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Knives into Jewels: Crafting a Safer Birmingham

A leading artist, activist and academic is using jewellery as a vehicle for social intervention as he launches a special project aimed at tackling knife crime among young people in Birmingham. The ‘ Swords into Ploughshares: Knives into Jewels’ project had been co-developed by Dauvit Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Jewellery and Silversmithing at Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Jewellery and former head of School Professor Norman Cherry. This collaborative project will take jewellery into schools in Areas of Multiple Deprivation (AMDs) bringing together drama, virtual reality, crafting, intensive mentoring, and first-aid training to encourage 14 to 16-year-olds to think

Women's Jewellery Network - Birmingham Event

Women's Jewellery Network - Birmingham Event The  Women's Jewellery Network  is pleased to confirm a Birmingham sister event to the launch in London taking place at the same time on  International Women's Day , 8th March 2018. Attendees will hear from the following speakers, at this event, kindly hosted by the team at  AnchorCert Acdemy , part of the  AnchorCert Group : UK’s first female Assay Master and former Cookson Precious Metals CEO, Stella Layton Company of Master Jeweller’s Executive Director of Business Development & Marketing, Lucy Reece-Raybould A panel discussion will focus on the folllowing topic: What changes need to be

Birmingham City University, School of Jewellery

Birmingham  School of Jewellery , founded in 1890, is a jewellery school in Birmingham, England. Located on Vittoria Street in the city's Jewellery Quarter, it is the largest jewellery school in Europe. Undergraduate Jewellery Design and Related Products – BA (Hons) www.bcu.ac.uk Jewellery and Silversmithing- Design for industry- BA (Hons) www.bcu.ac.uk Gemmology and jewellery studies www.bcu.ac.uk Postgraduate Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products - MA www.bcu.ac.uk Luxury Jewellery Management- MA www.bcu.ac.uk Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products - GradCert www.bcu.ac.uk

Jewellery & Watch 2017, NEC Birmingham

Jewellery & Watch is the UK’s largest dedicated jewellery trade event, showcasing a dazzling offering of new ideas and inspiration built on traditional skills. The show attracts more than 17,000 buyers at the heart of the UK’s jewellery industry, at the most important buying point of the year. The home of exceptional UK and international brands, Jewellery & Watch is a showcase for classic design and unparalleled craftsmanship. Reflecting the historical link of the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter and utilising its central location to bring the industry together, Jewellery and Watch is perfectly positioned and ideally timed, providing inspiration, innovation and

Spring Fair 2017, NEC Birmingham

Spring Fair is the UK’s No.1 trade show for gift and home, welcoming more than 60,000 visitors through the doors of Birmingham NEC, over the course of 5 days. Connecting people and products for 40 years, Spring Fair attracts a purchase power of £2.4 billion, making it a must-do for over 2,500 exhibitors with must-have items and a must-see for buyers across independents, multiples, e-Commerce and more. Officially opened by the Queen at the NEC in 1976, Spring Fair has a history of high standards. Dates : 5 - 9 February 2017 Open: Sun 5 February  - 9:00 - 18:00

Jar Jewellery, Centrala – Digbeth, Birmingham

Jar Jewellery is a company of second year BA Jewellery Design and Related Products students from the School of Jewellery, Birmingham. The cohort is holding a showcase of their new handmade collections on the 29th of November at Centrala, Digbeth from 6.00pm – 10.00pm. “This event promises to fill your senses with an exciting and varied range of innovative work from some of the freshest student talent in the School of Jewellery. The pieces communicate personal inspirations through the explorative use of materials and processes, and are available to purchase. A must see show for those who love all things

Cooksongold Wins at the Birmingham Post Business Awards

Cooksongold, the UK largest jewellery making supplier and supplier of precious metals, picked up the award for Excellence in Science and Technology at the Birmingham Post Business Awards 2016 for its Direct Precious Metal 3D Printing technology. The awards, which aim to celebrate success, recognise achievement and highlight the innovative people and companies within Birmingham, took place at the ICC Birmingham. The award is a recognition of Cooksongolds pioneering work to drive the jewellery industry forward. Discussing the award win, Richard Oldroyd, Managing Director, said: “The Cooksongold team have worked extremely hard to bring the Precious M 080 technology to

Birmingham City University win at New Designers

An aspiring  jeweller from Birmingham City University is one step closer to her dream career after being crowned ‘Designer of the Year’ at the prestigious New Designers showcase last week.   An aspiring  jeweller from Birmingham City University is one step closer to her dream career after being crowned ‘Designer of the Year’ at the prestigious New Designers showcase this week.       Augusta Lazenb y, a final-year Design for Industry student, is just one of the five BCU Jewellery students recognised for their exceptional creative work at the showcase.    Her 10-piece ring collection won plaudits from the

Jewellery & Watch 2017, NEC Birmingham

Jewellery & Watch  is the UK’s largest dedicated trade event set within the heart of the UK jewellery & watch industry. It takes place during the same dates and at the same location as Spring Fair, allowing visitors to access both shows with ease. The Jewellery & Watch NEC halls are situated next to Spring Fair's 'Fashion, Jewellery & Accessories' halls enabling visitors to take advantage of the cross buying opportunities. Dates : 5 - 9 February 2017 Open: Sun 5 February  - 9:00 - 18:00 Mon 6 February - 9:00 - 18:00 Tues 7 February - 9:00 - 18:00

Goldsmith / Bench Jeweller, Charles Green - Birmingham

Goldsmith / Bench Jeweller Charles Green Birmingham Charles Green, based in Birmingham’s famous jewellery quarter, are respected for high quality jewellery and unrivalled service. We have recently celebrated our 200 anniversary and are now operating from our new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. We are also proud members of the Responsible Jewellery Council, underlining our commitment to ethical and sustainable business practices. We are excited to announce that we are looking to add to our skilled team, with a full time vacancy for a Goldsmith / Bench Jeweller . Experience in this role is required, and you should share our passion for

Birmingham Assay Office launch optional rainbow mark

The Birmingham Assay Office has announced the launch of its special Rainbow Logo mark which has been created to be applied as an optional mark alongside the hallmark and date letter for 2020. The Rainbow Logo will be available for a limited period from the 1st July until December 2020. The mark depicts the iconic Rainbow symbol that has become synonymous during the current pandemic. The mark will be applied with the date letter “V” in combination with a statutory hallmark and can be lasered on gold, silver, platinum or palladium.  It can also be applied as a standalone logo

KnivesOut: Crafting a Safer Birmingham Launch Crowdfunding Campaign

This multi-disciplinary project seeks new and innovative routes to tackling the issue of knife-crime in local envronments, using a unique programme of social intervention. The project is a partnership between established community activists, a collaborative practice, brought together as “Knives Out” by Swords Into Ploughshares CIC working with experienced staff from Round Midnight Theatre, Street Doctors, TAS Mentoring and Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery. At the core of the project is an innovative approach which uses participant-led craftivist practices to challenge thinking around ‘road life’, gang membership and, specifically, knife-crime. Working with schools in the Jewellery Quarter and Soho

Casting Operative, Domino Jewellery - Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham

The role Casting Operative Domino Jewellery  Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham Domino Jewellery (part of Weston Beamor, Heimerle & Meule Group), one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of jewellery has an opportunity for a Casting Operative to join the well-established Casting Team. The successful candidate will work to ensure our casting is of the highest standard. Key responsibilities Work within the team to deliver on time casts of high quality to our customers and workshops Operation of casting machines Investing  Treeing- up  De-vesting  Burn outs Essential Skills 2 Years casting experience Experience of either centrifugal casting or vacuum casting Casting experience of

Casting Operative, Domino Jewellery - Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham

The role Casting Operative Domino Jewellery  Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham Domino Jewellery (part of Weston Beamor, Heimerle & Meule Group), one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of jewellery has an opportunity for a Casting Operative to join the well-established Casting Team. The successful candidate will work to ensure our casting is of the highest standard. Key responsibilities Work within the team to deliver on time casts of high quality to our customers and workshops Operation of casting machines Investing  Treeing- up  De-vesting  Burn outs Essential Skills 2 Years casting experience Experience of either centrifugal casting or vacuum casting Casting experience of

Flux, Centrala Art Gallery: Art Loft - Birmingham

Zoe Robertson will be showing work at FLUX, an exhibition curated by Room 7. A performance intervention with Sellotape Cinema, Natalie Garrett Brown, Polly Hudson and Zoe Robertson will take place on the opening night Newly formed collective of curators ROOM7 presents ‘FLUX’, an exhibition of contemporary art in collaboration with Grand Union and Centrala Art Galleries. The collective is made up of 7 curators from different backgrounds brought together by their studies at the University of Birmingham. The exhibition is formed by the work of four carefully selected artists based in the West Midlands; Mark Houghton, James Lomax, Anna

