Sheffield Assay Office

The Sheffield Assay Office Autumn/Winter programme is brimming with events for individuals and groups with an interest in precious metals, history, local history, arts and crafts, design, science and technology.

This comprehensive programme has something for everyone, from general tours and talks to fascinating Silver Study days. 

For people working in and with the precious metals trade our Assay Master aproved "Hallmarking and the Law" workshop will cover all aspects of the legislation that governs this legal practice.

For more information regarding the tours and talks in early 2010 please download the pdf.

Autumn and Winter Programme

Hallmark for Palladium, the new precious metal, becomes compulsory

Palladium is bright, white, tarnish resistant and much less dense than other platinum group metals. Widely used in industry, it has now been officially recognized as a precious metal for fine jewellery, with the introduction of a compulsory UK hallmark from 1^st January 2010.

Many jewellers are experimenting with Palladium, which has had a voluntary legally recognised UK hallmark since July 2009. From January 1, 2010 this is a legal requirement for all articles weighing over 1 gram.

Palladium was introduced to the jewellery market back in the 1930's and the 1950's but never caught on. Now that it has the credibility of an independent UK hallmark guaranteeing its fineness to an international standard - most commonly 950 parts per thousand - Palladium is gaining significant attention. 

Over 40,000 pieces have been voluntarily hallmarked in the last six months, demonstrating the potential popularity of this newly recognised precious metal. At a time when the white metal look is very popular, and gold prices are at a record high, Palladium meets current trends and opens up huge opportunities to create inexpensive but innovative pieces.

Palladium joins gold, silver and platinum as the fourth recognized precious metal. This means articles cannot be sold in the UK without a statutory hallmark, applied by one of the four independent UK Assay Offices after testing to ensure the precious metal content meets a recognized standard.  Articles can be marked as containing a minimum of either 500, 950 or 999 parts per thousand of Palladium. The UK hallmark protects the consumer from dishonest traders and jewellers from unfair competition. 

Under the Hallmarking Act 1973, every person dealing in precious metal is legally required to display the statutory Dealers Notice and this has now been redesigned to include Palladium. The new version is available as a free download from any of the Assay Office websites, and high quality printed versions are also available.  Dealers have twelve months to change to the new Notice, which becomes compulsory from 1^st January 2011.

The new Notice features strongly an image of a hallmark including the three compulsory symbols. In recognition of the regional and national bias of some jewellery and precious metal articles and retailers, which is integral to their branding, the new Notice will appear in four different versions, according to whether a mark from Birmingham, Edinburgh, London or Sheffield is deemed more appropriate.

New Hallmarking Legislation - July 2009

New legislation with regard to the hallmarking of Palladium was signed into law with effect from July 21st 2009, when a legally recognised UK Hallmark for Palladium was established.

The new hallmarking legislation serves to protect consumers and those selling Palladium by ensuring the regulation of the fineness of this Platinum group metal.

The establishment of fineness standards and a statutory hallmark  means that Palladium is recognised as a significant part of the fine jewellery industry.
This  amendment to the Hallmarking Act 1973 also ensures that suppliers compete on equal terms and it will help to build consumer confidence in and appreciation for this still relatively unknown metal.

Initially, Hallmarking of Palladium will be voluntary but it is anticipated that Hallmarking will become a legal requirement for all Palladium articles with a metal weight of over one gram which are placed on the market, after January 1, 2010.

For this reason, members of the supply chain are advised to commence Hallmarking Palladium immediately now that the legislation has taken effect in order to avoid stock recall.

The fineness standards will be: HALLMARKING ACT 1973
(Application to Palladium and Miscellaneous Amendments) Order 2009.

About Palladium
Palladium is a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that was discovered in 1803 by William Hyde Wollaston, who named it Palladium after the asteroid Pallas.
The symbol for Palladium is Pd, and its atomic number is 46.

Sheffield Assay Office was proud to sponsor the annual NSPCC Hall of Fame awards at an event held at the House of Commons on June 10th.
The Hall of Fame reception is an opportunity for the NSPCC to publicly recognise the outstanding contribution celebrities have made to end cruelty to children and Sheffield Assay Office has sponsored the event since its inception in 2004.
It is also an opportunity to engage with key parliamentarians, celebrities and their agents with the aim of keeping the work of the NSPCC to the fore.

