Recently in the news, there have been some high profile cases where jewellers have received heavy fines for not legitimately ensuring that all jewellery items are hallmarked by an Assay Office. Assay Office Birmingham would therefore like to take the opportunity to remind all jewellers and traders working in the precious metals industry about the importance of registering for hallmarking, obtaining a sponsor's mark and complying with the law. You can describe articles as plated as lon…

Here’s your chance to win a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne (the one with the Anchor on!) courtesy of AnchorCert Analytical to celebrate the start of Summer. http://www.facebook.com/baolaboratory and leave your answers in the comments Alternatively, you can e-mail your answers to gem@theassayoffice.co.uk. Please remember to provide a contact number as well. The winner will be announced on Friday 5th June. GOOD LUCK!

‘Innovative Metal Manufacturing Technologies for Industry’ MA will be launched at Birmingham City University School of Jewellery this September. 3D Printing now influences not only the proof of concept and conceptual design process’ but is now also considered an effective manufacturing process with applications ranging from the printing of castable waxes to the printing directly in metals using the Direct Metal Laser Sintering technology (sometimes called Additive Manufactu…

RAPEX, the EU Rapid alert system for dangerous non-food consumer products, has recently revealed a number of jewellery items that were withdrawn from the EU marketplace and in one particular case recalled from end users as they did not comply with the Reach Regulations concerning Nickel Release and Lead and Cadmium content.

Items withdrawn over the last month include earrings, necklaces and hair accessories. Three items withdrawn contained Cadmium and Lead in excess of over 1570 x the legal limit.