Diamonds Dominate at Jewellery & Watch Birmingham 2017

Leading bridal and fine jewellery companies are expected to showcase brand new collections at Jewellery & Watch Birmingham 2017 providing a platform for bridal launches in the New Year. Within the show’s new Fine & Diamond section, Domino Jewellery, Gemex, Hockley Mint and Clogau will headline 2017’s line-up of bridal brands, with new diamond designs, trends and retail solutions set to dazzle buyers.   Domino’s bestselling Sienna range will continue to inspire, with marketing co-ordinator Chantelle Serrell-Cooke stating,  “Our Sienna collection combines the latest trends with years of design expertise to provide retailers with fashion led, commercial rings. All pieces within

Retirement Send-Off: Gaynor Andrews, Head of School, School of Jewellery Birmingham

​ Retirement Send-Off: Gaynor Andrews, Head of School, School of Jewellery, Birmingham After 40 years at the School of Jewellery, Birmingham, their very well respected Head of School, Gaynor Andrews will be taking early retirement. She will be leaving the School at Christmas. The School will be having a send off for her on Friday 16th December from 4.30pm – 7.30pm in the atrium at the School of Jewellery (presentations / speeches around 5.30pm).   It is a busy time of year for everyone, but please join them to remember and celebrate Gaynor’s time at the School and to wish

Jeweller / Bench Jeweller, Ashes With Art - Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham

[youtube url=http://youtu.be/61JVBZu0TDM] The role Jeweller / Bench Jeweller Ashes With Art Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham It’s time to add a 5 Jeweller to our Birmingham studio! If you are looking for your next exciting role or have been waiting for the right opportunity to progress your career in a high performing team and studio, we would love to hear from you. As a business we continually innovate and develop our product set. The quality of our jewellery is exceptional, our service is flawless and we celebrate the customer. We create a positive working environment and believe all staff should have

RJC Hosts Its First Ever Open Day In Birmingham

Last week, the RJC held its very first Open Day  in  Birmingham.   The newly built Birmingham Assay Office located in the Jewellery Quarter, played host to the event where attendees gathered to hear more about the commercial relevance and necessity of RJC membership and certification in today’s jewellery industry. Attendees heard from a panel of industry experts that consisted of David Lewis, Managing Director of Maker Mends (RJC member since 2011);   Himesh  Pala, Managing Director of Pala Diamond Company Ltd (RJC member since 2011) and Gary  Wroe , Managing Director of Hockley Mint Ltd (RJC member since 2013). The panel

Graduate Show School of Jewellery Birmingham 2017

Silicone to Silver: Jewellery like you’ve never seen before! Final year students at the world famous School of Jewellery will be unveiling their collections for the first time at the Graduate Show this June. The show launches on Monday 12th June through till Saturday 17th June, with an Industry evening on Tuesday, 13th June from 5:30. With over 50 graduates exhibiting their unique collections there is most certainly something for everyone. Examples of this variety include kinetic elements, are 3D printed, involve unusual and tactile materials and even include hand cultivated crystals and homemade eco-resin. The aesthetic ranges from fun

Birmingham student gives iconic IKEA chair funky makeover

One of IKEA’s best selling products, the POANG chair has a stunning new cover design created by a final year textile student at Birmingham City University. Nader Nazari produced the design as part of the University’s annual Trends Project, set up in partnership with the Swedish furniture giant, in a bid to forge close local relationships in the city. IKEA donated a POANG chair for Textile Design students to create an original cover for using this year’s theme ‘GRACE’ and it was Nazari’s level of workmanship that impressed University academics and IKEA’s design team most. The design was made up and is

Hockley Mint Welcomes Peruvian Fairtrade Gold Miners to Birmingham

Award winning fine jewellery and bridal jewellery manufacturer Hockley Mint welcomed Peruvian Fairtrade gold miners to it's factory in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter earlier this month, producing a video of the visit that it will use to promote Fairtrade gold on its website and across social media platforms. Peruvian Fairtrade gold campaigner Dajhanna Zarate, who is the daughter of a gold miner in Sotrami, was accompanied by Macdesa miner Roger Arcos Ponte on the visit to Birmingham. The two guests were in the UK as part of a wider Fairtrade gold campaign with the Fairtrade Foundation, and were invited to Hockley Mint

Diamond and Gemstone Setter, Weston Beamor - Birmingham B18 6LT

The role Diamond and Gemstone Setter Weston Beamor Birmingham B18 6LT Salary:            Dependant on experience and hours - full time and part time hours considered.  Hours:            Full time working hours are 7:15am to 3:15am,  or 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Job Type       Full time or part time  Holidays:       24 days holiday + bank holidays                         Option to sell / buy 5 additional day                        Additional

MA Graduate Exhibition of School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University 2019

MA Graduate Exhibition School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University Showcase contemporary jewellery works from 32 graduate students focusing on diverse materials, technique and concept. “sensation” features artwork from: Caifeiyang Shen Chia-Hsien Lin Chien-Yu Liu Chenfeng Xu Haoda Wang Huaiko Hsu Huirong Xiao Jiaxin Ding Jing Ma Lanyue Zhang Mengjia Ding Mingxi Huang Molly Wang Shiqi Cai Shiyun Wang Shu-Ching Wang Shuxin Dong Xiaolin Zhang Xiaoyong An Xinyao Xie Yang Yang Yanlong Duan Yaodan Zhang Yilin Dong Ying Yang Yiran Jin Yixuan Chen Yonghui Duan Yuanyuan Liu Yuke Wang Yuting Lien Xinyu Sheng. For more details www.eventbrite.co.uk Get an in-depth glimpse

Award-winning designer of eco-friendly jewellery moves to Birmingham

Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter welcomes an award-winning designer of eco-friendly jewellery into residence.  Today Elizabeth Anne Norris of EAN Jewellery, will move into the Jewellery Quarter and join other residents in the newly converted 19th-century building, home to world-class jewellery-makers since the early 1900s.  The Jewellery Quarter is Europe's largest hub of businesses involved in the jewellery trade, which produces 40% of all the jewellery made in the UK.  With a highly-regarded reputation, the Jewellery Quarter is a big tourist attraction and people can visit Elizabeth to buy her collections, as well as to attend contemporary jewellery-making workshops, or to

Birmingham's historic JW Evans silver factory goes global

A glimpse into Britain's bygone age of silver has been rolled out to a worldwide audience after the historic JW Evans Silver Factory in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter was chosen to feature in a new series of virtual tours produced by English Heritage and Google Arts and Culture. Until now, the 19th century silversmith factory, which opened in 1881 and closed 127 years later with all the old tools, machinery and half-finished silverware still in place, has been open just two days a fortnight, offering guided tours only. But after the new partnership, between English Heritage who bought it from the

Hallmarking Figures - June 2020

The latest hallmarking figures have been released by Birmingham Assay Office. Birmingham Assay Office have released the June 2020 hallmarking figures for all four UK offices Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh, for June 2020 vs June 2019.  The figures, which are widely regarded as a litmus test for the health of the industry, unsuprisingly show the impact of coronavirus. Figures courtesy of Birmingham Assay Office Author:  Published: 

January 2024 Hallmarking Figures

Birmingham Assay Office has compiled t he latest UK Hallmarking figures for all four offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh for January 2024 vs January 2023 .. Hallmarking figures from Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh:  January 2024     Compiled by Birmingham Assay Office Author:  Published: 

Pure London x JATC 2024

Pure 2025 2 - 5 February 2025 NEC Birmingham The ever-evolving needs and aspirations of the fashion industry have spoken, Pure is joining Spring Fair at the NEC Birmingham to create a combined, new fashion destination. We are excited to welcome you to the ultimate fashion trade show experience www.purelondon.com

Latest UK Hallmarking Figures: May 2022

The figures for all four assay offices - Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh - for May 2022 vs May 2021 have been released. Birmingham Assay Office compiled the May 2022 UK Hallmarking figures.  Author:  Published: 

