IT and Service Issues Final Update
Final updates on our services returning to normal from a customer perspective.
Date Published: 25 March 2024
News
News Archive
News Articles
Price Adjustment 2024
We have made the decision to adjust our prices. This has not been taken lightly. However increased costs of production, and the surge in demand for high priority packet return and for complex marking of articles, have made it a necessity for our business.
Date Published: 14 March 2024
Annual UK Hallmarking Figures for 2023
The total number of articles sent for hallmarking at all UK offices in 2023 fell by -17.7% to 8,020,089.
Gold, silver, platinum and palladium saw a decline in the quantity of articles hallmarked.
Date Published: 15 January 2024
2024 date letter
Happy New Year!
The date letter for 2024 is a lower case z.
A non-compulsory mark, the date letter changes annually on 1 January. The font, case, and shield shape all change so each can only indicate one specific year.
Learn about the evolution of the hallmark and the component marks in the article ‘Hallmark as Hero’ by Goldsmiths’ Company Deputy Librarian.
Date Published: 02 January 2024
James Cargill, Deputy Production Manager, made a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company
Congratulations to James Cargill, Deputy Production Manager of our Heathrow sub-office, who, earlier this month, was made a Freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company by Special Grant in celebration of 10 years service.
A Freeman is a tier of membership in Livery Companies. It is the largest grouping of members at the Goldsmiths’ Company. Freemen play an important part in the life of the Company.
Read more about Company membership here thegoldsmiths.co.uk/membership
Date Published: 18 December 2023
HALO Award winners announced at the Benevolent Society Ball
Two jewellery businesses with an emphasis on creating bespoke commissions are the joint winners of the HALO Award 2023. Chair of the British Hallmarking Council Noel Hunter presented the Award to Harriet Kelsall, founder of Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery company and Anna Mcloughlin of Anna Mcloughlin Fine Jewellery at the prestigious Benevolent Society Ball at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham.
Date Published: 11 December 2023
Judges praise high standard of entries for the HALO Awards 2023
Members of the judging panel for the HALO Award 2023 have been highly complimentary about this year’s entries, praising businesses for their imaginative ways of creating consumer awareness of hallmarking. After lengthy consideration the winners of the Award for 2023 have now been selected.
Full details of the winning entries will be published after the formal announcement on 7th December.
Date Published: 29 November 2023
Make Your Mark 2D Design award at the Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council competition 2023/24
We are delighted to be partnering again with The Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council for the 2023/24 Competition with our Make Your Mark design challenge.
This year, on the theme of ‘City Spirit’, entrants are invited to design jewellery, smallwork or silverware. Broad and engaging interpretations of this are encouraged and welcomed, such as folklore, fashion, festivals, communities, culture, diversity, food, history and architecture to name but a few areas of interest. Designers can choose any city (globally) but must embrace their concept visually through their design presentation.
Also important, designs must incorporate a display, or bespoke placement of the London Assay Office hallmark that is complimentary to the design and thoughtfully positioned. This is an opportunity to choose the placement of the hallmark components, and to consider the hallmark in harmony with your design.
Date Published: 17 October 2023
Production Manager Kheni Priest's advice for the busy season
When you're busy, we're busy too - we receive more work to test and hallmark in correlation with peak trading times. We want to ensure we can be as swift as possible, and keep all services running in the lead up to Christmas - we understand we need to maintain access to all levels of service for everyone.
So, help us help you! Follow these tips...
Date Published: 16 October 2023
2023 end of year deadlines
Both counters at Goldsmiths’ Hall and our Greville Street office will close at 1pm on Friday 22 December 2023, and reopen at 9am on Tuesday 2 January 2024.
Cut offs:
We are anticipating an extremely busy run up to Christmas, and postal strikes and rail strikes could further impact our turnaround times.
To guarantee your work is ready before we close, standard service packets must be submitted by Friday 8 December. Early Hall / next day packets must be received by Wednesday 20 December. 1 hour packets will be accepted up until 11am on Friday 22 December. Packets must adhere to our submission and service rules.
There are currently no further planned service restrictions / packet limitations
Date Published: 16 October 2023
Anne-Christina Warburton announced as Clerk and CEO of the Goldsmiths’ Company
- Anne-Christina (Annie) Warburton will join the Goldsmith’s Company in January 2024
- Annie has more than 20 years’ experience in creative industries organisations that span the private, public, and charity sectors
- Annie becomes the first female Clerk and CEO of the Goldsmiths’ Company in its history
Date Published: 11 October 2023
SUSPENDED: London Underground industrial action 4 and 6 October 2023
Industrial action planned by London Underground workers for Wednesday 4 and Friday 6 October 2023 has been suspended.
