to Students. The
are ethically sourced. produce a range of
Award was presented to Sinade Prosser,
jewellery, further
A graduate of the Birmingham School of building his reputation a BA student who exhibited a range of
Jewellery, he is renowned for innovative design, within Europe as well beautifully designed work including a
attention to detail and superior craftsmanship. as the UK. necklet, pendant and ring. Sinade says
All his jewellery is designed and hand-made at her aim is to combine creativity with
his Birmingham workshop, and James is proud His current collection can be viewed at his commercial awareness and to promote
to have built a highly skilled team of craftsmen impressive gallery and adjoining workshop good design through fashionable,
who contribute their expertise to ensure that located in Vyse Street in the heart of functional and aesthetic pieces.
all work is made to the highest of standards. Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
Building Confidence
in the Diamond Market AnchorCert
and the
m
aintaining confidence
and trust in diamond
products is particularly Belle
Epoque
important in the current
economic climate, but the prevalence
of synthetic and treated stones makes
this more of a challenge than ever.
Synthetic diamonds have the same
Pendant
chemical composition as natural
diamonds but are created by high-tech
equipment rather than by nature. A beautiful, AnchorCert
Synthetic stones and those that have certificated, Belle Epoque
been enhanced by treatments are pearl and diamond pendant,
perfectly legitimate, but customers circa 1905, was sold at a
should be told exactly what they are recent Bonhams Fine Jewellery
buying and pay the appropriate price. Whatever nomenclature is finally agreed, the Sale for £57,600. Bonhams
important factor is that the synthetic and were delighted with the result.
The internationally recognised CIBJO Diamond treated stones are identified and openly declared.
‘Blue Book’ sets out which treatments must be Transparency is key to maintaining a stable market. The AnchorCert Certificate
disclosed. However, reaching agreement on the stated that the pear shaped
terminology to be used with regard to synthetic AnchorCert offers the high-tech facilities, the diamond was “J Colour,
diamonds is proving more difficult. expertise and the competence to identify synthetic VS2 Clarity and a type IIA,
and treated stones. untreated stone”. An additional
The subject was a major point of discussion at the AnchorCert reports AnchorCert Report stated that
recent CIBJO congress in Istanbul where CIBJO clearly state when a both the pearls were found to
confirmed that it considers ‘synthetic’ the most stone is not natural, but be natural, with no evidence of
appropriate terminology. However, in June the still provide a grading treatment.
International Diamond Council (IDC) declared for colour and clarity,
that, under its recently updated rules, vendors can enabling customers The independent verification
choose between the terms ‘laboratory-created’, to understand exactly and certification of fine
‘laboratory-grown’ and ‘synthetic’ to describe what they are paying jewellery items by AnchorCert is
a diamond which is not natural. Doubtless, the for. proving its worth commercially.
debate will run and run. It provides reassurance to
purchasers of the quality of the
items being sold at auction,
More demand for diamond training helping to achieve the higher
end of the price guide.
There is increasing pressure for retail jewellery gives to a stone or piece of jewellery. Several AnchorCert is the only UK
staff to capture every potential sale and to ‘sell retailers have based laboratory to be UKAS
up’ wherever possible. This requires experience, already proved accredited to ISO 17025. The
knowledge and, most of all, the confidence to the value of this service is available for both
reassure the customer that they are making a course in terms of loose and mounted diamonds.
good choice. increased sales. As a UK-based laboratory, the
services can be provided in a
Although there is a huge selection of diamond AnchorCert has very timely and cost effective
jewellery available on the internet, many also been asked to manner.
customers still prefer to go into a store because provide training
they need personal advice and guidance in making for those working For more information please call
their choice. in the quality Tel: 0871 423 7922 or email:
assurance sector gem@theassayoffice.co.uk
If staff are to provide this guidance, training is of the industry.
increasingly important and AnchorCert regularly This course provides experienced operators with
receives requests for diamond training from a deeper knowledge of what to look for when
retailers and, as a result now offers a range of assessing an item for quality.
courses.
