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Corporate Meets Colour in MAYA Gemstones' 'Out of Office' Collection

MAYA Gemstones new collection puts the fun into paperwork. A homage to stationary, the collection reimagines dull desk-fodder into bright, wearable jewellery. Breaking through an abundance of autumnal rust and russet, bright neon dances and reflects shiny yellow and white gold.  Decorated with sapphires, rubies and diamonds, earrings are bent into geometric shapes, evoking the modest paperclip, or straight bars encrusted with the neon pink lead of a pencil. Bracelets etched with increments of measure glint neon on the inside and out.  Sharp use of neon juxtaposes the mundanity of the everyday objects it decorates. The youthfulness of colour evokes

Ask the Professionals, The Sorting Office

Have you ever wondered just how to get your work sold in a shop? Or maybe how you get into a Trade Fair?  What about exhibitions and craft fairs? When the competition is strong how do you stand out from the crowd, and what makes a successful application? In this event you will hear from 3 industry professionals on how to make successful applications to retail and online outlets, trade fairs, exhibitions and craft fairs. Jon Tutton - MADE Brighton MADE Brighton is an annual Design and Craft Fair held at The Corn Exchange in Brighton. The event, organised by

Branching Out

Branching Out, Craft Centre and Design Gallery - Leeds Inspired by the beauty of trees we bring together a selection of talented makers creating contemporary jewellery, ceramics, glass and works in mixed media whose work captures the essence of these remarkably diverse and beautiful marvels of the natural world. Exhibition Run 18th March - 24th June 2017 Venue The Craft Centre & Design Gallery City Art Gallery The Headrow, Leeds West Yorkshire LS1 3AB www.craftcentreleeds.co.uk

Office / Workshop To Rent

Office / Workshop To Rent Self contained with own double door entry , natural light , approx 3.5x2.6 metres , sink , for 1-2 people , storage cupboards and shelves,  Hatton Garden / Greville Street London EC1  £850 pcm including electric  Ian Barrett 07970-290292 ianbarrett1@live.com

Sheffield Assay Office Calendar 2018

Call for Applications: Sheffield Assay Office Calendar 2018 The Sheffield Assay Office would like to invite applications to contribute to the Sheffield Assay Office Calendar 2018.  Eligibility To submit possible contributions, please supply one or two images of recent work that have passed through the Sheffield Assay Office, ideally in the last year, Image requirements An image minimum of 300dpi, jpeg format . Additional information We like to include a little interpretation to sit alongside the image. Please submit the following information: Title of the object, A brief description,  Material (Sterling Silver, Argentium, Britannia, Fine Silver, Gold, Platinum, Palladium) and other base

The Sorting Office Summer Open Studios

This year The Sorting Office Summer Open Studios will be held over the weekend of 17th - 18th June. The popular event is run as part of Eastleigh Unwrapped Festival and welcomes visitors to take a look around the studios, meet the artists and shop for locally made products and gifts. To read more about the line-up for Eastleigh Unwrapped, see their website. Formerly a Royal Mail Sorting Centre, The Sorting Office is now home to 16 creative makers, from illustrators and print designers to jewellery makers and textile artists. As part of the Open Studios we'll once again be

Out with the Old, In with the Bold

The slew of super-sleek and sophisticated minimalistic pieces have outshone as the go-to pieces for day-to-day wearing and red carpet soirees. Delicate, dainty and off-duty cool, the days of simple adornment has had its day. Autumn is notoriously a season of change and a perfect chance to revive, refresh and replenish your jewellery box. So it is rather fitting that a new wave of jewellery showstoppers are will be demanding the fashion spotlight. Gone are the days of intricate delicacies as it's time to welcome the big, the bold, the mismatched, the unique and your new jewellery bff's! There's no

The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office Celebrate Ten Years in Hatton Garden