{Queer} + {Metals}

{Queer} + {Metals} 12 November 2022 - 2 April 2023 Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham The transformative power of ‘queerness’ and metal connect in an international exhibition and digital project. {Queer} + {Metals} is a Craftspace exhibition co-curated by its Director Deirdre Figueiredo and Dauvit Alexander artist and tutor at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery in collaboration with artist Rebekah Frank. The exhibition, which opens on the 12 November at Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham, uses the lens of metalworking to explore the multiplicity of queerness – whether as identity, lived experiences, thinking, cultures, aesthetic, influences, stories, place, and imagination –

Classic Antique Fairs - Christmas Fair at the NEC

Classic Antique Fairs Celebrates Christmas NEC Birmingham – Hall Ten Friday 29 November - Sunday 1 December Classic Antique Fairs celebrates Christmas by launching their second Christmas Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, located in Hall Ten, on Friday 29th November until Sunday 1st December.  (Opening Times 10am – 5pm Friday and Saturday, 10am – 4pm on Sunday. – Hall Ten is located on Pendigo Way, Marston Green, Birmingham B40 1NT.) Classic Antique Fairs at the NEC offers the ideal venue for Christmas shopping either to find the perfect present for family and friends or to fill a gap in

Apprentices Get Skills Training Boost To Put Them On A Path To Success

Apprentices from Holts Academy and Higher Education students from the Birmingham School of Jewellery are set to receive an intensive week of technical skills training in Birmingham. From 12th to 16th September 2016, experienced silversmith Andrew MacGowan taught ten young people how to transform a fixed design into a final piece at the Birmingham School of Jewellery, which has been made possible through financial support from the Goldsmiths’ Company Members’ Charitable Fund and coordination via the Goldsmiths’ Centre in London.  Silversmithing, and the technical skills that underpin it, is a rapidly changing trade seeing a revolution in design and technical

Magnesium Is Ready For Take Off

Researchers at Birmingham City University are hoping to transform the fortunes of magnesium this year, by showcasing it as a viable alternative for luxury car makers and the aerospace industry. Researchers at Birmingham City University are hoping to transform the fortunes of magnesium this year, by showcasing it as a viable alternative for luxury car makers and the aerospace industry. It comes as the institution signed an exclusive partnership with the world’s largest producer of magnesium components, Meridian in early January 2017. The strategic alliance will see the two organisations work together in the education, research and development of magnesium

Handmade by Machines: Seized by the Means of Production

Handmade by Machines: Seized by the Means of Production 20 November 2019 School of Jewellery, Birmingham The School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University will be hosting the 2019 Handmade by Design one-day symposium 20 November 2019 and an accompanying exhibition 11 November – 6 December 2019. This will be the fifth outing for the successful “Handmade by Machines” symposium and this year will have international speakers, a keynote from Troy Richards of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and an exhibition of work which straddles the man/machine boundaries with a focus on jewellery and wearables. The conversation will

BCU Design students showcase bespoke ensembles at opera event

Students from Birmingham City University (BCU)’s Institute of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles showcased their costume and jewellery design skills at a special Voice of Black Opera (VOBO) event last week, creating bespoke ensembles worn by the project’s finalists. The VOBO project aims to promote the Commonwealth’s finest Black and South Asian singers as they launch international operatic careers, the finals took place at a Gala ceremony at Birmingham Town Hall. Competing were five finalists, each wearing bespoke concert outfits and coordinating jewellery pieces researched and designed by BCU Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles students, in collaboration with the Black British Classical

TCT 3Sixty 2021

TCT 3Sixty 2021 29 June - 1 July 2021 NEC, Birmingham Rapid News Group has announced the decision to postpone TCT 3Sixty, the UK’s flagship event for 3D Printing & Additive Intelligence, to 2021. Originally scheduled for 29 September – 01 October 2020, the event will now take place from 29 June – 01 July 2021. The venue for the event, the NEC, Birmingham, UK is unchanged. The decision to postpone the event comes as a result of the unprecedented times the event industry finds itself in as a result of the global Coronavirus pandemic. The rescheduling of the show reflects

Talking Practice: Making Form Book Launch

Talking Practice: Making Form Book Launch Celebrating Contemporary British Fine Metalwork 17 October 2019 School of Jewellery, Birmingham Please join us at the launch of the innovative new ebook Making Form: Contemporary British Fine Metalwork. During the event you will have the chance to hear, question and meet some of the internationally renowned designer-makers who feature in the book. The event special is part of the Talking Practice lecture series at Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Jewellery, to be held between 5pm and 7pm on Thursday 17 October. A BCU e-book by Kenneth Quickenden and Lee Hewett, entitled Making

FERROcity | A contemporary exhibition of iron in the city

Ferrocity: A contemporary exhibition of iron in the city Museum Reich der Kristalle, Munich, Germany & School of Jewellery, Birmingham 21st February - 17th March 2019 & 1st - 18th April 2019 Jewellery and objects by twenty-two contemporary makers displayed alongside gemmological samples and photography that explores the interpretation and influence of Iron as catalyst, material and fundamental element of life. The exhibition is co-curated by Elizabeth Turrell and Stephen Bottomley from the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University. The selection of contemporary metalwork and jewellery, ranging from steel vessels to recycled iron nail jewellery, will present a range of approaches

FERROcity | A contemporary exhibition of iron in the city

Ferrocity: A contemporary exhibition of iron in the city Museum Reich der Kristalle, Munich, Germany & School of Jewellery, Birmingham 21st February - 17th March 2019 & 1st - 18th April 2019 Jewellery and objects by twenty-two contemporary makers displayed alongside gemmological samples and photography that explores the interpretation and influence of Iron as catalyst, material and fundamental element of life. The exhibition is co-curated by Elizabeth Turrell and Stephen Bottomley from the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University. The selection of contemporary metalwork and jewellery, ranging from steel vessels to recycled iron nail jewellery, will present a range of approaches

Suppliers experience “best event in 15 years” at CMJ spring trade event

From record numbers through the doors to magic numbers on stage, this year’s CMJ spring trade event turned out to be “the best event in 15 years,” according to suppliers who attended. Held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on 17 and 18 February, the event saw more than 100 retail member businesses and more than 80 jewellery and watch suppliers make the journey to Birmingham to network, discuss latest trends and to enjoy an evening of unforgettable entertainment. Robert Day of Allied Gold was just one supplier to praise the event. He said: “This has been the best CMJ

Jewellery & Watch 2019

Jewellery & Watch 2019 3 - 7 February 2019  NEC, Birmingham Jewellery & Watch will make a confident return to the NEC, Birmingham on February 3, welcoming new brands and retuning exhibitors for five days of buying, networking and seminar content.  Businesses hailing from 15 countries will present their collections and services across six show sectors: Bridal & Fine Jewellery, Silver & Semi Precious Jewellery, Jewellery Designers, Costume & Fashion, Watches and Retail Services & Solutions.  For exhibitors joining Jewellery & Watch for the first time in 2019, the show offers convenient access to the UK market at a strategic

UFOs take off at Tory Party Conference

Members of the Conservative Party are it seems great fans of UFOs – however not those that flash in the night sky and come complete with little green men! The UFOs which went down a storm in Birmingham earlier this month were in fact ‘Unique Finger Ornaments’ created by Stephanie Holt, winner of the 2016 Weston Beamor prize at the City’s Jewellery School. Holt, who is now Artist in Residence at the Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery, was invited, alongside a group of other local and diverse craftsmen and women, to exhibit at the Conference which took place at

‘In The Loupe’ Exhibition, Vittoria Street Gallery

‘In the loupe’ is an exhibition of practitioners from both the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University and Plymouth College of Art and Design. The exhibition was created to acknowledge the educational routes of alumni, Victoria Sewart, who is celebrating her 10 anniversary as proprietor of Victoria Sewart Contemporary Jewellery Gallery. ‘In the loupe’ brings together a vibrant collection of work created by artists, educators, researchers and practitioners from the School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University and Plymouth College of Art and Design.   The eclectic mix of work on show spans the breadth of the jewellery discipline from commercial

School of Jewellery Students Impress With Halo Designs

Three second year students studying for a Higher National Diploma in Jewellery and Silversmithing at the Birmingham City University's School of Jewellery have been shortlisted as finalists in an annual design competition run by Birmingham-based casting house, 3D printing and bespoke manufacturing company Weston Beamor. The brief for this year’s Live Project was to design a halo engagement ring and a fitted wedding band to sit alongside it.  All designs had to include a primary gemstone or pearl, mounted in precious metal. Students were asked to tailor their designs towards 25-35 year olds. Three potential winners – Ruth Hallows, Bethany

