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Benchpeg Guest Judges for Vanilla Ink's Project C/O/N/N/E/C/T

Vanilla Ink, Scotland’s unique jewellery school, have been keeping jewellers sane in lockdown with a series of weekly projects. Fuelled by their commitment to staying connected and a deep passion for making, Scott and the team at Vanilla Ink have taken their skills online to help keep the jewellery community entertained and engaged. This week, Benchpeg was delighted to judge the design of the week as part of their project C/O/N/N/E/C/T. Project C/O/N/N/E/C/T sits in a trifecta of online offerings, including ‘Big Answers With Scott (BAWS)’, a weekly topic-led Q&A session with Scott himself, and ‘INKapacitated Sessions’, a weekly Facebook

Makers & Tools Project

Makers & Tools Project Old Fire Station, Oxford 17 May - 15 June 2019 The Makers & Tools project provides makers with the space and time to take risks in their practice, to explore new ways of collaborative working and to develop skills that will contribute to the success of their careers in contemporary craft. It provides valuable continuing professional development opportunities for makers in the SW and SE, and makes visible the process of craft to a wider public audience. The project connects six contemporary craft makers in the early stages of their careers, who undertook a non-verbal conversation

Help Alan Craxford fulfil his final project

My name is Janice Hosegood, and I'm fundraising to help Alan Craxford complete his final project. We've known each other for over thirty years, first through work and in later years, we've become great friends. With a career spanning over 50 years, Alan Craxford is an artist, jeweller, silversmith, engraver, and teacher, acknowledged for his precision and mastery of precious metals and gemstones. Alan’s artworks are highly prized and have been exhibited over his career with examples shown within the Victoria & Museum’s permanent collection. In 2003, Alan was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. It is a devastating condition and although

Royal Academy Schools Announce New Project: Fashion Arts Commission

The BFC Fashion Arts Foundation and the Royal Academy Schools are committed to encouraging and nurturing future talent. A new commissioning project will bring together fashion designers and visual artists to collaborate across art forms. The project is called Fashion Art Commissions and will pair graduates from the RA Schools with NEWGEN and NEWGEN MEN designers. The commission will produce artworks that will form part of an auction at Christie’s. The pieces will be on display from the 31st October – 11th November at Christie’s King Street gallery and will then be part of an online auction from 22nd November

Royal Academy Schools Announce New Project: Fashion Art Commissions

The BFC Fashion Arts Foundation and the Royal Academy Schools are committed to encouraging and nurturing future talent. A new commissioning project will bring together fashion designers and visual artists to collaborate across art forms. The project is called Fashion Art Commissions and will pair graduates from the RA Schools with Newgen and Newgen Men designers. The commission will produce artworks that will form part of an auction at Christie’s. The pieces will be on display from the 31st October – 11th November at Christie’s King Street gallery and will then be part of an online auction from 22nd November

New Studio 'The Smiddy' to Launch with a Project that Celebrates Local Crafts People

Vanilla Ink’s is throwing open its doors for its first expansion in beautiful Banff. The brand new, recently renovated The Smiddy: Centre of Excellence for Silversmithing & Jewellery, will open to the public on September 22nd – and for their first project and exhibition, they want to hear from you! The Royal Borough of Banff is richly steeped in silversmithing heritage, with locally made silver fetching great interest and fantastic prices at auctions. Vanilla Ink mean to revive that history, firmly returning local craft to the global silversmithing map. This is where you come in; to help the revive tradition,

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

Jewelley brand STÖÖKI has collaborated with FLAARE for socially focused project

FLAARE and STÖÖKI are proud to share the story of a unique partnership. This brand collab meets student work experience has been a hit over the past 12-weeks resulting in the t-shirt collection you see here! Kicking off with vision-boarding at Thames Side Studios, the young entrepreneurs (students at Haringey Learning Partnership) collaborated with Hackney born fashion brand STÖÖKI to co-design, brand, and print a collection of limited edition FLAARE x STÖÖKI t-shirts. They have modelled in two awesome photo shoots at Thames Side Studios and Alexandra Palace and been interviewed by STÖÖKI’s camera team for social media content, gaining

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

Blooming a Labour of Love: Weston Beamor Proud to be Part of Somme Poppy Pins project

The casting, 3D printing and bespoke manufacturing company Weston Beamor has recently confirmed its involvement in an interesting new project casting Poppy Pins designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme in 1916; some examples of which will be on display on their stand (No D60) at International Jewellery London. The special poppies are being cast by Weston Beamor for the London-based company TMB Art Metal (www.TMBArtMetal.com) as a fund raising initiative for the Royal British Legion. They are sold exclusively online through the ‘Poppy Shop’ on the RBL’s website www.britishlegion.org.uk with the proceeds of all

Student takes inspiration from lillies to win Alba Rose design competition

British Academy of Jewellery student Olivia Thurlwell took the Calla lilly as her inspiration for the design of a new bridal collection to win the BAJ's Final Project Design competition backed by Alba Rose. The talented final year student was praised by judges for her designs, which were part of a project to design, develop and create a unique bridal collection which appealed to Alba Rose's target audience. Every Level 3 DJP features a live final project where the students are asked to work to a professional brief. The main objective of the project was to design pieces that can