This week the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office celebrates the tenth anniversary of its Greville Street Sub-Office in the heart of Hatton Garden. Like all good birthday parties, the celebrations kicked off with cupcakes and balloons.  Andy Waker, Manager of the Sub-Office crossed to the other side of the counter and chatted with his customers. Alex Palmer, Counter Logistics, reminisced about the past decade calling the opening of the office “the best decision the London Assay Office has ever made”.  Noting how time flies when you’re having fun, Andy recognised that the sub-office has gone from strength to strength and has become

Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office Retires

The Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office in London, Dr Robert Organ, is to retire after 21 years of service. Robert began his career at the Goldsmiths’ Company in 2000 as Superintendent Assayer of the London Assay Office, before taking over as Deputy Warden (Managing Director-equivalent) in 2006. The Goldsmiths’ Company has been responsible for guaranteeing the purity of items made of precious metals since 1300, when the hallmarking statute was passed. Commenting on his retirement, Robert said, “It has been a privilege and honour to serve as Deputy Warden. I have taken great pride in adding to

Sell Out Event with Jewellery Superstars

The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council (GC&DC) has witnessed stellar ticket sales for its upcoming ‘In Conversation’ evening, featuring British jewellery superstars Stephen Webster and Theo Fennell. Tickets for the event sold out in early January, more than a month before the evening at London’s Goldsmiths’ Centre on February 15th 2017 . Bringing together two of the UK’s foremost jewellers to share personal anecdotes and insight from their careers, the GC&DC’s In Conversation series has become a must-attend event in the jewellery calendar. Jos Skeates, GC&DC chairman and founder of award-winning retailer EC One, will compere the event. Skeates said, 

The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office Celebrate Ten Years at Heathrow

This month the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office celebrates the tenth anniversary of its Heathrow Sub-Office within the secure premises of Brink’s Global Services, at Heathrow Airport.  Like all good birthday parties, the celebrations kicked off with a cake!  Between bites Kevin Bowles, Heathrow Sub-Office Manager, said, “Setting up the facility in partnership with Brink’s secure logistics services has proven to give unrivalled efficiency and security for a decade. I’m really proud of that, and my team here.” In the secure premises the team of 11 cover the entire assay and hallmarking process.  Opened in January 2008, the office was set up as

Birmingham Assay Office launch optional rainbow mark

The Birmingham Assay Office has announced the launch of its special Rainbow Logo mark which has been created to be applied as an optional mark alongside the hallmark and date letter for 2020. The Rainbow Logo will be available for a limited period from the 1st July until December 2020. The mark depicts the iconic Rainbow symbol that has become synonymous during the current pandemic. The mark will be applied with the date letter “V” in combination with a statutory hallmark and can be lasered on gold, silver, platinum or palladium.  It can also be applied as a standalone logo

Final Call: Business Incubation Programme Setting Out

Final Call: Business Incubation Programme Setting Out  Emerging jewellery and silversmithing businesses hoping to transition from the bench to running a successful creative business have until Friday 7 July 2017 to apply for Setting Out 2017 at the Goldsmiths’ Centre. Now in its 5th year, the intensive year-long business incubation course Setting Out 2017 is open to 8 talented emerging jewellery, silvermithing and allied trade businesses. A dedicated team of specialists focus on equipping exceptional talent with business, design and production development skills. As a member of the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s vibrant and diverse community, participants gain access to shared studio

All Cleared Out - The Jewellery Museum Extends an Invitation

All Cleared Out - The Jewellery Museum Extends an Invitation 5 July through 29 September 2024 The Votes Are Being Cast  – Visitors‘ Choices Hand-selected – by Sam Tho Duong Within in the context of »Ornamenta Pleasure« (Ornamenta Lust) and concurrent with ORNAMENTA 2024 in Pforzheim and the Northern Black Forest region, Pforzheim’s Jewellery Museum hosts a number of participative activities in dialogue with its Historical and Modern collections. It showcases individual positions of contemporary jewellery artists and students, as well as all those who are interested, and gives them an opportunity to participate in discussions and to share creative ideas.

