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Appointment: Judith Cobham-Lowe OBE the first woman Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company

Wednesday 17 May marked the installation of trailblazing Londoner,   Judith Cobham-Lowe OBE,  as the first woman Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company. Judith has a background in academia, corporate strategy and business leadership, and her year as Prime Warden will launch the decade running up to the 700th Anniversary of the Company's first Royal Charter. At least £70m  will be gifted by the Livery Company and its Charity over the next 10 years in support of the gold and silversmiths’ trade, apprentice training and other charitable activities. Recent projects include: Funding the ‘Worship and Life’ section of

Morley & ACJ Jewellery Lecture Series: A Woman’s Work Is Never Done by Joanne Haywood

Morley & ACJ Jewellery Lecture Series: A Woman’s Work Is Never Done by Joanne Haywood Designed and created by Joanne Haywood , ‘A Woman’s Work is Never Done’ is a series of twenty-one jewellery works made for fifteen trailblazing women. Come and hear about the materials and techniques used to make these mixed media jewels, as well as the pioneering women that inspired them. Joanne Haywood is a leading art jeweller, writer and educator. She has worked and exhibited in the UK and internationally. She holds a BA(hons) in Jewellery Design from Central Saint Martins and is recognised for her individual voice

National Festival of Making 2017

A new kind of festival for a new age of making The first National Festival of Making will take place in Blackburn, Lancashire on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May, 2017. This is an opportunity to see, make and do for residents and visitors to Blackburn town centre as The Festival of Making takes over the streets with music, markets, street food, art, performance, tours, talks and above all, an eclectic mix of making experiences for everyone. With twice the national average of people employed in the manufacturing industry, and a community of talented and creative makers working from homes

Coin Jewellery: The Antique Pieces for Spring

This season is all about throwing light back to archaeological treasures and bringing to life antique coins and medallions with modern interpretations. Given a modern twist of light and delicate chains that are perfect for being worn solo or layered with an array of other chains, coin jewellery is every fashion friend's favourite look for Spring. Dangling from dainty hoops or bundled into a shimmery bib necklace, spring medallions and coins are a simple way of adding a touch of antique demure with elegant simplicity. What makes this Spring trend such a money grabber is its diversity as an accessory.

Appointment: London Diamond Bourse Appoint New Board Members

London Diamond Bourse, the only diamond specific trade association and physical diamond trading floor in the UK, has today announced changes to the composition of its Council of Management. “These are the most fundamental changes to LDB’s governance in my six years at LDB,” said COO, Victoria McKay. She continued, “The following changes are notable; Kathy Chappell, our Special Advisor for Ethical Issues has been welcomed to a full board position and our youngest board member is a millennial. Overall the average age of our board has lowered dramatically and representation around the boardroom table is proportionate to membership statistics."

Need for flexible working may underpin gender pay gap

A desire for flexible working arrangements and a reluctance to relocate for more senior roles were the reasons behind a gender pay gap in the jewellery retail industry that was higher than the national average, research has shown. Pay differentials between men and women for equal jobs ranged from 2% higher at Links of London to 91.6% lower at Pandora, where women effectively have been earning 28p for every £1 earned by a man. But the data, collected and collated by the Government’s Gender Pay Gap Service, did not take into consideration the proportion of store employees who make up

Appointment: Geena Tok leaves Nike to head up Pandora China business

Pandora has recruited Geena Tok from Nike to head its business in China, where the Danish company has been challenged by a rise in sales on the grey market. Pandora has 200 stores and employs more than 1,400 people in China but has said it needs to counter China's grey market, where increasing numbers of jewellery pieces are imported from other markets and sold online. Last month Pandora, the world's largest jewellery maker by production volume, said it would lower retail prices in the country by an average of 15 percent. Chinese resident Tok joins Pandora next month, having spent

Jocelyn Burton 1946 - 2020

Sara Jocelyn Margarita Elissa Burton (10 January 1946 - 5 April 2020) was an award-winning British silver and goldsmith. Burton was the first woman to receive the City and Guilds of London Institute top award, the Prince Philip Medal. Jocelyn Burton, 74: Effervescent silversmith and a first freewoman The Times: When in 1974 Jocelyn Burton became the first female freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths the certificate that she was handed had to have the words “son of” Roland Burton crossed out in ink, to be replaced with “daughter of”. A determined figure, Jocelyn spent a large part of