For more information about any training courses
The most popular course is designed to help sales please contact gem@theassayoffice.co.uk.
staff appreciate the benefits a diamond certificate
Take a Fresh Look at the AnchorCert Website
The website for the AnchorCert Independent You can also watch a clip of Senior Gemmologist,
Diamond and Gemstone Certification service Anu Manchanda, giving a brief explanation of the
has been refreshed. Developed to help both ‘4 C’s’ which should be understood by anyone
consumers looking for general gemstone thinking of making a diamond purchase.
information and retailers wishing to use the
UKAS accredited Certification service the site
now contains an expanded range of reports. www.anchorcert.co.uk
In just a few clicks you can find exactly what you
are looking for, and you can now have the specific
information in which you are interested emailed
directly to you.
SafeGuard at Coutts
London Jewellery Week
S
afeGuard was SafeGuard ran two successful
amongst the customer events at Mappin
many jewellery & Webb Regent Street,
businesses that where customers not only
celebrated the rich variety had their jewellery valued
but also learned a lot
of talent the industry has
about its provenance and
to offer during the Coutts hallmarks from Senior
London Jewellery Week. Valuer Craig O’Donnell.
After a lively Champagne “These were Safeguard
Launch from the dizzying events with a difference,”
heights of London’s Millbank said Craig. “It was great
Tower, the week included to be able to spend
workshops, seminars, and open extra time chatting
studio days throughout central to customers and
London, and finished with a discussing some of the
weekend event involving many more unusual pieces of
Hatton Garden businesses. jewellery at length.
TV slots provided by QVC “All the customers
supported the event by profiling seemed to enjoy the
some talented young designers experience and the Mappin & Webb staff worked
and demonstrating the high standard of creativity hard to make the whole day a really good
and workmanship which the UK still has to offer. experience for their customers.”
Craig O’Donnell with visitors to the event.
NAG at The Assay Office
The Birmingham Assay Office was delighted to
host a meeting of the NAG Valuers Committee
The Birmingham Assay Office is pleased to
support the new Institute of Registered Valuers
Houlden
recently. For many committee members it was
their first visit to the Office and they took the
opportunity to tour all four divisions of the
and is already planning workshops and a major
presentation for the Annual Loughborough
Conference in September.
Group
Buying
operation after the meeting.
“We were dazzled by the sophistication of the
Assay process” said NAG vice chairman David
Callaghan. The group was also very impressed
with the SafeGuard valuation process and
with AnchorCert’s gem testing laboratory and
Meeting
equipment.
In house Valuations
Following an initial brief appearance at
the Scottish Gemmological Conference
in May, the SafeGuard and AnchorCert
proving popular
“Roadshow” made its full debut at a
Houlden Group Buying meeting in June.
Sales and Marketing Director Marion Wilson
said the event provided an ideal opportunity
Following increased demand Kelly Fisher, the SafeGuard
to meet existing customers and their
from customers who want to Marketing Coordinator who hosts
have their items valued ‘on the the events, is delighted with the colleagues face to face.
spot’ without having to part response so far. “Customers love “It provided a perfect platform to talk about
with them for even a short the whole service,” she said. “After
our services,” said Marion. “On a day to day
time, SafeGuard is now running their items have been valued they
basis people have little time to spare. At the
Jewellery Valuation Days at The can wander round the Jewellery
Birmingham Assay Office on a Quarter, the City Centre or one Buying Event the whole atmosphere is more
regular, monthly basis. of the Boulton 2009 exhibitions relaxed and attendees have time to chat and
and when they come back their provide the feedback we need to help us
This premium service enables valuation documents are all ready. improve our services to them.”
customers to enjoy an exclusive, People are making a day out of
face to face session with the it and bringing their friends and
valuer in the “Wardens Sitting partners with them.”
Room” – fondly known as
the “Orient Express” - at the Event days are strictly by
Victorian building on Newhall appointment only. Forthcoming
Street, Birmingham. dates are July 27, August 24,
September 28 and October 26. Please call 0871
Once valuations are completed, the documents are 423 7922 or visit www.safeguardvaluations.com
prepared and are ready to collect within an hour for more information.
and the service is beginning to attract people from
further afield as word spreads.
The Laboratory
The Old Gold Rush The Melting
Gathers Pace Process
Upon receipt precious material is
carefully weighed using calibrated balances
T
he high price of gold continues to accurate to 0.1 gram. All information is
carefully recorded.
drive consumers to sell their scrap
precious metal with the result that Scrap is melted in
worldwide more gold was scrapped an induction furnace
in the first quarter of 2009 than was made into and sampled in a
jewellery. molten condition
using vacuum sealed
Jewellers and pawnbrokers who buy gold from glass tubes.
their customers need to turn it into cash, and the
newly upgraded melting facility in The Laboratory
is proving extremely popular for these traders.