High jewellery designers fan out for earring inspiration

The trend for statement earrings continues throughout 2019, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Each season’s catwalks are brimming with bigger and more expressive hoops, avant-garde ear climbers and figural shapes. A more subtle, wearable iteration of this trend for bold earrings has emerged within the collections of some of the most important names in high jewellery, and the dynamic forms these earrings take on are splaying out from underneath - and around - the earlobe writes Jodie Smith. Jessica Chastain in-Piaget earrings at the Golden Globes 2019 Piaget - ‘White Sun’ earrings Piaget - ‘White Sun’ earrings

Dovile B stands out at the Goldsmith's Fair

Since being selected for the Goldsmiths' fair graduate bursary programme- Dovile B has spent her summer planning, designing and creating jewellery for the prestigious fair. Amongst the various stands, her jewellery stood out for its originality.  The jeweller herself exuded a fun energy, perhaps reeling excitement from her Goldsmiths' fair debut, whilst talking through her pieces with a confident and impressive knowledge of her craft. It was a surprise then to learn that phobias were the inspiration behind much of her jewellery. It’s no coincidence that a collection motivated by such original inspiration would yield such head-turning pieces.   Phobia

Call for Applications: Setting Out, The Goldsmtihs’ Centre - Clerkenwell

Are you a jewellery or silversmithing start-up within your first two years of business? Are you looking for guidance on how take the next steps in business? The intensive year-long Setting Out business incubation scheme at the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell is designed to boost your knowledge with support from expert tutors, business consultants and specialist speakers. As a member of the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s vibrant and diverse community, you and a small group of young goldsmithing businesses will have access to shared studio space, fully equipped workshops and tailored support to help you transition from a start-up into running a

Social Media & Office Assistant, IDJC - Hatton Garden. London

Social Media & Office Assistant IDJC (Diamonds For Today)  Hatton Garden. London Social Media & Office Assistant vacancy working in London's Diamond District for one of the leading natural diamond, fine jewellery manufacturers and wholesalers in the UK.  3 - 4 days per week in London.  Experience with social media and photography necessary. 2 x Jewellery industry references essential. Must be living in the UK with a valid work permit. Start date ASAP. Send your covering letter outlining why you are suitable for the role with your CV by using the application form below. About IDJC (Diamonds For Today) IDJC (Diamonds

Richard Fox takes office in a challenging year as 'Trade' Prime Warden

The Goldsmiths’ Company is delighted to announce that Richard Fox, Managing Director of Fox Silver, has taken office as Prime Warden, in succession to Dr Timothy Schroder. With a background in silversmithing, design and business leadership, Richard has successfully created beautiful silverware for the likes of Formula One and Rolls Royce for almost four decades. His primary focus will be championing the trade of silversmiths, jewellers and allied industries during his year in office. Richard’s distiguished career as a silversmith started as an extra-curriclar activity at school, but soon became “an all-consuming passion”. After gaining a Master’s degree in design

Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office Make Your Mark Awards 2019

Call for Applications: Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office Make Your Mark Awards 2019  Students and designers are invited to design a piece of jewellery or silverware that celebrates the iconic London Hallmark. The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office will be presenting a range of exciting awards for both finished pieces or design drawings with a chance to have your work exhibited at Goldsmiths’ Hall during the Make Your Mark event on the 5th February 2019. The winner of each category will receive £1,000. Runners up will receive £500. There will also be other prizes including exclusive career enhancing opportunities and each winner will recieve a special certificate. The winners

Assay Office to host Make Your Mark once again

On the 5th February 2019, Goldsmiths’ Hall is opening its doors once again to all students, tutors,  graduates and apprentices of the jewellery and allied trades to help them make their mark in industry.  This hugely popular free one day event led by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company, is a one stop shop to learn everything you need to know about hallmarking, manufacturing and introduce you to the support networks available to help you in your career. This includes the range of support the Goldsmiths’ Company can offer new entrants to the trade such

LVMH pull out of Tiffany & Co share purchase

LVMH quell rumours and confirm Tiffany & Co share purchase will not go ahead. Issuing the following statement LVMH said: "The Board of Directors of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, met on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2020 and notably focused its attention on the development of the pandemic and its potential impact on the results and perspectives of Tiffany & Co with respect to the agreement that links the two groups. Considering the recent market rumors, LVMH confirms, on this occasion, that it is not considering buying Tiffany shares on the market. " Author:  Published: 

