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New enamelled jewellery by Sally Lees featured in the British Society of Enamellers showcase this Autumn

Sally Lees has recently joined the British Society of Enamellers and has been selected to have her new work featured in their Autumn showcase this year at Galeri Caernarfon in Wales. Sally Lees is an experienced jeweller and has worked from her studio at Cockpit Arts in London for the past twenty three years. In her career as a jewellery she has worked mainly with aluminium and silver and projects include creating a collection for the Houses of Parliament to celebrate women’s suffrage and making plaques for Camden Council Business Awards. She has been featured in many publications and magazines

Frankie Bridge Featured in Thomas Sabo Spring Shoot

Thomas Sabo , the global premium lifestyle accessory brand, is delighted to release their new Spring Summer 2017 imagery featuring UK and Ireland ambassador, Frankie Bridge. Thomas Sabo   is releasing five new images featuring two distinct looks; which continue to be inspired by the universal ‘Together’ message that has become a hallmark of the Thomas Sabo brand.   The new images display an eye-catching and fashion-forward selection of the new Spring Summer 2017 range, which includes elements of the new Africa collection.   Frankie Bridge said of the shoot,  “ Summer  is nearly here, so I need to update my

News Edit: 29th November 2020

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Career Q&A: Sustainable British-Lebanese jewellery designer, Alexandra Hakim Fashion United: Known for her innovative craftsmanship and dedication to sustainability, British-Lebanese jewellery designer Alexandra Hakim's creations have been featured in Vogue Italia and worn by Rihanna. Recently, FashionUnited interviewed Hakim via email on what inspired her to work with metal and her label’s zero-waste approach. https://fashionunited.uk Jewellery brands urged to do more to fight gold, diamond mining abuses Reuters: As jewellery sales get a pre-Christmas boost, consumers were warned on Tuesday that major brands are still not doing enough

Donald Friedlich: The Glass Alchemist

Donald Friedlich can be called a glass alchemist. Fascinated by its chemical, material and aesthetic properties, he has dedicated the last twenty years of his artistic research to the discovery and exploration of this material, so elusive and challenging writes Ilaria Ruggiero. Among the many achievements, in 2003 he was the first jeweller to be an Artist in Residence at The Studio of the Corning Museum of Glass. In 2004 Friedlich was a featured speaker at an international jewellery conference in Melbourne, Australia and an Artist in Residence in both the Glass and Goldsmithing Programs of Canberra School of Art at

Enamoured, The British Society of Enamellers

Enamoured: An exhibition celebrating the work of leading and upcoming enamellers organised by The British Society of Enamellers. About the exhibition: The broad spectrum of luminous work in enamel by some of the country’s leading and upcoming enamellers is showcased in a fascinating and colourful exhibition organised by the British Society of Enamellers (BSoE).  Exhibiting makers: In displaying the very best of contemporary enamelling, the exhibition celebrates this complex and ancient art form in all its multiple guises showing 48 members of the British Society of Enamellers.  The majority of the works featured in the exhibition are by members of the

Pegs

We’ve been ‘supporting the work of the jeweller’ for over a fifteen years now. We love a benchpeg too, which is why we created the 'benchpeg selfie.' We absolutely love how each peg represents the individuality of the craftsperson who works upon it.  If you'd like to see your benchpeg featured here upload your pic to Instagram using #benchpegselfie. We will pick the best images every week and feature them on the website and newsletter. Please add a description of what it is you are working on.                           

News Edit: 10 February 2024

A round up of this week's national and international jewellery news... A new shop selling lab grown jeweller is opening at Mailbox Birmingham - here’s when Birmingham World: Birmingham’s Mailbox is set to welcome a new shop with a focus on some beautiful sustainable jewellery. www.birminghamworld.uk Miley Cyrus Shines in De Beers at the 2024 Grammy Awards Macau Business: De Beers Jewellers natural & ethically sourced diamond jewelry shined on Grammy winner Miley Cyrus at the 66th annual Grammy awards held at the Crypto . com Arena in Los Angeles. www.macaubusiness.com Solitario - World's First Lab-Grown Jewellery Brand Featured on

Exceptional Enamelling Equipment Bundle

Exceptional Enamelling Equipment Bundle Pristine Condition! Package of high-quality tools and equipment, valued at over £1300.  This is a unique opportunity for artists and crafters to acquire professional-grade materials at an unbeatable price of £900. **Featured Item: Enameling Kiln** Brand: Paragon Sentry 2.0 Condition: Like new, used only once for testing purposes. Features: digital programming interface for precise temperature control. The comprehensive tool set includes fine brushes and spatulas for detailed work and a variety of mesh sizes for stencils and patterns. an assortment of enamel colors, including rare hues like royal blue and ruby. durable ceramic slabs for a

Loewe Foundation Craft Prize

Call For Entries 2022 : Loewe Foundation Craft Prize The Loewe Foundation has opened the call for entries to the fifth edition of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize, an international award celebrating excellence in craftsmanship. The Loewe Foundation seeks to recognise uniquely talented artisans whose artistic vision, technical skill and determination to innovate will set new standards for the future of craft. The winning works will be featured in an exhibition and accompanying catalogue in Seoul in Spring 2022. Applications are accepted from 20 July 2021 to 25 October 2021. craftprize.loewe.com

Hugo Madureira’s Calypso Ring

Hugo Madureira’s Calypso Ring, featured on the September issues of Vogue’s cover, is made of 18K white gold, reconstructed coral, snowflake obsidian and diamonds. Part of the Kastellorizo Collection, it draws inspiration from Ancient Greek mythology -  Calypso - the goddess-nymph of the mythical island of Ogygia, promised Odysseus eternal youth and immortality in return of love. Hugo was born in Porto in 1982. He studied product design, jewellery making and visual arts in Portugal and Finland. He moved to London in 2012 where he honed his skills in the jewellery sector, creating pieces for European jewellery brands. The launch

HCA's Red List of Endangered Crafts Grows with 37 New Additions

For the 2019 edition of the Heritage Craft Association's Red List of Endangered Crafts, 212 crafts were assessed to identify those which are at greatest risk of disappearing. Of the 212 crafts featured in the research, four have been classified as extinct, 36 as critically endangered, 70 as endangered and 102 as currently viable.  Sixteen new crafts have been added to the ‘critically endangered’ category of the Red List, meaning that they are at serious risk of dying out in the next generation, including withy crab pot making, millwrighting and commercial handmade paper making. They join 20 other critically endangered

Dancing with Danger

Donald Duck and Tintin might struggle to compete with nature or music as mainstream sources of artistic inspiration but for Max Danger,  comic strip characters have sparked a stream of ideas and helped shape a notable career. Comics were everywhere when Danger was growing up at home in Copenhagen, Denmark because his father worked as an illustrator. Danger followed the comic strips avidly rather than read books though he did make an exception for books about science, especially if they featured retro robots from the 1950s. Years later, those two influences continue to loom large in his work with illustrations forming

Dancing with Danger

Donald Duck and Tintin might struggle to compete with nature or music as mainstream sources of artistic inspiration but for Max Danger,  comic strip characters have sparked a stream of ideas and helped shape a notable career. Comics were everywhere when Danger was growing up at home in Copenhagen, Denmark because his father worked as an illustrator. Danger followed the comic strips avidly rather than read books though he did make an exception for books about science, especially if they featured retro robots from the 1950s. Years later, those two influences continue to loom large in his work with illustrations forming

UK Pavilion - Hong Kong International Jewellery Show

Call for Applications: UK Pavilion Hong Kong International Jewellery Show British Jewellery & Giftware International in conjunction with the National Association of Jewellers will once again be organising a group pavilion at the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show in March 2018, with support from the Department for International Trade.  In 2017 this major international trade show featured approximately 2,580 exhibitors from 39 countries and regions presenting their products to some 52,000 visitors. Stand Size For 2018 the UK pavilion retains its enviable front of hall location in Hall 5G.   Standard booth sizes are 9sqm.     Show Dates 1-5

Ambitious designer Ruth Mary releases four collections for SS19

Young designer Ruth Mary has been making waves in the jewellery industry of late. Just this year, she was chosen as one of six international jewellery London Kickstarter winners, featured in the Guardian as one of its ‘Top 100 Businesses’ and shortlisted for Professional Jeweller’s ‘’Young Jewellery Designer of the Year’’.  Ruth’s passion was ignited at an antique fair, where her mother (a keen lace maker herself), pointed out   a curious object with a crochet hook called a tatting shuttle and suggested Ruth buy it. Ruth perfected her lace making, and then taught herself to silversmith in order to realise

Goldsmiths' Fair shows at international craft event Collect

The Goldsmiths’ Company took their flagship event, the Goldsmiths’ Fair, to the international craft event hosted by the Crafts Council, Collect, which enjoyed an international representation of craft galleries, boutiques and high end craft organisations, opening up craft to new audiences .Collect marketed as ‘The International Art Fair for Contemporary Objects’ was held at Saatchi Gallery in exclusive Chelsea, London over the last few days. The Goldsmiths’ Company’s flagship event, under the control of Director David Mills, brouth the Fai to the event for the first time, and featured a selection of makers from the 2017 show, which included Emmeline

Catherine Hills: Gill Wing Jewellery Q & A

Gill Wing Jewellery is celebrating its twenty year anniversary with their original featured jewellery artist, then fresh RCA graduate Catherine Hills,  by collaborating with and allowing her to 'take over' their gallery in the month of May. Here the gallery interviews the jeweller... How did you become a jeweller? CH:  While I was on my challenging foundation year at Maidstone, I discovered my talent lay in 3D work. My initial desire to be a scientific or book illustrator was replaced with thoughts of being a jewellery designer. I was encouraged by my family to find an artistic career that might have a greater