Sculptural Jewels That Celebrate the Majesty of the Sea

For the woman who finds peace in the rhythm of the waves and inspiration in the shimmer of the tide, jewellery can be more than a beautiful gift—it can be a deeply personal tribute to her connection with the sea. The Birds, Bees, and Things from the Sea collection by Vivienne Charles offers a meaningful way to celebrate that bond. Designed by artist and jeweler Elisa Gilbert, the collection includes a love letter to the ocean, captured in sculptural, hand-crafted forms. Each piece evokes the romance of coastal discovery and the elegance of fine craftsmanship, resulting in wearable works of

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

Q&A: Sooryia Tharayil and Hina Israr

Sooryia Tharayil and Hina Israr are the joint Founders of fine jewellery brand Zaabel. Sooryia graduated with top honours from India’s prestigious design institute - National Institute of Fashion Technology and has previously worked with renowned design houses and Indian jewelry brands. Hina spent a decade in the investment banking and private equity sector, before an overwhelming need for creativity compelled her to begin the Zaabel journey, spurred on by a childhood fascination of the Gold Souks. Zaabel is founded on the principle that there is tangible chemistry between a woman and her jewelry; together the pair design delicate, contemporary jewellery

Adornment Meets Masculinity: Men's Jewellery

For a fair few gentlemen the mere word 'Jewellery' is enough to make their pumped chests shrink and reach straight for the beers to reinstate all things masculine. When it comes to stepping foot in the jewellery world, it's fair to say that woman are pretty much catered for hand on foot for a plethora of tastes, personality and style. Bold and bodacious adornments, dazzling multi-coloured gemstones and trend-led catwalk pieces; a womans' jewellery wardrobe is like stepping into the undiscovered world of Narnia - imagination knows no boundaries! However, if you behold the jewellery world of men you'll find

Jewellery Industry expert Karin Paynter speaks at BAFTA on campaign she co-created

This week jewellery industry expert Karin Paynter saw the ERA 50:50 campaign which she co-created, backed by thousands of supporters including Emma Thompson, Olivia Colman and Lena Headey, bring together 200 of the most powerful names in the entertainment industry in one room and called on them to change the way women are represented on stage and screen. Currently, whilst women make up 51% of the population, there are 2 men for every 1 woman across film, television and theatre. Even in crowd scenes, men vastly outnumber women by more than 4 to 1. In fact, there are proportionately fewer

The '90s Chunky Chain Trend is Back

Fancy yourself as a bit of a maximalist when it comes to your accessories? The trends circulating this autumn/winter are varied, vast and everything in between so if you want to be a total show-off this season then chunky chains is a trend to tap into for some statement-making silhouettes! Oversized chain-link jewellery is on the fashion trajectory left, right and centre with the likes of Stella McCartney, Alberta Ferretti, Loewe and even Chloe crafting their collections with unmissable chain links. With a mix and match of textures, finishes, metals and design, there was one element that connected them all:

European Regional Roundtable on Gender, Diversity and Inclusion

Generation Equality – SDG 5 in action, European Regional Roundtable Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) Description As part of our SDG 5 Gender Equality in action series, the RJC would like to invite you to the European Regional Roundtable on Gender, Diversity and Inclusion to be held on the 21st April 2021. During this roundtable we will be exploring the importance of private sector action to promote gender-equality and create more respectful and inclusive workplaces for all. We will explore why the issue of diversity and inclusion is relevant, how companies can action across value chains, but most importantly, we will

Allumer has teamed up with Maggie’s, everyone’s home of cancer care

Natasha Leith-Smith Founder of Allumer jewellery has teamed up with Maggie's the cancer charity to create the Maggie's X Allumer Bell Necklace – for every necklace sold £5 will be donated to the charity. Clashing colours collide with the introduction of tiny bells – the only necklace to be heard in as well as seen in this season! Colourful orange ball chain necklace / bracelet with a silver colour bell. The colours allow the chains to be stackable and stylish, perfect for special occasions. A £5 donation can do wonders for Maggie’s and their families, offering them a helping hand

'Tis the season for gift giving

Scratching your head on what to get your mother, sister, friend or lover this Christmas? A little package dressed up with tassels, bows and frills will cause that sought-after thrill for sure - and that's before they see something extra special and sparkly nestled inside! The old adage 'Diamonds are a girl's best friend' may still ring true for many, but here at BenchPeg, we'd argue that bold and colourful gemstones, weighty chains and eccentric designs are just as desirable for that jewellery lover in your life. We all know that there is a keep-forever piece out there for just about

Navigating the World of Ethical Jewellery and Responsible Mining

'Navigating the World of Ethical Jewellery and Responsible Mining' A panel discussion with jewellery designer Ute Decker and gemstone dealer Stuart Pool Monday, 22 May 2023 18:00 - 20:00 Join ethical-making champions Ute Decker and Stuart Pool for an evening of inspiration and advice. We will look at hot topics in the jewellery industry including the supply chains of gemstones and precious metals, as well as current trends such as recycled metals and their merits. Come and consider how your jewellery practice can evolve and how your choices can cumulatively have a big impact environmentally and socially. There will be

2024 Ethical Gem Fair Tucson

Ethical Gem Fair Tucson Tucson, USA 27 - 30th January 2024 Responsible sourcing will take center stage at the 2024 Ethical Gem Fair Tucson in its fourth annual event. Opening its doors from January 27th to 30th, the Ethical Gem Suppliers Collective will offer a unique opportunity for industry professionals to discover gemstones with short supply chains that support, uplift and respect mining and cutting communities. This trade-only event welcomes jewelry designers, retailers, industry experts and press to explore a curated selection of gemstones that set the standards of social and environmental awareness and responsibility. The Ethical Gem Fair Tucson

It's All In The Charm

Bright, bold statement pieces have been on top of the trends radar all summer long so it's about time that something new and understated joined the race to become the ' it' trend of the new season fashion world. Instead of big oversized hoops looping back round as a cliche style for autumn, a dainty obsession for sentimental chains and charms are taking centre stage for all those fashionistas. From vintage treasure chests of charm jewellery passed down through generations to new designer trinkets, the delicately layered jewellery of autumn is steeped in charming nostalgia and folklore symbolism. From graceful

Playing with Pearls

The pearl has long been a stable of those who long for an elegant and sophisticated style but 2019 will see the classic piece make a return to the mainstream spotlight and in turn, convert a whole new fashion crowd. If you're one to keep your beady eyes on the trends, you'll have noticed that pearls are a fashion staple that never seems to go out of style. Adorning just about every inch of fashion's finest chunky trainers, strung tightly around choker-style chains and delicately dangling from earlobes across the runway, the resurgence of pearls this season is all about

Haunting Jewels of Winter

The mischievous weekends of chills, shrills, thrills and kills is nearly upon us and what better way to make a heart-stopping entrance than in a killer display of demure-soldering jewels? Those with their prowling fingers hot on the fashion pulse will have already seen the winter collections unfurling designs dripping in dramatic sensualism, extravagant grandeur and bold bodacious looks to kill. Keeping this mysterious trend on the side of sultry romanticism rather than gothic doom and gloom, look for single statement pieces encrusted with eye-catching rich jewels, flirty accents of charm, extravagant baroque accents and multi-layered chains of mixed metals

The Power of A Chain Reaction

We like 'em big and we most definitely like 'em chunky. Bold, buxom and modern, the chain has linked back round into our style wardrobes and is set to be the statement piece of your summer style. The minimalism of this classic linked look has been revamped, remodelled and revitalised so that this standout look packs a heavy duty statement punch. Oozing with character and personality, the chain adornment can be worn solo or mixed and matched with fine chains, fabric chokers, delicate pendants and fearless gemstones for one head turning look of vogue. "More is more and less is

Goldflair Charitable Jewellery Event

Goldflair Charitable Jewellery Event Friday the 23 November Assembly Rooms, George Street, Edinburgh Jewellers, businesses and ethically minded individuals in Edinburgh are being invited to join The Precious Metals Workshop and local Jeweller, Ian Nicholson, in a discussion about how they can play their part in influencing responsible supply chains in the jewellery industry. Local jeweller Ian, who is also the founder and Director of the Precious Metals Workshop, is calling on support from industry leaders to take part in a unique event being held at Assembly Rooms on Friday the 23 November with a focus on responsible sourcing of