Benchpeg Offer: Sold Out Tickets Available

This week, we are delighted to announce that Benchpeg are the official Media Partners for Make Your Mark 2019. With over 600 students and graduates already booked to attend, it looks set to be a fantastic event. Benchpeg has supported the jewellery industry for over 10 years now and in particular, those making their first steps into the industry. We have done this through our weekly newsletter, careers advice, jobs boards, funding opportunities to mention just a few and we love promoting beautiful work. Benchpeg at Make your Mark At this year’s Make Your Mark, Benchpeg will be on hand

Dining out on design at new Made for the Table exhibition

Made for the Table offers visitors to the Goldsmiths Centre this summer an extravagant feast in more ways than one. At the centre of this new silverware exhibition, which opens on July 13th and runs until August 31st is a modern day table dressed for dinner featuring newly comissioned silverware, by leading makers such as Michael Lloyd, Malcolm Appleby, Jane Short, Angela Cork and Miriam Hanid showcasing contemporary cultures and new silversmithing technogies. A treasure trove of modern items from cutlery and beakers to candlesticks is set in stark contrast alongside some of the Goldsmiths' Company most prized 'ancient' items

Spell Out Your Love In all Things Fine

February 14th has sauntered her way back onto the scene in her aromatic scent of expectation and lust for all things passionate, sensual and romantic. The gift of love for that special little someone in your life is really rather simple; everyone wants to be feel special, understood and cherished. In this day and age we all like to be creative, innovative and impressive in how we suprise our admirer on the annointed day of love. Yet let's face it sometimes stripping it back to the simple basics can often trump the fancy niceties and pack more of a punch

'Out Of The Shallows’ - Falkland Islands jeweller Alice Clarke's new collection

Fine jeweller Alice Clarke creates one of a kind ocean treasures at the bottom of the World in the Falkland Islands. Her new collection ‘Out Of The Shallows’  was launched last week in New York at the Melee The Show. Living and working in the Falkland Islands, where her waterfront studio sits in Stanley, with a population of 3,000, Alice creates all her work in-house. From casting to stone setting, Alice’s little workshop is a hub of creativity. Alice exhibited her jewellery collections in New York for the first time at the beginning of August. Her “ very nautical year”,

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

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

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.

Assay Offices

By law all items sold as gold, silver, platinum or palladium in the UK must be hallmarked to confirm that they meet the legal standard of alloy proportionality for the precious metal they are being sold as. This can only be carried out by one of the four UK Assay Offices, or an Assay Office belonging to the International Convention. Here are where to find the four UK offices... Assay Office London Goldsmiths' Hall Gutter Lane London EC2V 8AQ www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk                 Birmingham Assay Office 1 Moreton Street Birmingham B1 3AX theassayoffice.co.uk    

Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council hosts sell out ‘In Conversation’ with Cartier event

The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council hosted its first ‘In Conversation’ event of 2018, a special evening led by jewellery specialist Joanna Hardy, in conversation with Cartier, the world’s highly esteemed and respected jewellery Maison. The evening provided a unique opportunity to hear from Neil Battes and Vincenzo Marsico working with Cartier in London about their world and work, and the GC&DC’s prized Jacques Cartier Memorial Award. With questions presented by Joanna Hardy, the conversation took a vibrant behind-the-scenes journey through Cartier’s prestigious design studio, workshops and retailing experience - the exemplar for quality and excellence in craftsmanship - to

Assay Office London Launch Make Your Mark 2017

Make Your Mark, the UK’s leading networking and career development event for new precious metal designers and makers, returns to Goldsmiths’ Hall in the City of London from 31 October – 1 November 2017. Now in its fourth year, the event comes complete with a treasure trove of opportunities to help emerging designers, apprentices and students of jewellery and the allied trades develop successful careers in the field. The free two-day event is open to apprentices; students on a UK-based precious-metal-related full or part-time course whether at degree level, a short adult education or privately tutored course; tutors; masters; and