Contemporary British Silversmiths shine at Bonhams Decorative Art Sale

Stunning and pioneering works in silver specially commissioned for the recent Victoria and Albert Museum exhibition, Silver Speaks: ‘From Idea to Object’ were offered at Bonhams Decorative Art and Design Sale in London on 27 September. The exhibition, curated by design critic Corinne Julius, was organised by Contemporary British Silversmiths to mark its 20th anniversary and showcased the very best of British silver design and craft. The sale marked the first collection of contemporary silver to come to auction straight from a significant museum display, and featured number of pieces including: Animus , a sculptured centrepiece by Kevin Grey. In

Tracey Emin CBE RA Designs LFWM Fifth Anniversary Logo

To mark this milestone iconic British artist Tracey Emin CBE RA, member of the BFC’s Menswear Committee, has lent her signature handwriting to the LFWM logo. The logo will be featured in a custom neon installation in the event’s central hub at The Store Studios, 180 Strand. The fifth anniversary edition of LFWM will celebrate London’s reputation as the home of menswear, showcasing Savile Row tailoring and heritage brands through to the most exciting emerging talent in the menswear market, as well as a strong roster of British and international designer and contemporary businesses. Since the first season of standalone

Cockpit Arts Open Studios 2017 - Deptford

Cockpit Arts Summer Open Studios  Meet 170 makers at two centres in central and south London. Visitors can see behind the scenes in the studios and buy work direct from Cockpit Arts’ master craftspeople and artist-makers, past and present. Jewellers, glass makers, weavers, ceramicists… and a host of other crafts Featured showcase curated by renowned leather designer Bill Amberg Delicious food by Hand Made Food café Crafts magazine pop-up stall Demonstrations and talks from makers including Dovile Bertulyte, Julie Kouamo, and Lucy McGrath Yorkshire born singer Eleanor Rastall will perform summer time jazz tunes during the Friday evenings of both

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

MAD's The Store Launches Fine Jewellery Collection

The Store at the Museum of Arts and Design, New York, will premiere its new collection of contemporary fine  jewellery  in May. Entitled “ Redefining Fine  Jewelry ,” the curated selection features works made by hand and crafted by a global cohort of artists, whose cutting-edge  jewellery  reflects the ethos of the Museum of Arts and Design’s or MAD's mission to champion work at the intersection of arts, craft, and design. Each of the pieces featured offers a dynamic contemporary alternative to the traditional heirloom, responsive to our changing lifestyles while remaining timeless in the face of the shifting aesthetics

Christmas Open Studios 2016, Cockpit Arts - Holborn

Join Cockpit Arts in their 30th Anniversary year and meet 170 makers over two centres in central and south London. Visitors can see behind the scenes in the studios and buy work direct from Cockpit Arts’ master craftspeople and artist-makers, past and present. Ceramicists, jewellers, textile artists, shoemakers … and a host of other crafts· Featured showcase selection by Jo Newton, Head of Buying for Fashion Beauty and Home, Fortnum & Mason Delicious food by Hand Made Food café The Holborn Magazine pop-up shop Cockpit Arts is an award winning social enterprise and the UK’s only business incubator for craftspeople,

Christmas Open Studios 2016, Cockpit Arts - Deptford

Join Cockpit Arts in their 30th Anniversary year and meet 170 makers over two centres in central and south London. Visitors can see behind the scenes in the studios and buy work direct from Cockpit Arts’ master craftspeople and artist-makers, past and present. Ceramicists, jewellers, textile artists, shoemakers … and a host of other crafts· Featured showcase selection by Jo Newton, Head of Buying for Fashion Beauty and Home, Fortnum & Mason Delicious food by Hand Made Food café The Holborn Magazine pop-up shop Cockpit Arts is an award winning social enterprise and the UK’s only business incubator for craftspeople,

Susan Blackler Wins 2016 Gem Empathy Award

Gem-A have announced that Susan Blackler, of Sonkai Ltd., is the winner of Gem-A's newly-revamped Gem Empathy Award 2016, with her design titled ‘Supernova’. In previous years the award has been presented to the IJL exhibitor displaying, in the opinion of the judges, a single piece or collection of jewellery that makes captivating use of one or more gemstones. This year, however, Gem-A has remodelled the creative initiative, requesting that designers featured in the Design Gallery at IJL, produce a design based around a breathtaking 10.46ct Fantasy Cut heliodor (also known as golden beryl), sourced from award-winning gem cutter JohnDyer.  

Top Drawer takes to the runway to present SS17 Trends

Design-led, international lifestyle event, Top Drawer, hosted its stand out Spring/Summer 17 (SS17) edition this January (15-17) at London Olympia. The must-see fashion show took centre stage presenting six key aesthetic trends for the upcoming SS17 season. The fashion show expertly showcased new directions in jewellery and accessories to inspire buyers to source with confidence, knowing what their customers will want to buy in the seasons ahead. Headline sponsor The Design Lab was the creative branding and strategy agency at the helm of this season’s catwalk. The dynamic fashion show featured key sponsors within the edit from Bahamian hand crafted

Hong Kong International Jewellery Show 2 - 6 March 2017

Exhibit within the UK Pavilion at the Hong Kong International Jewellery Show 2 - 6 March 2017 British Jewellery & Giftware International will once again be organising a UK pavilion at the 34th Hong Kong International Jewellery show in March 2017. This major international tradeshow featured over 2,500 exhibitors and welcomed nearly 50,000 trade visitors in 2016. The pavilion will be located in Hall 5G which also features international exhibitors and the country pavilions from China, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand as well as Silver, Titanium and Stainless Steel Jewellery. British Jewellery & Giftware International are now recruiting for this extremely

The Dark Side of Goldsmiths’ Fair

Goldsmiths’ Fair is delighted to present  Silver: The Dark Side , a trailblazing exhibition that showcases silver in a dramatic new light.  This special display of new and recent work from some of the UK’s most exciting silversmiths and jewellers features striking pieces with black oxidised silver surfaces, plating and non-precious metals that challenge traditional perceptions of silver. Although primarily a showcase of objects d’art, three of the featured works are darkened jewellery. Typically, silver is perceived as difficult to clean and therefore often considered old-fashioned or d é mod é . Here blackened objects, several of which combine precious and non-precious metal, are

Amanda Mansell Unviels Striking New Piece

Jeweller Amanda Mansell has unveiled a new jewellery piece at Goldsmiths' Fair this week to accompany her iconic Concentric Ring. “Jewellery goes beyond the aesthetic. How a piece looks is important but it's more than that. Jewellery captures stories and moments in time. It's a lasting testament to the craftsmanship required just to bring a design to life. It's how it feels and what it means. This is what's important…” -Amanda Mansell Amanda was thrilled to be selected for a second consecutive year after her debut last year when her Concentric Ring featured on the flyer and poster for the

Razzledazzle on the red carpet at Met Gala and Cannes

Chopard, Lorraine Schwarz and Messika were among the winning brands at the Met Gala and Cannes Festivals recently as the world's most glamorous actors put some of the world's most dazzling jewels on show in front of the world's biggest cameras! Author:  Published: 

Cockpit Arts Christmas Open Studios 2017 - Holborn

Cockpit Arts Christmas Open Studios 2017 Join us for this perfect opportunity to buy direct from independent makers - from craftspeople and artist-makers as well as a selected group of Cockpit Arts’ alumni … Ceramics, homewares, jewellery, shoes, glass… and many other crafts Featured showcase curated by Grant Gibson, editor of Crafts magazine Crafts Magazine pop-up stall Delicious food by Hand Made Food café HOLBORN · 23 – 26 November Cockpit Yard, Northington St, London, WC1N 2NP Holborn, Chancery Lane & Russell Square Opening times: Thurs 6 – 9pm, Fri, Sat + Sun 11am – 6pm DEPTFORD · 1 –

Cockpit Arts Christmas Open Studios 2017 - Deptford

Cockpit Arts Christmas Open Studios 2017 Join us for this perfect opportunity to buy direct from independent makers - from craftspeople and artist-makers as well as a selected group of Cockpit Arts’ alumni … Ceramics, homewares, jewellery, shoes, glass… and many other crafts Featured showcase curated by Grant Gibson, editor of Crafts magazine Crafts Magazine pop-up stall Delicious food by Hand Made Food café HOLBORN · 23 – 26 November Cockpit Yard, Northington St, London, WC1N 2NP Holborn, Chancery Lane & Russell Square Opening times: Thurs 6 – 9pm, Fri, Sat + Sun 11am – 6pm DEPTFORD · 1 –

Museum Quality Collection of Emeralds Goes to Auction

Guernsey’s, the New York City-based auction house ,  has announced the auction of the  Marcial  de  Go mar  Collection of rare emeralds  on 25 th  April. T he  Marcial  de  Gomar  Emerald Collection, consisting of La Gloria, which at  887 carats  is one of the largest museum-quality emeralds in the world , along with more than twenty other loose emeralds (both cut and rough) and 13 pieces of extraordinary emerald jewellery.   The event will be conducted live at the Americas Society at 680 Park Avenue with online bidding at liveauctioneers.com. Featured lots in the  Marcial  de  Gomar  Collection include:

Cockpit Arts Summer Open Studios 2017 - Holborn

Cockpit Arts Summer Open Studios 2017 Meet 170 makers at our two centres in central and south London. Visitors can see behind the scenes in the studios and buy work direct from Cockpit Arts’ master craftspeople and artist-makers, past and present. Jewellers, glass makers, weavers, ceramicists… and a host of other crafts Featured showcase curated by renowned leather designer Bill Amberg Delicious food by Hand Made Food café Crafts magazine pop-up stall Demonstrations and talks from makers including Dovile Bertulyte, Julie Kouamo, and Lucy McGrath Yorkshire born singer Eleanor Rastall will perform summer time jazz tunes during the Friday evenings