Assay Offices

By law all items sold as gold, silver, platinum or palladium in the UK must be hallmarked to confirm that they meet the legal standard of alloy proportionality for the precious metal they are being sold as. This can only be carried out by one of the four UK Assay Offices, or an Assay Office belonging to the International Convention. Here are where to find the four UK offices... Assay Office London Goldsmiths' Hall Gutter Lane London EC2V 8AQ www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk                 Birmingham Assay Office 1 Moreton Street Birmingham B1 3AX theassayoffice.co.uk    

January 2023 Hallmarking Figures

The latest UK Hallmarking figures have been published for all four offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh for January 2023 vs January 2022 . Hallmarking figures from Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh:  January 2023       January 2022 January 2023 Variance % Gold               999 69 240 171 247.8   990 1 0 -1 -100.0   916 35,641 28,555 -7,086 -19.9   750 62,676 49,595 -13,081 -20.9   585 10,566 12,283 1,717 16.3   375 202,033 126,955 -75,078 -37.2     310,986 217,628 -93,358 -30.0               Silver  

December 2022 Hallmarking Figures

The latest UK Hallmarking figures have been published for all four offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh for December 2022 vs December 2021.   Hallmarking figures from Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh: December 2022       December 2021 December 2022 Variance % Gold               999 27 409 382 1414.8   990 1 0 -1 -100.0   916 30,861 28,263 -2,598 -8.4   750 64,830 51,136 -13,694 -21.1   585 19,643 20,340 697 3.5   375 255,491 142,286 -113,205 -44.3     370,853 242,434 -128,419 -34.6               Silver

Bench Jewellers Recruitment Open Evening

Bench Jewellers Recruitment Open Evening Signet Jewellers Repairs Workshop Hockley, Birmingham  6pm, Thursday 9th November 2017 Signet Jewelers UK Interested in finding out more about becoming a Jeweller / Bench Repairer for our business? Come and visit our brand new jewellery repairs workshop in Hockley, Birmingham and find out more about working for Signet! Shine with Signet The UK’s largest jewellery retailer is looking for dedicated and enthusiastic individuals to join our passionate team of Jewellery and Watch Technicians. We’ve recently been very busy refurbishing our Birmingham Repairs Service Centre, located Hockley near the Jewellery Quarter and now we’re looking to

Museums

Sometimes a little bit of inspiration can go a long way. Here is a list of national museums which have jewellery or related articles, objects or artefacts in their collections... Abbott Hall Art Gallery Kendal Cumbria LA9 5AL www.abbothall.org.uk Aberdeen Art Gallery Schoolhill Aberdeen AB10 1FQ www.aagm.co.uk Art and Archaeology in Lincolnshire Danes Terrace Lincoln LN2 1LP www.thecollectionmuseum.com Ashmolean Museum Beaumont Street Oxford OX1 2PH www.ashmolean.org Bantock House and Park Finchfield Road Wolverhampton WV3 9LQ www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk Bilston Craft Gallery Mount Pleasant Bilston WV14 7LU www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Chamberlain Square Birmingham B3 3DH www.birminghammuseums.org.uk Black Country Living Museum

Spring Fair 2025

Spring Fair 2024 2 - 5 February 2025 NEC Birmingham As the UK's largest retail trade event, Spring Fair brings together home, gift and fashion retailers and suppliers of all sizes from across the industry to create new business opportunities. Join our 2025 show as we celebrate 75 years of unmatched innovation. www.springfair.com

Jewellery & Watch 2020

Jewellery & Watch 2020 2 - 6 February 2020 NEC, Birmingham Jewellery & Watch is a dedicated jewellery trade event, showcasing a varied offering of new ideas and inspiration from a host of well-respected brands, wholesalers and manufacturers. Co-located with Spring Fair, Jewellery & Watch is ideally placed to serve the multi-faceted needs of today’s retailers, whether traditional jewellers, gifting specialists, or e-commerce giants, ensuring buyers and retailers can be perfectly prepared for the year ahead. jewelleryandwatchbirmingham.com

H S Walsh & Sons celebrate their 45th Year at Spring Fair

H S Walsh have exhibited since the show opened in Birmingham in 1976. A trusted, well established name in the industry, their knowledgeable staff will be on stand to demonstrate a range of cutting edge equipment. H S Walsh was established in 1947 and have long been the go-to company for tools and equipment for both the jewellery and watch trade. Still very much a family style business, they pride themselves on their customer service and personal connection with their clients. In an increasingly competitive market, they are aware that any technological advantage they can offer the industry is a

Q&A: Patrick Fuller

Patrick Fuller has been at the helm of the jewellery industry for some 30 years. A charismatic individual who has held every senior influential position in the British jewellery industry going. He is currently a Guardian of the Birmingham Assay Office, a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths Company and President of the National Association of Jewellers as well as a Freeman of the City of London. A former President of the National Association of Goldsmiths; President of Emagold Europe; Director of the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation; President of the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation; Member of the British Hallmarking Council

Benchpeg goes all chatty

As part of lockdown, we thought we'd have a call with an old friend, Fei Liu. The world is slightly different these days, and keeping in touch is all important. We called Fei Liu, Creative Director and Founder of Fei Liu, for one of our regular catch ups, but this time we recorded it to share. Fei and Benchpeg's Rebecca first met back in 1998, in fact, they were the first classmates to meet on the Jewellery and Silversmithing BA Hons course at Birmingham's School of Jewellery. The best of friends, Fei was the bride's gentleman (as the Vicar called [youtube

New Designers: winners of the Goldsmiths’ Company awards announced

New Designers, a platform promoting new creative talent from graduates, has announced the 2020 recipients of the Goldsmiths’ Company awards for jewellery and silversmithing. The winners are jeweller Coco Liang from Birmingham City University and silversmith Yitong Shang from the Glasgow School of Art. This year, the competition was held digitally with students encouraged to submit design ideas online. Centred on the theme of ‘community’, competition submissions needed to be ‘highly creative, thought-provoking, and capable of triggering discussion and debate’. Coco Liang’s ‘CONNECT brooch’ was named the winner of the Goldsmiths’ Company Jewellery Award. Coco commented:  “The brooch was inspired

In:Site 2024

In:Site Cathedral Square, Birmingham 21 – 24 May 2024 11am­-4.30pm Free. Drop in. Over 4 days, 14 recently graduated artists will work with people passing by to create new artworks in Cathedral Square. Showcasing the work of art, craft and design graduates from across the UK and bringing the work of emerging artists to new audiences. Come and meet the artists and take part in their workshops which, this year, explore themes of care. Everyone is welcome and it is free to watch and take part. The artworks created with the public will be on display inside the Cathedral and

Queer + Metals Exhibition

LGBTQ+ artists challenge metalwork’s macho image in new exhibition Friday 25 March to Sunday 3 April 2022 Hereford Artists from Birmingham City University’s renowned School of Jewellery are among the contributors to a new exhibition of metalwork this month, inspired by the lives and experiences of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) community. The  Queer + Metals  exhibition, which opens in Hereford this Friday 25 March is the first show of its kind to focus exclusively on the creations of LGBTQ+ metalwork artists. The free to attend exhibition forms part of the annual  Ferrous Festival

Trade Shows

Selling work is how businesses survive, and knowing where to sell helps fill the diary with hot spots of commercial activity. We've compliled a list of national and international trade shows and events which are regular dates in the trade diary... Additive Manufacturing Europe  When: June Where: RAI, Amsterdam  This is the business-to-business show for the additive manufacturing / 3D printing industry - with more products, more launches and more live demonstrations! amshow-europe.com Autumn Fair  When:  Annually, September Where: NEC Birmingham Autumn Fair is the season's No.1 gift and home wholesale trade show for the retail industry. Launched in September 1990,

How can Apprentices help your Business ?

Apprenticeships: How can Apprentices help your Business ? Are you an employer looking to engage with the next generation  of  talent? Join us at BAJ London or Birmingham to find out about the new Apprenticeship Standard for Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional. Our team  of  experts will be  on  hand to provide IAG  on   re cruiting an Apprentice, as well as information  on  the programme, funding, and delivery.    You'll even get to see our premises and student work, giving you a comprehensive understanding  of  everything our programme has to  of fer. We understand that  re cruiting an

Q&A: Fei Liu

Fei Liu was the first Chinese born student to attend the School of Jewellery, Birmingham, moving specifically from China to attend the historical jewellery school. Some twenty years later he is the founder of an eponymously named multi award winning jewellery brand of international repute. He answers the Benchpeg Q&A... What’s your name, and what do you for a living? My name is Fei Liu. I established my own brand, Fei Liu Fine Jewellery, which allows me to share my art through jewellery, and enjoy the perks of gem hunting. How did you come to work in the jewellery industry?