Celebrities being  inducted into the Hall of Fame this year included theatre legend Andrew Lloyd Webber, TV presenter Fiona Bruce, Wales rugby captain Ryan Jones,TV stars Beth Cordingly and Graham Cole of 'The Bill' and Vicky Alcock of 'Bad Girls' fame.

As members of the Hall of Fame, the celebrities receive a solid sterling silver award designed exclusively for the charity by the Sheffield Assay Office and bearing a unique NSPCC hallmark - again created by the Sheffield Assay Office, a charity 'first'.

Ashley Carson Assay Master commented "This event is a grateful acknowledgment of how busy people give their time and use their influence for the good. Sheffield Assay Office is proud to be able to play a small part in supporting the work of the NSPCC".

Ashley Carson (far right)  is pictured here with (left to right) Graham Cole, Vicky Alcock and Beth Cordingly.

 SHEFFIELD ASSAY OFFICE - BRINGING BACK THE YEARS!

Sheffield Assay Office is just about to embark upon the next chapter of its fascinating 235-year history when it moves into purpose-built headquarters in Hillsborough, Sheffield. The move is scheduled for late July and the brand new 33.000 sq. foot building is just about as modern as you can get, with state-of the-art facilities which will make its assay and analytical services the best equipped in the country.
However, committed as he is to innovation and development, Assay Master Ashley Carson is keen to preserve the sense of history which has shaped the organisation. The old building at Portobello Street in the centre of Sheffield featured beautifully crafted oak panels, each bearing the date mark for every year of the Assay Office's history since 1773 - and these panels are making the short journey across the city to the new building, where they will be installed and the tradition will continue.
"The Assay Office of 2008 is very different from its historical counterpart of 1773" says Ashley Carson. "In addition to the hallmarking services which were the reason for the Assay Office being established, we now offer a wide range of advanced analytical services and our new home will ensure we have the space and facilities to develop them. However, I wanted to ensure that we didn't lose sight of our history and these beautiful oak panels are a perfect way of combining something traditional with something cutting edge and very new. So we're bringing back the years!"

Ashley Carson (first left) is pictured with members of the construction team bringing some of the panels back into the new library area.

SHEFFIELD ASSAY OFFICE LAY FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE 19/1/08

Only a few weeks ago the site of the brand new headquarters for Sheffield Assay Office gave liittle indication of the shape of things to come. But work is moving ahead so well on the state-of-the art 33,000 sq. ft. facility that the foundation stone has been now been laid.
Assay Master Ashley Carson and members of his team gathered together to watch Colonel Roger Inman OBE lay the foundation stone, whilst around them the building is already rising up.
Colonel Inman is a former Chairman of the Assay Office (from 1988 to 1996) and, at the age of 93 has only just retired from the board of Guardians.
"Colonel Inman has seen many changes and significant developments in the Assay Office over the years" comments Ashely Carson. "Now, as we lay the foundation for yet another important stage in our growth which will see us have the most advanced hallmarking and analytical services in the country, it is an honour that Colonel Inman is here to mark the occasion".
Fittingly, the trowel used by Colonle Inman bears the proud mark of 'Made in Sheffield' and was chosen from the Spear and Jackson WHS Premier Range.

The 3 million pound building is due for completion in early summer, when the Sheffield Assay Office will move its entire operation from its current premises on Portobello Road.
Established in 1773, Sheffield Assay Office is one of Sheffield's oldest companies and 7 to 8 miilion items each year pass through it for hallmarking. But the need for more room has been driven by significant growth in the organisation's analytical services; Sheffield Assay Office carries out a range of cutting edge analytical tests which include jewellery testing, mercury screening - and a range of safety tests for products such as fashion accessories, toys and electrical goods. Demand for these services is high and the new premises will ensure that this side of the business has room to grow.
In addition to superb single storey production facilities, the new Sheffield Assay office will feature a two-storey building to incorporate its famous library and silver collection, plus extensive meeting, exhibition and training facilities.