Cockpit Arts Summer Open Studios 2017 - Deptford

Cockpit Arts Summer Open Studios 2017 Meet 170 makers at our two centres in central and south London. Visitors can see behind the scenes in the studios and buy work direct from Cockpit Arts’ master craftspeople and artist-makers, past and present. Jewellers, glass makers, weavers, ceramicists… and a host of other crafts Featured showcase curated by renowned leather designer Bill Amberg Delicious food by Hand Made Food café Crafts magazine pop-up stall Demonstrations and talks from makers including Dovile Bertulyte, Julie Kouamo, and Lucy McGrath Yorkshire born singer Eleanor Rastall will perform summer time jazz tunes during the Friday evenings

Rachel Entwistle Jewellery x Paul Smith Collaboration

Rachel Entwistle Jewellery has been working with Paul Smith in a collaboration for a collection planned for AW17. The new designs were featured in the Paul Smith AW17 Men's Paris Fashion Week Show.  The Paul Smith show merged men's and women's collections into one show with both collections sharing a direct design association, with their roots firmly planted in tailoring.   Rachel Entwistle's own approach to design, which transcends traditional concepts of male or female, perfectly complemented the Paul Smith Collections.  Jewellery included minimal engraved pendants, hand carved necklaces, plaque bracelets and pendants as well as signet rings. All of the

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

Durston Floor Standing Airmax Extracting Polishing Machine

Durston Floor Standing Airmax Extracting Polishing Machine For Sale Good condition and working order. New viewing windows recently installed. 3 step filtration system and powerful suction fan (2,200 CFM). 0.75kW motor generating 3450 RPM. Foot control. Dimensions: 100cm (w) x 50cm (d) x 144cm (h). Weight: 112kg. Cost: £2250. Location: Hatton Garden – Collection only Contact Dan on 07395 285 001

Penland Scholarships Summer 2023

Penland Scholarships Summer 2023  Penland School of Craft Penland, North Carolina, USA Penland is an intentionally inclusive and dynamic creative community—a community that values the creative energy that arises from diverse artistic visions and approaches. Penland’s scholarship program exists to make our workshops accessible to those who are not able to participate without financial assistance and to create educational opportunities for people who have been underrepresented at Penland and in the craft world. Scholarships are one way we are pushing back on historic imbalances and barriers. We recently made some changes to reduce barriers in our scholarship application process. The

Winner Of The Hand Engraved Card Competition 2021 Announced

Working together for the first time, the Hand Engravers Association and Baddeley Brothers are proud to declare the winner of their inaugural greeting card competition. A skill so rare that there was recently only a handful of craftsmen left, has been given a boost by workshops and competitions that have brought the ancient craft of copperplate engraving back into the limelight. And now with support from a specialist printer, one such competition winner will see his engraving of Santa Claus go into production as Christmas Cards. Andy Beavan-Smith’s work caught the eye of the Hand Engravers Association in their recent

P & O Makower Trust Commission 2022 for the Victoria and Albert Museum

P & O Makower Trust Commission 2022 commission for the Victoria and Albert Museum Call for Applications The Victoria and Albert Museum is pleased to invite entries for the P & O Makower Trust Silver Commission. An exciting opportunity that looks to support recently graduated and early career silversmiths in the creation of a major piece of silver that will go on display at the Victoria and Albert Museum. For over 45 years the Penelope & Oliver Makower (1974) Trust has commissioned major objects of silver to go on long term loan to national museums throughout the UK including the

News Edit: 17 November 2024

A curated edit of this week's national and international jewellery news... This Is What It’s Like to Sleep Above a Jewelry Store in Paris Harpers Bazaar reports: At 1, Place Vendôme, you can stay a little while inside the glittering, glamorous world of Chopard. www.harpersbazaar.com These diamond jewellery collections whisper, not shout Vogue reports: You’ve no doubt heard the terms 'demure', 'mindful' and 'quiet luxury' bandied about recently. Understatement is the mood of the times, as proven by these jewellery collections that wear their luxury with a whisper. vogue.sg The Round Up: Statement Crystal Jewellery Sheerlux reports: From fringe earrings

2021 Bright Young Gems winners announced

The winners of Bright Young Gems® 2021 mentoring scheme for graduating and recently graduated jewellery designers have been announced. The talented line-up comprise Imogen Burch, Amber Doughty, Hannah Gower, Capucine Huguet and Andrea Jose Castro, all of whom will unveil their winning pieces as part of the National Association of Jeweller’s showcase at the one-day UK Jewellery Festival, The Brewery, London, on September 1, 2021.  Thanks to support from the  National Association of Jewellers, the winners  will also benefit from dedicated mentoring from  the NAJ jewellery experts before the event to ensure that they maximise the experience. The designers will

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

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

New Scholars & Apprentices Announced

QEST have announced the recipients of awarded funding to 22 new Scholars and 3 Apprentices working across the UK in a varied range of crafts.  QEST have announced the recipients of awarded funding to 22 new Scholars and 3 Apprentices working across the UK in a varied range of crafts. The 25 new craftspeople have recently been awarded QEST funding to further their training and education, making the total grants awarded this year £450,000 to 47 makers. The new Scholars and Apprentices include makers working in architectural origami, thatching, knifemaking, woodturning, the endangered craft of sporran making and much more.

V&A P&O Makower Trust Commission awarded to Na’ama Haneman

The P&O Makower Trust Silver Commission is an exciting opportunity that supports a recently graduated or early career silversmith to create a major piece of silver that will go on display here at the V&A. In October we advertised a call for entries, inviting applications for the next commission and, following interviews, we are very pleased to announce that Na’ama Haneman is the 2023 recipient of the V&A P&O Makower Trust Commission. For over 45 years, the Penelope & Oliver Makower (1974) Trust has commissioned major objects of silver to go on long term loan to national museums throughout the

F.Hinds Celebrates New Store Refit

Family owned and run jeweller, F.Hinds, has recently refurbished their Dover branch. The store at 42 Biggin Street, Dover, originally opened in 1985, having surviving two World Wars and numerous financial crashes over its 166-year history. The new Dover store refit features modernisation to match the current F.Hinds branding, new wall decoration, carpet and a new seated area for serving customers. Alison Riddle, store manager at F.Hinds Dover said, “Having originally opened in 1985 we are now very established on Dover high-street which is wonderful. Even though times are hard, our store refit only shows that we are here it

Sarah Hutchison creates new pre-loved market for contemporary handmade jewellery

Sarah Hutchison creates new pre-loved market for contemporary handmade jewellery with SH Chance to Sparkle using Insta. Sarah Hutchison’s career as a well known silversmith and jeweller pivoted 12 years ago when she opened her own contemporary jewellery gallery in Edinburgh's Morningside. The stylish boutique come gallery showcases the work of over 40 different makers and has a loyal following of clientele. Sarah uses the shop to also sell her own work, she launched a new collection in the Spring, and very recently added a thriving ecommerce website to the mix to facilate sales and spread the gallery’s reach further than

News Edit: 31 March 2024

A round up of this week's national and international jewellery news... Style Edit: Bulgari’s Mediterranea High Jewellery collection is a tribute to its founder’s journey, taking inspiration from Italian baroque aesthetics in art and architecture SCMP: Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin calls the collection ‘an epic and immersive journey’ through the crossroads of Mediterranean influences, from Rome to Venice. www.scmp.com Somerset resident turns recycled ocean trash into jewellery for her own business Yahoo: Sophie Witt, who was born and raised in Frome, recently turned her beachcombing hobby into a successful jewellery business. uk.news.yahoo.com Meet the artisan jeweller whose ethical, traceable designs

News Edit: 10 November 2023

A round up of this week's national and international jewellery news...   The best jewels from the autumn collections The Times: Form an orderly queue, please, for this season’s striped treasures, says Jessica Diamond. www.thetimes.co.uk Boucheron Acquires High Jewellery Workshop Near Place Vendôme GJEPC: Boucheron has recently acquired a high jewellery workshop, renowned for its excellent expertise in traditional craftsmanship as part of its ongoing growth and development strategy. gjepc.org From the coronation to the state opening of parliament, how do jewellery designers use the royals to inspire their craftsmanship? Tatler: As the King and Queen make their annual visit

Emma Aitchison Ditches Gold-Plated Items in the Name of Sustainability

We caught up with Emma Aitchison, founder of the eponymous jewellery brand. Recently, Emma has taken the decision to eliminate gold-plated jewellery from all future collections in the name of sustainability.  Gold-plated jewellery is popular due to its mimicry of timeless gold coupled with its comparatively much lower cost and accessibility. Much focus has been given to sustainability over the past few years, with the consequences of our disposable lifestyles – especially the effect of ‘fast-fashion’ - widely reported on.   The labour-intensive process of stripping gold-plate in conjunction with the relatively low cost of new pieces, often makes replacement

Joy Bonfield-Colombara awarded QEST Scholarship

QEST has recently awarded a scholarship to jeweller Joy Bonfield-Colombara to further her training. Joy is an artist and goldsmith who creates jewellery and small-scale sculpture in gold, silver and bronze. She has a BA in Jewellery and Silversmithing from the Glasgow School of Art, and an MA in Jewellery and Metal from the Royal College of Art. Much of her work is inspired by classical Roman and Greek art, which she gives a distinctive contemporary twist. Since graduating she has exhibited both nationally and internationally, and has work in international galleries and museums. Her website is:  https://joybc.co.uk Joy’s QEST funding

