Latest News & Press

On July 21st 2023, we celebrated 15 years since Sheffield Assay Office moved from Portobello Street, Sheffield S1, to our new, state of the art home in Hillsborough.

Sheffield Assay Office were delighted to sponsor this year's Goldsmiths North, which took place at Cutlers' Hall at the start of July. We are thrilled to say that the event was a huge success!

Our Curator, Emma Paragreen was recently joined by the four original designer makers of The Millennium Punch Bowl to clean and care for the special piece. This is no easy task, as the piece consists of the bowl, ladle, plank, cups and 2000 jacks.

The Annual NAJ Summit took place on the 24th to the 26th of June at the Park Regis Hotel in Birmingham and Emma Paragreen and Sarah North were delighted this year to represent Sheffield Assay Office playing a key role in the event. 

25th July 2023 marks the 50th anniversary the Hallmarking Act which was given royal assent on 25th July 1973 and came into force fully on 1st January 1975.  

Assay Assured is the world’s only jewellery specific digital Trustmark, backed by all four UK Assay Offices. UK Assay Offices have been testing and hallmarking precious metals for over 700 years.

On Friday 30th June, 20 members of the Sheffield Assay Office team donated to take part in the Master Cutler's Challenge, helping to raise funds for The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust.

Hallmarking was in the spotlight at the recent Chartered Trading Standards Conference in Birmingham with the presentation of the Touchstone Award. The Award is sponsored by British Hallmarking Council and the National Association of Jewellers and encourages Trading Standards officers to raise awareness about the importance of hallmarking.