Building Your Craft Industry Network and Starting Conversations

Building Your Craft Industry Network and Starting Conversations   6 November 2019 The Goldsmiths' Centre, London Broadening your circle of contacts and networking is crucial to developing your profile and practice, but it can be a daunting process. Start today and join us as we bring together practitioners from across the industry, including blacksmiths and silversmiths, to launch Birmingham City University’s new e-book Making Form: Contemporary British Fine Metalwork. The evening will feature introductions to the topic by industry professionals, Rebecca de Quin and Lucy Quinnell, helping you to understand how they pushed beyond their comfort zone and forged their

Spring Fair 2024

Spring Fair 2024 NEC Birmingham 4 - 7 February 2024 As the UK's most popular and diverse marketplace for Home, Gift, Fashion and Everyday products, Spring Fair brings the people of the retail industry together so they can discover the latest products and trends. Join this season’s show and find products your customers will love! Explore thousands of products from the most innovative exhibitors in the industry. As THE sourcing destination for the retail industry, Spring Fair showcases the latest products and gives you insight into current retail trends, whatever sector you're in. With both new and trusted exhibitors projected to visit this

Toye Kenning & Spencer secure £1M funding

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund Debt Finance, managed by Maven Capital Partners, has provided Toye Kenning & Spencer Limited, the oldest continuously operating company in Birmingham, with a £1 million loan to invest in equipment, improve facilities and support growth of the business. Established in 1685, Toye manufactures a range of medals, regalia, bespoke jewellery, badges, including coloured ribbons, braids and laces, used in the production of ceremonial uniforms and gowns. The firm has held a Royal Warrant to the British Royal Family without interruption since the reign of Queen Victoria to the current monarch Queen Elizabeth the II. Toye

Online event celebrating the Jewellery Quarter’s independent businesses

Jewellery Quarter Business Improvement District (JQBID) organises one-day online event celebrating the Quarter’s independent businesses On Saturday June 13, viewers can enjoy an exciting day filled with online entertainment within the safety of their own four walls. JQ at Home is a celebration of the artistry, creativity and history of this unique Quarter of Birmingham - an area of the city which has been hit especially hard during the Coronavirus crisis. With a large proportion of businesses in the Jewellery Quarter being part of the hospitality, retail and arts sectors, many businesses were forced to cease trading from as early

NAJ Summit 2024

The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) Summit 22 - 24 June 2024 Park Regis, Birmingham  The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) is delighted to announce the dates for this year's NAJ Summit - the Association's annual conference bringing all sectors of membership and the wider trade together to network and learn. The 2024 NAJ Summit will take place from 22 to 24 June at the Park Regis Hotel, Birmingham, providing an accessible and modern venue for attendees. The extended weekend will once again feature the Valuers' Conference hosted by the Institute of Registered Valuers and the Retail Jeweller's Congress hosted by

White Label Jewellery to feature big in new Sourcing Section at Jewellery & Watch

Visitors to Jewellery & Watch 2020 will have access to a new Spring Fair Hall dedicated to global manufacturers offering white label jewellery, giftware and accessories. The new Sourcing Sector in Hall 18 of NEC, Birmingham - the only one of its kind in the UK market and the first of the season in Europe – is designed to remove the hassle of overseas buying trips from the schedules of busy retailers and buying teams. First introduced at Autumn Fair 2019, Sourcing will present trend-driven private label products across a range of categories, including jewellery, accessories, homeware, giftware and fashion.

Savvy student seals Swiss success

A Birmingham City University [BCU] horology [the study of watches and clocks] student was treated to a trip to the historical home of Swiss watchmaking, after winning a major competition sponsored by British watch retail giants Christopher Ward. Marcus Laing, a student at BCU’s School of Jewellery, enjoyed a week-long trip to the picturesque town of Biel, Switzerland – complete with a grand tour of Christopher Ward’s manufacturing facilities. The competition saw second-year BA Horology students at the university enter unique watch and clock designs as part of an end-of-year module. Laing used cutting-edge Computer Aided Design [CAD] technology available

Italian brand TI SENTO – Milano return to Jewellery & Watch 2020

The globally recognised sterling silver brand will return to Jewellery & Watch to secure new accounts with independent jewellery, fashion and gift retailers Worldwide fashion jewellery brand, TI SENTO - Milano, will return to leading UK trade event, Jewellery & Watch in February 2020, having been inspired by the move to Hall One of the NEC, Birmingham. Based in the Netherlands, TI SENTO – Milano specialises in rhodium-plated sterling silver and 18ct gold-plated jewellery ranges crafted using traditional goldsmithing techniques at its own atelier. As TI SENTO – Milano continues to grow in the UK market, Jewellery & Watch 2020

Space | Craft - A solo exhibition by Stephen Bottomley

Space | Craft  a solo exhibition by Stephen Bottomley  14th October – 1 st  November 2019 School of Jewellery, Birmingham SPACE: the unlimited or incalculably great three-dimensional realm or expanse in which all material objects are located and all events occur. CRAFT: an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill.  A ship or other vessel. Definitions from : www.dictionary.com Vittoria Street Gallery is pleased to present Space|Craft a solo exhibition by Stephen Bottomley featuring new and previously existing work. The show aims to capture material fragments and visual elements as a timeline or trail.  This focuses on a slow, developmental process

New building for University’s School of Jewellery

Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery is set to expand, following a new building acquisition in the city’s St Paul’s Square. Previously home to Abbey College, the School will take on 10 St Paul’s Square in April, opening in September 2019 as a new postgraduate jewellery design and research facility with new design studios and offices for staff and doctoral researchers. The School of Jewellery’s library and computer suite will also move to the new 11,200 sq ft building, enabling the conversion of rooms at the existing and historic core Vittoria Street site for additional studio space for undergraduate students.

TCT 3Sixty 2020

TCT 3Sixty ReScheduled  29 June - 1 July 2021 NEC, Birmingham TCT 3Sixty will provide tangible value to an attendee, providing a return on investment immediately. Intelligence and contacts will continue to pay dividends long after the show closes. Through new content styles, new exhibiting methods and new networking opportunities, we can achieve this. 2020 will offer attendees innovative and interactive 360-degree insights into how to get the best from their existing additive technology or choose the appropriate new 3D printing technology. Whether YOU decide to invest, are ready to invest for the first time or are looking for an

Domino hits refresh to relaunch website

Domino continues with its focus on customer support with the relaunch of their customer website and online resources and tools. The Birmingham based manufacturer has been working behind the scenes finalising improvements to their online portal, following direct customer feedback on changes required to support their diverse customer audiences.  The new website launched in early July 2018, leading with the new Diamond Ring Mount collection. Customers may have started to notice some of the aesthetic changes applied over the past few weeks, however; the major changes have happened behind the scenes. Changes include: Faster, easier live price checking Improved data

Jessica's winning hydrangea depicts Hockley Mint's growth

Jessica Mead, a designer at independent retailer Page Fine Jewellery in Cambridge, struck on the idea of a climbing hydrangea to depict Hockley Mint’s 25 years in business and swept to victory in their competition to mark the occasion Her winning design was made up of 25 leaves in sterling silver with Fairtrade gold elements and 25 0.01ct diamonds symbolising prosperity and vigour, the hallmarks of the Birmingham-based jewellery manufacturer’s growth since it was established in 1992. “The idea behind using a hydrangea is that there is no stopping its potential for growth,” said Jessica, who previously worked as a

Q&A: Ed Hole

Ed Hole is Head of CAD Design and 3D Printing at Birmingham based jewellery industry giant Weston Beamor Ltd. He has been at the company since 2003, and for some 14 years he has been creating bespoke pieces and new product development lines for a wide variety of clients. He is an expert CAD Designer and 3D Print specialist and has built up a team specialising in the use of cutting edge technology at the firm. Ed has a BA (Hons) in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He answers the Benchpeg Q&A. What’s your name, and what do

Hockley Mint reveals finalists of anniversary design competition

Birmingham based jewellery manufacturer Hockley Mint has revealed the finalists in its 25th anniversary design competition, with six designers making the shortlist.  The finalists are Anna Carter, Yasmin Everley, Roxanne Gilbert, Angela Gillies, Yvonne Knights and Jessica Mead, who were all applauded by the judges for their creativity and vision. Gary Wroe, Managing Director of Hockley Mint, said: “ We were overwhelmed by the high quality of entries we received and I was particularly impressed by how inventively the concept of our anniversary was incorporated into the shortlisted designs. I am really looking forward to revealing the winner – and

