However, costumes withdrawn from the market in Sweden provide a warning for the industry throughout the EU. In the previous week an “Alien Agent” outfit was withdrawn due to having azo dyes releasing 4-aminoazobenzene above the permitted levels, which made it non compliant with the REACH regulation. Last week two outfits were also withdrawn as they posed a risk for the environment because the plastic in the packaging contained cadmium above the permitted levels (measured value:…

The General Public open days to visit the private silver collection at Assay Office Birmingham are practically sold out.  Both the morning visits for Monday 28th April and Thursday 26th June are full.  There are still a very few places left on both afternoon visits which start at 2.00pm so hurry and book now if you would like to come along.  Places are currently £12.oo each and can be reserved by calling 0871 871 6020 or emailing silver@theassayoffice.co.uk Visitors on the rec…

BLUE STONES Stephen Webster Tanzanite Ring Blue Sapphire Blue sapphire is a member of the mineral species ‘corundum’, a sister to ruby. Historically sapphires were sourced in Kashmir, Myanmar and Sri Lanka but in recent decades Madagascar, Eastern Africa, Australia, Thailand and Cambodia have also become important sources. Sapphires occur naturally in a rainbow of colours, including much rarer pinks and yellows but the most common is blue with the colour being created by var…