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

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

Fiona Rourke presents Reflect, Refract, React at Blinkered

Fiona Rourke presents Reflect, Refract, React at Blinkered Recent Crafts Council Hothouse 2017 participant Fiona Rourke presents her ongoing solo project Reflect, refract, react as part of the alternative jewellery catwalk show Blinkered at Grand Entrance Hall, Brunel Museum during London Fashion Week. About the Project Reflect, refract, react is a project that strikes out from the static norm by subverting the function of mirrors; applying them to the body rather than using them as a way to view the body. Mirrors are culturally synonymous with self-awareness, providing a unique virtual stage in which we play the part of the

Jewellery runs Adagio

Adagio is an artistic project about time writes Ilaria Ruggiero in her exhibition review. As photography teaches us, an image is the pure settling for rhythm, the sense of time descending into vision. This is a delicate project that deals with light and movement through the diverse artistic forms of photography and jewellery. A minimalist and conceptual work that is reflected in the dual aesthetic soul of the image and the jewel: both evanescent yet present, stylized and essential. Letizia Maggio's technical and artistic research evolves into a sophisticated and complex narration, which mixes materials such as cotton, silver and

Bishopsland announces the opening of its new HQ

Bishopsland announces the opening of its exciting new home for professional training and partnership with the National Trust’s Heritage and Rural Skills Centre Bishopsland has successfully completed the first phase of its relocation to Buscot and Coleshill and a new partnership with the National Trust’s Heritage and Rural Skills Centre, marking an exciting milestone in its journey. Bishopsland Educational Trust have disclosed to Benchpeg that they are thrilled to formally announce that their project to relocate and establish a future for silversmithing has been generously supported by the South Square Trust and the De Beers Group. The project is also

‘Wearable Memories: Stones of the Grassland’

‘Wearable Memories: Stones of the Grassland’ Martin Hall Gallery, Loughborough College 12pm-2pm, weekdays only from 26 September - 11 October 2024 PhD researcher Zihan Zhou presents jewellery and research work from her doctoral project within the exhibition ‘Wearable Memories: Stones of the Grassland’. The exhibition will be open in Martin Hall Gallery from 12pm-2pm, weekdays only from 26 September until 11 October. There will be an opening and preview event on Thursday 26 September, 4pm-6pm. This event is open to all and no booking is required. This exhibition is part of Zihan's ongoing practice-based doctoral project, 'Wearable Memories: Contemporary

PGI China Win the China International Business Awards 2022 for Its Culture of Innovation

In 2019, Platinum Guild International (PGI® ® ) initiated Project Reboot, a programme that aims to capture more younger consumers into platinum’s market share in jewellery. The success of this programme led to PGI being awarded the China International Business Awards 2022 for the Non-Profit Organisation category. The China International Business Awards is organised by Asian Business Review to honour notable achievements of outstanding international firms in China, particularly achievements anchored by innovative business strategies that adapt to changing business landscapes. In 2019, Platinum Guild International (PGI®) initiated Project Reboot, a programme that aims to capture more younger consumers

Crafting Business Seminar

Crafting EuropeSeminar - Crafts Council The project partners of the Creative Europe project ‘Crafting Europe’, are delighted to announce our first ‘Crafting Business Seminar’. Crafting Business is a professional practice training programme that was organised and delivered in 2020. This programme aimed to share expertise and knowledge to support the business development of newcomers to the industry in nine European countries including the UK. Join us on the 22nd and 23rd February 2021, 10am-12.50pm (GMT/Ireland/UK/Portugal) to find out more about the Crafting Business programme and to hear from the participants and tutors involved about their experiences. Please follow this

Glenmorangie Annual Lecture: Simone ten Hompel

Glenmorangie Annual Lecture: Simone ten Hompel 7:00pm – 8:15pm, Thursday 10 October 2019 National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh Silversmith Simone ten Hompel discusses her commission from National Museums Scotland and The Glenmorangie Company to create a new piece of contemporary metal artwork inspired by the museum’s early medieval collections. About the Commission As part of the Creating Scotland project, National Museums Scotland and Glenmorangie have commissioned a major new piece of contemporary metalwork for display in the National Museum of Scotland. The current phase of the Glenmorangie Project, Creating Scotland, sees the research focus on the 9th to 12th centuries,

Final day before Wright and Teague close their doors for 9 months

Iconic duo, Wright and Teague, close their doors for nine months tomorrow to embark on their next enigmatic project. Today is the last day customers can make orders via the Wright and Teague eBoutique or browse and purchase from the London store. Iconic duo, Wright and Teague, close their doors for nine months tomorrow to embark on their next enigmatic project. Today is the last day customers can make orders via the Wright and Teague eBoutique or browse and purchase from the London store. It's not too late to snap up a piece before the short hiatus. The pair met

A Ring Is A Ring Is A Ring

BAJ, Alchimia and Hocheschule Trier Students showcase results of year long collaborative project in exhibition during London Design Festival. The exhibition titled "A Ring Is A Ring Is A Ring" is the result of a yearlong project between 3 European jewellery schools. Students from the hosting institution, the British Academy of Jewellery based in London; the Department of Gemstone and Jewellery of the Hochschule Trier located in Idar Oberstein, Germany and Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewellery based in Florence, Italy, will be displaying their work during the London Design Festival. As a focal point, the students took inspiration from the