Sheffield Assay Master Ashley Carson said, "This is an exciting time for us. When this building is complete, we will be the only Assay office to have all our production facilities on one floor. Our hallmarking and laser marking operations will be even more efficient and we will be able to integrate more of the latest technology to meet demand in growth areas such as metals and materials analysis."

As a stalwart supporter of all things Sheffield, (including Sheffield Wednesday!), Ashley Carson is dellighted that the contractor charged with helping to build the Assay Office's future is also a Sheffield company - HP Construction. "HP's tender was the most comprehensive and showed a clear understanding of what we need from this building" says Ashley "I'm very pleased to be able to work a local company".

ENDS

21/11/07
HP CONSTRUCTION SCOOPS ASSAY OFFICE CONTRACT
 
HP Construction beat off stiff competition from three other construction companies to scoop a contract to build brand-new premises for the Sheffield Assay Office in the Upper Don Valley.
 
Work got underway this month to clear the site on Beulah Road in Hillsborough and building of what will be Britain's largest dedicated metal hallmarking and analysis laboratory will start in early January.
 
When the new 33,000 sq. ft, 3 million pound building is completed in spring, the Sheffield Assay Office will move its entire operation from its current premises on Portobello Road.
 
Established in 1773, Sheffield Assay Office is one of Sheffield's oldest companies and the need for more room has arisen due to rapid and widespread changes to the metals hallmarking and analytical market.
 
Between 7 and 8 million items now pass through Sheffield Assay Office in a single year and, in addition to traditional hallmarking services, it carries out a range of cutting edge analytical tests on products, which include costume jewellery, accessories, toys and electrical goods. Demand for analytical services is high and the new premises will ensure that this side of the business has room
to grow.

Sheffield Assay Master Ashley Carson said, "This is an exciting time for us. When this building is complete, we will be the only Assay office to have all our production facilities on one floor. Our hallmarking and laser marking operations will be even more efficient and streamlined and we will be able to integrate more of the latest technology to meet demand in growth areas such as metals and materials analysis."
 
David Hutchison, Director at HP Construction said, "We were delighted to win this prestigious tender and have already started clearing the site in readiness for the foundations. This building represents an important and exciting project for us and we can't wait to get started."
 
In addition to providing superb single storey production facilities, the new Sheffield Assay office will feature a two-storey building to incorporate its famous library and silver collection, plus extensive meeting, exhibition and training facilities.
 
ENDS
 
CAPTION: L-R
Richard Powell and David Hutchison, Directors at HP
Construction, Ashley Carson, Sheffield Assay Master
and John Race, HP Construction Project Manager.

 21/9/07

SHEFFIELD ANALYTICAL SERVICES TRIED AND TRUSTED 25 YEARS ON

Sheffield Analytical Services, a division of the Sheffield Assay Office, has been awarded a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) certificate this month, for the 25th year running, making it the longest established, UKAS accredited Assay
Laboratory in Britain.

Precious metals have been analysed at the Sheffield Assay Office for well over 200 years and the business has gradually diversified to offer its services to a global market.

Sheffield Assay Master, Ashley Carson said, "Amid all the recent scares concerning potentially dangerous metal content in toys manufactured in developing countries, more and more businesses are turning to our independent and confidential service to verify metal content before importing their products to the UK."

"We have to work hard to meet the exacting standards laid down by UKAS and are tested every year. I would like to congratulate the hard working team that runs our laboratory and express my pride in an unblemished track record that now dates back a quarter of a century," concluded Ashley.

UKAS is the sole accreditation body recognised by the government to assess against internationally recognised standards and there are 1,500 accredited testing laboratories in the UK. Accreditation by UKAS demonstrates the competence, impartiality and sustainable performance of evaluators such as Sheffield Analytical Services.

Sheffield Analytical Services was one of the first ever laboratories to be given UKAS accreditation. It currently tests precious metals; metals used in medical research and provides independent assays for bullion companies. It also analyses minerals, soil and offers other analytical services for the environment.

Its Mercury Screening Service for Dental staff, and for those who work with Mercury in an industrial environment has become highly respected across the
UK.

It is also a leading authority in testing to comply with the EC Nickel Directive for jewellery and fashion accessories.