There will be no adaptations to our service. Goldsmiths' Hall and Greville Street counters will operate as normal.
Date Published: 03 October 2023
One week left to submit HALO Award applications
There is just a week left to submit applications for the HALO (Hallmarking Awareness & learning Online) Award which closes on Friday September 29th.
If your business has gone above and beyond to make your customers aware of the importance of hallmarking this year then why not apply?
Date Published: 21 September 2023
Closing date for HALO Award extended to 29 September 2023
It is not too late to apply for this year’s Hallmarking Awareness and Learning Online (HALO) Award as the closing date for applications has been extended to September 29 2023.
Date Published: 30 August 2023
ASLEF Industrial Action on Friday 1 September 2023
Industrial action planned by rail workers will affect both the train and tube networks.
The networks will be disrupted on Friday 1 September 2023. As a result our service on this day will be adapted as follows:
- Our One Hour service will be suspended.
- The Greville Street counter aims to open at 9am, but will close at 3pm, with a half hour closure 12pm – 12.30pm.
- Goldsmiths’ Hall aims to open at 9am and will close at 3pm.
Further services may be disrupted if many of our teams are unable to get to work. During this period we will not be able to change the service originally requested on your packet.
Date Published: 25 August 2023
Adding Trust, Confidence and Customer Reassurance - HALO Winners 2022 value the benefits of promoting the hallmark
Trust, confidence and customer reassurance. Three key benefits that last year’s four successful Hallmarking Awareness and Learning Online (HALO) Award winners believe make promoting hallmarking important to their business. Adding value by linking into the long-established history of hallmarking was also cited as a selling point.
Date Published: 23 August 2023
August late summer bank holiday closure 2023
Goldsmiths’ Hall and Greville Street will close at 4pm on Friday 25 August 2023 and re-open at 9am on Tuesday 29 August 2023.
Please note Greville Street closes for lunch at 12noon - 1pm.
We wish you a happy and sunny Bank Holiday weekend!
Date Published: 07 August 2023
Chair of Judging Panel, Rachael Taylor, offers helpful advice for businesses entering the HALO Award 2023
Applications for the HALO (Hallmarking Awareness and Learning Online Awards) 2023 close on 8th September, allowing another five weeks to submit entries. The Award encourages jewellers selling online to celebrate and promote the hallmark. Chair of the HALO Award Judging Panel, Rachael Taylor shares her thoughts on the Award and what could make a successful application.
Date Published: 04 August 2023
Happy 50th anniversary to the 1973 Hallmarking Act
Happy 50th anniversary to the Hallmarking Act, which was passed on 25 July 1973 and came into effect in 1975.
The Act aimed to tidy up the complexities that had found their way into hallmarking law, making hallmarks easier to understand, whilst still retaining their rich history and traditions.
Date Published: 25 July 2023
HALO Award 2023 features on Jewellers Academy podcast
Are you using the full potential of the hallmark to help sell your jewellery?
Listen to the Jewellers Academy podcast, episode 163: What is the Halo Award and how hallmarking can add to your story as a jeweller.
Visit naj.co.uk/HALO for full details.
Date Published: 24 July 2023
Sampler David celebrates 45 years at the Assay Office
David Archer is celebrating 45 years working with us this summer having started work for the Assay Office in 1978.
Date Published: 20 July 2023
Tube industrial action - 25, 26, 27, 28 July 2023
Industrial action planned by London Underground workers will affect the tube networks on Tuesday 25, Wednesday 26, Thursday 27, and Friday 28 July.
Please be aware that our services may be disrupted if many of our teams are unable to get to work, and counters at Goldsmiths' Hall and Greville Street may be late to open. Our counters will remain open until 17.00.
During this period we will not be able to change the service originally requested on your packet.
Date Published: 17 July 2023
Hallmarking in the spotlight at the Trading Standards Conference
Hallmarking was in the spotlight at the recent Chartered Trading Standards Conference in Birmingham with the presentation of the Touchstone Award.
Date Published: 07 July 2023
Workshop Manager Pat celebrates 45 years at the Assay Office
Workshop Manager, Pat Geary first started working for the Assay Office on 3 July 1978.
We asked Pat some questions about his career.
