Confidence in
Every Test.
We deliver hallmarking, certification, and elemental analysis to ensure compliance and build consumer trust.
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UKAS Accredited Laboratory
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ISO 17025 Compliant
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250+ Years of Excellence
Protecting Consumers. Powering Industries.
For over 250 years, Birmingham Assay Office has safeguarded consumer trust through independent hallmarking and testing. Millions of precious metal pieces bear our iconic anchor assay mark as an enduring emblem of assurance. Today, our expertise extends far beyond jewellery.
Birmingham Assay Office now delivers advanced elemental analysis, powering trust in black mass recycling, rare earths, mining, and advanced alloys. Using cutting-edge techniques such as ICP-OES and XRF, we provide the same independence, rigour, and confidence that have defined us for centuries.
Whether protecting the purity of gold or verifying the composition of next-generation materials, our mission remains the same: to protect consumers, enable compliance, and power innovation across industries. The same independence that has protected consumers for 250 years is now helping industries of the future.
Hallmarking
Services
Statutory hallmarking for precious metals, combining centuries of heritage with modern efficiency.
- Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- UK legal compliance and consumer protection
- Express and laser hallmarking services
Diamond, Gemstone & Jewellery Assessments
Independent gemstone identification and professional valuations for jewellery and watches.
- Diamond, pearl, and coloured gemstone certification
- Insurance, probate, and commercial valuations
- Digital valuation and authentication services
Analytical Testing
Laboratory
Independent materials testing for jewellery & wearable products, consumer goods, medical devices, & regulated products.
- Waterproof and performance testing
- Skin safety & irritant assessment
- General product safety regulations & compliance testing
Elemental & Critical
Materials Analysis
UKAS-accredited elemental analysis for industrial, environmental, and advanced materials.
- ICP and XRF elemental
analysis - Regulatory and product safety support
- Sustainability and circular economy applications
Why use us ?
10,000+
Customers Served Across 50+ countries
250+
Years of Heritage Established 1773
Quality Certified
Continuously since 1994
1M+
Items Hallmarked Annually with precision
Contact us
Our Services...
Businesses today face growing pressure to demonstrate authenticity, compliance, safety, and sustainability. Whether you’re selling high-value goods, meeting regulatory requirements, or working with complex materials, independent evidence and trusted expertise are essential.
Birmingham Assay Office supports organisations across the UK and internationally with independent testing, certification and valuation services that go far beyond hallmarking. From statutory hallmarking and digital valuations to UKAS-accredited analytical and elemental testing, we help businesses reduce risk, meet compliance obligations, and build trust with customers and regulators.
Supporting Organisations Across Key Industries
Jewellery & Luxury
Hallmarking, valuations, gemstone identification and compliance testing for jewellery brands, retailers and luxury goods.
Precious Metals & Manufacturing
Materials analysis and metals testing supporting manufacturing, refining and industrial supply chains.
Technology & Advanced Materials
Analytical testing supporting electronics, wearable technology and medical materials.
Consumer Products & Safety
Compliance testing helping businesses meet REACH, RoHS and product safety regulations.
Insurance & Legal
Valuations, authentication and analytical expertise supporting insurers, legal professionals and cultural institutions.
What Our Customers Say
Success stories from professionals who've used Birmingham Assay Office for there businesses
“DCK proudly chooses the Birmingham Assay Office for Anchor Cert Pro testing, as it is accessible right here in the UK. Their responsive communication makes them a reliable partner, ensuring our products are fit for industry standards.”
DCK Group
DCK Group
“We have been a customer and worked with the Birmingham Assay Office since March 2022. It had been my vision to bring our hallmarking to the UK, to add to the hallmarking figures and to work with the Birmingham Assay Office.“
Judith Lockwood
Director - Mesmeric Distribution
“We are delighted to have been a customer of Birmingham Assay Office for over a century. Until the end of the twentieth century this meant hallmarking, but we now use a much wider range of services from diamond certification to appraisals and testing services”
Andrew Hinds
F Hinds
Industries We Serve
From traditional jewellery to cutting-edge technology sectors
The tour of the Assay area was most interesting and members of staff explained the process that they were involved with in a most enthusiastic and informative manner. Highly recommend
Excellent and knowledgeable guide.
I attended the public tour last month which was hugely enjoyable.This occasion was important to me in my 80th year ***
The whole tour & presentation was admirably and professionally conducted by Mrs Brennan,as I expected.
Mr Henry,The Assay Master and I exchanged letters and he very kindly replied.Both letters are kept as mementoes of my visit.
*** I wrote that I was a ” native” of the area, having spent my entire childhood in nearby Ladywood. Many neighbours worked their entire lives in the JQ. Kind regards
Donald Newis
We enjoyed a captivating session led by the curator, whose expertise and enthusiasm brought the collection to life. We were privileged to view not only the exquisite pieces on display in the silver room but also other carefully-selected treasures from the reserve collection and original archival documents that offered deep insights into the Office’s storied past.
This visit was more than a glimpse into silver history—it was a reminder of the enduring cultural and artisanal significance preserved within the Assay Office’s walls.
Warm thanks to the whole team for making the experience both enriching and memorable.
One was accurate and about as expected.
The second, pricing a large Zultanite, (like a Csarite, but with no inclusions and better colour change), as a Csarite was rather disappointing.
The valuation came out less than 40% of the cost of a replacement stone, forget the ring. Obviously there is a significant gap in their experience of top grade diaspores on this site.
Not even seeing that the stone is a gemstone is questionable. The Zultanite is the only diaspore gem stone, per the GIA. But missing the real give away, the very much greater colour changing seems rather sad
Great for the rest, but with diaspores, go somewhere else.
Contact us
Birmingham Assay office
0121 820 0773
Address
1 Moreton St, Birmingham, B1 3AX