Another edition of Portojóia has come to an end, where the Assay Office of the Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda (INCM) was once again present, contributing once again to the enhancement of the national jewellery sector.
After presenting the Digital Certificate in 2023, which is now available to all operators, the Uniquemark® project was presented at Portojóia 2024, which took place between 26 and 29 September.
This project offers a unique and exclusive mark for each piece of jewellery, engraved directly on it, guaranteeing authenticity and security. Through the Contrastaria App, the history of each piece can be learnt, enhancing it and making it even more special.
Contrastaria is grateful for the excellent feedback and interest shown by economic operators, who will be able to join in this innovation in favour of the development of the jewellery sector.
Find out more about this project and how you can get the Certificate for your pieces here.
Portuguese Assay Office had the honour of being invited, once again, to take part in a podcast that aims to ‘demystify doubts and discover the secrets of jewellery and the world of Portuguese goldsmithing and jewellery’.
In the podcast ‘Do Metal à Obra de Arte’ by Mafalda Arneiro, Francisco Bastos had the opportunity to explain Contrastaria’s activity, its projects and also talk about some of the curiosities of this exciting world of jewellery.
A conversation not to be missed! See more here.
Mrs Paula Pedro, Director of the Assay Offices’ and Supervision Unit (UCF), on behalf of INCM, will take part in a conference on “Growth and Sustainability in Gondomar”, to be held at the Municipal Auditorium of Gondomar on next 10 September from 02:30 PM.
The UCF Director will address the panel on “The Jewellery Sector and Foreign Markets”, counting also on the participation of Mr Nuno Marinho, president of AORP – Association of Jewellery and Watchmaking Professionals of Portugal, and Mrs Eunice Neves, Director of CINDOR – Professional Training Centre for Jewellery and Watchmaking activities.
The conference will be broadcast live on the social media of the Municipality of Gondomar and the weekly publication “Vida Económica” (Economic Living).
Today’s assay offices face new challenges in order to protect final consumers, not neglecting the necessary partnership with economic operators.
Read here the point of view of Mrs Paula Pedro, Director of the Assay Office and Supervisory Unit, on this and other topics.
The Assay Office has constantly monitored the activity of the Goldsmith and Jewellery Sector in this crucial phase of recovery where some difficulties are still felt. This analysis is based on a constant dialogue at regional level with the most representative operators, companies and their associations. In order to contribute to the revitalisation and recovery of the Portuguese Goldsmith and Jewellery sector, the Assay Office has been considering a solution we announce today: continuing to offer free of charge, and for a minimum period of 6 months, a Safe Transportation Service to the districts of Braga, Aveiro and Coimbra on the routes announced in March and described here.
Similar to the practice already followed, subscribing to the Safe Transportation Service presupposes, in order to ensure greater efficiency and quality, that the Assay Office will place the mark of responsibility on all batches.
With this initiative, the Assay Office continues to ensure the removal of one barrier: the geographic one.
We will continue to reflect on new ways to serve our customers and to support this remarkable Sector, affirming our mark of efficiency and competence: the Mark that makes the difference.
Last week, reciprocating the Assay Office visit to the premises of APAO (Association of Official Expert Appraisers of Goldsmithery and Jewellery) held in October last year, this Association decided in turn to be present at the Assay Office Delegation of Gondomar.
Alfredo Russo, from the APAO, had the opportunity to visit the Goldpark facilities and to know about the marking techniques and other processes implemented by this official service. It was also the opportunity for a conversation about the history of evaluators and assay marks and an occasion to promote greater partnership between these two entities bound by a common goal: Consumer Rights Protection.
MERE PRIOR COMMUNICATION BECOMES SIMPLER AND MORE INTUITIVE
The Assay Office has been promoting open and frank communication procedures with the entire sector of Goldsmiths and Jewellery, with a focus on simpler and more intuitive dialogue for the sake of more informed, less complex administrative procedures .
For that purpose, the mandatory forms have been revised in order to simplify their filling, a process that began with the reformulation of the Mere Prior Communication procedure. The production of illustrative videos as regards some procedures in order to elucidate our customers and final consumers is now under way.
The first of those videos, which you may see here, focuses precisely on how to complete the Mere Prior Communication form, but others will follow.
Stay attentive!
Culminating a process that began with the publication of Portaria No. 374-A/2017 of 31 October 2017, we now inform you that new symbols of the official assay marks will enter into force on next January 1st.
The new updated marking frames may be purchased, as of today, at the Assay Office counters and at the INCM online store.
In line with a simplification approach and with a view to greater proximity of the Assay Office to the Sector and to the final consumer, in addition to their new symbols, the marks will show a unique perimeter, regardless of whether they are set at the Porto/Gondomar or Lisbon Assay Offices.
This simplification approach, besides having the main and obvious advantages of better communication with the final consumer, is consistent with the current process to improve the Assay Office operations and services, an evolution that gained full impetus throughout 2020 and which we will enhance all along 2021, by reaching new efficiency and innovation levels.
In the context of the latest communication initiatives and with a clear purpose of disseminating the contrast mark before the final consumer, the Assay Office has started a partnership with Catarina Furtado, a most popular TV figure among the Portuguese.
The disclosure, made on Instagram by the TV presenter, actress and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, has provided the Assay Office Communication Plan with the undeniable credibility granted by this mediatic personality, whose impact will be felt, by association, in the very Goldsmith and Jewellery sector.