The V&A Exhibition Road Quarter Opens

The V&A Exhibition Road Quarter has opened to the public creating a beautiful and unique new civic space for London, and a world-class gallery space for the V&A’s internationally acclaimed exhibition programme. The project is designed by Stirling Prize-winning architect Amanda Levete and her practice, AL_A. The launch of the V&A Exhibition Road Quarter marks the beginning of a new era for the Museum, as it prepares to expand its UK and international presence. The project is the Museum’s largest architectural intervention in over 100 years and offers a 21st Century interpretation of the V&A’s founding principles - to

Philomène Hoël: Keep It Longer

Philomène Hoël: Keep It Longer Curated by Valentina Bin and Simina Neagu Philomène Hoël’s Keep It Longer is a site-specific project which will occupy Gallery S O’s two spaces for two weeks with two shows. This will include two screens, two curators and two texts. One title: Keep It Longer. The artist will work across the gallery’s project space, which will host an immersive installation, and select a contemporary jewellery and object display in the front space. Philomène Hoël works with film and performance to activate the cinematic dimension of a space and set up intimate scenarios of crisis.

Jeweller raises funds for Covid-19 Memorial Garden

After learning of the recent campaign in The Glasgow Herald to construct a memorial garden to commemorate those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 in Scotland, Caitlin Hegney was inspired to get involved and fundraise for the project. The jeweller was particularly moved by the proposal for the creation of a memorial garden in Pollock Country Park, having worked in Geilston Garden herself, recognising the profound effect that such an outdoor space can have on an individuals’ wellbeing and mental health. Hegney believes that it is essential to have a dedicated tranquil place that people can go to, where

‘Connecting Values: Exploring Co-Creation Through Making’ Exhibition

‘Connecting Values: Exploring Co-Creation Through Making’ Exhibition 17 May - 4 June 2021 Swiss Cottage Gallery, London In 2019 K2 Academy was invited to participate in Camden Alive Project , a programme of arts and cultural events that celebrates the people of Camden and captures the sights, sounds and spirit of the borough. K2’s founders and directors, Katrin Spranger and Kelvin Birk , were commissioned to develop their own art projects with Camden residents and K2 students based on their stories and chosen theme of ‘value’. This cultural exchange culminated in creating an electroformed fountain and crushed-stone neckpiece which were

The Goldsmiths’ Centre collaborates with London Museum to Showcase Emerging Jewellery Designers

London Museum is showcasing UK handmade jewellery by emerging designer-makers in an exciting collaboration with the Goldsmiths’ Centre. This joint retail project, piloted by the Goldsmiths’ Centre on behalf of the Goldsmiths' Company and Charity, will be available at London Museum Docklands, showcasing pieces that connect to the rich history of London, the River Thames, and stories of trade and migration told in the museum’s galleries. London Museum’s latest showcase features five jewellers and silversmiths whose designs blend history, technology, and culture with sustainable materials and modern techniques. Xinyi Chen, Suzanne Seed, Cara Lowe, Jo Boateng, and Caitlin Murphy present

{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 –

Jewellery Quarter Cemetery Memories Campaign

A chance to share your memories of the historic Jewellery Quarter cemeteries or make new ones at an upcoming event on 25 th April 2020 from 1pm to 3pm in Warstone Lane Cemetery. Key Hill and Warstone Lane cemeteries have been part of people’s lives in the Jewellery Quarter for generations, and lots of people have memories to share. The Jewellery Quarter Cemeteries Project is calling out for people who have a connection to the cemeteries to share their personal recollections which will form part of an exciting event. From residents and people who work or study in the Quarter,

Milano Jewelery Tour 2023

Milano Jewelery Tour is the official partner of the first edition of Contemporania 28-30 September 2023 Royal Palace of Pedralbes, Barcelona 28 to 30 September 2023 Milano Jewellery Tour, a project to enhance the communication of jewelry founded by Eugenia Gadaleta, is the official partner of the first edition of Contemporania High Craftsmanship Barcelona. The event, conceived by Paulo Ribeiro and organized by Le Departément Interiors SL and Consorci de Comerç, Artesania i Moda de Catalunya, will be hosted by the Royal Palace of Pedralbes in Barcelona from 28 to 30 September 2023, and will exhibit the best of high craftsmanship. The event was

NAJ, CMJ and Goldsmiths’ Company syndicate funds key research on jewellery consumers

NAJ’s Consumer Focus steering group will this month launch a survey to understand why people buy - and do not buy - jewellery. The group’s mission is to stimulate demand for the industry, with the end goal of a joined-up industry campaign to inspire more consumers to buy more jewellery, more often. Adam Jacobs, of Jacobs the Jewellers in Reading Chairs the group and said, “We are extremely thankful to both the CMJ and the Goldsmiths’ Company for supporting this important research activity for the good of the industry. Within the group we’ve been calling the project the jewellery census,

