The British Hallmarking Council's (BHC) 2 awards in 2023 recognise excellent work in promoting hallmarking, protecting consumers and providing a level playing field for retailers.
The Touchstone Award and the Hallmarking Awareness and Learning Online (HALO) Award, both collaborations between the BHC and the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ), are complementary.
The HALO Award is concerned with ensuring that vital information about hallmarking is provided to jewellery customers so that they know that the piece they are buying is what it says it is. The Touchstone Award is designed to support a level playing field for legitimate retailers, ensuring that sellers are complying with hallmarking law. Together the two awards support each other in maintaining and improving hallmarking enforcement and awareness.
In 2023 both awards were presented to worthy winners.
The HALO Award was presented jointly to Anna Mcloughlin Fine Jewellery and Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery at the prestigious Benevolent Society Ball in December 2023. London silversmiths Hersey and Son were highly commended as runner up.
The Touchstone Award was presented to Colin Briggs, Trading Standards Manager, East Riding of Yorkshire.
The excellent standards of the winners of these 2 awards demonstrate how these complementary activities support hallmarking excellence and help to protect consumers. The 2024 Touchstone Award will be open for entries in early 2024 and the HALO Award 2024 will be launched at the NAJ's AGM on 6 June 2024.
