U-turn over assay mark is victory for silversmiths Overseas offices can no longer feature Birmingham’s anchor
BIRMINGHAM silversmiths have finally claimed victory in a battle to save their famous anchor hallmark for the Second City.
Birmingham Assay Office opened a new base in India in 2016 using the same historic anchor mark.
But the move prompted a vehement backlash from Birmingham jewellers who feared it would cast doubt over the provenance of their own products made in the city.
Now, in a major U-turn, jewellery hallmarked by UK assay offices overseas must be different from that marked in the UK. The decision came after a consultation by government body, the British Hallmarking Council.
Assay symbols officially denote the office that verified the item, not the location where the item was actually made.
Changes to the Hallmarking Act in early 2013 allowed the UK’s four assay offices to open overseas, enabling them to compete with European offices which operate free of geographic restrictions.
The anchor was introduced in Birmingham in 1773 by industrialist Matthew Boulton to stop his goods being stolen by highwaymen on the journey to London for hallmarking.
Steve Millington, of Birmingham silverware manufacturers LJ Millington, is chairman of the British Hallmarking Protection Alliance.
He said: “This is a good decision to correct a poor one taken several years ago. I find it disappointing that the management of Birmingham Assay Office thought it was a good idea to devalue 245 years of history and heritage of Matthew Boulton’s legacy to Birmingham since 1773.
“After 700 years, Britain’s historic hallmarking symbols are recognised throughout the world as a guarantee of British origin of assay and have a very high status because of our national reputation and long history of assay. “They are part of our heritage. “Effectively renting out these traditional British symbols to countries as far away as Asia would have had the effect of misleading consumers as to country of origin of precious metal assay marks and gradually undermined confidence in these valuable symbols. Hallmarks struck in those countries by assay offices under UK
This is a good decision to correct a poor one taken several years ago Steve Millington
control and oversight, will be legal for sale in the UK and I for one am looking forward to seeing pieces carrying the new symbols.”
Birmingham Assay Office has not said what its new overseas symbol will be, but Mr Millington said he understood it would include an anchor and compass.
Doug Henry, Birmingham Assay Office’s assay master, said: “We are pleased that all parties within the British Hallmarking Council have reached agreement around a very complex issue. One cannot underestimate the complexities of minor changes to regulations across the international markets. There is no question that Birmingham Assay Office has always been fully compliant in all respects with the Hallmarking Act and all the council’s policies and regulations.
“Although we accept there has been a great deal of misinformation propagated throughout this debate.
“The change in policy now agreed within the council will not change this fundamental position as the integrity of this office is paramount and we will always be fully compliant with legislation and regulation.
“We look forward to ensuring that UK hallmarking remains at the forefront of consumer protection in all markets.”