Find out more about some members of the hallmarking team below, and those based in Hatton Garden, or Heathrow. Read more about how we hallmark on our Methods of Marking page.
The combined experience of our teams is unrivalled. Because of our wide range of customer type, the hallmarking requests we receive are very varied (size, method, placement vary a great deal).
Terry Dack, Supervisor Handmarking
Terry Dack (Supervisor, Handmarking) started working for the Assay Office in 1977 starting in gold sampling. He moved to work on in the Foreign department (handling all imports) in the 1980s, onto second hand sampling, then developed his specialism in handmarking in the early 90s.
Sam Bowles, Supervisor
Sam was Assay Office apprentice 2014 - 2018. He is now a Supervisor overseeing the team which deals with packets containing 20 items or fewer.
Dave Archer, Sampler
Dave specialises in sampling the second hand goods which we receive, a thorough test process using both touchstone and XRF methods.
He started work here in the late 1970s.
Sheila Priest (right), Supervisor Smalls Team
Sheila Priest (pictured) started work at the Company in 2001. She is Supervisor of the Laser Department at Goldsmiths' Hall having spent fifteen years gaining her expertise. She loves problem solving and a complex laser engraving!
Danny Wells on the laser
Jack Painter on the fly press
Joe, (pictured here) is Customer Packet Control Supervisor. He works with Dave on the counter at Goldsmiths' Hall. Chloe (pictured above in the header image) and Primula are the first people in the Assay Office to receive your packets in the Control Area. They check them onto the system and check them out again after they've been marked.
Watch Joe in our "Why Choose Us" video, or read a little bit about him below.
I started working here in 2012.
Complicated! Busy! Always fun and enjoyable! First off I check my emails. I see how much work has already come in, then put work away ready for customers to collect. Throughout the day I serve customers at the counter and greet them when coming in to collect or drop off work.
After the morning rush we can prep for the afternoon which is filled with vans and couriers picking up work, more customer collections, and more drop offs.
How to fill out a hallnote. Or customers ask my name! One customer asked me if she could take my picture so she could send it home to the States and show how the hallmarking process starts!
We all love the nice, easy, straightforward packets where the hallnote is filled in correctly and is clearly written! The "online hallnote" is amazing, and makes life easier for everybody here at the Assay Office. It guides you through the submission of your packets, and there'll be no need for neat handwriting!
The banter, the people, and passion for the job.
Don’t assume your packet is ready – track it online or sign up for text alerts.
Probably cast sculptures of babies feet and hands.
Becoming CPC Supervisor has been a big achievement.
A footballer at West Ham.
Before this I was at school / sixth form college.
Spending time with my family and being a dad. I was born at the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel and am proud to be a real cockney. So, I do enjoy pie and mash on Roman Road (two on two), and seeing London which I love. My favourite areas are my home - Stepney, or the city.
I would tell a tourist they should visit the Tower of London, the Jack the Ripper tour, and Goldsmiths Hall, of course.
Karen began working for the Company in March 1988 and was first trained on our switchboard, before later working in the general office, assisting with invoicing and data inputting. Her last role before moving to the Registration Department was working on our customer counter and general logistics duties for incoming and outgoing packets. In July 2013 Karen was made Registration Officer, and is now in charge of all new customer registrations.
As I am generally the first point of contact for many customers when registering, I receive many varied enquiries, but I would say the most common is “What kind of punch do I need for my work?”. If you are making jewellery, a swan neck punch is ideal. It can mark curved items such as rings and bangles, as well as flat surfaces such as cufflinks and pendants. Straight punches are only suitable for items with a flat surface.
Firstly I always check my emails, as many customers prefer to register during the evening or before work. My day is divided into answering customer enquiries in person, on the phone and via email, invoicing payments, ordering punches with our engineers, updating the registration database and creating sponsor's mark designs on the laser.
This team are who you speak to when you call Goldsmiths' Hall. They know the answer to most problems! Feel free to send them an email.
If you're calling them to find out whether your packet is ready, why not log into the My Account area, and check your online packet tracking? You can also sign up for text alerts - where we can send you a message letting you know the status of your packet.
If you're calling them to ask to be put through to accounts, so you can pay for your packet, this should now be done in your online account.
