At its annual congress in Dubai, CIBJO, The World Jewellery Confederation, has approved a Blue Book for Precious Metal Jewellery, Flatware, and Hollowware.

The Blue Book has been put together by a multi-national working group led by Michael Allchin, chief executive and Assay master of The Birmingham Assay Office. Allchin has now been appointed president of the CIBJO Precious Metals Commission, assisted by three vice presidents, each focussed on a specific metal. These are silver manufacturer Gianni Cacchione, James Courage of Platinum Guild International and Phillip Olden of the World Gold Council.

“This is another important achievement for CIBJO” Allchin said. “It will assist in harmonizing world trade and prove enormously helpful to the global precious metal industry.”

The Precious Metals Blue Book is designed to give the public and trade throughout the world transparency in relation to buying precious metal articles. The new standard joins those already established by CIBJO for gemstones, diamonds and pearls.

The testing and analysis of precious metals has been fundamental to The Birmingham Assay Office since it was founded by Parliament more than 230 years ago.

JCK