CIBJO, the World Jewellery Federation, has announced it is to set out new guidelines for the standard of precious metals in the international jewellery trade.

The new organisation held its first meeting this month and has agreed to develop a 'Blue Book' on the standards required of precious metals - including platinum and platinum group metals (pgm's) - in jewellery.

It is hoped that the set of guidelines will mirror those that already exist in the diamonds, coloured stones and pearls sectors.

Vice President of the commission, Michael Allchin, who is also Chief Executive of the Birmingham Assay Office, called for negative tolerance in the level of tolerance to be allowed in metal finenesses. That standard is currently required by the UK Hallmarking legislation and it was claimed that this would give consumers the best possible protection.

However, it was concluded that the CIBJO Blue Book would not recommend negative tolerance, although this would be superseded where such rules already existed - such as in the UK.

Ÿ Adfero Ltd