Two samples are
The service, which offers all the reassurance and taken - one for assay
integrity expected from The Birmingham Assay and another for
Office, provides melting and assaying of clean future reference if
scrap, lemels and sweeps containing gold, silver, required.
platinum and palladium. There is a steady flow of
scrap gold being turned into bars on a daily basis.
Account Manager Tim Smith said “As usual we
want our service to be to the highest standard The molten metal
possible, and our new induction furnaces provide is poured into a
a rapid, efficient melting process. We also take dip mould and cooled
samples for assay from the core of the molten rapidly to prevent
metal while it is still in the furnace to ensure we segregation.
obtain a homogenous sample.
“The Laboratory has no vested interest in the
value of the metal and after assaying we provide “All residues (slag/spillage etc.) and assay samples
independent, UKAS accredited Assay Reports. are returned to the customer, meaning they get, The dip sample is
These are recognised internationally and will assayed using the
literally, every gram of their gold back.”
ensure a straightforward and transparent sale of most appropriate
the bar. method to achieve
a highly accurate
Dippal Manchanda FRSC
result.
Assay results are presented on a certificate
Technical Director Dippal In order to become a Fellow, a Chemist must from The Laboratory at The Birmingham
Manchanda has been have at least five years experience in a position Assay Office.
awarded the honour of of authority, directing other professional chemists
becoming a Fellow of the and making a real contribution to Chemical The bar is weighed to complete the process
Royal Society of Chemistry Science. and the unique Assay Certificate number is
(RSC). stamped on the bar.
Many congratulations to Dippal, whose many
The RSC is the highly respected professional successful research projects and innovative
body for chemical scientists. It aims to establish developments make this a well-deserved award.
and maintain high standards of competence The only problem is that he now needs some
and professional practice, and members are bigger business cards – to make room for At The Seaside With
required to meet rigorous ethical and professional
behaviour requirements.
Dippal Manchanda BSc MSc CSci CChem FRSC.
Trading Standards
Update on Lead The Trading Standards
Institute held its
Annual Conference in
Lead still remains a hot topic, and The guide for lead content Brighton, a favourite
Laboratory has analysed many samples of when establishing venue for organisers
jewellery, toys, and hair accessories recently. whether an article and delegates, in June.
complies with the Assay Master Michael Allchin attended the
There has been a resurgence in interest in lead
UK’s General Product
in anticipation of a change to the American conference as a delegate while Marketing
Safety Requirements.
legislation. In August 2009 the regulations laid Director Marion Wilson attended the finals of
The amendment
down by the US Consumer Protection Safety the Consumer Challenge Quiz, organised for the
has implications for
Commission (CPSC) will change, restricting lead eleventh year by Birmingham City Council. The
analysis too, as this
content in children’s products to 300ppm (parts Quiz gives children with special needs a great
level of accuracy can only be determined using a
per million) in any accessible part, instead of the opportunity to increase their confidence and
full reference method such as ICP.
current 600ppm. independence and The Birmingham Assay Office
Many customers continue to use the EN71-3 were happy to sponsor this event once again.
After the change, any children’s product that
standard which tests for the release rather than
contains more than the new limit will be treated The conference is a wonderful occasion to meet
the content of seven toxic elements. Compliance
in the USA as a banned hazardous substance. Trading Standards Officers from all over the
with EN71-3 is an EU requirement for toys, but
In the absence of any specific EU or UK lead many other products are tested by this method UK in relaxed
regulations, except in the case of toys, the which ensures that if an item is sucked, chewed, surroundings to
new US regulation will impact on the UK too. or swallowed it will not release harmful levels of discuss all the
Although it is not legally enforceable in the UK, dangerous lead into the body. topical issues.
the US standard could be considered a reasonable
Meet The Team
Matthew Boulton Day
Staff Become
a Birmingham
Tourist
Attraction
S
taff from The Birmingham Assay The Birmingham Assay
Office became a city centre tourist Office staff, dressed in
attraction when, dressed in 18th 18th Century costumes,
Century fashions, they celebrated became quite a tourist
the life, work and legacy of Matthew Boulton, attraction. Families vied
to have their photo taken
the greatest industrial pioneer of the 18th
with such charming
century. ladies...
