Chief assayer gets new appointment at standards institution

Dippal Manchanda, technical director and chief Assayer at the Birmingham Assay Office has been appointed as chairman of the British Standards Institution (BSI) STI/53 - jewellery and horology committee.

Dippal (pictured) will serve as the chairman for three years.

The Birmingham Assay Office was founded in 1773 to provide assaying (testing) and hallmarking of precious metal items as required by the hallmarking act.

It has been a centre of expert opinion and independent assessment of jewellery and precious metals for 245 years.

Today, it continues as a certification and educational institution providing hallmarking, wide ranging educational courses through the Academy, valuations through the SafeGuard business, metals testing through AnchorCert Analytical and diamond and synthetic diamond testing services through AnchorCert Gem Lab.

BSI is the UK 's national standards body- a status granted by the UK government to represent UK interests at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the European Standards Organizations (CEN, CENELEC and ETSI).

Dippal, who has been in the jewellery industry for the last 37 years, will share his expertise, knowledge and experience for the standards development process with his committee.

He said “I am excited and humbled to share that I have been elected. I am looking forward to working the BSI secretariat and all members to advance the mission of the BSI. ”