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

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

Jeremy France rolls out the red carpet for Fei Liu

On Friday 21st October, Jeremy France Jewellers welcomed British Jewellery Designer of the Year, Fei Liu, to showcase his entire collection of award winning designs - officially launching his recent addition to the family jeweller’s exclusive brand list.  Guests were greeted with champagne and invited into the three-storey luxury showroom by a grand red carpet entrance; what else could one expect from a VIP ‘Meet the Designer’ soirée?! Situated at the very heart of Winchester High Street, there were whispers from passing shoppers that perhaps Royalty was inside! Fei was on hand all evening to introduce his collections, giving Jeremy’s

All Cleared Out – the Jewellery Museum Extends an Invitation The Votes Are Being Cast – Visitors Curating an Exhibition

All Cleared Out – the Jewellery Museum Extends an Invitation The Votes Are Being Cast – Visitors Curating an Exhibition Schmuck Museum, Pforzheim 5 July through late September 2024  Hand-picked – by Sam Tho Duong ​ The Secret of Luxury – the Wellendorff Manufactory and the Art of Jewellery-Making  Concurrent with Ornamenta 2024 in Pforzheim and the Northern Black Forest, the Jewellery Museum will be staging three parallel exhibitions  Under the motto of »all cleared out«: one put together by visitors, another featuring individual artistic positions, and a third presenting haute joaillerie creations. In the Historical Collection room, visitor groups assembled by

Big Names Get Set for Make Your Mark

The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office has announced the line-up for the first ever  Make Your Mark  Q&A Panel of Experts. “We are introducing the Panel this year in response to the huge popularity of talks at previous Make Your Mark events,”  explains Dr Robert Organ, Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office. “The success of  Make Your Mark  in 2014 and 2015 proved that there is huge demand for advice and inspiration among students wanting to set out on careers in precious metals and so this year, alongside the very popular talks by Theo Fennell and Michael Wainwright -

British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) Board announce cuts to NAJ,Giftware Association and Head Office

The British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) has announced that measures are set to be put in place to ensure the finacial security and longevity of the trade body in the wake of Covid-19 and the resulting econonomic impact for 2021 going forward. A statement released by the NAJ from the British Allied Trades Federation (BATF) Board interim CEO reads: "As I am sure all of you are aware, the recent Covid-19 crisis has had a massive impact on the economy of the UK. The government has invested billions of pounds in the Furlough scheme to help support companies and individuals through this

Showstoppers Talk: Shining silver commissions from the Sheffield Assay Office collection; the work of Junko Mori

Showstoppers Silver Centrepieces Silver is a seductive, glamorous material and the centrepiece is one of its most wondrous uses. ‘Showstoppers’ takes two iconic centrepieces from Leeds’ historic silver collection and presents them alongside contemporary masterpieces by artists Junko Mori and Miriam Hanid. The exhibition showcases the continuation and reinvention of traditional silversmithing techniques and celebrates women in silver, as makers and owners. Junko Mori Willaume & Tanqueray Miriam Hanid Thomas Pitts Events Programme Talk: Miriam Hanid Date: 9 June 2017 Time: 2.00pm – 3.00pm Tickets: £7 (inc. admission), booking required. Event: Silversmithing Demonstration Date: 10 June 2017 Time: 11.00am –

Benchpeg Awards 2016

Benchpeg held its first Benchpeg Awards evening in partnership with the Goldsmiths Company Assay Office on the 1st November in association with their Make Your Mark event. It was a lovely evening where the winners of the Benchpeg Awards 2016 were revealed, after our panel of independent judges presided over the short list of 19 entries out of 147 submissions to the competition. Here we see a few of the Instagram pics taken on the night and at the event during the day. #benchpegawards  Photo credits: Intstagram #benchpegawards #benchpeg #makeyourmark #makeyourmarklondon #goldsmithshall #goldsmithscompany