Jewellery Is Not Only Jewellery. Finale

Art gallery PUTTI presents the exhibition JEWELLERY IS NOT ONLY JEWELLERY celebrating its 20 year anniversary and simultaneously FINALE writes Ilaria Ruggiero A choral and broad project, in line with the previous conceptual jewellery exhibitions realized during the past years, aimed at expanding the classical understanding of jewellery as well as challenging the boundaries of creativity within the field of jewellery, from different point of view: aesthetically, intellectually and also physically - demonstrating that the object we call jewellery does not have a perceptual frame. 15 artists participates in the exhibition, they are contemporary jewellery thinkers and creators from

Slovenian Jewellery Week 2023

Slovenian Jewellery Week 2023 SLOVENSKI TEDEN NAKITA 2023 11— 19 May 2023 The SIJW project is primarily intended to present contemporary jewelry design to the public. They will be able to learn more about the products and designers who create contemporary jewelry throughout Slovenia. Guests from abroad will also join them. This is currently the only event in our country that is specifically aimed at promoting contemporary jewelry design and its creators. Contemporary jewelry is a self-reflexive practice, which means that we creators are engaged in thinking about ourselves and the conditions in which we carry out this practice. Contemporary

BAFTA Winner Joanna Scanlan wears Ute Decker Jewellery at pre-show event

BAFTA Winner for Best Actress Joanna Scanlan wore Ute Decker to a high profile pre-show BAFTA party for nominees. Joanna Scanlan won a BAFTA for Leading Actress for her film After Love with nominees that included Lady Gaga and Alana Haim. The opportinity was brought about by industry vetran Karin Paynter. "I had previously worked with Joanna through our ERA5050 female writers mentoring project, TellHerVision during the pandemic and we discussed her wearing some of our makers work for the pre launch party and this was the result." said Karin. After brain storming with Harriet Scott of the Goldsmiths' Company

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

Dimexon Transitions To Solar Power At Coimbatore Factory

Diamond manufacturer Dimexon has transitioned to solar power at its manufacturing site in Coimbatore, southern India, reducing its reliance on the national grid by 75%. This will equate to an annual saving of ~1,400 tCO2e, which is equivalent of taking 333 cars off the road for a year. The solar power project is part of Dimexon’s wider ESG commitments, which include its pledge to be carbon neutral by 2030. The Coimbatore site is responsible for 85% of the global company’s total carbon emissions. To further reduce its emissions at Coimbatore, Dimexon swapped out diesel vehicles for electric vehicles in 2023.

Design for Jewellery Makers: Inspiration, development and creation

Design for Jewellery Makers: Inspiration, development and creation by Louise Seijen ten Hoorn A clear, comprehensive and practical 'how-to' guide and resource for all aspects of designing jewellery. This book contains expert guidance on design and the design process, and includes step-by-step project briefs and themes for readers to use as a basis for developing their own ideas. It is suitable for all intermediate and professional jewellery makers, as well as those attending jewellery-making courses and who have taken up jewellery making as a hobby. The book explores the design process in depth, from fundamentals of jewellery design such as

Design for Jewellery Makers: Inspiration, development and creation

Benchpeg enjoys a lockdown chat with Maria Spanou

Continuing our lockdown need for conversation, we chat to long time friend and industry colleague Maria Spanou. Maria is a jewellery industry professional who is ex Central St Martins trained, has a history in finance, project management, jewellery communications, the jewellery retail space and is also a jewellery designer who works to commission. She is an excellent networker and all round good egg. We chat about lockdown, current work coping strategies and making plans for the future… [youtube url=http://youtu.be/x8xt-sRH_oY] Author: Published:

20 Years in the Making

20 Years in the Making 27 April - 22 June 2024 Part of Craft Festival’s 20-year celebration Amazingly, Craft Festival has been going for 20 years. What started as a small project with 2000 visitors in Bovey Tracey has grown into the fantastic, diverse and vibrant event it now is, shaping the town where it started into the ‘Capital of Craft’, spreading the word to Cheltenham, Cardiff and online, and perhaps even transforming our views of making to appreciate the handmade that little bit more. In recognition of this, Sarah James, Director of Craft Festival and Find a Maker, was

Benchpeg's Bookshelf Book List

We all enjoy a good read. Our bookshelf has been hand-picked. Design for Jewellery Makers: Inspiration, development and creation A clear, comprehensive and practical 'how-to' guide and resource for all aspects of designing jewellery. This book contains expert guidance on design and the design process, and includes step-by-step project briefs and themes for readers to use as a basis for developing their own ideas. It is suitable for all intermediate and professional jewellery makers, as well as those attending jewellery-making courses and who have taken up jewellery making as a hobby. The book explores the design process in depth, from

Luz Arias - Nuanced transparency

Luz Arias has been dedicating herself to jewellery since 1999 and during her career she also becomes curator of the "Puro Diseño" fair, thus acquiring a formal sensibility towards both project and creativity writes Ilaria Ruggiero She meets the glass almost by chance becoming her perfect alter ego, as often happens to those who are attracted to and approach this material, so concrete but so elusive. From the moment she starts working with glass, she improves technique and aesthetics in a personal and unique way. A bit in general, and especially in her work, Luz does not aim to dominate