Date Published: 03 July 2023
RMT Industrial Action on Thursday 20 July
The networks will be disrupted on Thursday 20 July. As a result our service on this day will be adapted as follows:
- Our One Hour service will be suspended.
- The Greville Street counter aims to open at 9am, but will close at 3pm, with a half hour closure 12pm – 12.30pm.
- Goldsmiths’ Hall aims to open at 9am and will close at 3pm.
Further services may be disrupted if many of our teams are unable to get to work. During this period we will not be able to change the service originally requested on your packet.
Date Published: 26 June 2023
HALO Award 2023
Are you using the full potential of the hallmark to help sell your jewellery?
Launching today at the National Association of Jewellers AGM, the HALO Award rewards effective online initiatives promoting the importance of hallmarking.
The award encourages all online retailers to review their hallmarking information and raise the profile of hallmarks.
Visit naj.co.uk/HALO for full details.
Date Published: 08 June 2023
Consultant physician Charles Mackworth-Young becomes the 696th Prime Warden
Charles Mackworth-Young, a Consultant Physician specialising in Rheumatology, has become Prime Warden (chairs the Board) of the Goldsmiths’ Company.
Date Published: 18 May 2023
Watch: Creating a hallmarking punch to commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III
To commemorate the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, Assay Offices across the UK have issued a commemorative component mark which can be applied to all precious metals in addition to the hallmark.
Watch Engineers Pat and Simon creating the punch in the workshop, and General Manager Adam applying the mark at the Hall. Thank you to everyone involved in the making of the video shot by Lucy Emms.
Date Published: 05 May 2023
ASLEF Industrial Action: Friday 12 and Wednesday 31 May
Industrial action planned by rail workers will affect both the train and tube networks in May.
The networks will be disrupted on Friday 12 and Wednesday 31 May. As a result our service on these days will be adapted as follows:
- Our One Hour service will be suspended.
- The Greville Street counter aims to open at 9am, but will close at 3pm, with a half hour closure 12pm – 12.30pm.
- Goldsmiths’ Hall aims to open at 9am and will close at 3pm.
Further services may be disrupted if many of our teams are unable to get to work. During this period we will not be able to change the service originally requested on your packet.
Date Published: 27 April 2023
The Cross of Wales: A historic commission by the Goldsmiths’ Company
- The Goldsmiths’ Company has led on a historic commission of a new processional cross, the Cross of Wales, by His Majesty The King, as Prince of Wales, to celebrate the centenary of the Church in Wales.
- The Cross of Wales – designed and made by master silversmith Michael Lloyd– will lead the Coronation procession at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
- His Majesty The King hand struck The ‘King’s Mark’ onto the Cross of Wales during a visit to the Goldsmiths’ Centre in November 2022 – the first time in history that a monarch has applied The ‘King’s Mark’ (leopard’s head).
Date Published: 19 April 2023
May Bank Holidays 2023
There are three bank holidays in May - details of how they impact our opening hours are given here:
Early May bank holiday
Both counters will close at 4pm on Friday 28 April. The offices will reopen on Tuesday 2 May at 9am.
Please note One Hour packets need to be submitted 2 hours before closing.
Bank holiday for the Coronation of King Charles III
Both counters will close at 4pm on Friday 5 May. The offices will reopen on Tuesday 9 May at 9am.
Please note One Hour packets need to be submitted 2 hours before closing.
Spring bank holiday
Both counters will close at 4pm on Friday 26 May. The offices will reopen on Tuesday 30 May at 9am.
Please note One Hour packets need to be submitted 2 hours before closing.
Date Published: 11 April 2023
British Hallmarking Council reappoints Noel Hunter to serve third three-year term
The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) has announced the reappointment of current chair Noel Hunter to serve a third three-year term in office.
Date Published: 11 April 2023
The Make Your Mark award winners announced at the Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council competition 2023
For 2022/23, the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office and Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council teams came together once again to incorporate the Make Your Mark 2D Design Award in the Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council Competition.
Silver awards were announced at the ceremony last week for Saipranathi Sreeram for her entry "Pick Your Mark", and Qimeng Yang for her "Light the Skyline" design. Saipranthi was also awarded the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office Award.
Date Published: 16 March 2023
Easter holiday 2023 hours
Goldsmiths’ Hall
Thursday 6 April – close at 12noon. The office will reopen on Tuesday 11 April at 9am.
Greville Street
Thursday 6 April – close at 12noon. The office will reopen on Tuesday 11 April at 9am.