Autumn Fair 2017

Launched in September 1990, Autumn Fair is now celebrated as the season’s number one wholesale gift and home trade show and is a must-attend event for UK and international buyers. Independents, multiples and online retailers visit Autumn Fair to look for the most brilliant new products and innovations ahead of Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and Spring. Autumn Fair is held over 4 days in September. It is held across a weekend and weekdays to give all of our visitors the best possible chance to attend. Located at Birmingham NEC, it is a central location within the UK with

Q&A: Olivia Norman

Olivia Norman is Head of Jewellery at Jessica McCormack Ltd , which has its HQ in Carlos Place , Mayfair, London. She oversees the in-house fine jewellery production for the design led brand, as well as having oversight of main business functions. Olivia was formerly at Shaun Leane for seven years as Commercial Manager and has extensive experience in strategic planning and business development, retail and sales, design, product development and production. She is a graduate of the School of Jewellery in Birmingham.  She answers the Benchpeg Q&A. What’s your name, and what do you for a living? ON:  Olivia

Oscillations

Oscillations Exhibition Munich Jewellery Week 2019 14 - 17 March 2019 Munich, Germany The Birmingham School of Jewellery MA class of 2018 welcomes you to visit our Oscillations Exhibition as part of Polyphonous at Munich Jewellery Week 2019 Open Opening: Tuesday 14th March at 10:00 Exhibition Dates: 14th - 17th March 2019 Exhibition Times Open daily Thu-Sat 10:00-17:00 and Sun 10:00-16:00 Venue McArthur & McArthur Studios Ltd. Schwanthalerstraße 184 80339 München Germany More Information www.munichjewelleryweek.com www.facebook.com www.instagram.com

WB The Creative Jewellery boss extols 'right fit' Heimerle & Meule deal

The acquisition of Birmingham-based WB The Creative Jewellery Group by German group Heimerle & Meule represents an ‘absolutely right fit’ according to managing director Andrew Morton and will give added security for the futures of around 180 staff. Andrew Morton - WB The Creative Group Managing Director The process of selling WB The Creative Jewellery Group, which owns Domino, Gecko and Weston Beamor to the 173 year-old Heimerle & Meule, one of Europe’s largest precious metal suppliers, started in 2016 when owners Viv and Patrick Fuller decided the time had come to think about retiring. It had been established by

Appointment: Anchorcert Appoints Steve Hamon as New Sales Director

AnchorCert Group, including Assay Office Birmingham, is pleased to confirm that it has appointed new Sales Director, Steve Hamon. Steve has more than 17 years’ experience as a senior sales and business development professional, including more than 4 years’ leading the UK and Eire Product Division for global testing laboratory Intertek and more than 5 years’ managing the BSI (British Standards Institution) Engineering, Testing and Kitemark divisions. Steve was officially appointed in December 2017 and has been working closely with the senior management and executive team to understand the complexities of the jewellery industry, as well as familiarise himself with

£8000 Silver commission to mark the end of the Great War

Birmingham based British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) receive the commemorative ‘Silence Fell’ silverware to mark the end of the Great War. Last year the BATF board decided to commission a special piece to join its boardroom silver collection of over 50 items and tasked one of its member associations, The National Association of Jewellers, to help find a fitting item.  A national competition was held to design and make a piece of silverware to commemorate the end of the First World War, taking that ceasefire as inspiration. At the beginning of the year Claire Malet was announced as the designer

New Technologies make for a growth industry and an emerging one

The advent of electronic mining - the process of extracting gold, silver, copper from discarded electronic objects to make jewellery - is now a growing industry. The 26 year old London based jewellery designer Eliza Walter, Founder of Lylie, is the only jeweller in the UK sourcing all the materials for her designs from ‘urban mining’. Eliza Walter has been awarded a hallmark by the Birmingham Assay Office for her efforts.  Other new technologies in mainstream use include 3D printing in jewellery schools and jewellery manufacturing companies like Weston Beamor (3D printing for jewellery has seen a 450% growth year

Domino to present diverse, design-led product portfolio at IJL

Domino Jewellery are set to delight UK and international buyers with their diverse, design-led product portfolio at International Jewellery London this year. The Birmingham based manufacturer has received excellent feedback on collections launched so far in 2019; the team are confident that their focus on high quality design with on trend pieces driven by market research and customer feedback, will drive continued demand for Domino collections. At IJL this year, the team will exhibit product from all of its 2019 collections including Fusion – interlocking, stackable diamond rings, Empire – clustered diamond engagement and lifestyle rings, and the recently refreshed

Katy Tromans wins Artistar Jewels 2018 Award at Milan Fashion Week

Last month the winners of the fifth edition of Artistar Jewels were announced in Milan, Italy, where 2016 Birmingham School of Jewellery graduate Katy Tromans picked up an international award for her  amazing standards of detail. Artistar Jewels is an international competition dedicated to promotion of contemporary jewellery culture culminating in an awards ceremony and exhibition. The event took place in Palazzo dei Giureconsulti, Milan, Italy, a historical palace overlooing the Duomo Square, and hosted 450 creations from an array of international jewellery artists and designers. Entries on show at the Artistar Jewels 2018 exhibition in Milan, Italy Artistar Jewels 2018 was

Museum of the Jewellery Quarter announce First Jeweller In Residence

One budding Midlands jewellery designer has been given a unique opportunity with the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter to be its first Jeweller in Residence, a project which aims to support emerging jewellery designers. Winner Fiona Harris, who previously studied at Birmingham City University School of Jewellery, is the first designer to be crowned with the title. As part of the prize Fiona, now based in Nottingham, has the unique opportunity to work from the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter’s perfectly preserved jewellery workshop for the next year and have her bespoke handcrafted jewellery sold in the museum’s acclaimed shop. The

Q&A: Stephen Bottomley

Stephen Bottomley is a Jewellery Designer, Academic and Researcher and  will take up position as the new Head of School at the School of Jewellery Birmingham this Spring. Formerly he was the Head of Department and Programme Director of BA & MFA Jewellery and Silversmithing at Edinburgh College of Art. Up until recently he was also Director Post Graduate Research in the School of Design, the Chair of RAFT an Interdisciplinary Network at ECA and on the Board of Craft Scotland. Stephen's jewellery is represented in collections at the National Museums Scotland, British Museum, South East Arts Collection and Royal

Deborah Tseng releases monochrome 'White' collection

In a colourful world, this quiet white jewellery is a rare island for a peaceful mind. Deborah Tseng Jewellery combines two historical crafts to make porcelain jewellery with layers of beauty and meaning. Artist Deborah Tseng established her eponymous jewellery brand in London, after graduating from a masters degree in jewellery Silversmithing and related products from Birmingham City University School of Jewellery. However, prior to this Tseng lived and Taiwan, where she was trained extensively in metalwork.  Her diverse skillset and honed craftsmanship can be seen in her work. She finds her inspiration in repetition, transformation, time and the minutiae of the

Appointment: Andrew Mills - New National Sales Manager at Hockley Mint

Birmingham fine and bridal jewellery manufacturer Hockley Mint has appointed Andrew Mills as National Sales Manager. Andrew will start with Hockley Mint on 30 April 2018 and will be responsible for all the company’s sales, client relationships and new business. Andrew joined the jewellery industry in 1995 as a sales executive at bridal manufacturer Brown & Newirth. In 2006 he and his wife, an award-winning jewellery designer, bought a small jewellery wholesale business, which she still runs today. He then moved to CW Sellors as wholesale sales manager before joining Hot Diamonds, in 2014, where he joined as Brand Manager

Weston Beamor further invest in 3D print and bespoke teams

Weston Beamor have announced a new starter and two internal promotions to further strengthen their 3D Print and Bespoke Teams as customer demand for personalisation grows.   Just a few months on from Ed Hole’s promotion to Business Manager, WB have more good news for customers as the team responds to the increased consumer desire for bespoke jewellery. Sarah Parry, who graduated from Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery following the completion of a BA Design for Industry degree, joined the company at the beginning of July and will work alongside Daniella Webb in the 3D Printing team.  Existing team members

Appointment: Scott Williams Appointed NAJ’s New Head of Membership

The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has appointed Scott Williams, previously the association’s Membership Services Officer, to fulfil the Head of Membership position. Scott will lead the Membership team based in the Birmingham office and travel across the UK to raise awareness of the association and its services. NAJ Chairman, Simon Johnson commented: “Since joining the association Scott has streamlined the administration process in the Membership department, his due diligence and sparkling personality have gone down well with members. Having excelled in his previous role, we are thrilled to offer Scott the opportunity to lead the Membership team and meet