The occasion was Matthew Boulton Day which The curator of the Birmingham Assay Office,
took place in front of The Birmingham Museum & Sally Baggott, also held fun family workshops
Art Gallery in the city centre at the end of May. during the day explaining the history and
Matthew Boulton, a true gentleman of the importance of Hallmarking. Matthew
Birmingham, was responsible, amongst a Boulton and his partner James Watt also put
great many things, for the establishment of in an appearance……
The Birmingham Assay Office and, of all the Staff who dressed for the event included
enterprises with which Boulton was involved, the Sophie Whitehouse, Sally Baggott, Olivia
Assay Office is the only one that still survives Turner and Penny J. Parkes.
today.
50 Years Combined Service
Assay Office
Two members of The Birmingham Assay Office
team have recently completed 25 years service
each.
Hallmarking Supervisor Julie Burns reached her
quarter of a Century milestone on April 9, followed ‘Athletes’
to Support
closely by Sampling Department Supervisor Anne
McNaughton, who completed her 25 years on
April 30.
Julie and Anne are dedicated and committed
members of the team and warmest
Charities
congratulations are extended to them both on
reaching their combined ‘silver anniversary’ with
Julie Burns and Anne McNaughton The Birmingham Assay Office. July will be a big month for the finely-honed
athletes of The Birmingham Assay Office when
Green Fingers at St Pauls
they will don running shoes and football boots
to aid charitable causes.
Female staff members, both past and present,
will line up for the 5 km ‘Race for Life’ at Sutton
Green fingered volunteers from The Birmingham
Park to help raise much needed funds for the
Assay Office, under the watchful supervision of
fight against cancer.
experienced gardeners from Birmingham City
Council, recently gave up their own time to plant Participants will include Sophie Whitehouse,
up the wonderful containers which line St Paul’s Olivia Turner, Tina Watts, Pam Bannister and
Churchyard in St Paul’s Square. daughter, Karen Kempson, Sandra Scott, Toni
The planting - some in the form of the world- Collins, Jacqui Eady and Mary McShane. Dave
famous Anchor symbol, Hallmark of The Logan’s wife and daughters will also take part.
Birmingham Assay Office - should have developed Another finely-honed team from The
in good time for the ‘In Bloom’ judging in July. Birmingham Assay Office, cheered on by a group
The volunteers from The Birmingham Assay Office of glamorous WAGS, will also take part in the
included Olivia Turner, Sophie Whitehouse, Penny annual BJGF 5-a-side soccer tournament at the
J. Parkes, Debbie Tillison, Toni Collins, Tim Smith, Goals Soccer Centre in Birmingham. The team,
Michael Evans, Ian Hodges and Ian Bayley. which has skills to rival those of the three local
PREMIERSHIP sides (Birmingham City, Aston Villa
Please come down to St Pauls Square, in the and Wolverhampton Wanderers), will include Dan
jewellery quarter to admire their handiwork in full Perdue, Luke Abbey, Chris Bickley, Walter Fletcher
bloom. and Alex Gribble.
History & Heritage
Bicentenary Celebrations
Boulton to be Feted on The ‘Fifty’
T
o mark his bicentenary of Making Money which is being staged at the of 1773, the year when, due to Boulton’s efforts,
celebrations, images of Matthew Barber Institute, University of Birmingham. the Assay Office first opened it doors.
Boulton and James Watt, his
partner in the steam engine The exhibition, which explores how Matthew Although dressed in 18th century costume, the
business, are to be featured on a new £50 note. Boulton briefly made Birmingham the art capital staff were on hand to promote the services the
of the world by minting millions of coins, medals Assay Office provides in the 21st century, and
The bicentenary celebrations actually got and tokens at the Soho Mint, contains over 100 Dr. Sally Baggott, the Curator at The Birmingham
underway in style on May 7 with the private view objects on loan from The Birmingham Assay Assay Office, underscored this with a family
of the exhibition Matthew Boulton and The Art Office Collections. It will run until May 2010. workshop on Hallmarking. The free entry
exhibition will run until September 27.