Stephen Webster promotes end of single use plastic with the Last Straw

Jeweller to the stars Stephen Webster, has partnered with the Plastic Oceans Foundation to highlight the need to end the use of single use plastics, like straws, in his latest environmental campaign. In response the world’s plastic pollution problem, whereby the UK alone uses mind-boggling 8.5 billion straws every year, which are among the top 10 items found in beach clean-ups and take over 200 years to break down, Webster has launched his latest project 'The Last Straw'. Handcrafted in sterling silver, a perfect material known for its anti-bacterial qualities, 'The Last Straw' will be personalised with the owner’s name

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

Fire and Facets

Image credit- Left: Ami Pepper, Middle: Max Danger, Right: Shimell and Madden. Gill Wing Gallery presents Fire and Facets, a pioneering collaboration of craftsmanship across the continents. The project has created new jewellery by leading contemporary British designers featuring opals from Australia’s famous Lightning Ridge. The exhibition takes place in Gill Wing’s beautiful gallery in Islington, the leading London destination for contemporary jewellery. Fire and Facets is guest-curated by renowned New York jewellery blogger A Thousand Facets and will reveal limited edition opal inspired fragrances specially composed by award winning perfumer Sarah McCartney, made in London at her indie perfume

Jewellery Surgery at K2 Academy of Contemporary Jewellery

Jewellery Surgery at K2 Academy of Contemporary Jewellery Let us help you solve your technical and design problems 1 or 2 Day Course - Saturdays 10 and/or 17 Mar 2018 What will be taught? As a maker we all face challenges from time to time: We get stuck with our technical skills, progress or design development and wish we had someone to talk to and discuss it with! On this course you will have the possibility to get advise on the practical and design problems you come across when making jewellery. It will focus on your specific project, your work in

Could 2018 mark new crypto era for UK jewellers?

Attempts to persuade UK gold dealers and jewellers to embrace the cryptocurrency Dash in their business plans in 2018 could enjoy a surge of activity following the award of 'wallets' of digital cash to 10 jewellers around the country. As part of a project to promote wider use of digital currency among retailers, a market survey, conducted in conjunction with the National Association of Jewellers last November, asked 2200 NAJ about their plans for the future use of Dash, an alternative to Bitcoin. A total of 201 companies responded, including some of the largest UK firms in the sector, many of them

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

'Pussy pendant' makes waves for young designer Lukas Grewenig

Tip for all young designers. If you want massive mainstream media attention, design a piece that resembles a part of the women's anatomy and get a high profile jeweller to promote it on Facebook and Twitter. Lukas Grewenig, a London based designer who studied at the Royal College of Art came up with his pendant design as part of the Gilded Youth Project run for talented youths by high end jeweller Theo Fennel and Central St Martins. It is made of silver and gold with a purple gem set in the middle, and is designed to portray the way a

IJL to showcase their Bright Young Gems

International Jewellery London has announced the four winning designers nominated as the Bright Young Gems for 2018 – Katharina Kraus, Zeemou Zeng, Daisy Grice and Yayun Fang – at a special celebratory preview in London, IJL Curated 2018. Now in its fourteenth year, this IJL project provides the winners, all young talented designers chosen as ‘the stars of the future’, with the unique opportunity to showcase their work at this premier industry jewellery show, as well as benefit from dedicated mentoring from jewellery experts before the event to ensure that they maximise the experience. International Jewellery London has announced the

Manon van Kouswijk - Sources & Resources at K2 Academy of Contemporary Jewellery, London

Manon van Kouswijk - Sources & Resources at K Academy of Contemporary Jewellery, London 17 - 20 July 2019 A 4 Day Masterclass led by Manon van Kouswijk at K Academy Of Contemporary Jewellery, London Masterclass - Sources & Resources The project of contemporary jewellery started out as an idealistic one that aimed to change our thinking about what jewellery was and what it could be. In our increasingly image-driven era of late capitalism how do you articulate and shape your position within contemporary jewellery practice? What is it that draws you to work with this particular subject matter and

Initiation 2018

Initiation 2018 // Kallichoron Munich Jewellery Week 2018 A Jewellery, Narrative & Performance show to reflect the night of the sacred orgies. The project INITIATION 2018 // KALLICHORON focuses on „ Body – Ritual - Narrativ e“ as a means to bridge jewellery with the sacred context of its origins and to find meaning in its future development. For 2.000 years Eleusina, a farmers' community close to Athens, was the spiritual capital of the Greek-Roman world. The cult of Demeter and Persephone - Mother and Daughter – also know as "orgies" (work) celebrated the establishment of human settlements and agriculture,

Gemfields Partner with National Geographic to Capture the Heart and Soul of Vital Projects in Africa

Gemfields, a world-leading supplier of responsibly sourced gemstones, has partnered with National Geographic to show the behind-the-scenes of Gemfields supported projects in Africa. See the inner workings of Gemfields supported projects through the lens of National Geographic photogrpaher and film-maker, Shannon Wild. Shannon is at the heart of each film and viewers are given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the landscape, animals and people she encounters during the filming of the short-films. The first film, shot in Zambia's Kafue National Park, focuses on the Zambian Carnivore Programme (ZCP). The project is dedicated to the study and preservation on large carnivores. The [youtube

Eileen Gatt Transforms Former Black Isle Post Office Into Ethical Jewellery Centre

The small village of Munlochy, on the Black Isle, is set to be at the forefront of Scotland’s drive to become a world leader in ethical jewellery making and silversmithing. Eileen Gatt has recently given up her Edinburgh studio in order to transform the former post office, a few miles from Inverness, into a centre for ethical making and design. It’ll be a lengthy task, but thanks to a £4,000 bursary from the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of Edinburgh, plus £11,000 from Creative Scotland and £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), it’s a project she thinks has a bright future.

