MONTH IN REVIEW
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HALLMARKING APPOINTMENTS
Platinum hallmarking increased by
9.4% in December 2018, compared
with the same period the previous year,
despite overall volumes decreasing by
2.1% according to figures compiled by
the Birmingham Assay Office.
The number of gold pieces
hallmarked decreased from 322,033
in December 2017 to 312,281 in
2018. Silver and palladium also
both decreased by -1.5% and -51.1%
respectively. The total number of silver
items hallmarked decreased from
379,631 in 2017 to 373,756 in December
this year. Palladium totalled 1,473 for the
month, down from 3,015 last year.
Overall the volumes decreased by
15,406 to 707,965 in December 2018.
The assay offices have also
released hallmarking data for the
entirety of 2018, which saw a 2.4%
decrease in hallmarked pieces from
9,336,926 in 2017 to 9,114,402 in 2018 -
222,524 less articles.
Silver hallmarked pieces decreased
by 5.9% in 2018 to 4,640,569, compared
with 4,933,356 in 2017, and palladium
hallmarked items fell by 26.2% to
62,667, compared with 84,868 last year.
However, gold and platinum
saw positive results for the year,
with increases of 1.9% and 5.3%
respectively. Gold hallmarked articles
increased by 77,378 to 4,113,643,
compared with 4,036,265 in 2017, and
platinum hallmarked items increased
by 15,086 to 297,523, up from 282,437
last year. The International Jewellery London
(IJL) trade event has appointed Katie
Morris as IJL event director effective
immediately.
Morris has worked on a number
of shows for Reed Exhibitions since
joining in 2010, including head of
marketing on The London Book Fair,
where she eventually was appointed
as event manager in 2015. A further
promotion in April 2018 saw her add
head of buyer programmes at IJL to her
responsibilities.
Platinum up 9.4%
in December;
Overall 2018
results revealed
Hallmarking in
December decreased by
2.1%
to 707,965 items
(compared with the
previous December)
10 JEWELLERY FOCUS
IJL appoints
Katie Morris
as exhibition
director
As IJL head of buyer programmes,
Morris increased the international
buyer presence by 15% in 2018 and she
has brokered partnerships across other
RX jewellery shows.
Stella Layton, non-executive chair
of the IJL advisory board said: “Katie’s
contribution to IJL in the short time that
she was Head of Buyer Programmes
was very impressive and I am delighted
that the show will now have the benefit
of her experience and expertise as
director of IJL.
“Our industry has so much to offer
while also undergoing a period of
great challenge and opportunity; I am
looking forward to working with Katie
and the IJL team on taking the show to
its next exciting phase.”
Commenting on her appointment,
Morris added: “Having worked on the
show last year, I am excited about
learning more about jewellery and
in bringing even more international
buyers and exhibitors together.
“I am looking forward to meeting
many more people across the UK
trade and to collaborating on building
greater opportunities for the industry
going forward.”
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REFURBISHMENTS
Allum & Sidaway
reports store
refurb boost
Jewellers Allum & Sidaway has
reported a “successful festive period”
thanks to a recent store refurbishment.
The family-run company closed for
several weeks last autumn for a full
revamp of their Dorchester head office
including the expansion of their sales floor.
The extended shop area has enabled
Allum & Sidaway to expand its brand
offering to include Olivia Burton, Alex
Monroe and Georg Jensen jewellery
and homeware as well as hand
selected coloured diamonds and fine
jewellery collections.
The jewellers said shop fit draws
inspiration from its luxury flagship store
in Salisbury and features new display
cabinets, reception areas and lighting.
Managing director Jason Allum
said: “We have been looking forward
to creating a more luxurious retail
destination for sometime now and are
delighted to have invested further in
our local high street. We believe the
design and features of our revamped
store will prove a winning formula
and are thrilled to see this has been
reflected in a positive uplift of fine
jewellery sales over the festive period.
“When planning the store layout and
furnishings, we meticulously focused our
efforts on the customer experience and
the client journey throughout the store –
making the space inviting and cosy with
additional seating areas, whilst ensuring
the new cabinetry showed off our
fabulous collections at their best.”
Continuing their expansion further,
Allum & Sidaway also launched its
first transactional website before
Christmas, that features the jewellers
own fine jewellery alongside popular
branded collections.
February 2019 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk