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Introducing the latest Harry Winston collection ‘Winston Gates’

Signature design codes from luxury maisons are often reinterpreted time and time again, however, Harry Winston’s latest jewellery collection looks to a unique part of the brand’s history for inspiration writes Jodie Smith. What do you think of when you hear the name Harry Winston? Renowned for his acquisition of some of the world’s most famous diamonds such as the Jonker, Hope, and Winston Legacy diamonds - as well as his philanthropic pursuits - Harry Winston is a name usually associated with enormous jewels, like the headline grabbing purple sapphire and diamond necklace which Jennifer Lopez sported on the Met Gala

Open Studios Bishopsland Educational Trust

Open Studios @ Bishopsland Educational Trust On Saturday 6 August between 2pm and 5pm the workshops and exhibition space at Bishopsland Educational Trust will be open to the general public. There will be demonstrations of traditional hand craft silversmithing techniques and an exhibition & sale of work produced here by this year's resident-makers and a number of fellows, including Malcolm Appleby, Bryony Knox, Alice Fry, Nan Nan Liu and Sheila MacDonald. The event is free to attend. Bishopsland Educational Trust, Dunsden, S Oxfordshire, RG4 9NR c.murdoch@bishopsland.org.uk Photo : Yuyi Cheng Chalice 2022

Bishopsland Educational Trust @ Goldsmiths' Fair

Bishopsland Educational Trust @ Goldsmiths' Fair Launching their 'Tools Library' initiative and spotlighting their heritage skills training programme as a feeder for Goldmsiths' Fair talent Week One: 26 September to 1 October | Week Two: 3 October to 8 October 2023 Goldsmiths Fair, Goldsmiths' Hall Integrity in making, wholeheartedly "Bishopsland Educational Trust is an internationally recognised and accredited charity dedicated to the training and education of young people in the craft of silversmithing in the United Kingdom. We have nurtured the careers of more than 200 silversmiths and jewellers over the last 30 years, the majority of whom have gone on

A celebration of 30 years of Bishopsland Educational Trust Exhibition

A celebration of 30 years of Bishopsland Educational Trust Exhibition 17 June to 29 July 2023 The New Ashgate Gallery, Surrey Bishopsland Educational Trust has nurtured the careers of over 200 silversmiths and jewellers over the last 30 years. Today the Bishopsland society of Fellows are some of the foremost craftspeople in their field, continuing to pass their skills onto others and contributing to the vibrancy of the British craft sector. This exhibition celebrates both new and established makers from the Bishopsland, showcasing exceptional and highly collectable jewellery and silversmithing work. The makers from Bishopsland alumni are Sarah Shelton-Palmer, Charlotte

The Angel Christmas Fair, Candid Arts Trust - London

The Angel Christmas Fair is an annual affordable art and design fair featuring the work of various artists and designers. The event will take place in December 2016 and will comprise all creative disciplines; painting, photography, illustration, fashion, textiles, jewellery, glass, ceramics and furniture. Dates: Saturday 3rd December – Sunday 4th December Times: 11.00am – 6.00pm Venue: Candid Arts Trust, 3 Torrens Street, London EC1V 1NQ www.candidarts.com

Chair of Trustees, Bishopsland Educational Trust - Oxfordshire

Passionate About Heritage Crafts? Lead the Way as Chair of Trustees of Bishopsland Educational Trust We’re seeking an inspiring Chair of Trustees to lead a dynamic board at the forefront of preserving and promoting the heritage craft of Silversmithing across the UK. This is a unique opportunity to make a real impact—championing the vocational training of traditional skills, supporting craft practitioners, and shaping the future of a nationally respected charity. 🌟 About Us: Bishopsland Educational Trust is an internationally recognised charity dedicated to the training and education of emerging makers in the heritage craft of silversmithing. We are a long

