More goldsmiths sending gold items for testing

More goldsmiths sending gold items for testing

By Lian Cheong, Channel NewsAsia
Posted: 11 February 2009 2128 hrs

SINGAPORE: More goldsmiths are sending their jewellery for testing as buyers increasingly demand to see quality certification.


Gold jewellery on display

The Singapore Assay Office, which conducts such testing, said the number of items submitted has doubled from 20,000 to 40,000 in the past two months.

The rise comes after the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) found items sold by five goldsmiths failing purity tests last December.

At one of the shops named by CASE, business was down 15 to 20 per cent, in part due to the recession.

While more jewellers are sending their items to be tested, many of the 40 goldsmiths in Little India appear reluctant to do so.

Some said they would be more willing if the process was quicker.

It takes about a week to test 500 items at S$2.40 a piece.

Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/408364/1/.html