AnchorCert Analytical News

ARCHDUKE JOSEPH DIAMOND[/caption] The top lot of the sale was the historical 76.02 carats cushion-shaped ‘Archduke Joseph Diamond’ which sold for US$21,474,525 / SFr.20,355,000 (US$282,545 per carat), setting a new world record at auction for a colourless diamond. Over the seven hour long sale a total of 19 lots sold above $1 million with 147 buyers coming from 28 countries, competing enthusiastically in the room, on the telephone and online. Alfredo J. Molina, the diamond’…

Hallmarking is clearly a hot topic as just a few days later 20 Trading Standards delegates arrived from near and far for a bespoke training course.  Trading Standards Officers came from Councils as far flung as Plymouth,  Oldham, Surrey and Ceredigion as well as the Midland counties of Leicestershire, Sandwell , Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Warwickshire. The course  included the history of Hallmarking and current legislation, a hands on session to identify Hallmarks on new a…

The course also includes an introduction to understanding Hallmarking legislation and identifying Hallmarks on jewellery, and testing precious metals using touch acids and XRF. Peter Middleton, who is Director of Gold Reserves in Swansea, attended the course recently and said: ‘We enjoyed a well-paced course with an incredible amount of information presented in just one day. We will be sending our other staff to benefit from this great pool of knowledge!’ Sally Hoban, Heritage &…