Bishopsland Educational Trust Silver & Fine Jewellery Exhibition & Sale

Bishopsland Educational Trust Silver & Fine Jewellery Exhibition & Sale Bishopsland Educational Trust warmly invites you to an evening celebrating the best silversmiths & fine jewellers. Tickets: FREE Date: 22 November 2021 Time: 5pm - 8pm Venue: Clothworkers Hall About the Event The event is free and includes: 17.00 - 20.00: Enjoy a glass of wine on arrival, watch demonstrations and explore the exhibitors’ sale upstairs in the Reception Room 18.00 - 18:45: Guests have the opportunity to sit down for a short lecture by Kirstin Kennedy, V&A, followed by an interactive panel discussion, with the ability to explore the

Trustees of the South House Workshop Trust Announce 2025 Scholars

The Trustees of the South House Workshop Trust are delighted to announce ELEVEN fully-funded silversmithing graduate scholarships for 2025. These residential scholarships are being made available to accelerate the professional careers of promising silversmiths. Each scholarship is for a period of one month or two months, learning a variety of silversmithing skills in an intensive residential placement either in Shetland or Sheffield with master silversmiths Rod Kelly, Brett Payne and Chris Perry. The scholarships include the cost of tuition, travel, accommodation and a subsistence bursary. Each one month scholarship has a value of £5250.00. The training will cover in detail:

Bishopsland Educational Trust celebrate 30 Years of success with a Hall full of friends

On Friday 30 June, over 200 members of the industry and Bishopsland Fellows gathered at Goldsmiths’ Hall to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the Bishopsland Educational Trust. Since it was founded in 1993 by Pope and Oliver Makower, it has become an internationally recognised and accredited charity dedicated to the training and support of people in the craft of silversmithing. Behind the growth of Bishopsland was Pope and Oliver’s vision, support and dedication and a generous patronage built from a belief in helping others. Bishopsland’s unique one-year residential course has helped over 200 graduates with a passion for precious metalwork

PRESS RELEASE: Christie’s Presents Magnificent Jewels: Featuring the Blue Belle, a 392.52 carat Sapphire and Diamond Necklace and The Marie-Thérèse Pink Diamond

Christie’s proudly presents Magnificent Jewels, a live auction taking place on 17 June at Rockefeller Center in New York City. Christie’s proudly presents Magnificent Jewels, a live auction taking place on 17 June at Rockefeller Center in New York City. The sale will showcase an outstanding selection of captivating diamonds and spectacular-colored gemstones, alongside iconic creations from the world’s most prestigious jewelry houses, including Belperron, Bulgari, Cartier, Harry Winston, JAR, Van Cleef & Arpels, and many others. Leading the sale is The Blue Belle, a superb sapphire and diamond necklace (Estimate $8,000,000 – 12,000,000). At its heart is an extraordinary

Huge Turnout for the 2024 Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Council Awards Ceremony

The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award and 50 other awards were presented at the 2024 Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards including the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 'Jewellery Oscars' held on Monday. Held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London on Monday 4th March 2024, the annual Awards Ceremony, otehrwise known as the 'Jewellery Oscars' was opened by the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council’s chair Anne-Marie Reeves, and hosted by Council Trustees Maeve Gillies and Judith Lockwood, who revealed this year’s award winners. The event welcomed 300 guests, including representatives from world renowned jewellery houses, notable sponsors, industry associations, leading designers, and the UK

Bishopsland Launch £2.5M Capital Fundrasing Campaign

Bishopsland has announced today a new fundraising campaign ahead of its imminent relocation to the National Trust Buscot and Coleshill Estate in South Oxfordshire. The Bishopsland Educational Trust is taking out a 30 year lease on a 7,750sq ft historic Grade II listed derelict building to create a new home for Bishopsland, to develop spacious workshops, dedicated machine/hammering rooms, flexible creative and digital working areas, incubation workshops, offices, meeting facilities and accommodation. The organisation is due to commence activities on site from summer 2024. The Bishopsland Educational Trust is inviting visionary founding partners, dedicated funders, forwardthinking corporate sponsors and those