City of Glasgow College run eco jewellery competition

The City of Glasgow College recently ran a Jewellery Design competition for Secondary Schools in Scotland during Lockdown with the theme  #climatemergency  and received over 300 entries. The competition challenged young people to design a pendant that reflects the world’s climate emergency. Mirin Scott from Carluke High School has won the S1-S3 category for her design which highlighted bees becoming endangered. Grace Anderson from Blairgowrie High School took first place for S4-S6 with her pendant underlining the urgency of time. Lisa McGovern, Curriculum Head for Craft and Design at City of Glasgow College, said: “We had over 300 entries for

Microflame Model 60 Gas Welder

[youtube url=http://youtu.be/p7A7yiKQalg] Microflame Model 60 Gas Welder Durston stacked rolling mill 1980s and misc tools and equipment MicroFlame Model 60. A two-person soldering unit capable of using the large 18 nozzle. Complete with all parts and torch. Recently serviced by First Ade Repairs 09/05/2023 Machine is in excellent condition with one previous owner who maintained and looked after it well. Another torch can be added to this unit making it suitable for a shared workshop or teaching. Supplied empty with crystals and operating instructions. Also a vintage Durston rolling mill with stacked combination, polishing wheel, and range of

Call for Applications: Making A Start

Call for Applications: Making A Start Seeking 20 crafts people for a progression pilot - Making Space Making Space are thrilled to have been awarded a Culture Recovery Grant, which will enable us to pilot ‘Making A Start’ – a Maker Progression initiative to provide careers guidance, mentoring and business planning for those leaving or having recently left education and looking to work in the Crafts sector. If you are considering how to turn a hobby into a business, or wondering if it is indeed possible to take a step to a career in craft we would love to hear

Edinburgh Assay Office’s CEO and Assay Master assumes international Chairman role

Scott Walter, who is the chief executive and master of the Edinburgh Assay Office will take up the role of chairman of the Convention on the Control & Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (CCMAPM) at the end of November. Mr Walter held previous roles within the Convention sitting on the Standing Technical committee and the Vision and Strategy Working group. Mr Walter has recently completed a five-year term as chairman of the International Association of Assay Offices, which culminated in its merger with the CCMAPM. The Edinburgh Assay Office has been testing and hallmarking precious metals since 1457 and is the trading arm of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths

All That Glitters 2020

Call for Applications: All That Glitters Twenty Twenty Productions. Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham Application deadline brought forward - now 29 November 2019 Twenty Twenty Productions are very pleased to announce that they have recently been commissioned to make a very exciting series for BBC Two where we will be embarking on a talent search to find Britain’s most brilliant jewellery maker. Unfolding inside a specially built workshop, this six-part contest is built on the extraordinary skills of eight talented jewellers from all walks of life. Twenty Twenty Productions are looking for both amateurs and professionals to work with the most valuable

Appointment: Russell Lownsbrough elected as Chair of Institute of Professional Goldsmiths

The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths promotes and supports craftspeople of the highest calibre, who produce only the finest workmanship. The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths (IPG) held it's 36th Annual General Meeting on the 26th of February where a new Chairman, Russell Lownsbrough FIPG, was appointed with universal approval by attendees.  Two new members were also admitted to the Executive Committee, Wayne Meeten FIPG and Danila Tarcinale FIPG. The members attending were informed of the IPG's activities and the efforts of the committee on their behalf. Most significant amongst these being the mentoring scheme recently set up with funding from the

‘De Vroomen Harmony in Colour and Form’ Book

Dutch Master Craftsman and goldsmith Leo de Vroomen has released a book, full of illustrations, which celebrates 50 years of his creative partnership with his artist / designer wife Ginnie. Their bold and colourful jewellery is lavishly illustrated, in combination with Ginnie's vivid paintings. The book also acts as an accompanying tome to the retrospective exhibition of their work recently held at Goldsmiths’ Hall. The book is available at a cost of £50 plus postage & packing Publisher: Leo and Ginnie de Vroomen Page size: landscape 280 X 230 mm Pagination: 224 hardback ISBN 978-1-5272-0650-2 P & P: UK £5.00,

News Edit: 31 May 2020

As we find our 'new normal' here is a round up of last week's international jewellery news...   Jewelry crush: The 1970s sunglasses chain by Zoï Paris Vogue: Spotted at several fashion shows recently, the glasses chain is making a comeback. And that's the daring gamble this jewelry designer has taken. We're crushing on this vintage-inspired piece of jewelry for this summer. vogue.fr The Minimalist’s Guide to Elegant, Everyday Jewelry Vogue: Every wardrobe should establish a roster of minimal, everyday jewelry, whether you prefer silver, gold, or a combination of both. Finding the right pieces that feel personal can take

New Jewellery Valuers Association Aims to Raise Professional Profile of Valuers

A new membership organisation for Jewellery and Watch evaluators has recently launched in the United Kingdom and Ireland. By  raising the professional profile of valuers with continued training and professional development and promotion of its members to the general public, insurance industry, government departments and the legal profession. Frank Wood, Chair of the Jewellery Valuers Association, said “It is in the public’s interest that jewellery valuations are carried out to a high professional standard, but they are not necessarily aware of the difference between a good valuation and a poor one. It’s up to us to make that distinction clear,

The Making of a Silver Commission

The Making of a Silver Commission The Clothworkers’ Company hosts Contemporary British Silversmiths London Craft Week 2019 Friday 10 May 2019 In partnership with Contemporary British Silversmiths, the leading association for contemporary silver, The Clothworkers’ Company hosts a day of events, shining a light on the fascinating process of commissioning and making silver.Meet the makers during free demonstrations by award-winning silversmiths Miriam Hanid and Yusuke Yamamoto and learn about their live commissions for The Clothworkers’ Company during our lunchtime lecture. Both silversmiths have recently been commissioned to create major pieces for The Clothworkers’ Company. This one-day event offers visitors a

New Grooves Gallery

New Grooves Gallery Have you channelled your energy into something creative recently? We want to see it!  We are looking for individuals who want to showcase their newfound creativity as part of an online collaborative project.  New Grooves Gallery is a collective with the aim of creating a visual community of people who have found a hidden talent amidst the pandemic. We want to celebrate expression in all its forms, especially by those who may not have previously considered themselves creative. We hope to encourage accessibility into the arts, with the goal of holding a physical exhibition whenever possible. We

Women’s Empowerment in Action, within the Jewellery Supply Chain

The Dragonfly Initiative is a sustainability consultancy that works across the depth of the jewellery supply chain to support the growth and sustainability of emergent jewellery businesses. The consultancy has recently been working with brands which champion female empowerment. Vivien Johnston of The Dragonfly Initiative is an expert in her field regarding jewellery ethics and sustainability as well as having a track record of first hand experience in end to end best practice in jewellery manufacture. A recent client of the consultancy was a female led jewellery brand, Myne London, which had a mandate to source emeralds mined and polished

BOODLES is the official jewellery partner of 'The Secret Garden'

Boodles has announced that it is the official jewellery partner of  The Secret Garden , a new film adaptation of the timeless best-selling novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, which has recently been released on Sky Cinema. Published in 1911, the book tells the story of Mary Lennox, a British girl orphaned in India following an outbreak of cholera. Moving to Yorkshire and the care of her uncle, Archibald Craven — played in the new movie by Colin Firth — Mary discovers a magical garden. The film introduces a cast of wonderful young actors, with Dixie Egerickx as Mary; Amir Wilson

The Young Masters Art Prize 2019

Call for Applications: The Young Masters Art Prize 2019 The Young Masters Art Prize is a not-for-profit initiative of The Cynthia Corbett Gallery. Applications are being accepted now until 31 May 2019. Apply Now! This renowned, innovative and high-profile Prize recognises how contemporary artists embrace the art of the past. More recently, the Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize was developed to celebrate excellence in contemporary ceramics. Young Masters also tours continuously throughout the year, offering a wider audience the opportunity to engage with the debates between contemporary art and art history. Application Deadline 31st May 2019 at midnight BST.

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

Sarah Ho Partners with Bergdorf Goodman to Showcase her High Jewellery Designs Publicly for the First Time

After recently opening a jewellery showroom in London's Mayfair, Sarah Ho already has her sights set on the Big Apple. This month, she will debut at Bergdorf Goodman to show her designs to the public for the first time.  Usually sold by private appointment or luxury exhibitions, Sarah's designs are available to all to view in a retail setting for the first time ever.   Known for her unique, feminine jewellery, Sarah often lets the stone lead the design. All of Sarah's stones are sourced responsibly and ethically, through charitable initiatives or recycling older pieces. Steering away from mass-production, Sarah instead

Cooksongold is stockist of Europe’s largest Fairtrade gold range

Multi-channel retailer Cooksongold, the UK’s largest one-stop shop for the jewellery maker, has recently added 9ct Fairtrade Gold to its range of Fairtrade Gold products, meaning it now stocks the largest range of Fairtrade Gold in Europe. Fairtrade Gold ensures small-scale and artisanal miners are paid a fair price and receive an extra amount of money to invest in building the future of their families and their communities, through education, clean water and healthcare. The Fairtrade Gold Standards include strict requirements on working conditions, health and safety, handling chemicals, women’s rights, child labour and protection of the environment. Cooksongold became

Benchpeg turns 15 in Lockdown

We’ve been so busy that we forgot that we recently should have celebrated our birthday! It is very hard to believe, for us, that we turned 15 at the beginning of this month. 15 years ago, when ecommerce was very limited, websites were non-responsive and social media hadn’t really got started in the way that we know it nowadays, we created Benchpeg to help democratise information for the sector and get it to those that needed the information most – micro and SME businesses within the jewellery industry. We’re extremely proud that we were the first digital newsletter in the