Longer Days & Neon Gems: MAYA Gemstones extends Collections to include new Electric Neon Pieces

Last year, MAYA Gemstones released its 'Out of Office' collection . The triangle cut gems, unique to the brand, adorned cutesy stationery inspired jewellery. For summer 2020, MAYA Gemstones is expanding both this collection, and its Sonya collection to include new Electric Neon pieces.  Splashes of neon embellish stackable and mismatched paperclip earrings, quirky ruler bracelets and rings and round enamel and quartz rings with a central triangular diamond.  MAYA Gemstones' new Electric Neon Additions The bent wire 'paperclip' form of the earrings allow them to interlink with one another creating a unique drop earring in a neon rainbow, or

Dazzle @ Oxo 2017

From contemporary classics to brilliantly bonkers - the contemporary jewellery selling exhibition that delights in diversity returns to gallery@oxo and introduces an exceptional crop of handpicked new 2017 graduates, amongst a roll call of designer big guns.  “The oldest and largest exhibition of contemporary jewellery in Europe, and as one of the key aims is to discover and promote new talent, you can be sure of discovering fresh approaches to the medium among the thousands of pieces on display.”  -  Time Out Miniature nuns set in resin, silver dogs with wagging ears, designs inspired by office stationery, by the Australian outback,

Varoshe to open showroom in Kent - from handcuffs to handmade!

The handcuffs are off at a former police office in West Malling in Kent as bespoke jewellers Varoshe prepare for the grand opening of their flagship store following more than a year of restoration and restyling. Award-wining team Paul T Owens and Clare Carlson, who between them have 50 years experience of designing and making jewellery, will roll out their brand new showroom on April 21st with their own custom made designs proudly exhibited and their on site workshop ready for new commissions. They will also stock items from various designers, both established and emerging, showcasing the best in British

Are you making the most out of social media for your business? You could earn twice as much on the average order through Pinterest, over Facebook, new study suggests

Marketing yourself and your business can be tricky, and time consuming. The truth is no one knows your audience like you. However, if you're looking for new ways to shake up your strategy, a new study by Nosto may shed some light on new avenues for success.  The study uncovers the true value of Pinterest and Instagram, showing that whilst they may not provide volume in term of traffic (compared to the liked of Facebook), they might encourage customers to spend more per order. While they drive relatively small amounts of traffic, Pinterest and Instagram deliver the highest average order values

Jubilee hallmarking competition invites crafty kids to design their own maker’s mark

Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office launches Mark Your Mark Kid’s Competition to celebrate The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Kids across the UK are being encouraged to get crafty over the Platinum Jubilee weekend by creating their own maker’s mark, as part of the Jubilee celebrations. The Make Your Mark Kid’s Competition, launched by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office (London Assay Office), is open to anyone aged 10 and under. To introduce the world of hallmarking to a new generation, the London Assay Office has created a fun and educational activity pack about hallmarking. The activity pack,  available online , includes information about

Hallmarking Figures - June 2020

The latest hallmarking figures have been released by Birmingham Assay Office. Birmingham Assay Office have released the June 2020 hallmarking figures for all four UK offices Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh, for June 2020 vs June 2019.  The figures, which are widely regarded as a litmus test for the health of the industry, unsuprisingly show the impact of coronavirus. Figures courtesy of Birmingham Assay Office Author:  Published: 

Striking Futures

The NAJ and Sheffield Assay Office Join Forces for Striking Futures Event The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and Sheffield Assay Office are pleased to announce Striking Futures, a new collaborative event designed to help businesses and students get ahead in the jewellery industry. Taking place on Thursday, 3rd November, Striking Futures promises to be a must-attend afternoon,   whether embarking on a career in the sector or looking to boost your business. Register NAJ’s Principal Officer, Ben Massey, states, “We’re excited to collaborate with the Sheffield Assay Office to deliver an educational industry event that will provide great value,

January 2024 Hallmarking Figures

Birmingham Assay Office has compiled t he latest UK Hallmarking figures for all four offices, Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh for January 2024 vs January 2023 .. Hallmarking figures from Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh:  January 2024     Compiled by Birmingham Assay Office Author:  Published: 