Bishopsland announces the opening of its new HQ

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

Opening of the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop

Opening of the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop Join The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust in partnership with Marchmont Creative Spaces as we launch a new home for silversmithing in the Scottish Borders: The Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop. Day Programme To celebrate the opening of the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop, The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust has created a day programme for everyone from curators to collectors, and industry experts to those passionate about traditional craft. The day will include the formal opening of the workshop, talks, panel discussion and silversmithing demonstrations. Speakers will include Lisa Koenigsberg, President of Initiatives in Art and Culture based in New York

Machine Operative / Workshop Operative, Argex - Birmingham, West Midlands

Machine Operative / Workshop Operative (Full Time) Argex Birmingham, West Midlands We are looking for a reliable, dedicated and trust worthy individual to join our dynamic team in our Manufacturing Department based on site in Birmingham, West Midlands. This vacancy is a diverse and varied role that gives the successful candidate the opportunity to work within the manufacturing department of our business that is renowned as industry leading within our sector. The Ideal Candidate for this role would display the following characteristics: Be highly organised and able to work under pressure during busy periods. Be able to reliably commute to

PRESS RELEASE: Craft skills remain under threat with 20 new additions to the UK’s Red List of Endangered Crafts

A stark warning has been issued for the future of traditional craft skills in the UK, as new research by Heritage Crafts has identified 20 more crafts at risk of vanishing from the UK, in the latest major update of its pioneering project – the Red List of Endangered Crafts – published today. The new additions join a list of 165 at-risk crafts now listed in the report. Heritage Crafts’ research, which has been funded by The Pilgrim Trust with additional sponsorship from The Royal Mint, has found that rising operational costs, a lack of structured training, and mounting market

Bishopsland Exhibition & Sale at Clothworkers' Hall, London

Bishopsland Exhibition & Sale at Clothworkers' Hall, London Monday 28 November 4pm - 8pm On behalf of Bishopsland Educational Trust we have pleasure in inviting you to an exclusive, free, early evening event at Clothworkers’ Hall, London, on Monday 28 November 2022. Please register to attend here . We are honoured to be supported by over 30 of the UK's leading silversmiths and jewellers including Claire Malet, Jane Adam, Theresa Nuygen, Kayo Saito, Angus McFadyen and Miriam Hanid. It will also be an exciting opportunity for our current cohort of emerging makers to exhibit work made since they commenced the Bishopsland programme

PRESS RELEASE: Birmingham joins global cities Kyoto and Jaipur as World Craft City status awarded

Birmingham has officially been recognised as a World Craft City - making it one of just eight in Europe to receive the prestigious designation from the World Crafts Council. This signifies a landmark moment for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, placing the city’s historic Jewellery Quarter - home to an internationally renowned community of jewellers, makers and creative businesses - firmly on the global stage. Led by the Jewellery Quarter Development Trust (JQDT) and co-applicants Birmingham City University, a bid for World Craft City status was supported by Birmingham City Council and the Goldsmiths Company and submitted

Maker of the Year Award 2025

Call for Applications: Maker of the Year Award Prize: £1,000 per UK nation Opening date for applications: 3 March 2025 Closing date for applications: 1 July 2025 Supported by the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation, Marsh Charitable Trust, William Grant Foundation and Silverlining Furniture This Heritage Crafts Award is to recognise a heritage craftsperson who has made an outstanding contribution to their specific craft within the previous 12 months (since 3 March 2024). This award will recognise a contribution that is far beyond the ordinary, either in pushing their craft to new levels, contributing to its promotion or continuation in an exceptional way.