Five grants awarded to help save endangered crafts

A new mobile facility to teach neon bending and the restoration of one of the last surviving damask looms are among the projects that have recently received funds to help ensure a better future for some of the UK’s most endangered crafts. The Heritage Crafts Association (HCA), which earlier this year published the latest edition of its groundbreaking HCA Red List of Endangered Crafts , has awarded the first five grants from its Endangered Crafts Fund, launched in July 2019 to increase the likelihood of endangered crafts surviving into the next generation. The first five recipients of the HCA Endangered

Online retailer, Jewellerybox, launch split payment method for large orders

Jewellerybox, the London based online jewellery store, have been all over our news pages recently. The company, whose mantra is to create fine jewellery at costume prices, have been making waves with their business model; which seems to be resembling popular fashion brands. Earlier in the year, we saw Jewellerybox partner with the app regain, to offer customers discounts in exchange for recycling their clothes. And last month, released an International Women’s Day collection, where purchases were matched 1 to 1 with donations to women’s shelters throughout London.  Keeping up with all the latest e-commerce trends, such as same-day delivery

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

Jewellery & Metal Finalists of the Lowe Craft Prize

Loewe has revealed the names of the 29 shortlisted craftsmen for the 2019 edition of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize. Each finalist’s work will be exhibited at Isamu Noguchi’s indoor stone garden ‘Heaven’ at the Sogetsu Kaikan in Tokyo, from 26 June to 22 July, 2019 writes Ilaria Ruggiero. The third edition of the Loewe Foundation Craft Prize presents a diverse spectrum of techniques, media and modes of expression and the finalists range from recently graduated and newly emerging artists to well-known names and leaders in their fields. The Loewe Foundation Craft Prize 2019 recognises the shortlisted artists as having

GIA Suspends Diamond Sealing Services

Effective immediately, GIA (Gemological Institute of America) will suspend diamond sealing services. The Institute is taking this action after recently encountering a small number of GIA sealing packets that had been compromised by third parties after the sealing packets left GIA.  In these instances, GIA determined that the diamonds originally enclosed in the compromised packets had been replaced with HPHT (high-pressure, high-temperature) treated natural diamonds. The substitute treated diamonds superficially matched the GIA report information for the original diamonds, including information on the sealing packet data label. GIA is suspending sealing services in all locations indefinitely, pending an investigation of

Blowing Truths: A special review on Joya Barcelona 2019

I recently went to hospital to take a test for lactose intolerance. A four-hour test, which consisted of blowing into plastic bags every 30 minutes, after drinking a liquid substance that was as sweet as it was nauseating writes Ilaria Ruggiero. The bags were unfortunately not exciting and fun like those of Christine Jalio who, with intelligence and irony, invites us to expel the daily frustrations of which we are victims, blowing into them, to lighten and in some way to exhale an inner saturation that is wearing us out. Provocative, pop, effective. Compared to the other arts, the peculiarity of About

International Jewellery London to “sparkle” as it moves to historic Alexandra Palace

International Jewellery London (IJL) is moving to the iconic Alexandra Palace for its 65 th  anniversary year in 2020 and the organisers Reed Exhibitions are unveiling how the event is set to enter a new decade.    Referring to the new look and feel of IJL, Kerry Prince Reed Divisional Director said: “A feat of Victorian engineering, Alexandra Palace is a space that has recently undergone a reinvention, the Palace has been transformed, drawing it into an exciting new design space.  It is therefore a perfect time to move into the new decade, celebrate IJL’s 65 birthday and support the

Senior Patina Artist, G.W. Lunt Bronze Foundry

Senior Patina Artist, G.W. Lunt Bronze Foundry We are looking for a senior patina artist to join a team of 3 patina artists in our modern foundry setting in Birmingham, West Midlands.  We are a 90 year old business and most staff have long tenures with us. We have recently completed a total renovation of our buildings and have invested in the well being and safety of our staff as our first priority. Duties Preparation of chemicals and colours for patina Patination of bronze sculptures to the customer's requirements Working directly with artists to establish the technique and colours for

Appointment: Dr Frances Parton new Deputy Curator of the Goldsmiths’ Company

The Goldsmiths Company has announced that Dr Frances Parton has been appointed as Deputy Curator in the Collections Team. Frances Parton has a long and established career in the museum and heritage sector, having most recently spent time in curatorial roles with The National Trust, English Heritage and the V&A.  She brings to the role a wealth of knowledge in decorative arts, contemporary and historic metalwork, silver and jewellery.  With a PhD and MPhil from Cambridge University, a BA from Durham University and a track record of well received publications, Frances brings an impressive breadth of knowledge and distinctive perspective

Opals given the spotlight at IJL by Prism Design

Prism Design has announced the launch of a range of exciting new boulder opal designs for Milburn & Ley. The boulder opals were mined by the company’s partners, Barbara and Edi of  The Opal Cutter , Barbara has been mining since 1984 in Coober Pedy and more recently Koroit. The close partnership means that Prism knows exactly where the opals have been sourced and that they have been responsibly mined. The company admits that it is really excited to show its one-of-a kind designs set in gold and its comprehensive collection of loose boulder opals on offer. Milburn & Ley,

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

Scott McIntyre, of Vanilla Ink, releases new stone setting manual

We love seeing those in our community flourish and share our vision of making jewellery knowlege accessible. Scott McIntyre, master goldsmith and recognised face of Vanilla Ink Studios has recently published a stone setting manual that will educate and inspire generations of jewellers to come. Scott's passion for creating beautiful jewellery is matched only by his passion for passing on his skills and expertise. Through Vanilla Ink's unique jewellery classes, as well as social media, Scott makes it his mission to inform and entertain the wonderful jewellery community. Now in the permanance of a book, Scott's mastery is enshrined.  Image

Q&A: Joanna Hardy

Joanna Hardy is the well known jewellery personality behind the Antiques Roadshow, but she has built her 30 year career in jewellery from the rough diamond valuing tables at De Beers to the heights of premier auction houses, latterly Sotheby’s in Bond Street. Previously having worked at Philips the auctioneers, Joanna has also worked in Antwerp, and has been responsible for jewellery auctions worldwide in New York, Geneva and London. She is also a published author on specialist jewellery tomes with Thames & Hudson and has recently launched an educational online Jewellery Foundation Course.  Joanna now is an independent fine

Sweet Ceramic Jewellery with Rebecca Wilson

It’s that time of Year when resolutions are rife, and many of us try, successfully or not so much, to give up our vices. The good news is, if you’re craving sugar, you’re in for a treat. Rebecca Wilson is a ceramicist who is venturing into jewellery, her whimsical designs are sugar-spun into cool confectionary.  Living and working near Edinburgh and Scotland, Rebecca comes from a background in ceramics and has recently introduced jewellery and wearables to her collection. She has exhibited extensively in the UK and abroad, most notably at COLLECT in the Saatchi Gallery, London, SOFA in Chicago,

Measured - Sue Lorraine @ Gallery Funaki

Measured -  Sue Lorraine Gallery Funaki, Victoria, Australia 30 July - 24 August 2019 Sue Lorraine is a leading Australian jewellery artist with a practice that spans over thirty-five years. A partner and founding member of the jewellery studio, Gray Street Workshop and from 1999-2008 the Creative Director of the Metal Design Studio, JamFactory, Adelaide. Sue exhibits nationally and internationally and has work in every state collection of Australia. Her exhibition practice is founded in conceptual and research-based methodologies. Sue works predominantly in steel, in a style that is graphic, minimal and refined. More recently she has incorporated found objects and materials into her work

Edinburgh Assay Office’s CEO and Assay Master assumes international Chairman role

Scott Walter, who is the chief executive and master of the Edinburgh Assay Office will take up the role of chairman of the Convention on the Control & Marking of Articles of Precious Metals (CCMAPM) at the end of November. Mr Walter held previous roles within the Convention sitting on the Standing Technical committee and the Vision and Strategy Working group. Mr Walter has recently completed a five-year term as chairman of the International Association of Assay Offices, which culminated in its merger with the CCMAPM. The Edinburgh Assay Office has been testing and hallmarking precious metals since 1457 and is the trading arm of the Incorporation of Goldsmiths

Guild of Enamellers’ Names Bursary Award Winner for 2019

The Guild of Enamellers is delighted to announce Valentina Boneva as the 2019 winner of their annual Bursary Award. Valentina recently completed the HND Jewellery at Glasgow Kelvin College, Glasgow. Valentina started working with enamels this year as a means to add colour to her work and to complement the use of gemstones in pieces. Valentina’s innovative selection pieces were complex and transformable pieces comprising an etched and enamelled boat “stand” that deconstructed into earrings, necklaces and a ring. Valentina is passionate about enamelling and wants to incorporate it into her future jewellery and silversmithing projects where it will complement

Wiltshire based Moleroda Finishing Systems put a shine on their brand new website

2019 marks the start of a new era at Wiltshire based company Moleroda Finishing Systems, because they have recently launched their new www.polishingjewellery.co.uk website to enable online sales. Moleroda Finishing Systems are a long established business which supply finishing systems to the jewellery trade, holding the UK’s largest felt and specialist polishing accessories. The south west based firm export to over 20 countries and manufacture polishing products in felt, diamond, wood, calicos, fine abrasive cloths, unitised material and abrasive non-woven nylon. Although originally a jewellery specific supply based company, over the years the company has diversified and widened their market

Fresh calls for vigilance after spike in high end smash and grab robberies

The recent spate of violent 'smash and grab' moped robberies on leading British jewellers will increase in the run up to Christmas, a leading security expert has warned and retailers are urged to contact police with reports of any suspicious activity. Robberies have taken place across the country with premium watches, primarily Rolex, targeted by gangs of youths. Most recently, six wielded machetes and hammers to force entry into Mappin & Webb in Regent Street in London and after smashing display cabinets, escaped on a single moped carrying a high value haul. Celebrity favourite Dinny Hall in Hampstead High Street,

