Latest News & Press

Did you know that therere are 17 different standards for hallmarking of precious metals? The precious metal fineness standard for UK hallmarking (expressed in parts per thousand) is listed below, along with the standards of solder permitted in the UK and under the International Hallmarking Convention (common control mark). S…

This month we were pleased to welcome the Senior Supplier Quality Engineer from one of our most valued customers, B. Braun. Arriving from Ireland to audit various aspects of our laboratory, including our quality management system, process control, monitoring and training, we were delighted to once again pass with flying colou…

February 2019 saw Sheffield Assay Office undergo a successful audit by the British Standards Institute (BSI), who recommended we maintain our certification to ISO 9001:2015. ISO 9001 is the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system. Organizations use the standard to demonstrate the abili…

The Sheffield Assay Office was delighted to be accepted as a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council in July 2018.  The RJC is a standards-setting organisation that has been established to advance responsible ethical, human rights, social and environmental practices throughout the diamond, gold and platinum group metals jew…

Did you know that nickel allergy is a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis — an itchy rash that appears where your skin touches a usually harmless substance. Nickel allergy is often associated with earrings and other jewellery but it can also be found in many everyday items such as coins, zips, mobile phones and spectacl…

If you have any objects that require the identification of hallmarks please do not hesitate to contact info@assayoffice.co.uk  Please send photographs of the object and close up images of the marks.  “Thank you for the quick reply, and for confirming the identification of the hallmarks. It is good to know that my grandmother-i…

We’re delighted to announce that Danny Smith, a well-established member of our hallmarking team, has recently been promoted to Hallmarking Production Manager. Danny started his working life as a professional footballer with Sheffield Wednesday FC but football’s loss was our gain when he chose to swap chasing silverware with …

An outrageous jewellery scam has been successfully prosecuted thanks to the efforts of Registered Valuer Graham Price FIRV.  A Mansfield woman was extorting money from the public by passing off CZ-set silver and base metal rings as platinum and diamonds. On Thursday 10th January  Ka Man Lam, 27, was fined the sum of £3,000 at N…