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Industry News
Platinum Jubilee commemorative mark launched
In 2022, Her Majesty the Queen will become the first British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee, 70 years of service, having acceded to the throne in 1952. To celebrate the occasion, the British Hallmarking Council has sanctioned a commemorative component mark.
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Designed by Thomas Fattorini Ltd, the mark depicts an orb and can be applied to precious metal, alongside a hallmark, by any of the four UK assay offices. The approval process of the mark took place over the last year and involved engineers at Goldsmiths’ Hall refining designs for use by laser or punches from 1mm to 6mm in height.
Commemorative marks have proved popular with UK consumers. In 1934 a voluntary mark celebrating the silver jubilee of HM King George V and HM Queen Mary was available to silversmiths for two years between 1934 and 1935. Its popularity led to further commemorative marks: for the coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and 1954, for the silver jubilee in 1977, for the millennium in 1999 and 2000, for the golden jubilee in 2002 and the diamond jubilee in 2012.
A spokesperson said “The UK assay offices have a long tradition of capturing special occasions with the creation of commemorative marks. Not only does it provide the trade with an additional narrative for the products that carry the mark, but it also brings the importance of the hallmark into focus with the jewellery and silver buying consumer.”
Jewellers, silversmiths and retailers can request the mark from their assay office. Until the end of 2021, it can be applied to a hallmark without a date letter. Throughout 2022, the commemorative component mark can be applied along with the new year date letter. The addition of the commemorative mark will cost £1 for each article on which it is struck as standard. Laser and feature commemorative marks may be subject to additional charges. Contact your assay office for more information.
The Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), the world’s leading standardsetting organisation for the global jewellery and watch industry, with 1,500 member companies in 71 countries, has announced it will develop a standard for laboratory-grown materials (LGMs) to establish best practice, including the requirement for full disclosure for such materials used in jewellery products.
The RJC LGM standard will include laboratory-grown stones and be separate from the RJC Code of Practices, in recognition that laboratory-grown products carry a different risk profile from natural products. The standard will be available for companies dealing in LGMs. To ensure the new standard receives the most robust review before it is finalised, the RJC will follow a transparent public consultation procedure with all stakeholders, following the ISEAL StandardSetting Code of Good Practice. The RJC’s multi-stakeholder Standards Committee will manage the consultation process.
Iris Van der Veken (left), executive director of RJC, said: “Setting a standard for LGMs is an important strategic initiative by RJC, underlining our commitment to ensure all jewellery is responsibly sourced, manufactured and marketed. It is all about consumer confidence. This standard will provide a clear, robust framework not only for manufacturers and retailers but also for reassuring customers that manufacturers and sellers of LGMs follow rigorous processes that ensure the credibility and transparency of their operations.”
David Bouffard, chair of RJC, said: “The RJC was founded to promote global best practices for the jewellery and watch industry. With increasing consumer awareness of LGMs, it is imperative we set these standards to ensure all laboratorygrown diamonds and gemstones are responsibly manufactured, sourced and sold, and that consumer confidence can be maintained through the application of a clear and consistent approach for businesses dealing with LGMs.”