Latest UK Hallmarking Figures: May 2022

The figures for all four assay offices - Birmingham, London, Sheffield and Edinburgh - for May 2022 vs May 2021 have been released. Birmingham Assay Office compiled the May 2022 UK Hallmarking figures.  Author:  Published: 

A third of “gold” jewellery sold online in the UK is suspected as fake, warns the British Hallmarking Council

Cuts to Trading Standards budgets and inadequate legal powers are hurting consumers and retail jewellers.  British Hallmarking Council and Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office call on the Government and internet giants to protect UK consumers by enforcing online trade A third of “gold” jewellery being sold online is suspected to be unhallmarked and therefore may be fake, raising concerns that UK consumers are being duped by internet traders, according to data released today from the British Hallmarking Council (the UK’s hallmarking body) and the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office. A 10-day internet sweep by WRi Group in partnership with INCOPRO, on behalf

Q&A: Robert Organ

Robert Organ is the Deputy Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company’s Assay Office in London. Robert, of Welsh heritage, hails from Gwent. He gained a degree in Natural Sciences and a PhD from Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.  He joined the Assay Office London as Superintendent Assayer in 2000, and has been responsible, over the seventeen years of his tenure, for the introduction of new technologies such as laser marking and XRF machines within the modern day assaying process, as well as the introduction of sub-assay offices. He also played an active part in the successful lobbying for the exclusion of

Assay Master’s 25th Anniversary Commission 2018

The Sheffield Assay Office Assay Master’s 25th Anniversary Commission 2018 Commission Opportunity This commission is to mark the 25th Anniversary (1993 – 2018) of the Assay Master, Mr Ashley Carson. The Assay Master has requested that a silversmith design and make him a drinking vessel. The vessel will be used at a celebratory event on Tuesday 23rd October 2018. The commission is open to any silversmith who is currently registered with Sheffield Assay Office. The Brief Design and make a drinking vessel, the vessel must hold up to 250ml of liquid. The vessel must be made from silver but can

Angela Gillies Sees Winning Design Hallmarked In London

Currently  studying Jewellery and Metal Design at the University of Dundee  Angela Gillies, winner of  the 2017 Ingle & Rhode Fairtrade Gold Design Award has had her winning piece hallmarked by the London Assay Office. Angela’s winning piece entitled ‘Nestled’ has been cast and was taken to the London Assay Office to be hallmarked and stamped with the Fairtrade mark last week. Made in Fairtrade 18ct white gold and set with a 0.5ct round brilliant cut Canadian diamond, Angela’s ring is designed to allow a wedding ring to tuck in underneath the feather, so that the two rings will sit

Appointment: Doug Henry, New CEO & Assay Master

The AnchorCert Group, comprising Assay Office Birmingham, AnchorCert Analytical, AnchorCert Gem Lab, SafeGuard Valuations and AnchorCert Academy, has announced the appointment of Doug Henry MBA as incoming Chief Executive and Assay Master. Doug, who is currently joint CEO, will commence his new appointment as the company's 14th Assay Master on Monday 3 April 2017, having originally joined AnchorCert Group to restructure the quality management system in September 2014. Doug then successfully project-managed the business relocation to Moreton Street in July 2015. Doug has subsequently led the management of the Indian off-shore sub-office, and continues to support the development of quality

Summer Open Studios 2017

The Sorting Office Summer Open Studios 2017 The Sorting Office will be opening their doors to the public once again for their annual Summer Open Studios event. Open Studios is the perfect chance for visitors to browse the vibrant studio spaces and buy an exquisite array of wares, expertly hand-crafted by local designer-makers. The 17 resident designer-makers will be on hand to welcome visitors, talk about their crafts and show off their work, while a selection of local artists and makers will also be setting up shop in our Production House for the event’s ever-popular Maker's Fair. A number of