This was followed, on May 29, with the private
view of another exhibition - Matthew Boulton: On June 6, Sally gave another talk in a particularly
Selling What All The World Desires – which is significant location – St. Mary’s Church,
being staged in the Gas Hall at Birmingham Handsworth, where
Museums and Art Gallery. Special Guest was both Boulton and Watt
Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England, are buried. “It was a
and to prolonged applause and loud cheers, he humbling experience,”
announced that the new £50 note will feature she said. “It made him
the images of Boulton and James Watt against a seem so much more
backdrop of Boulton’s Soho Manufactory. real to me, and made
me extremely proud
The official opening of this exhibition was that The Birmingham
marked the following day with celebrations Assay Office can claim
in Chamberlain Square when staff from The such a great man as its
Birmingham Assay Office dressed in the fashions founder.”
Silver Visits Go Gold...and Platinum! Birmingham’s Jewellery
Quarter is Unique
Due to the increasing popularity of The The new
Birmingham Assay Office Silver Visits, an Platinum On June 12th, experts on the Jewellery Quarter
extended range is now being offered under the Visit includes met at The Birmingham Assay Office to
banners of Gold Visits and Platinum Visits. all the discuss the bid for World Heritage Site Status.
above plus There was a consensus that there is nowhere
During a standard Silver Visit, the history of a bespoke quite like Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter in
Hallmarking is explained; visitors hear the presentation, the world, and Birmingham City Council will
fascinating story of how Matthew Boulton tailored to await guidance from Central Government in
overcame opposition from London to establish an meet the September before beginning work on the bid
Assay Office in Birmingham; and are told what specific for World Heritage Site status.
the Birmingham Assay Office does in the 21st interests of the group. Subjects range from
century. They also get the opportunity to view Matthew Boulton, through the Arts and Crafts Watch this space and we will keep you updated….
the spectacular Silver Collection and the Library. Movement to Birmingham Toys.
The new Gold Visit offers everything the popular For further details contact The Birmingham Assay
The Story of the
standard visit has plus a hands-on session with Office Tel.: 0871 871 6020 Jewellery Quarter
silver objects from the collection. Visitors also Email: silver@theassayoffice.co.uk
receive a free guide to the Silver Collection. The new galleries at the Museum of the
Jewellery Quarter were officially opened
on April 23, when Assay Master and
Chief Executive, Michael Allchin, together
with Councillors Ray Hassall and Neville
Birmingham’s Spectacular Heritage Summerfield, addressed the audience.
Included with this issue of The Anchor is information about Birmingham’s The new first-floor galleries are home to a
magnificent heritage produced by The Birmingham Heritage Forum, a permanent exhibition entitled The Story of
voluntary association of public and private groups and individuals The Jewellery Quarter. Objects on loan from
interested in the heritage of Birmingham and its surroundings. Contact The Birmingham Assay Office Silver Collection,
details for each member of the Forum are given on the poster or go to including a pair of pistols, bearing Hallmarks for
www.birminghamheritage.org.uk 1773, the year the Assay Office opened, and two
pairs of candlesticks by Matthew Boulton from
1783 and 1807 are featured in the exhibition.
Boulton in Print A series of books have been published as part of the Matthew Boulton bicentenary celebrations:
Matthew Boulton: Matthew Boulton Matthew Boulton: Boulton Silver and
Selling What All the and the Art Revolutionary Sheffield Plate
World Desires of Making Money Player Seven Essays
Edited by Shena Edited by Richard Edited by Malcolm by Kenneth
Mason and Clay and Sue Dick and published Quickenden,
published by Yale Tungate and by Brewin Books published by the
University Press, published by Silver Society
USA Brewin Books
These books will be available from The Birmingham Assay Office’s online shop, which will be opening shortly. Please go to www.theassayoffice.co.uk
Victorian Assay Office Staff Support for
Meet The Rotarians Centrepiece
2009
t
he Birmingham Assay Office of the 18th century and a celebrated silversmith
participated in the 100th Rotary and encouraged the Rotarians to visit the stunning
International Convention, which exhibition “Matthew Boulton: Selling what all the The Birmingham Assay Office has agreed to
world desires” at the Birmingham Museum & Art sponsor Centrepiece 2009, the selling exhibition
took place at the NEC, Birmingham
Gallery. which provides the public with a superb
in June and brought over 20,000 people from 151 opportunity to seek out the perfect gift or
different countries to the city. individual commission.