£1000 Grant Available for Jewellers

£1000 Grant Available for Jewellers: JewelFund Is Now Open for Applications Award-winning founder of the Hatton Garden based London Jewellery School, Jessica Rose has recently launched a new online company, Jewellers Academy. Alongside the launch she has created a grant for jewellers to help support them in starting and growing their own jewellery businesses. The award, named ‘JewelFund’ is now open for applications from jewellers from anywhere in the world who have a passion for making and need some funds to launch or grow their business. There are two £1000 grants available this year and plans to grow the fund

Rolls Royce "Cullinan" and Wagner Preziosen

Wagner Preziosen the Berlin based jewellery house was recently selected to partner with Rolls Royce in an exclusive photoshoot for the new Rolls Royce Magazine. The new SUV "Cullinan" will be launched this autumn and at the same time the new Rolls Royce Magazine will be released, and the article featuring exclusive jewellery marries the luxury brand and its new accompanying publication. With a feminine accent, Rolls Royce wanted to include a piece of jewellery for the photoshoot which was of high quality, classical but also novel, chic and modern. The Wagner Preziosen ‘Rainbow Paisley’ was the successfully selected piece

Welbeck Winter Weekend 2017

The Harley Foundation and its Harley Gallery and Harley Studios will be hosting its annual winter event, returning for it’s 17th year, celebrating all things hand-made. The Welbeck Winter Weekend will take place on 24, 25 and 26 November 2017. The event will feature: Free entry, free car parking A heated marquee with 50+ stalls featuring artists and makers The Harley Artist Studios open to the public 20+ stalls featuring regional artisan food producers Exhibitions at The Harley Gallery and locally produced food at The Welbeck Farm Shop Recently opened gallery dedicated to the display of fine and decorative arts

P & O Makower Trust Silver Commission

Call for Applicaitons: P & O Makower Trust Silver Commission National Museums Scotland is pleased to invite entries for the P & O Makower Trust Silver Commission. An exciting opportunity that looks to support recently graduated and early career silversmiths in the creation of a major piece of silver that will go on display within National Museums Scotland. For over 45 years, the P & O Makower Trust has commissioned major objects of silver to go on long-term loan to national museums throughout the UK including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Ashmolean and National Museum Wales. This year sees the

Jewellery: Wearable Glass

Jewellery: Wearable Glass - National Glass Centre in Sunderland National Glass Centre presents an exhibition of newly commissioned glass jewellery, made through exciting new collaborations between four glass artists and eight jewellers. Glass jewellery has a history going back to the Ancient Egyptians. In the 19th and early 20th the artist Rene Lalique used glass to make jewellery but more recently the use of glass in jewellery by artists has been limited.  Through the exhibition  Jewellery: Wearable Glass  National Glass Centre aims to re-introduce glass as a material to be used by leading jewellers based in Britain. National Glass Centre

#SheDressedMe campaign takes off ahead of UK Jewellery Awards

Guests at the UK Jewellery Awards will get the full paparazzi treatment next week after more than 20 designers signed up for the #SheDressedMe campaign and offered their jewels to ticket holders wanting to 'borrow' a bit of extra dazzle. The #SheDressedMe campaign, launched recently by the Women’s Jewellery Network (WJN),  has attracted the support of a wide range of female jewellers, all prepared to loan out pieces to be worn on the red carpet to gain industry and general media exposure. They include Rachel Galley; Roseanna Croft; Judith Peterhoff Jewellery; Michelle Tuck Jewellery; Shen London; Mona Pink; Domino; Gecko;

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.

Midhurst Contemporary Craft Show 2017

Midhurst Contemporary Craft Show Sussex Guild We are delighted to be returning to the spacious, modern surroundings of the recently-built Midhurst Rother College – last year’s show proved very popular with visitors and exhibitors alike. Once again highly-skilled designer-makers from Sussex and the adjoining counties will provide a colourful feast of creativity to brighten the dark days of winter. The show is perfectly timed for Christmas shopping and, with over fifty members of The Sussex Guild showing their beautiful and varied work, visitors will be spoilt for choice. The café within the show area will provide light refreshments throughout the

Alex Monroe launches new Jewellery School

One of Britain's best known jewellery designers Alex Monroe has launched a jewellery school in his recently completed award-winning studio in Bermondsey in London where he will take the lead in passing on his techniques and passion in a series of themed tutorials. After months of planning and preparation, the ‘Alex Monroe Jewellery School’ will open this month, launching with a theme special to Monroe. It has been 10 years since he launched his iconic and much admired Bumblebee necklace and finally he will let his first 10 Jewellery School customers  into his secret as to how it came about,

Make Your Mark Awards 2017

Applications are now open for the second Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office’s Make Your Mark Awards, which invites students and young designers to design a piece of jewellery or silverware that celebrates the London hallmark, the iconic Leopard’s Head. There are two Award categories to enter – Jewellery and Silversmithing – and the competition is open to current students, apprentices and recently graduated designers (within the last five years) of precious metal-related jewellery and silversmithing courses.  The aim of the Awards To challenge today’s students working in precious metal both technically and artistically  To educate today’s students on UK hallmarking and

Branded Jewellery Sales to Soar by 2020

A recently published report by consultant firm Mckinsey has forecast annual global sales growth in branded jewellery of between 5% to 6% each year by 2020 to take sales from approximately £132 billion to £223 billion globally. The report states that consumer appetite for jewellery now appears more voracious than ever. which led British marketplace, OnBuy.com to analyse the report further; to draw out the information industry insiders need to know and to share advice among Artisan designers who may need to keep pace. The report entitled A Multifaceted Future: The Jewellery Industry in 2020 states its findings that branded items already account

One Drop Plus One Drop Makes One Drop

One Drop Plus One Drop Makes One Drop - Adi Toch A solo exhibition from award winning metalsmith Adi Toch. Adi Toch’s practice as a metalsmith centres on making engaging vessels and containers that investigate colour, movement, sound and tactility. Following a BA in Metal at Bezalel Art Academy in Jerusalem, Adi completed an MA at the Cass, London in 2009. Her work is exhibited internationally and has won prestigious awards including the Gold Award from The Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council in 2013. She was recently shortlisted for The Loewe Craft Prize and won a 2017 Wallpaper* Design Award. Adi is currently a

RELIC

RELIC This is Metalsmith Rebecca Gouldson’s first foray into curating with this exhibition entitled RELIC. The exhibition draws on Rebecca’s interpretation of the theme as “a collection of objects which capture my imagination, chosen for their appearance of being found, rather than recently made; aged rather than new. They appear to have a history, told through their form, their surface marks and sometimes in their arrangement or display.” Exhibiting makers include Rebecca Appleby, Karolina Baines,  Elaine Bolt, Jane Cairns, Anne-Laure Cano,  Amanda Denison, Rebecca Gouldson, Ruth Leslie, Claire Malet, Jo Pond, Paul Wearing, Rachel Wood and others to be announced

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,

Domino Debuts At Dublin Jewellery Show

Domino Jewellery will be adding a new exhibition to its 2018 calendar, with the team making their debut at Jewellery Ireland on 19th - 20th August 2018, exhibiting in the Fine Jewellery category. Jewellery Ireland, which takes place at the CityWest Event Centre in Saggart, Dublin, is in its 3rd year. The show aims to bring together leading industry brands in a discreet and friendly environment, timed strategically to assist buyers with crucial pre-Christmas planning and purchases. Domino will be taking all of their 2018 collections to the show, including the recently-launched, extended Diamond Ring Mounts range, along with the

Magical Farnese blue diamond expected to fetch £5m

A spectacular blue diamond which was gifted to a Spanish queen in 1715 is to go on sale for the first time ever next month with an anticipated price tag of around £5 million. Until recently, no one knew of its existence since the 6.16 -carat 'Farnese Blue', crafted for Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain (1692-1766) was seen  only by close relatives though since those relatives spanned four royal families across France, Spain, Italy and Austria over a period of 300 years, it is astonishing the diamond has been kept under wraps so successfully. It was found in the Golconda

Weston Beamor team earns full set of Fairtrade certificates

Weston Beamor have started 2018 with a flurry of activity with the entire customer service division earning their Fairtrade Gold Sales Ambassador Certificates of Accreditation. Training for the certificates was prompted firstly by their award recently ‘Ethical Jewellery Business of the Year’ and also by the increasing curiosity among customers for a jewel's back story such as material origins and the supplier's trading practices. So each member of the 12-strong customer facing team took to their computers and completed the Fairtrade Foundation’s online ‘Fairtrade Gold Sales Ambassador Certificate of Accreditation’ courses. It means the team is familiar with how the

Camden Apprenticeships

Call for Applications: Camden Apprenticeships For SMEs and Mirco Businesses The advantages of apprenticeships for employers have recently increased further, particularly for small businesses. Employers with less than 50 employees can now access funding to cover 100% of apprenticeship training costs from the government, no matter the age of their apprentice. Camden Apprenticeships provide a free advice and recruitment service to help organisations plan and develop their apprenticeships programmes. Take the opportunity to explore how you can use apprenticeships in your organisation. If you’d like to find out more about how your organisation could make the most of apprenticeships, contact

Alexander Wood's jewellery skills earn top ten in the world place

Young British jewellery maker Alexander Wood left Abu Dhabi with a champions medal after earning a coveted top 10 place at the 44th WorldSkills Competition recently. Alexander, a member of the Goldsmiths’ Company Apprenticeship Scheme and currently earning his spurs with Ian Read Diamond Setters in Kent,  received a Medallion of Excellence for reaching the international standard in the Jewellery skills category.  His achievement was the result of three years worth of training,  honing his silversmithing, polishing, micro-setting and enamelling skills though he started his selection process for WorldSkills back in September 2015 when he became one of eight trainee