ENDS
CAPTION:
PIC 1. CELEBRATING 25 YEARS' UKAS ACCREDITATION
The team pictured were all involved in the original accreditation, 25 years ago with the exception of David Beresford who started two years later! Left to right: Dave Jarvis, Fiona Hudson, David Beresford, Ashley Carson and Alison Woodhouse.

 30 YEARS OF STERLING WORK

Sheffield Assay Master, Ashley Carson is celebrating 30 years at Sheffield Assay Office this month. He looks back at his career and forwards to 2008 when he will move the Sheffield Assay Office to a new state-of-the-art purpose built site.

Ashley joined the firm in 1977, the Queen's Silver Jubilee Year. He went on to meet Her Royal Highness just over ten years later when she opened their new offices at the Guardians Hall.

He has hallmarked an amazing array of precious items including a solid silver bed for a sultan and a 45-foot cake stand!

Having presided over dramatic changes in the market, in particular changing trends in the jewellery industry, he has also witnessed a revolution in assay and hallmarking technology.

Says Ashley, "We have continued to invest and innovate whilst sticking firmly to our founding principles of reliability, integrity and efficiency. These may seem old fashioned, but they have stood us in good stead and underpinned our relationships with customers enabling us to ride the trends."

Established in 1773, Sheffield Assay Office is one of Sheffield's oldest and most respected companies. When Ashley began his career straight from school, Sheffield had a thriving silver industry and people would, literally, present baskets of silver teapots for hallmarking over the counter.

"Sadly the local trade has dramatically declined and not only does most of our work arrive by courier or post, rather than by hand, it comes from all over the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. We have gone from being a local supplier to a global business in less than three decades," says Ashley.

Between 10 and 12 million items now pass through Sheffield Assay Office in a single year, but in addition to this many other articles are submitted.

"We are now just as likely to test costume jewellery for nickel content or test dentists for mercury exposure, as we are to put traditional hallmarks on precious metals. This is a significant and growing percentage of our business," continued Ashley.

He began working at the Sheffield Assay Office in the school holidays because his mother worked there. "I used to wash the boss' car and I decided that if I was ever going to have a car like that, I had better work hard and become the boss myself." said Ashley.

He worked in every department and eventually specialised in the testing of metal products, becoming an expert at removing fine shards of metal from items for testing without damaging them or compromising their value. He became Assay Master in 1993.

Ashley continued, "One year everyone will be wearing two or three gold chains, the next, they want a single gold chain with a diamond in it. Our survival and growth has been down to our ability to investigate and penetrate new markets."

"Costume jewellery is very popular at the moment, but it should be tested for nickel to afford protection for the consumer. We have invested significantly in our nickel testing service and now receive thousands of items from major retailers each week for testing,"he said.

In 1997, laser marking was introduced at the Sheffield Assay Office. This is ideal for hollow and delicate items of jewellery and watchcases, which risk being damaged by the traditional hallmarking processes. The firm also introduced XRF (X-Ray Fluorescence) analytical technology in order to define the precise content of different metals.

"We recently used our laser marking facilities to imprint the Duchy of Cornwall's crest on the wooden handles of a line of gardening tools," says Ashley.

Under Ashley's leadership, Sheffield Assay Office has invested widely in local talent. It has sponsored various competitions to inspire and motivate designers working with gold and silver. It supplies 25 kgs of silver each year to the jewellery course at Sheffield University and recently financed a fully equipped workshop at Persistence Works for metal and jewellery graduates starting out in business. It is also a corporate member of Sheffield's Millennium Galleries.

"We have an extensive collection of silver pieces with a piece for every year of the Assay office's existence. We also publish Bradbury's Book of Hallmarks and have built a large library which is an invaluable resource for students and industry experts alike," says Ashley.

"We are all very excited about the forthcoming move to our new offices and laboratories. From there, we will continue to develop and invest in of range of hallmarking and analytical services," says Ashley.

Outside the office, Ashley has never lost his passion for fast cars, even though he now has one!

He concluded, "The last thirty years have been both challenging and fascinating, but I have always had the support of a highly committed and skilled workforce, many of whom have been here longer than I have. We will continue to hold onto our traditional values and service but keep our eyes firmly on the horizon to make sure we stay ahead of changing industry trends."