Assay Office staff, appropriately attired in Victorian The event is to be held in two prestigious locations
costume, manned a stand in the Victorian-themed in Birmingham - Symphony Hall and the Town
‘House of Friendship’ at the NEC and promoted, Hall. It starts with a Private View on Wednesday,
with enormous success, products “Made and November 18 and will run until the end of
Hallmarked” in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery December.
Quarter.
Centrepiece brings together a group of talented
Rotary International is a worldwide organisation contemporary jewellery designers and silversmiths
of business leaders and professionals that provides and provides a platform to showcase the group’s
humanitarian services, encourages high ethical combined talent and creativity.
standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill
and peace in the world. It has more than 1.2million “The support we have
members in 200 different countries. received from The
Birmingham Assay Office
It was wonderful to have so many people gather in since the conception of
Birmingham during such challenging times. It was Centrepiece 12 years ago
a real opportunity to showcase all that the City of is hugely appreciated
Birmingham has to offer and for The Birmingham by the participating
Assay Office to promote both the Jewellery Quarter designers,” said
and its own internationally renowned expertise in Kathrine Campell-Legg,
the jewellery and precious metals industries. Centrepiece Co-Ordinator.
The Birmingham Assay Office was also keen to
promote its heritage to the Rotarians, as this year
marks the Bicentenary of its founder, Matthew
Boulton - the most important industrial pioneer CIBJO
Annual
A full set of AGMs! Congress
The Giftware Association, the Jewellery
Distributors Association and the Company of 2009
Master Jewellers Conference.
Representatives of The Birmingham Assay Office The Annual CIBJO Congress in Istanbul continued
have also attended the Annual General Meetings to pursue its overall theme of furthering corporate
of the National Association of Goldsmiths, the social responsibility within the jewellery industry,
British Jewellers Association, the British Jewellery with a view to delivering the eight UN Millennium
and Giftware and Finishing Federation and the Development goals.
Responsible Jewellery Council.
The Precious Metals Commission agreed to adopt
In difficult times fellowship and support is even changes to the CIBJO Blue Book with regard to
more important and, in the main, these events coatings. After intensive work from members of the
have been very well-attended. Trade organisations Precious Metals Working Group, headed by Michael
are launching new projects such as the NAG’s Allchin, the proposed amendments were accepted.
It has been the season for Annual General SafeGems initiative to combat security risks and The rules now permit manufacturers to use a wider
Meetings, and Assay Master Michael Allchin the Giftware Association announced a significant range of coatings and interlayers to achieve new
and Sales and Marketing Director Marion Wilson increase in membership as businesses look for the design features and enhanced resistance to wear and
have delivered presentations to benefits and advice a trade organisation can offer. tarnishing.
No respite in The downward trend in the number of units
submitted for hallmarking to the four UK Assay
was down by 19% to 3,371,020 articles. The
hardest hit category was 9ct gold which has fallen
falling market Offices continued during the quarter ended June
2009. The total number of articles hallmarked
by 38.7% but Silver has remained strong, with the
same numbers as last year.
Work dealt with by the
Assay Offices of Great GOLD SILVER PLATINUM
Britain, for the Quarter 375 585 750 916 990 999 TOTAL 800 925 958 999 TOTAL 850 900 950 999 TOTAL
April - June 2009 9 carat 14 carat 18 carat 22 carat Sterling Britannia
NUMBER OF ARTICLES 1,080,906 25,876 285,772 98,492 7 289 1,491,342 82 1,810,161 2,057 1,949 1,814,249 6 73 65,306 44 65,429
-38.7% -11.0% -22.3% -12.9% -65.0% 30.8% -34.4% 49.1% 0.1% 7.6% 1.0% 0.1% 100% -84.4% -12.2% 528.6% -12.6%
WEIGHT OF ARTICLES 4,173,155 163,820 1,860,557 867,599 156 4,785 7,070,072 0 28,734 139 221 29,094 34 528 629,621 888 631,071
Gold & Platinum (g) Silver (Kg) -38.5% -4.2% -23.3% -14.3% -59.2% 41.7% -32.0% -100% -3.5% 21.6% 34.6% -3.2% 240% -83.2% -6.6% 2065.9% -6.8%
the assay office birmingham Produced by The Birmingham Assay Office PO Box 151 Newhall Street Birmingham B3 1SB
Tel: 0121 236 6951 Fax: 0121 236 9032 E-mail: info@theassayoffice.co.uk www.theassayoffice.co.uk