A launch weekend fit for a silversmith

Last weekend Benchpeg spent a long weekend 'At Home with Silver' hosted by the The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust (SGT) and Marchmont House. The Friday through to Sunday event, located an hour south of Edinburgh near Duns in the Scottish Borders, brought together 82 guests on the Saturday Open Day launch from across the UK and internationally to the Marchmont Estate. Together the collective gathered to celebrate the opening of the Marchmont Silversmithing Workshop - a brand new fully equipped workspace for silversmiths, developed by the SGT in partnership with Marchmont Creative Spaces. Present at the event were practising silversmiths, curators,

Bishopsland Opens Up Pedigree Masterclasses for Summer Short Course Up Skilling

Bishopsland Educational Trust have opened up their renowned masterclass programme to non-cohort members for the first time ever, in celebration of their new home in Oxfordshire. Bishopsland are, for the first time offering a series of 3 day masterclasses for intermediate-to-advanced makers as delivered on their year long residential programme from their new beautiful Grade II listed workshops in rural Oxfordshire. Each course will be led by a Bishopsland Master Silversmith and includes 3 full days of group and 1-2-1 instruction. Places are set to a maximum 6 attendees for each course. The course includes full use of the workshops and

A gift, an idea and some generosity

Benchpeg has met Ebba Goring a few times now. She has a generosity of spirit which shines through as soon as you meet her. You can feel the warmth of personality she emits as you approach her to say hello. She’s also a fiercely intelligent woman which is conveyed through carefully considered words, a warm countenance and an extraordinary vision for what could be. But she’s also a person of action, and these attributes very rarely collide in a single person. As CEO of the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust (SGT) she is in an enviable leadership position within an entire country

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

QEST Scholar Exhibition at Fortnum & Mason

‘The Art of the Exceptional, a Jubilee Celebration of Makers’ 14th March – 19th June Third Floor, Fortnum & Mason To mark the anniversary of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Fortnum & Mason have partnered with the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) to host four exhibitions in the heart of their flagship store in Piccadilly. From March to June, the exhibitions will celebrate the best of British creativity, crafts and making, and conclude with the creation of a one-off Jubilee hamper of artisan products made over the four months. The exhibition series ‘The Art of the Exceptional, a Jubilee Celebration of Makers’

Radical Jewellery Makeover

Radical Jewellery Makeover Princes Square, Glasgow Saturday 26 March – Tuesday 29 March 2022 The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust is delighted to announce a new exhibition of jewellery, part of the worldwide Radical Jewellery Makeover originated by Ethical Metalsmiths. The exhibition runs from Saturday 26 March – Tuesday 29 March 2022. Students and staff from Scotland’s art colleges were invited to make new pieces for the exhibition – colleges involved are: The Glasgow School of Art; Glasgow Kelvin College; City of Glasgow College; Edinburgh College of Art; Fife College and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design. There will be

Bishopsland Pop-up @ Goldsmiths Centre

Bishopsland Pop-up @ Goldsmiths Centre 12 June 2025 Meet our current cohort at the Goldsmiths Centre An opportunity to meet and chat with our hugely talented 2024/5 cohort and witness their development as we move towards the end of their intensive Bishopsland vocational skills training programme. This is a lovely, exclusive event in the wonderful setting of the Goldsmiths Centre with ample opportunity to talk to the makers about their journey and planned next steps. Bursary support is generously provided by the following, which many of the Emerging Makers on our programme rely : The Benevolent Society, South Square Trust,

A History of Coronation Dress and Jewels

Talk: Ceremony And Splendour A History Of Coronation Dress And Jewels Clothworrkes’ Hall, London Monday, 6th March 2023 The Creative Dimension Trust (TCDT) will host a talk on coronations in the elegant surroundings of Clothworrkes’ Hall on Monday 6th March, with Caroline de Guitaut, Deputy Surveyor of The King’s Works of Art 100% of the proceeds will go towards TCDT's fully funded workshops, taught by craft specialists, for 14-19-year-olds who wish to develop their hand skills. Focussing on the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the lecture will explore the origins, design and evolution of Coronation dress and jewels – from richly embroidered fashionable

