Birmingham Assay Office is pleased to announce the appointment of a new trade Warden, Andrew Morton, Managing Director of WB The Creative Jewellery Group Ltd (part of the Heimerle + Meule Group). This follows the retirement of long-serving trade Warden, Martyn Pugh.

De Beers Group’s latest course ‘Synthetic Diamond Detection’, is to be held at the Birmingham Assay Office on Tuesday 26th March 2019.

Alongside many new challenges connected to abuse of the internet, unsafe counterfeit alcohol, dangerous appliances and other 21st Century hazards, Trading Standards are still charged with enforcing the oldest form of consumer protection, the Hallmarking of precious metals. Although this may not be an overtly priority area, the opportunities for fraud and criminal activity are high and many hallmarking investigations reveal significant consumer detriment. Upholding the long-established rigorous UK hallmarking regime is an important responsibility for Trading Standards.