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Kate Laven

Meet Benchpeg's Contributing Writer Kate Laven. She makes up part of the team that bring the Benchpeg website, newsletter and social media feeds to our lovely readers, subscribers and followers Kate Laven Contributing Writer Kate is a journalist with over 20 years’ extensive experience and has written for an expansive range of titles including the Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, the BBC and the Daily Express as well as being a contributing writer for The Times, The Sunday Times and the Guardian. Kate brings her background in corporate communications, PR, marketing, blogging and media consultancy to Benchpeg. Kate maintains

Lichen inspired work by Kate Bajic

Jeweller Kate Bajic uses the countryside around her studio as inspiration for her contemporary jewellery pieces. Kate is particularly fascinated by the wide variation of colour, shapes, and forms found in different lichen species. Through photography and sample collection, Kate examines their minute complexity and translates aspects of this into her work. She handcrafts pieces using precious metals or mild steel, often combined with semiprecious stones. Designs evolve through experimenting with composition, playing with contrasting colours, or adding textural details. Most recently Kate has experimented with hand piercing and patenting thin steel sheet to create complex layered necklaces which are

Appointment: Kate Madelin to step down as NAJ's Director of Education

After a hugely successful tenure as Director of Education for the National Association of Jewellers, Kate Madelin will be leaving her role with the association in March. NAJ will now be looking for a replacement to continue to drive forward the association’s industry-leading agenda, working with the full membership, the leadership team and staff. Simon Johnson, NAJ Chairman said “ Since her appointment to NAG five years ago Kate has had a transformational impact on the Association. During this time, she has led a forward-thinking and committed team of employees and volunteers, to deliver innovative training for the whole sector. At

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

Kate Dumbleton Launches 'Jewel Creatures' Collection

Kate Dumbleton has announced the launch of her new collection, ' Jewel Creatures'. A long time in development, first sketched out around 2 years ago, this collection features a range of gem set animals with a difference. The creatures featured in the new collection - Cat, Mouse, Dog, Rabbit, Bear and Fox , are depicted by only a few settings in different shapes. The initial range of rings and pendants in silver , various gemstones and c ubic z irconia , can be made to order in any colour combinations . Totally customizable, buyers can choose the colours

Benchpeg Awards Judges 2016

Benchpeg is extremely excited to reveal the Judges for the Benchpeg Awards 2016. Each Judge is an expert in their field, which range from fashion markets, art jewellery, commerciality, manufacture, the craft, image making, design, creativity and innovation. They are listed below in alphabetical order. Kate Baxter - The Cut London Kate Baxter is a jewellery designer and founder of fine jewellery blog & consultancy The Cut London. With over 10 years’ experience working within the jewellery industry; as a designer for global brands and as a freelance creative, Kate brought her unique sense of innovation and intuition to launch

GOLDDUST 2022

GoldDust is a highly focused, personalised online masterclass - comprising of 6 live sessions over 6 weeks - led by jewellery expert Kate Baxter, and special guest speakers. Aimed at independent jewellery designers and jewellery entrepreneurs looking to grow a coveted and desirable collection that stands out in a highly saturated market, topics range from developing and owning your signature style, how to connect with your dream bespoke customer and grow a thriving engagement ring and bespoke collection, to how to take the ultimate shot for instagram. Each week Kate will lead you through an essential topic with a range

News Edit: 17 March 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news... Old-cut diamonds and fantastical gems: TEFAF Maastricht's unmissable jewels The Telegraph: It may be a royal pain to get to, but TEFAF (The European Fine Art Fair) in Maastricht, the Netherlands, is worth the trip. www.telegraph.co.uk Steeple Bumpstead goldsmith with Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery wins industry 'Oscar' HaverHill Echo: A jeweller from Steeple Bumpstead has won a gold award in The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards 2019, the industry’s ‘Jewellery Oscars'. www.haverhillecho.co.uk Kate Middleton has a collection of earrings from just one designer worth £47k Express: Kate Middleton, 37,