Ends 

1/5/07

SHEFFIELD ASSAY OFFICE MOVE MARKS A NEW ERA
Sheffield Assay Office, which hallmarks and analyses metals has announced plans for a move to a new site, which marks the beginning of a new era in the development and expansion of the organisation.

Assay Master, Ashley Carson confirmed this week that the Assay Office has acquired a one-acre site in the upper Don Valley area and is planning to build 33,000 square feet of state-of the-art assay and analysis facilities, due for completion in Spring / Summer 2008.

The project represents a 3 million pound investment strategy and will place the Sheffield Assay Office in the vanguard of metals analysis and hallmarking innovation and technology.

"This is an exciting move for us," comments Ashley Carson, "we will be the only UK Assay office to have all our production facilities on one floor, which will make our hallmarking and laser marking operations even more efficient and streamlined. It’s also the perfect opportunity to integrate even more of the latest technology to meet demand in growth areas such as metals and materials analysis."

To ensure that the facilities and logistics are second to none, the Assay Office has called upon the expertise of Sheffield Hallam University's Materials and Engineering Research Institute, which will assist in implementing innovative new processes to maximise operational efficiency.

In addition to providing superb single storey production facilities, the new Sheffield Assay office will feature a two-storey building, incorporating the famous library and silver collection, plus extensive meeting, exhibition and training facilities.

"Demand for our training from the retail trade has grown significantly," continues Ashley Carson, "both with regard to hallmarking and precious metals and also for legislation and safety issues surrounding the retailing of costume jewellery."

Many high-street names already call upon Sheffield Assay Office's expertise in these areas and the new training facilities will ensure that the client list continues to grow.

The famous oak panels, which line the staircase of the Portobello Street building, will not, however, be left behind. The panels, each of which bears a mark for every year of the Assay Office's history since its establishment in 1773, will be carefully removed and make the journey to the north of the city.

"They are just as much a part of our heritage as hallmarking itself," says Ashley Carson. "And no doubt an important part of the future too."

The Midlands-based Cordwell Property Group has acquired the existing Sheffield Assay Office in Portobello Street, which has been the organisation's base since 1958, for redevelopment. They are currently in discussion with City planners to discuss the future of the site which is likely to include leisure, a state of the art multi storey car park and the retention of the existing Guardians’ Hall as owner occupier offices.

Cordwell Chairman, William Warrack said "We are delighted to have made this important acquisition in such a strategic location, Rockingham Street is destined to become one of the most important feeder streets in the City Centre".

18/4/07
MARKING THE CHANGES AT SHEFFIELD ASSAY OFFICE

Changes to legislation affecting the hallmarking of items containing a mixture of precious and non precious metals came into force on April 6th2007. This means that items such as jewellery and watches that are made from a combination of metals such as silver and titanium or gold and stainless steel, can now be hallmarked for the first time.

Sheffield Assay Office has lobbied hard to bring about these changes and was immediately visited by one of its customers, Michael Frampton, Chairman of Sheffield jewellers, H.L Brown & Son Ltd. Mr. Frampton presented an 18 carat Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel Rolex Watch to be assayed and laser hallmarked.

Commenting on the likely impact of the legislation, Sheffield Assay Office Master, Ashley Carson said, "These changes are of particular relevance to designers working with mixed metals and we hope there will now be a greater scope for them to explore more creative designs. These changes will also benefit retailers and consumers alike as a mixed metal hallmark is an endorsement and authentication of content."

Hallmarks will only be given when a UK Assay Office finds that each precious metal in an article meets UK minimum standards of fineness. Unhallmarked articles made before 1950 remain exempt from hallmarking if they meet current minimum purity requirements.

Michael Frampton Chairman of jewellers, H.L Brown said, "The move is very good news for retailers like us. Mixed metal goods supplied by importers and designers can now be hallmarked and correctly described whereas in the past we could not describe an article truthfully without committing an offence. Hallmarks add valuable reassurance and credibility as well as reduce the chances of fraud."

ENDS
CAPTION
Michael Frampton, Chairman of Sheffield jewellers,  H.L Brown & Son Ltd. presenting an 18 carat Yellow Gold and Stainless Steel Rolex Watch to be assayed and laser hallmarked by Sheffield Assay Office.