Saunders Shepherd & Co Return to Jewellery & Watch

Fine jewellery distributor Saunders Shepherd & Co will make a welcome return to Jewellery & Watch in February following several years’ absence. The Birmingham-based heritage company, who distribute fine and fashion collections by Fope, Ponte Vecchio and Al Coro, has chosen Jewellery & Watch as the destination to launch its new range of Italian-made silver jewellery by Dog Fever. John Coupland, MD of Saunders Shepherd & Co, commented, “We are delighted to be participating in the UK’s spring premier jewellery show again, and look forward to unveiling our exquisite new silver collection from Dog Fever; it is unlike anything we

RJC Re-Certifies Betts Metal Sales

RJC announced today that Betts Metal Sales has achieved Certification against the 2013 Code of Practices (COP) at its retail outlets in Birmingham.  “It is a pleasure to announce Betts Metal Sales has been certified against the 2013 COP. The provisions under the 2013 COP address important issues for our Members and their supply chain. We are delighted to see Members achieving Certification against the standard and warmly congratulate Betts Metal Sales,” says Andrew Bone, RJC’s Executive Director. The successful verification assessment was led by Peter Warbrick from SGS United Kingdom Limited, one of the independent third-party auditing firms accredited

Hockley Mint opens its doors for tailor-made Retailer Days

Birmingham-based fine jewellery and bridal manufacturer Hockley Mint has launched an initiative to support independent jewellery retailers, opening its doors to invite businesses to find out more about Hockley Mint and to network with fellow retailers. The tailor-made events, which will take place in early 2017, will start with a comprehensive tour of Hockley Mint’s state-of-the-art in-house facilities, offering retailers the chance to gain a unique insight into the award-winning manufacturer’s extensive jewellery production capabilities. Visitors will then be invited to spend the afternoon in an informal networking session, where they will be free to discuss hot industry topics and

Millennials embrace the signet ring

The signet ring is back. But move over the traditional buyers and enter the  Millennials ; especially Millennial women who, according to the Birmingham manufacturer Domino, are currently embracing this age-old staple of the jewellery industry and making it very much their own.  B oth m en and women in their 20s and 30s are discovering and reinventing these rings.    Domino’s Marketing Co-ordinator, Chantelle Serrell-Cooke, believes that younger buyers appreciate the real opportunities that signet rings offer for personalisation, which is a key trend coming through across the market.  “This digital generation loves having the chance to make its

Weston Beamor increases presence on Social Media

Over the past ten months, Weston Beamor, the Birmingham casting house, 3D printing and bespoke manufacturing company, has made a concerted effort to extend its reach across various forms of digital media. The results have been extremely encouraging, as evidenced by the significant increase in their followers on numerous social media platforms. Since June 2016 Victoria Maher, a Customer Service Administrator at Weston Beamor, has been managing the company’s social media channels in addition to her day-to-day role. Maher has sought to kick-start the company’s online presence by distributing posts covering a diverse array of topics, including bespoke jewellery, castings,

Worcester Jeweller Anja Potze Celebrates 21 Year Milestone

A respected Worcester jeweller has marked her 21st anniversary in the city. Award-winning jewellery designer Anja Potze has become one of city’s leading jewellers since arriving in Worcester in the nineties, building a customer base from across the county and beyond. In the past 18 months alone two new members of staff have joined the Friar Street business which was also recently rated as one of the top jewellers in Worcester by the website, Three Best Rated.  Award-winning design expert and Birmingham School of Jewellery graduate Laura Golborne has joined the six-strong team alongside commercial and retail expert, Felicity Allen.

Clogau Announce New Store At Ashford Designer Outlet

Following the success of their Outlet stores in Cheshire Oaks, Bridgend and Resorts World Birmingham, Clogau have announced the launch of a fourth Outlet in Ashford, Kent. Clogau, who were crowned Jewellery Brand of the Year at the 2015 UK Jewellery Awards, are thrilled to have launched their third Outlet store within the McArthurGlen Group. The iconic Welsh brand continue a long tradition of creating jewellery that is expertly hand-finished and uniquely designed. Every piece of Clogau jewellery contains rare Welsh gold, as used by some members of the British Royal Family. Ben Roberts, Managing Director at Clogau talks about the

The 2017 ‘GeoGems’ Benchpeg Christmas Decoration Designed by Kate Dugmore

This Autumn Benchpeg launched a competition open to Birmingham School of Jewellery students and alumni to design our annual Christmas Tree Decoration. We had some innovative, thoughtful and creative designs submitted in response to the quite constrained brief, but the winner selected by the Benchpeg team, was designed by Kate Dugmore. The design entitled ‘GeoGems’ has the illusion of shattered facets within a diamond form, which is both contemporary and challenging. Benchpeg creates a limited edition Christmas Tree Decoration each year, and Benchpeg’s Founder Rebecca van Rooijen wanted to open up the opportunity to design the decoration this year to

Weston Beamor Restructures Management Team

Weston Beamor, the Birmingham-based 3D printing, casting and bespoke manufacturing company, has restructured the workings of its Management Team and appointed new staff in a bid to grow further its customer base. Glen Day remains as Head of Business Development, but, rather than being office based as in the past, he will now spend four days a week travelling the country to meet with Weston Beamor’s customers and potential customers. Day, who reports directly to the company’s Managing Director Andrew J Morton, retains his overall, supervisory role within Weston Beamor. However he hands over greater responsibility for the day-to-day running

Benevolent Society Ball Sponsor Announced

Jewellery & Watch are delighted to announce their headline sponsorship of this year’s British Jewellery & Giftware Federation Benevolent Society Ball. The 1st December will see the 81st Benevolent Society Ball take place at The St John’s Hotel, Birmingham.     The society’s Chairman, David Simons, expressed his delight, “It is wonderful that Jewellery & Watch have agreed to be the headline sponsor of the 2016 Federation’s Benevolent Ball. To have exhibition organisers who are so committed to the industries that they represent in this way is a credit to all in volved. We are truly grateful.”    This Benevolent Society Ball will also

Weston Beamor’s Katy Tromans Exhibition Feature

Katy Tromans, a 3D Print and CAD Technician at Weston Beamor, is a woman of many talents. In addition to her work at Weston Beamor, Katy is a prize-winning silversmith recently awarded a Gold Medal for her CAD presentation in the prestigious Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards. Katy is also Artist in Residence at the School of Jewellery at Birmingham City University, where she trained. Her latest work will shortly go on display in the ‘One Year On’ alumni exhibition being staged by BCU at its Park Side Gallery from Monday 12th of June to Friday the 30th of

Dundee Student Wins Ingle & Rhode Fairtrade Gold Award

A university student from the University of Dundee has won the Ingle & Rhode 2017 Fairtrade Gold Design Awards. Aspiring jewellery design undergraduate, Angela Gillies,  is the over all winner of the awards, after competing against more than 100 budding designers and impressing the panel of judges.  Highly commended designs, category winners, and the overall winners were announced at the Fair Luxury (FLUX) 2017 conference in Birmingham on 25th April.  This is the first year the awards have run, recognising up and coming talent within the jewellery design industry.  Angela Gillies said of the win,  “Winning the Fairtrade Gold Design

In-house Efficiencies Give Hockley Mint the Competitive Advantage

Award-winning Birmingham-based jewellery manufacturer Hockley Mint has reported that streamlined internal processes and efficiencies have resulted in a significant drop in the average cost to manufacture its wedding rings, with these new lower prices being passed on to its retail customers.  In addition to these new cost savings, at the forthcoming Jewellery & Watch trade fair (stand 17R30/S31), Hockley Mint will be offering customers exclusive promotions and discounts on products ordered at the show. Gary Wroe, managing director of Hockley Mint, said: “The major benefit of being a leading UK manufacturer is that we can set our own prices and

Appointment: Doug Henry, New CEO & Assay Master

The AnchorCert Group, comprising Assay Office Birmingham, AnchorCert Analytical, AnchorCert Gem Lab, SafeGuard Valuations and AnchorCert Academy, has announced the appointment of Doug Henry MBA as incoming Chief Executive and Assay Master. Doug, who is currently joint CEO, will commence his new appointment as the company's 14th Assay Master on Monday 3 April 2017, having originally joined AnchorCert Group to restructure the quality management system in September 2014. Doug then successfully project-managed the business relocation to Moreton Street in July 2015. Doug has subsequently led the management of the Indian off-shore sub-office, and continues to support the development of quality