Copenhagen Commitment Summit in London seen as hugely positive step forward

On a beautiful sunny day this week, Benchpeg was invited to join the Copenhagen Commitment’s second summit meeting hosted by the Goldsmiths' Centre to discuss what, in the most democratic and transparent manner, delegates considered to be the most important key issues around industry ethics, the environment and sustainability at both at macro and micro levels were. Delegates such as Pippa Small, Jos Skeates, Stuart Pool, Peter Crump, Melanie Eddy, Thelma West, Yianni Melas, Karen Westland of the Scottish Goldsmiths Trust, Marcus McCallum, Charlotte Cornelius and many, many others were in attendance. Svend Wennick who drives the Copenhagen Commitment initiative

Tech Meets Tradition: AI and the Art of Jewellery

Tech Meets Tradition: AI and the Art of Jewellery 13 November 2024 The Melting Pot, Edinburgh Tech Meets Tradition: The Jewellery Collective to host knowledge-sharing and networking event exploring the future of AI in the jewellery industry The Jewellery Collective – a community-driven members’ association founded on a vision of breaking down barriers, fostering trust and encouraging new connections – has announced an upcoming panel talk and networking event in Edinburgh called Tech Meets Tradition: AI and the Art of Jewellery . Hosted by co-working and event space The Melting Pot, this exciting event is designed to invite fresh perspectives

It's In Our Hands - The Future of Ethical Making in Scotland

It's In Our Hands - The Future of Ethical Making in Scotland by The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust and DJCAD at the University of Dundee This Symposium on Ethical Making is aimed primarily at jewellers and silversmiths, but is relevant to makers of all disciplines who have an interest in adopting an ethical approach in their practice. The day will be animated by a fantastic panel of speakers, including Greg Valerio MBE, award winning British fair trade ethical jeweller and environmental activist; jeweller Ute Decker; silversmith Karen Westland; Tim Ingle of ethical jewellery brand Ingle & Rhode; researcher Dr Peter Oakley

Jewellery Ethics for the 21st Century - A Practical Workshop

Jewellery Ethics for the 21st Century - A Practical Workshop by The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust and DJCAD at the University of Dundee This course is designed and run by two leading proponents of ethical jewellery, Greg Valerio MBE & Ute Decker, and is about sustainability and ethical awareness. It is aimed at those involved in designing, making selling, learning or teaching jewellery and follows on from the Symposium the previous day. 1. What topics will we cover? The course will explain the ethical issues in jewellery making and the significance of Fairtrade and Fairmined gold. You will learn about different approaches to ethical

Meet the Benchpeg Team

This is us. We are the team that bring the Benchpeg website, newsletter and social media feeds to our lovely readers, subscribers and followers. Rebecca van Rooijen MA CMktr FCIM FRSA Co-founder | Editor Co-founder | Editor Rebecca is the creator of Benchpeg, she has 20 years of experience in the industry (she started young!), her vision was to create a resource where the jewellery industry could share and access information. Along with being Editor-in-Cheif of Benchpeg, Rebecca is a Trustee of the Bishopsland Educational Trust , Committee Member for the Communications and Marketing Committee at The Goldsmiths’ Company ,

Privacy Policy

Thank you for visiting Benchpeg. This policy explains what information we receive from you when you visit our website and how we use it. When you use our site, you are agreeing to this policy. At Benchpeg, we are committed to maintaining the trust and confidence of the visitors to our website and subscribers to our newsletter. We want you to know that Benchpeg is not into selling, renting or trading email lists with other companies and businesses for marketing purposes, or playing fast and lose with data - we never have been and never will be. Here you’ll find

Rebecca van Rooijen

Meet the Co-Founder and Editor of Benchpeg. Rebecca van Rooijen MA CMktr FCIM FRSA Co-founder | Editor Rebecca is the creator of Benchpeg, she has over 25 years of experience within the jewellery industry (she started young!), her vision was to create a resource where the jewellery trade could share and access resources in order to democratise information. In addition to editing Benchpeg and the weekly newsletter (which just celebrated its 800th issue) which she created 18 years ago, Rebecca is a Trustee of the Bishopsland Educational Trust and Chair of the Goldsmiths' Fair Advisory Board at The Goldsmiths'

Elements Festival of Jewellery, Silver & Gold 2023

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