News Edit: 17 November 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news... This London-Based Jewellery Designer Has Been Making The Current Jewellery Trend For 20 Years Marie Claire: Her pieces are stunningly beautiful. marieclaire.com.au Billionaire diamond jeweller attacked in prison in 'extortion attempt', court hears The Telegraph: A diamond tycoon awaiting an extradition hearing over accusations of involvement in India's biggest banking fraud was assaulted by two fellow inmates in an “extortion attempt”, a court has heard. telegraph.co.uk How Kate Middleton changed Princess Diana’s famous sapphire earrings The Express: Kate Middleton, 37, attended an event yesterday where she met with victims from

News Edit: 20 March 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news... How much will it cost to keep the Herefordshire treasure in county? Hereford Times: Herefordshire Council has set aside over a million pounds to buy, look after and display the famous Herefordshire Hoard. www.herefordtimes.com Kate Middleton pays heartfelt tribute to Ukraine with symbolic jewellery choice Hello: The Duchess of Cambridge, 40, opted to wear a diamond and sapphire necklace with hidden ties to Ukraine at the Commonwealth Day Service alongside Prince Williams. www.hellomagazine.com Introducing Jimmy Choo’s dreamy new jewellery collection Marie Claire: Jimmy Choo is launching jewellery, and

News Edit: 5 December 2021

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news... Top Scottish jeweller designs stunning collection in support of human trafficking charity Daily Record: Kindhearted Karlin Anderson - who has made pieces for models Kate Moss and Claudia Schiffer - is helping modern slavery charity Hope For Justice. www.dailyrecord.co.uk Kiki McDonough to rent jewellery on Hurr Fashion United: British jewellery designer Kiki McDonough is launching a curated edit of fine jewellery on UK rental platform Hurr to coincide with the festive season. fashionunited.uk Celine jewellery revives fluid sculpture of artist Louise Nevelson Wallpaper: Hedi Slimane continues Celine’s artist

Opsydia Collaborates with Emerald Supplier Myne London

Leading gemstone security specialist, Opsydia, has collaborated with ethical and sustainable emerald supplier, Myne London, to permanently place its brand logo beneath the surface of its traceable emerald melee supply from Pakistan. Leading gemstone security specialist, Opsydia, has collaborated with ethical and sustainable emerald supplier, Myne London, to permanently place its brand logo beneath the surface of its traceable emerald melee supply from Pakistan. The Opsydia team worked with Myne London Founders Fiona Wellington and Kate Murray Gordos, and their in-house gemmologist Charles Evans Bsc (Hons) FGA DGA, to create a procedure for placing the business’ unique ‘M’ logo beneath

News Edit: 5 June 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news... Queen wears new Platinum Jubilee brooch Daily Mail: Her Majesty, 96, looked effortlessly elegant in a jade green Stuart Pravin crepe coat when attending the lighting of the beacons event at Windsor Castle. www.dailymail.co.uk Platinum Jubilee: The Queen’s Brooches, New and Old Royal Central: Symbolism abounds this week during the Platinum Jubilee. The jewellery on display is no exception and no one does messaging through jewels better than the Queen herself. For Trooping the Colour, a … royalcentral.co.uk Kate Middleton Wore Princess Diana's Sapphire and Diamond Earrings to

Turquoise Mountain continues training in Jordan with help of UNICEF

Turquoise Mountain was founded in 2006 by HRH The Prince of Wales to revive historic areas and traditional crafts, to provide jobs, skills and a renewed sense of pride. Since 2006, Turquoise Mountain has restored over 150 historic buildings, trained over 6,000 artisans, treated almost 136,000 patients at our Kabul clinic, and supported and generated over $15.5 million in sales of traditional crafts to international clients, including Kate Spade and London’s Connaught Hotel. Turquoise Mountain has also curated major international exhibitions at museums around the world, from the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington

School of Jewellery present Goblet to British Allied Trades Federation

The School of Jewellery and HND Course Director Dauvit Alexander were delighted to recently present the finished award-winning goblet to Kate Owen, Past President of The British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) in the School’s Vittoria Street home. The BATF launched the competition at the School to provide an opportunity for students to design to commission, thereby promoting newly qualified talent in the industry. Dating back to 1954, the BATF Presidency has been recognised by the addition of a solid silver goblet to the Federation’s silver collection. This collection was instigated to support and showcase craftsmanship and design. For the last three

News Edit: 24 February 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news... Monica Vinader Discusses Jewelry, Fundraising And The Power Of Influencers Forbes: On your background prior to launching Monica Vinader … I studied at City & Guild Art School in London before working with London jeweller Tateossian. www.forbes.com Kate Middleton's jewellery collection - see all of her precious pieces Hello: The Duchess of Cambridge sure has great taste when it comes to jewellery. www.hellomagazine.com Jeweller finds inspiration after discovering a treasure trove of grandparents’ love letters Sunday Post: Trevor Smith and Margaret Gibb had only been together a few short months

News Edit: 25 November 2018

A round up of this week's international jewellery news... Harumi collaborates with Goossens on the ultimate jewellery as 'wearable sculpture' The Telegraph: People tend to assume that jewellery designer Harumi Klossowska de Rola started off as a sculptor, but then moved to jewellery. www.telegraph.co.uk Marie Antoinette's pendant sells for £25m in jewellery auction Sky News: Jewellery belonging to France's most famous queen has fetched millions of pounds at auction in Geneva. news.sky.com Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are backing this major jewellery trend Marie Claire: ICYMI, Prince Charles celebrated his 70th birthday last night, with a super fancy party

News Edit: 29 April 2018

A round up of this week's international jewellery news... Police launch murder probe after builder 'viciously attacked' at work in Hatton Garden The Independent: Forty-seven-year-old found dead on roof of business www.independent.co.uk Kate jeweller Annoushka loses sparkle The Times: A jeweller favoured by the Duchess of Cambridge and celebrities such as Rihanna swung to a loss last year. www.thetimes.co.uk Jewelry consortium to use IBM blockchain technology to verify, authenticate diamonds, engagement rings ZDNet: The TrustChain Initiative is being launched with IBM and a consortium that represents every step of the jewelry value chain from mine to manufacturer to retail. www.zdnet.com

News Edit 1 April 2018

A round up of this week's news... Hatton Garden heist suspect is son of biology pioneer The Times: A jewellery designer believed to be the mysterious tenth man in the Hatton Garden heist is the son of a pioneering Cambridge biophysicist, The Times can reveal. www.thetimes.co.uk Where to buy the best vintage, period and antique jewellery The Telegraph: No matter what today’s jewellers come up with, no matter how sophisticated the designs or exquisite the materials, I never fail to be charmed by vintage and antique jewellery. www.telegraph.co.uk Kate Middleton's wedding tiara heads up 'dazzling' Canberra exhibition SBS News: Iconic

Crafts for the Future Conference

Crafts for the Future The Heritage Crafts Association is pleased to announce that booking for the 2018 conference, Crafts for the Future, is now open. Keynote speakers this year will be HCA Patron and ceramics producer, Emma Bridgewater and Sam Walton from Hole & Corner magazine, a bi-annual print magazine devoted to celebrating craft, beauty, passion and skill. In the afternoon session, makers from the critically endangered category of The HCA/Radcliffe Red List of Endangered Crafts will be addressing the audience. Martin Frost, fore-edge painter Kate Hetherington, horse collar maker Wim Visscher, parchmenter JoJo Wood, apprentice clog maker and wood

Royal favourite Claudia Bradby launches new collection

Just ahead of Prince Harry's wedding to Megan Markle, jewellery designer Claudia Bradby, who is a personal friend to Britain's hottest young royals has launched a brand new collection which includes a 'mother and baby' pendant designed in collaboration with the HRH Duchess of Cambridge. For Bradby, whose ITN News anchor husband Tom scooped the official royal engagement interview with William and Kate back in 2010, 'Personalise' marks a shift in focus since this is her first customisable collection, aimed principally at gift purchasers. It comprises a series of silver and pearl charms, made from sterling silver and coated in