Laurence Coste opens new store in Sloane Street

Parisian jewellery designer Laurence Coste has recently expanded to Sloane street, following over 10 years of success at her premises on Walton Street. Shortly after opening there in 2006, she became known for her range of unique and colourful clip-on earrings, and the business has grown in strength and popularity ever since, leading to the decision to open this second store.  Born in Paris, Coste spent her childhood in France before moving to Chealsea in the late 80’s. Inspired by none other than Loulou de la Falaise, her passion for jewellery started at a young age when she started designing

Appointment: Ed Hole Promoted to New Business Manager at Weston Beamor

Weston Beamor are pleased to announce changes to its leadership team, with current Head of CAD Design and 3D Printing, Ed Hole promoted to the role of Business Manager for the bespoke precious metals casting, 3D printing and production division. Ed has worked at Weston Beamor for more than 14 years, joining the team in 2003 having recently graduated from Loughborough University with a BA (Hons) in Industrial Design and Technology. Ed instantly impressed both colleagues and clients with his personable approach, knowledge and passion. Commenting on the promotion, Managing Director, Andrew Morton, said: “I am really pleased with this

Scottish Gallery Celebrate Jacqueline Mina at 75

The Scottish Gallery, Scotland’s prestigious art and craft selling venue, will be celebrating esteemed artist goldsmith Jacqueline Mina’s 75th birthday this summer with a blockbusting exhibition from 3rd August – 2 September in Edinburgh. The gallery, which will show a collection of Mina’s most recently work, has timed the exhibition to coincide with the Scottish summer months and is highlighting the event as their Festival Exhibition 2017. Jacqueline Mina has had a longstanding relationship with the Scottish Gallery, having exhibited her first solo exhibition there in 1993. Jacqueline Mina is one of the most significant goldsmiths in the UK today.

Signet Jewelers Confirmed for 4 Consecutive Years as “Conflict Free”

Signet Jewelers Limited, the world's largest retailer of diamond jewellery, recently submitted its fourth consecutive Conflict Minerals Report to the SEC in accordance with Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act.  Signet was one of only four companies to have its Gold “Conflict-Free” filing with the SEC independently audited in line with the Section 1502 requirements in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Now Signet has extended its “Conflict-Free” reporting under Section 1502 for a fourth consecutive year. Signet believes that a responsible, conflict-free supply chain is fundamental to the reputation of the jewellery industry. Signet is, therefore, committed to continuing our longstanding

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

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

The Blancpain Ocean Commitment Global Concept

Blancpain’s commitment to the underwater world took on a new dimension in 2014 with  ocean exploration and preservation under the label 'Blancpain Ocean Commitment', as well as with the launch of the first series of Ocean Commitment limited edition watches. Today, three years, ten expeditions and four million square kilometers of protected ocean later, Blancpain reconfirms its commitment with the recently launched all-blue limited edition.  Driven by a resolutely pioneering spirit since its founding in 1735, the Manufacture Blancpain has enjoyed historical links with diving for more than 60 years, more precisely since the 1953 launch of the Fifty Fathoms

Alexander Wood to Represent UK at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi

The Goldsmiths’ Company has announced that Alexander Wood has been chosen to represent the UK in the Jewellery Competition at the WorldSkills Finals in Abu Dhabi.  The 44th edition of the world’s leading vocational education and skills excellence competition, which will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 14-19 October 2017, will bring together 1000 apprentices and students from 70 countries, all vying for the top spot in a particular vocational field.    The two-year process has seen competitors win regional heats, a national final, European finals and more recently jump the final hurdle reaching the most

Trollbeads Grow

Danish interchangeable  jewellery  brand Trollbeads has upped its game by building a highly interactive digital strategy that includes social influencers and brand ambassadors. Recently hosting a first of its kind digital party and inviting one of the UK’s biggest bloggers to become the face of a new season collection, Trollbeads is working to engage a target market that may not shop solely in the conventional brick and mortar way. 2016 saw Trollbeads focus heavily on the consumer experience offered to its customer and how to continue driving sales. To strengthen its digital position, Trollbeads recruited renowned fashion and lifestyle blogger

Melanie Georgacopoulos: MOP Shell Collection Features New Pieces

Melanie Georgacopoulos recently added new pieces to their "MOP Shell" collection. They will be unveiling the collection this week at Collect at the Saatchi Gallery, London, where  you can discover the new additions!  Mother of Pearl, otherwise known as nacre is produced by mollusks as an inner shell layer, it also makes up the outer coating of pearls. It is a strong, resilient and iridescent material that has been used for thousands of years, mainly in the form of inlay. Natural MOP has many different applications worldwide, in both expensive and inexpensive items. It can be commonly found in East Asian and

Call For Applications: The P & O Makower Trust Silver Commission

Call For Applications: The P & O Makower Trust Silver Commission for Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales 2016 The P&O Makower Trust wishes to commission a silversmith designer to design and make a piece of work (excluding jewellery) to a maximum value of £5,000 which would be placed on loan with Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales. Call for Applications Entries are now invited from: recently graduated (within the last seven years) professionalised silversmiths who are resident in Britain and who may or may not have work in public collections. The scheme excludes student work. Timetable and Further Details Entrants

Spanner & Wingnut: The Organic Edge of Jewellery Luxury

Anneka Moore studied Jewellery Design at London's Central St. Martins, before embarking on an adventure through the fashion industry to finally end up with her bold and beautiful jewellery brand, Spanner & Wingnut, as shown at London Fashion Week recently. Now based in the Goldsmiths Centre surrounded by skilled craftsmen, Anneka draws inspiration from her beloved London, and all things fashionable and organic. This, combined with traditional manufacturing techniques and precious materials, promises to deliver wearable, luxurious and aesthetic jewellery. Spanner & Wingnut offers a bespoke service too, specialising in engagement and wedding rings. Sourcing inspiration from birds talons, scorpions

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

Harriet Kelsall wins Cambridge's ‘Independent Retailer of the Year' Gong

Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery has won the ‘Independent Retailer of the Year’ gong at the Cambridge News Business Excellence Awards 2017. Leading businesses from across the city recently gathered for a gala dinner in the Great Hall, Kings College where Justin Webb of BBC Radio Four announced the winners.  Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery opened the doors of its Green Street Studio and Shop in May 2005, and since then it has grown from strength to strength, winning a multitude of national awards. The business was praised by a panel of judges for pioneering bespoke jewellery on the UK high street.

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

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 

Domino’s Diamonds Scintillate at IJL

Domino’s recently refreshed ‘Scintillating Diamond’ collection was very well received at International Jewellery London earlier this month. The stunning earring and neckwear range features diamonds suspended on fine threads to create additional movement and sparkle. There are 46 individual designs, 37 of which are brand new for Autumn 2016. Pieces can be purchased as a suite, providing great add-on sales, or can be mixed and matched across the collection to suit individual style and taste. Available in 18ct white, yellow or rose gold, this striking range features HSi certificated diamonds. So what are the reasons for the pull that this collection

Elements 2: Festival of Contemporary Jewellery and Silverware - Scotland

Elements 2: Festival of Contemporary Jewellery and Silverware - Scotland This November, The Incorporation of Goldsmiths and Lyon & Turnbull will be holding the second ‘Elements’, an annual festival celebrating contemporary jewellery and silverware in Scotland. Elements Festival Jewellery Fair Elements 2 will see forty-eight of the UK’s most talented jewellers and silversmiths exhibit their work, which will also be available to buy. Exhibitors include Sarah Hutchison, who was recently commissioned to create a diamond-studded teapot to add to the prestigious Chitra Collection of Newby Teas, Bryony Knox who was previously artist in residence at Edinburgh Zoo and Rebecca Joselyn,

Creative & Cultural Skills Annual Awards Evening 2017

Creative and Cultural Skills recently held their annual awards evening for the winners of the  2017 Cr eative & Cultural Skills Awards which  were judged by leading employers in the creative industries.    The awards were designed to celebrate inspirational individuals, teams and organisations, who show an outstanding commitment to the training and development of new talent in the creative industries. The Awards Evening allowed recognition for those individuals and organisations responsible for passing on their skills, as well as those who show an outstanding dedication to the creative industries. The jewellery industry had two winners in the Craft Skills

Heat, Bash, Buff: Learning To Make A Silver Ring

"Jewellery Has The Power To Be This One Little Thing That Can Make You Feel Unique." - Jennie Kwon Having recently embarked upon my eye-opening journey into the world of Jewellery, my spirit guide, editor and working partner to all things sparkly and juicy in the jewellery world thought it was about time I stopped talking the talk of all things silver and pretty and set my sights upon navigating the benchpeg instead. The idea of flouncing around flaunting my very own silver number sounded absolutely fabulous whilst the idea of me having to make friends with a hammer and

ARTESANA i TRIBU Launches Ethical Range, KAIRO

Sana López Abellán is an anthropologist and jewellery maker from La Bisbal, Spain who has recently launched her new exlusive range of Jewellery. KAIRO is a collection of bold and colourful jewellery, based on West African textiles set in metal. This exclusive collection of jewellery is a true color explosion, expressive and fun! Each piece is centered around the prints of West African textiles, recovered from a tailor in Gambia, his leftovers now feature in these works of art. “Jewellery is a feature which all societies have in common. Even though its expression may be quite different, adornment is used in

Philip Kydd Apprentice wins Gold at Jewellery Oscars

James  Kydd , silversmithing apprentice under his master (and  father) Philip  Kydd , recently had a very  successful evening at the Goldsmiths ’  Craft and Design Council Awards  – the  ‘ Oscars ’  for the jewellery and  silversmithing trades. The ceremony was held in the pre stigious  and beautiful surroundings of Goldsmiths ’  Hall in London.  James won the  Gold Award  in the Junior Craft category ;  the  Gold Award  in the Junior section of the  Polishing category; the  Bronze  Award for  Setting; and the  Special Award  (presented for the first time this  year) for  ‘A n appropriate design that

Grant Macdonald Silversmiths Complete Life-Size Falcon

Grant Macdonald Silversmiths have recently completed a commission  comprising a silver falcon. Their falcon was meticulously made by hand, every feather chased in by hand  to obtain a realistic  look and feel as possible. At every stage of production the Grant  Macdo nald  master craftsmen used  their skill and knowledge to make sure that each piece of the work was perfect.  Chasing is an ancient technique, from the noun to chase referring to a  fu rrow  or indent, the metal is  moved not removed. Using this technique, every feather is observed and recreated  gi ving  a sense of  depth and movement. 