Jewellery Schools Listings

There are very few specialist jewellery and silversmithing courses in the UK, here we have compiled a list of educational institutions offering higer level courses and also courses with jewellery, silversmithing or metalwork offered as part of the course... Birmingham City University, School of Jewellery Undergraduate Jewellery Design and Related Products – BA (Hons) www.bcu.ac.uk Jewellery and Silversmithing- Design for industry- BA (Hons) www.bcu.ac.uk Gemmology and jewellery studies www.bcu.ac.uk Postgraduate Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products - MA www.bcu.ac.uk Luxury Jewellery Management- MA www.bcu.ac.uk Jewellery, Silversmithing and Related Products - GradCert www.bcu.ac.uk Short Courses are also available- see website for more

Isabella Liu Unveils ‘Sea Rhymes Collection’ at IJL 2016

A rising star has settled in to jewellery lovers' views as the London-based Chinese artist, Isabella Liu, reveals her new 'Sea Rhymes' collection, which will debut at this year's International Jewellery London this week. Wuhan-born and London-based Isabella Liu is an award-winning jewellery designer. In the few years since leaving Birmingham School of Jewellery, Liu has won awards in Italy and Spain, and has been awarded gold medals at the ‘Jewellery Oscar’ Goldsmiths' Craftsmanship and Design Award and Milan Expo as ‘the best new designer’ and ‘best product of the year’. The designer is proving herself worthy of such awards

Catapult Project’ propels Weston Beamor into a new era of casting

Weston Beamor, the Birmingham Casting house, 3D printing and bespoke m anufacturing  company  has recently been engaged in a Government funded  High Value Manufacturing  Catapult  initiative. It has been   working closely with academics at a well-known Midland  University  to m ove its casting processes  forward for the next decade.  The company has invested heavily in new casting equipment, which is parti cularly ideal for platinum  and palladium casting, and has worked closely with university staff to fi nd  the best possible methods  of dealing with the nuances of the lost wax casting process using synth etic casting resins developed 

Meanings and Messages – ACJ’s 25th Anniversary Touring Exhibition

Meanings and Messages – ACJ’s 25th Anniversary Touring Exhibition  Vittoria Street Gallery, Birmingham School of Jewellery 19th September- 28th October 2022  The Association for Contemporary Jewellery presents a major touring exhibition, showcasing 60 brooches from 60 current members. Including work from members in the UK, Australia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Hungary, Taiwan, USA, and US Virgin Islands. Materials include PLA filament, jesmonite, paper, silver and gold, aluminium, copper, enamels, wood, textiles, ceramics, semi-precious stones, and an array of found objects – gramophone needles, leather gloves, spent bullet cartridges, military ribbon, and denatured citrus fruit peel. An Exhibition of Brooches

November 2022 Hallmarking Figures

The latest UK Hallmarking figures have been published for all four offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh for November 2022 vs November 2021.   Gold       November 2021   November 2022   Variance            %   999 40 570 530 1325.0   990 0 0 0 0.0   916 42,037 36,059 -5,978 -14.2   750 103,757 82,650 -21,107 -20.3   585 33,867 34,969 1,102 3.3   375 374,427 232,810 -141,617 -37.8     554,128 387,058 -167,070 -30.2 Silver               999 2,064 3,303 1,239 60.0   958 2,863 1,094 -1,769 -61.8   925

October 2022 Hallmarking Figures

The latest UK Hallmarking figures have been published for all four offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh for October 2022 vs October 2021.         October 2021 October 2022 Variance % Gold               999 453 930 477 105.3   990 0 1 1 0.0   916 41,058 33,752 -7,306 -17.8   750 83,755 81,220 -2,535 -3.0   585 25,540 26,063 523 2.0   375 316,787 262,389 -54,398 -17.2     467,593 404,355 -63,238 -13.5               Silver               999 3,231 4,394

Weston Beamor Announce Winner of BCU Live Project 2018

Birmingham City University's School of Jewellery student Kai-Blu Triassi has won the annual Weston Beamor  Live Project  with his contemporary geometric ‘Dyad’ engagement and wedding ring set design. Kai-Blu’s award was announced on the WB stand at this year’s Jewellery & Watch show. Kai-Blu impressed judges with his striking and bold ring set, commercial-focus, unique design and understanding of thickness and tolerances, demonstrated through his strong CAD modelling skills. The annual competition is open to all BCU SoJ students in their second year of a Higher National Diploma in Jewellery Manufacturing. Commenting on his win, Kai-Blu said,  "I'm really pleased to

This Year's Jewellery & Watch 2018

Jewellery & Watch, the UK’s largest dedicated jewellery trade event, returns to NEC Birmingham from Sunday 4th until Thursday 8th February 2018. Taking place at a key buying point in the year, Jewellery & Watch will showcase a dazzling offering of new collections and inspiration from more than 300 new and returning exhibitors, as well unveiling the latest trends and offering essential advice from industry insiders. What to Expect at Jewellery & Watch 2018 The Atelier, an all-new immersive future trend showcase set to dominate for 2018 Edited sectors include loose gems, diamonds, watches, bespoke jewellery, silver, semi-precious and wholesale fashion jewellery

Higher Education Institutions

We've complied a list of all the national organisations offering jewellery, silversmithing or metal at HND or degree level here... Coleg Sir Gâr, Carmarthen School of Art www.colegsirgar.ac.uk Central Saint Martins www.arts.ac.uk/csm Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh www.eca.ed.ac.uk Glasgow School of Art www.gsa.ac.uk Gray’s School of Art, Robert Gordon University Aberdeen www.rgu.ac.uk Hereford College of Arts www.hca.ac.uk Kensington and Chelsea College www.kcc.ac.uk London College of Fashion www.arts.ac.uk/fashion Middlesex University www.mdx.ac.uk National College of Art and Design www.ncad.ie Plymouth College of Art www.plymouthart.ac.uk School of Jewellery, Birmingham City University www.bcu.ac.uk/jewellery Sheffield Hallam University www.shu.ac.uk Staffordshire University www.staffs.ac.uk Turo and

Hockley Mint Partners with TH March

Birmingham based fine jewellery manufacturer  Hockley Mint  has partnered with industry specialist insurance broker TH March to offer exclusive benefits to all designers who enter Hockley Mint’s 25 th  anniversary design competition.   This collaboration between TH March and Hockley Mint aims to educate and raise awareness among jewellery designers about the need for insurance cover to protect them against risks such as theft or loss of stock and goods, business interruption and public and products liability. As a result of this  new  partnership, the winner of  Hockley Mint’s  competition will receive one year’s worth of  free  insurance  cover .

Marks & Spencer Combat Customer Allergy Concerns

This summer, Marks & Spencer (M&S) will become the first high street retailer to set a new standard in hypoallergenic jewellery – as it launches Skin Kind™.  From May every item in M&S’s fashion jewellery range will meet its new Skin Kind™ standards, so that even customers with the most sensitive skin can wear stylish accessories with confidence.  The project began last year when M&S discovered that more than one in four [28%] of customers didn’t wear fashion jewellery because they were concerned about potential allergic reactions. To help address these concerns, M&S partnered with Birmingham based, world leading precious

Weston Beamor Prototypes Bond: James Bond

Weston Beamor, the Birmingham casting-house, 3D printing and bespoke jewellery manufacturing company, has recently been involved in an interesting project for its customer Big Chief Studios - producers of high-quality, limited-edition, collectable figurines.   WB has been 3D printing photo-realistic body parts in resin, specifically heads, hands, and accessories such as guns and gadgets, for Big Chief’s most recent collection of characters from the iconic Bond film – Goldfinger.  Big Chief has recently taken on the licence to produce action figures from this and several others of the most classic Bond films.  With WB’s assistance, they have now created Bond

Pursuit Reveal Next Generation Online Sale Integration

Pursuit  unveiled  the next g eneration  of its revolutionary Lifestyle mobile till  and stock  records retail sales tool at J&W Birmingham.  Running on an iPad or other tablet device and  launche d in 2012, Lifestyle was the first product of its kind  specifically designed for the  jewellery  business. The new  version is being provided free to existing users.    Mike Burns, Managing Director of the market-leading so ftware  house, states, “ The latest version of our iPad-based till and sales tool  incorporates enhanced item- by -item presentation and  benefits from user-feedback and our commitment to contin uous development. It ’