The Goldsmiths’ Company becomes a Founding Partner of The Museum of London

The Museum of London and the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths (one of the major City Livery Companies) today announced that the Goldsmiths' Company is to become a Founding Partner of the new Museum of London, due to open in West Smithfield in 2022. The Goldsmiths' Company and its affiliated Charity have pledged £10 million to the Museum project.  This landmark donation goes towards the Museum’s plans to create a spectacular new home for the history of London and its people in the beautiful but disused market buildings at West Smithfield. This follows the news earlier this year that the City

Jewellery Certificate Level 2 at Morley Collage

Jewellery Certificate Level 2- VJE070A Morley College 13 Sep 2017 - 4 Jul 2018 This year long course is 3 hours a week from September and is an intermediate course aimed at people wanting to further their skills, start a business, work in the jewellery industry or progress onto further education. The course covers press-forming, etching, stone setting, fashion jewellery, a competition project with the V&A museum, using found objects in jewellery and enamelling. At the end of the course there is a show which the students organise, run and participate in. It also covers running a small business, setting

Benchpeg Award Winner: Design for Creativity, Innovation or Disruption

Benchpeg Awards 2016 Winner: Shuming Chen Monitoring in the Dark Collection This category invited entries which displayed design and or creativity in a disruptive manner to create a piece which is completely unique. Judges considered all the entries and favoured those which displayed thinking outside of the box – those entries which displayed the most unconventional jewellery design. In their selection the judges really wanted to question the very nature of the meaning of jewellery and how it could project the best representation of future British jewellery design. Shuming’s methodology of working attempts to combine daily life with the science technology

GIA Develops Free Gem Guide for Artisanal Miners

The GIA (Gemological Institute of America), working with nonprofit international development organization Pact, have recently launched a pilot study to test a new rough gem guide. The guide was developed specifically to offer basic gemological and market knowledge for artisanal miners in gem-producing regions. The illustrated booklet, available in English and Tanzanian Swahili, was distributed to approximately 45 women miners in the Tanga region of Tanzania. “This project is at the very core of GIA’s mission,” said GIA President and CEO Susan Jacques. “We are moving practical gemstone education as far up the supply chain as possible, to people who

British Fashion Council & Google Arts Celebrate The Creativity of British Fashion

A collaboration between the British Fashion Council and Google will bring to life the creativity, heritage and craftsmanship of British fashion. A new digital educational platform featuring content and stories from top British designers and fashion insiders has been created for anyone around the world to enjoy, for free. The project will support the BFC’s Education Foundation and aims to attract future talent into the industry. The platform g.co/britishfashion will provide a single destination to educate and inspire future generations of young fashion creatives, designers and students. To celebrate its rich history and create new experiences around British fashion, the

Ilaria Ruggiero

Meet Benchpeg's Contributing Writer Ilaria. As an authority of contemporary and art jewellery, her features aim to cover the current European contemorary jewellery movement. Ilaria Ruggiero Contributing Writer Ilaria Ruggiero is a cultural manager and curator working in the field of contemporary art. She is the founder of Adornment - Curating Contemporary Art Jewelry , a curatorial integrated project dedicated to contemporary art jewelry. It aims to develop the knowledge and consciousness of contemporary jewelry as artistic discipline and as ground search for technique, aesthetics, and philosophy. www.adornment-jewelry.com Meet the rest of the team here . If you'd like

“We wear culture”: Google Arts Collaborates With The V&A

From the fusion of fashion with surrealist art to Vivienne Westwood’s anarchic designs, the V&A collaborates with Google to unlock the world of fashion with a new virtual experience, "We wear culture". The Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) joins over 180 renowned cultural institutions around the world from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to the Palace of Versailles to create the largest ever virtual exhibition of style. The “We wear culture” project by Google Arts & Culture uses state-of-the-art technology to allow viewers to explore 3,000 years of world fashion and discover the stories behind the clothes we wear today.

ENSEMB7E Presents: ‘Hidden Layers’

‘Hidden Layers’ - An exhibition staged by MA by Project Artists Jewellery | Ceramics | Sculpture | Painting | Installation Hidden Layers serves as a metaphor for the outcomes encountered on the path of the search . The ‘deep learning’ uncovers hither-to protected or concealed layers within an individual’s practice. Diverse research areas and fine art practices combine to form this multi-disciplinary group – building an individually stronger practice. Through our research, lost, yet to be discovered, or the newly imagined are encountered. Installations and memory objects subvert conventional notions of home as a safe haven | Evocative landscapes allude

