Latest News & Press

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…

We welcome groups and societies to visit the Sheffield Assay Office. This is your opportunity to learn more about the assaying and hallmarking of precious metals and the work of the office over the last 244 years. Visits take place on Thursday and Friday, approx. duration 2.5 hrs. We ask for a minimum of 10 people and a maxim…

The annual Mary Parsons Charity Service took place on the 27th December 2018 at The Cathedral Church of St Peter and St Paul. The service was taken by the Dean The Reverend Peter Bradley and Reverend Captain Mike Reeder. The service was well attended by beneficiaries of the charity and guests. Following the service everyo…