Lead times will be impacted. Please note our post will not be collected on Thursday 6 April.
Date Published: 06 March 2023
New Trustmark Scheme to crackdown on counterfeit jewellery sold in the UK
The Assay Assured Trustmark scheme is to re-launch today, Wednesday 1 March 2023, with the support of all four UK Assay offices for the first time.
Businesses that sign up to the scheme can display Assay Office credentials to shoppers browsing their website. Details of the business’ registration are visible to shoppers giving them the assurance of adherence to the hallmarking law. An additional layer of reassurance is provided within the product itself if the hallmark cannot be seen in the product image.
Date Published: 01 March 2023
His Majesty King Charles III Coronation commemorative mark now available
- A new commemorative mark has been designed to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III
- The King’s Coronation Mark can be requested from 1 March 2023 and will be available until 31 December 2024
- Historically, commemorative marks have been added to the regular hallmark to signify a special event
- The mark depicts the King’s head against an oval background
Date Published: 01 March 2023
Price announcement 2023
Our pricing has remained unchanged since 2020. Following two years of price freezes across our services, and after careful assessment, we must now inform you of a price increase.
Date Published: 01 March 2023
Tube and rail industrial action: 15, 16, 30 March
Industrial action planned by rail workers will affect both the train and tube networks on Wednesday 15, Thursday 16 and Thursday 30 March.
As a result our service on the days will be adapted as follows:
- Our One Hour service will be suspended.
- The Greville Street counter aims to open at 9am, but will close at 3pm, with a half hour closure 12pm – 12.30pm.
- Goldsmiths’ Hall will be open 9am – 3pm.
Further services may be disrupted if many of our teams are unable to get to work. During this period we will not be able to change the service originally requested on your packet.
Date Published: 27 February 2023
Will Evans in Spring issue of The Jeweller
Read the interview with General Manager Will Evans in the Spring 2023 issue of The Jeweller magazine.
Date Published: 16 February 2023
Annual UK Hallmarking Figures for 2022
The total number of articles sent for hallmarking at all UK offices in 2022 rose by 12.2% to 9,748,288.
Gold, silver and platinum saw a rise in the quantity of articles hallmarked, palladium saw a decline.
Date Published: 10 February 2023
Touchstone winners make their mark
In June 2022 the British Hallmarking Council (BHC) Touchstone Award was presented at the CTSI Conference in Bristol. One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of the Touchstone Special Recognition Award to intellectual property protection specialists WRi Group by National Association of Jewellers Chair Heather Callaway and BHC Chair Noel Hunter OBE.
As local authority services continue to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has severely reduced the capacity of Trading Standards services, the BHC took the opportunity to recognise WRi for the outstanding support that the company and its founder Graham Mogg have shown to the BHC and the Assay Offices in detecting and tracking unhallmarked and non-compliant jewellery being sold online in the UK.
Date Published: 08 February 2023
First King Charles III coins are tested at this year's Trial of the Pyx
The Royal Mint has today submitted nearly 10,000 coins for testing at the UK’s oldest judicial ceremony, the Trial of the Pyx, held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City of London. The coins are rigorously checked for fineness and quality by an independent jury of Goldsmiths’ Company members, before further scientific analysis by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office.
Date Published: 07 February 2023
Coronation commemorative mark announced by the British Hallmarking Council to honour His Majesty King Charles III
- A new commemorative mark has been designed to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III
- The King’s Coronation Mark can be requested from 1 March 2023 and will be available until 31 December 2024
- Historically, commemorative marks have been added to the regular hallmark to signify a special event
- The mark depicts the King’s head against an oval background
Date Published: 30 January 2023
ASLEF Industrial Action: Wednesday 1 and Friday 3 February
Industrial action planned by rail workers will affect both the train and tube networks on Wednesday 1 and Friday 3 February.
As a result our service on the day will be adapted as follows:
- Our One Hour service will be suspended.
- The Greville Street counter aims to open at 9am, but will close at 3pm, with a half hour closure 12pm – 12.30pm.
- Goldsmiths’ Hall will be open 9am – 3pm.
Further services may be disrupted if many of our teams are unable to get to work. During this period we will not be able to change the service originally requested on your packet.
Date Published: 24 January 2023
General Manager Will Evans gives review of the year
2021 was our busiest year since 2014. For 2022 we forecast a similar quantity of work, but in fact, we were hallmarking more work in 2022 than we did in 2021.
Date Published: 10 January 2023