Joanne Haywood: A woman’s work is never done

21 Jewellery works made for 15 trailblazing women. This frieze of jewellery represents the women who have been important to mixed media jeweller Joanne Haywood from childhood to present day and were created over three year period. The project was prompted by an ACJ exhibition in 2014, where Haywood made a neckpiece in honour of Patti Smith, in response to the theme of ICONS. She accumulated a long list of trailblazing women and decided to make further works in honour of each of them and their work. The frieze of jewellery was exhibited for the first time during Made Canary

City Fringe Partnership

The City Fringe Partnership was a ground-breaking public and private sector alliance between the London Development Agency, the London boroughs and private business partners which ran from 1996 - 2009. Through their European Development-funded project, the Jewellery Sector Investment Plan (JSIP), they created £3 million worth of jewellery support programmes, improving collaborative and training opportunities in the industry. The projects ran until 2009, and they continue to inspire long-term regenerative partnerships today. Projects like Future in the Making supported 340 businesses to increase their sales and contacts, and beginner’s jewellery and awareness courses were run for 125 socially and economically

British Fashion Council Launches British High-End Manufacturers Database

Caroline Rush CBE, CEO of the British Fashion Council and Professor Christopher Moore, Director of the British School of Fashion, Glasgow Caledonian University have launched the British Fashion Council’s new British High-End Manufacturers Database. The national database of UK-based manufacturers aims to make it easier for designers to form supply chain relationships and reach production units. The British High-End Manufacturers Database is the first milestone of 2017 for the BFC’s Positive Fashion initiative. In March 2015 the BFC and a working group comprising of M&S, UKFT, Creative Skillset, The Alliance Project and Centre for Fashion Enterprise worked alongside independent specialists

UK £1M CNC Machine Tool ‘Servitisation’ Rolled Out

Innovate UK-funded scheme will see businesses purchasing the capacity to manufacture products whilst the ‘ servitisation provider’ retains responsibility for the machinery and its smooth running with the scheme particularly focused towards SMEs. THE University of Huddersfield has teamed up with top engineering companies and research institutes for a £1 million pound project that aims to bring about massive improvements in competitiveness and efficiency for UK manufacturers. The goal is to extend the principle of “ servitisation ” to firms that use CNC machinery for precision-engineered products.  This means that a manufacturer does not – in the conventional way –

ATELIER 51

For the past few months Atelier 51 has been working on an exciting new project - a permanent shop based in their HQ and studio in the London Road area of Brighton just down from Brighton Station. They've refitted their tiny shop and have assembled a great variety of makers to show their work. We must say it is looking great! They will be launching an online shop soon featuring unique and beautiful work, handmade in Britain, delivered to you at home. For more information, register your email here . Atelier 51 Studio Shop will be open 11am-5pm Tuesday to

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

Winchester Creative Enterprise Centre Moves Forward

The planning applications have now been submitted for a new Creative Enterprise Centre project in Winchester. The centre proposed, by Winchester City Council, will see the refurbishment of the ‘Goods Shed’ on Barfield Close to house a variety of visual artists and other, office-based creative businesses such as design and architecture practices. A new, warehouse-style building is also being considered as part of the proposal to accommodate performing arts organisations needing to rehearse, create new work or run workshops. The ambition is to provide advice and support to those organisations and individuals taking space in the Creative Enterprise Centre to

Syanyonja Artisan Miners' Alliance Achieves First African Fairtrade Certified Mine Status

Syanyonja Artisan Miners' Alliance (SAMA) has become the first artisanal small scale mining co-operative in Africa to become Fairtrade certified, bringing much needed hope to impoverished communities who risk their lives to mine the rich gold seam that runs around Lake Victoria. SAMA is one of nine previously informal groups from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania which has benefitted from a pilot project launched by Fairtrade in 2013. This innovative program aims to extend the benefits of Fairtrade gold to artisanal miners across East Africa. In that short time, SAMA has undergone training in business and entrepreneurship, as well as safe

Celebrating Eighty: Art In The Hand

This March the exhibition Celebrating Eighty: Art in the Hand at the Goldsmiths’ Centre unites eighty contemporary art medals by students from more than a dozen UK art colleges with work by renowned Iranian sculptor, jeweller, writer and designer Parviz Tanavoli and his former students in celebration of his 80th Birthday. All exhibitors have been invited to participate in the British Art Medal Society’s 24th Student Medal Project. A surprising and challenging medium for artists and viewers alike, the modern art medal has its roots in the Renaissance tradition of making medals as hand-sized works of art. Each year over

Rebecca Hannon: Contemporary Camouflage

Contemporary Camouflage is Rebecca Hannon’s latest project, one she has developed during two months residency at Studio Rian de Jong, in Amsterdam. Interested in the concepts of concealing and revealing, which stem from the notion of camoiuflage, the artist presents a series of brooches, chignon covers, earrings and necklaces, the result of a paradoxical exploration in the field of contemporary jewellery. Camouflage means “to blend into”, to conceal oneself in one’s surroundings so as to protect oneself, to go unnoticed, or to become a predator in order to survive. Coloration is the principal form camouflage takes in nature. Adapted by