First Jewelry Launches for the First Time in the UK

For the first time, First Jewelry has launched its Persona brand of sterling silver jewellery, beads and charms on this side of the Atlantic. The Toronto based brand has been a staple of the retail bead and charm market throughout  North America, and with a recently expanded product offering and the hugely popular  PEANUTS© by Persona licenced collection, has now made its debut to UK and European retailers. The expertise of First Jewelry Limited in marketing and distributing silver jewellery for unique market segments has positioned the Persona brand for success with UK consumers starting this  fall. “First Jewelry was

Summer Sizzlers from domino

Domino has recently launched a collection of 27 new designs to support and refresh its popular Diamond Ring Mount (DRM) Collection. The new rings, which are designed and created at Domino’s sophisticated manufacturing facility in the heart of Birmingham’s famous Jewellery Quarter, include a mixture of styles ranging from classic solitaires through to more contemporary pieces. “These rings received terrific customer feedback when we previewed them at Baselworld  under our ‘Created & Crafted in Britain’ brand earlier this year and our customers’ comments informed our choices as to which pieces made it through into the final range,” explains sales and

Arabel Lebrusan Launches First Fairmined Gold Collection

As part of her commitment to beautiful, ethical jewellery, and having recently become a Fairmined licensee, Arabel Lebrusan is launching an exclusive new collection made from Fairmined Ecological Gold. Fairmined Ecological Gold (Eco Gold) is gold that has not only been mined under the strict rules of the Fairmined Certification with regard to social development, fair treatment and equitable payment. It goes one-step further in not using mercury or cyanide to extract the gold; tighter management of environmental risks; no mining in protected areas and a programme dedicated to the restoration and rehabilitation of mined out areas. It thus ensures

Pandora’s Green Profile Soars

New environmental study shows that the impact on the environment can be reduced significantly when using recycled silver and gold as well as man-made stones. In order to further minimize the Company´s impact on the environment and meet consumers' expectations for ethical jewellery, Pandora focuses more on green production facilities. The recently released Pandora Ethics Report 2016 reveals a strong commitment to high ethical standards throughout the company´s value chain. A new and independent environmental study carried out for  Pandora shows that the impact on nature can be reduced to less than 5 percent when using recycled gold and silver

Dr Tristram Hunt announced as new Director of the V&A

The V&A Trustees have today (13 January) appointed Dr Tristram Hunt as the new Director of the V&A.  Tristram has served as Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central since 2010, and was previously the Shadow Secretary of State and Shadow Minister for Education.  A historian, politician, writer and broadcaster, Tristram is an expert on the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, with a particular focus on Victorian urban history. He is the author of several books, including The English Civil War: At First Hand, and most recently Ten Cities That Made An Empire. A regular history broadcaster on BBC and Channel 4, Tristram

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.

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

iWeld® Laser System 990 Series - 60 Joule System

iWeld® Laser System 990 Series - 60 Joule System 8.0kW Advanced Edition Software: Advanced P3 , Motorized Beam Expander, Memory Presets Removable Chamber Enclosure W/ Front Door Design Supply Curcuit: 220v (+/- 10%), 50/60-Hz, 15 Amp, Single Phase Platform Benchtop Color: Titanium/Pearl This machine has been well looked after for 11 years. I have had it from new Bulb recently blew and on inspection has also blown the nd:YAG crystal.   The gold flash chamber plating is peeling off although I have a spare if that too.  Unit was working perfectly prior to bulb blowing but as I cannot hold water

News Edit: 9 October 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   King Charles III's coronation to feature jewels worth £3.5 billion Cambridge News: The most expensive crown jewels were recently seen placed on top of the Queen's coffin. www.cambridge-news.co.uk Step Inside Chanel’s New Paris Flagship Designed by Peter Marino Galerie Magazine: The Place Vendôme space debuts with a celestial high-jewelry collection inspired by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s archival designs. galeriemagazine.com Gigi And Naomi Celebrate Messika’s “Empowering” Paris Fashion Week Runway Show Vogue: The Parisian house’s latest high jewellery collection heralds the return of body jewellery. www.vogue.co.uk Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's bridal

Sarabande: Sølve Sundsbø, Michaela Stark & Perfect magazine

Sarabande: Sølve Sundsbø, Michaela Stark & Perfect Magazine Monday 6th September Sarabande Foundation, 22 Hertford Rd, London N1 5SH Doors open at 7:00 PM An inspirational talk with Sølve Sundsbø & Michaela Stark, in conversation with Jeanne Annan- Lewin . Internationally renowned fashion photographer and filmmaker Sølve Sundsbø has shot for innumerable luxury couture houses and publications – Chanel, Hérmes, Louis Vuitton, Italian VOGUE, LOVE and i-D to name a few. Sarabande artist-in-residence Michaela Stark creates intricate and unconventional lingerie that subverts and contests society’s unrealistic beauty standards. Having recently collaborated for the upcoming issue of Perfect, the pair will

Fei Liu’s Bespoke Brooch Sells At Auction For A Five-Figure Sum

Jewellery Quarter-based designer Fei Liu has sold his bespoke ‘Poppies in Love’ at auction. In 2021, Fei Liu Fine Jewellery revitalised its fine jewellery line with one-of-a-kind pieces in gold and platinum; selling across the UK, US and Asian markets. Since its rejuvenation, the designer brand has seen sales double from the prior year and a higher intake of bespoke commissions from private collectors. More recently, award-winning jewellery designer Fei Liu sold a one-of-a-kind brooch at auction for a five-figure sum (US dollars). Entitled ‘Poppies in Love’, the brooch reimagines the poppy flower in an abstract wearable form. The brooch

ACID Turns 25 – Ai And Intellectual Property Minister Joins Recent Celebrations In The City Of London

A galaxy of “IP and design heavyweights” including the IP Minister, Creative Industries Co Chair, Sir Peter Bazalgette, Design Council CEO and iconic designer, Professor Sebastian Conran joined ACID recently to celebrate reaching twenty-five years since the organisation was founded.   At a landmark event formally celebrating Anti Copying in Design’s (ACID) twenty-five years since it was founded, many from the world of IP and design were present to welcome the Minister for Intellectual Property and AI, Viscount Camrose, Creative Industries Co-Chair, Sir Peter Bazalgette, Iconic designer Sebastian Conran, Design Council CEO Minnie Moll and ACID’s Chief Counsel Nick Kounoupias, who

Felieke Van Der Leest: Jewelrassic Park @ Mobilia Gallery

Felieke Van Der Leest: Jewelrassic Park @ Mobilia Gallery Mobilia Gallery 18th May  - 21st June 2019 "When I am working with color, I feel like a painter, When I am Working with metal, I feel like a constructor, And when I am working with toys, I feel like a child". Recently returning from China and getting ready for its United States debut at Mobilia Gallery, each Dino sculpture is wearable or has a wearable element. Editions held in the Collections of:              CODA Museum Apeldoorn, The Netherlands Stedelijk Museum Den Bosch, The Netherlands National Museum of Decorative Arts and Design,

All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star - Series 2

Call for Applications: All That Glitters: Britain's Next Jewellery Star - Series 2 Twenty Twenty Productions Limited are responsible for making award winning programmes such as First Dates, The Choir, A House Through Time and most recently BBC’s Two’s brand new show, All That Glitters: Britain’s Next Jewellery Star and they are on the hunt for people to take part in the next series.  The current series is presented by Katherine Ryan and judged by industry experts Shaun Leane and Solange Azagury-Partridge and is on air from 8pm Tuesday 13 April, BBC2. Call for Applications - Series 2 ‘All That Glitters Britain’s Next Jewellery

Contemporary British Silversmiths Members win Scholarships

The  South House Silver Workshop Trust  has recently announced it has awarded two fully funded six-month Graduate Apprentice Scheme residential scholarships and an additional four in collaboration with its partners. giving talented and committed silversmiths an opportunity to develop their creative and technical skills with silversmiths Rod Kelly and Brett Payne. The winners are: Six-month Graduate Apprenticeships: Jessica Jue  &  Ellys Woods One month scholarships: Sarah Shelton Palmer The Jamie McDonald Kelly Scholarship   Fenella Watson The Saunders Scholarship Loucinda Nims The Pearson Foundation Scholarship Charlotte Tollyfield The South House Silver Workshop Trust Scholarship The call for applications was made here: benchpeg .

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

Nambé Celebrates Strong Debut at JCK Las Vegas

Designer lifestyle brand, Nambé, enjoyed a positive reception at this year’s JCK Las Vegas (June 5-8), welcoming international media, buyers and retailers to its booth ahead of its London launch event on June 29.  The award-winning brand impressed its existing retail partners and prospective clients with its recently-launched sterling silver jewellery collection and giftware assortment. Initially debuted in the United States in September 2016, Nambé Jewellery proved immediately popular with the brand’s loyal homeware customers who recognised its signature, sculptural aesthetic. Its initial roll-out in 400 doors across the US and the reaction of retail partners at JCK Las Vegas proves