Scott Armstrong wins CSM Chaumet Design Competition

BA Jewellery Design student Scott Armstrong was announced as the winner of the Central Saint Martins BA and MA Jewellery Design student competition to design a new headpiece for the world renowned jewellery house  Chaumet . Several weeks ago Scott Armstrong, a third year BA Jewellery Design student, travelled to Beijing’s Forbidden City with Chaumet to launch his Vertiges tiara following on from a design project. The design is the result of the challenge Chaumet set for students of BA Jewellery Design and MA Design (Jewellery) to reinvent the tiara for the 21 st   century. “It’s still the ultimate object,”

Jeremy France Jewellers voted as Winchester's ‘Favourite Independent 2016'

Jeremy France Jewellers are on a winning streak, scooping yet another award for ‘Winchester’s Favourite Independent 2016’. Having recently won the award for ‘Independent Business of the Year 2016’ at the Winchester Business awards, the team were keen to maintain their title as Winchester’s favourite, especially as the award was dependent on votes made by the general public. Annually, July marks the month of Winchester’s ‘Festival of Independents’, which is organised by the Winchester Business Improvement District (BID) as part of their ongoing project to support and celebrate all things independent in the city. Throughout the month, shoppers cast their

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

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Galleries Re-Open

The V&A’s spectacular Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Galleries reopened to the public last week in preperation for the V&A’s Exhibition Road building project. The newly updated suite of four galleries display highlights from one of the most important collections of decorative art ever given to the nation, alongside recent acquisitions. Over 500 precious objects amassed by 2oth-century collectors Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert, including European silver and gold plate, delicate gold boxes, Italian mosaics and enamel portrait miniatures, are now back on public display in newly re-curated galleries. The objects dating from the 15th to the 20th centuries were carefully

Southampton Students Get Fashion Fantastic with Plastic

An exciting project with DOW, one of the world leaders in the plastic market, will see a selection of Southampton Solent University students get the chance to showcase their work at a leading event in Dusseldorf this October. Under the theme ‘FaceOfInnovation’, which will focus on showcasing trends and innovation in the plastic industry; a number of students have been challenged to think outside of the box and create stylish, wearable fashion garments by reusing plastic materials. Southampton Solent University spoke with Charlotte and Lily, both now in their final academic year, studying Make-up and Hair and Design, to hear

‘Flowers from the Frontline’ Series

‘Flowers from the Frontline’ Series Archivist Exhibit, Garden Museum, London 12th November - 22nd December 2022 The Ukrainian war flower series that finds beauty and growth in a time of destruction. British jewellery designer Phoebe Walsh has created a series of 5 miniature flower pressing books in recycled Sterling Silver, each containing a single war flower from the new frontlines in Kyiv. The project began in March when a brave Kyivan artist Olga Morozova agreed to go searching for flowers as her city fell ablaze. Inspired by the Garden Museum’s collection of Wildflower pressings made by Jane Lindsay in 1956, from London’s WWII

Elements Festival of Jewellery, Silver & Gold 2023

Elements Festival of Jewellery, Silver & Gold 27-29 October 2023 Edinburgh Elements returns to Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh for its ninth year in 2023, bringing together the UK's finest Jewellers and Silversmiths. From functional and sculptural silver to colourful, one-of-a-kind jewellery, Elements celebrates the vast range of expert craftsmanship and innovative design of makers from across the UK. Elements is a partnership project between Lyon & Turnbull Auctioneers and The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust. Exhibitors elementsfestival.co.uk/exhibitors-2023 Dates Elements Festival of Jewellery, Silver and Gold 2023 is open to the public Friday 27 October, 11am-5pm Saturday 28 October, 11am-5pm Sunday 29

Innovative Training For Small Scale Jewellery Manufacturing

The Bespoke Jewellery Training Company has announced its latest training course innovation for jewellery designer makers and jewellery graduates . Dawn Meaden Johnson’s company had created a link from the handmade to small-scale manufacturing by providing a live mentored project made up of series of mini bespoke consultancy sessions provided by collaboration with jewellery industry specialists based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Dawn said of the new approach to specialist jewellery professional development, “Taking the leap into small scale manufacturing can be a daunting prospect for jewellery Designer Makers however this new course offers mentored guidance throughout the whole process from design to

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

V&A to Showcase Balenciaga: Shaping Fashion

V&A collaborates with artist Nick Veasey to build first ever mobile x-ray art studio ahead of landmark exhibition on designer Cristóbal Balenciaga. Ahead of the first ever UK exhibition on the fashion designer Cristóbal Balenciaga, opening on 27 May, the V&A teamed up with x-ray artist Nick Veasey to create the world's first mobile x-ray art studio. In the studio, Veasey captured a series of beautifully crafted life-sized x-ray images revealing new and surprising details about the work of one of the 20th century's most revered couturiers. The x-ray project is one of several forensic techniques that the Museum has

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

The Jewellers Toolkit

Designing jewellery and setting off on a major project or piece can be an intimidating prospect, especially when looking at using outworkers for the first time. Our Jeweller’s Toolkit has been produced to help you better understand your jewellery manufacturing needs, and it’s free to use. How to use the Jewellers Toolkit The Jeweller's Toolkit is a digital booklet, free to download. Produced by Benchpeg, the Toolkit can be downloaded as a compelte booklet, but we've also broken each handy chapter out into a fact sheet for individual use and reference. Download your full copy here , or the relevant