Call for Applications: Make Your Mark Awards

The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office has launched its design competition to encourage creativity in the use of the Hallmark Applications are now open for the The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office inaugural Make Your Mark Awards , a new design competition that aims to challenge today’s students working in precious metal. The Awards will be presented at a special event on Tuesday 1 November 2016, during Make Your Mark . This year’s benchpeg Awards will also be on display, with winners announced on the night. “Anyone who sells precious metal jewellery or silverware in the UK is required by law to

Make Your Mark Competition

Call for Applications: Make Your Mark design competition *Applications are now closed* Students are invited to Make Their Mark on the Industry - The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office launches design competition to encourage creativity in the use of the Hallmark The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office is launching the Make Your Mark Awards , a new design competition that aims to challenge today’s students working in precious metal. The Awards, which will open in September, will be presented at a special event on Tuesday 1 November 2016, during Make Your Mark . This year’s benchpeg Awards will also be on display, with

Young Makers and Craftspeople (Under 25yrs) Exhibition Opportunity

Young Makers and Craftspeople (Under 25yrs) Exhibition Opportunity New Brewery Arts and Heritage Crafts are seeking makers and craftspeople aged 25 and under to take part in an exhibition at New Brewery Arts in Cirencester in 2025.  We want to introduce audiences to the next generation. The exhibition aims to highlight the wealth of skill, thinking, heritage understanding and imagination in the craft sector, played out in the hands of young makers. We aim to excite and inspire audiences by including work that approaches craft through the use of:  Fresh Perspectives Diverse Mediums Storytelling Community Connection Sustainability Focus Emerging Trends 

Q&A: Patrick Fuller

Patrick Fuller has been at the helm of the jewellery industry for some 30 years. A charismatic individual who has held every senior influential position in the British jewellery industry going. He is currently a Guardian of the Birmingham Assay Office, a Liveryman of the Goldsmiths Company and President of the National Association of Jewellers as well as a Freeman of the City of London. A former President of the National Association of Goldsmiths; President of Emagold Europe; Director of the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation; President of the British Jewellery and Giftware Federation; Member of the British Hallmarking Council

Trial of the Pyx 2017

Trial of the Pyx 2017  Since 1871, the annual Trial of the Pyx has taken place at the Hall of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, London. The Trial of the Pyx dates back to the 12th century, making it one of the longest established judicial procedures in the country. The Trial is held annually at London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall in accordance with the Coinage Act of 1971, and is presided over by the Queen’s Remembrancer of the Royal Courts of Justice, the oldest judicial office in the UK, dating back to the twelfth century. The 2017 Trial of the Pyx will

News Edit: 6 November 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Will Evans: The testing times for UK jewellery hallmarking FT: Goldsmiths’ assay office general manager on the challenges of doing business in a post-Brexit, post-Covid market. www.ft.com Jeweller Janice Derrick looks back to move forward News Day: After 25 years in the business, jeweller Janice Derrick still has a passion for metalworking. newsday.co.tt Indian Luxury Designer Brands Making Waves At PAD London Solitaire International: Two of India’s most creative and exciting luxury jewellery designer brands, Jewels by Moksh and Neha Dani, were in the spotlight at PAD London

News Edit: 8th May 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   How Goldsmiths’ is (hall)marking the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee The Times: As the Goldsmiths’ Company reveals a new hallmark to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Kim Parker explores the history of its Assay Office, which for centuries has set the standard for precious metals. www.thetimes.co.uk Bulgari Releases 2022 Serpenti Viper Collection Made From Ethical Gold Harpers Bazaar: Italian luxury brand Bulgari has opted for a stripped-back approach to its snake-like motif this year, opting for simple, ethical luxuries. harpersbazaar . com . au 4 Sustainable Jewelry Brands to Wear

London Diamond Bourse Announces Changes in Leadership: Joint Presidency and Historic Appointment of First Female Vice President

The London Diamond Bourse is pleased to announce significant changes within its Council of Management, aimed at ensuring the continued growth and success of the organisation. After careful consideration and unanimous approval from the committee, the following decisions were made: Joint Presidency: During last year’s annual general meeting, Mr. Alan Cohen, the current President, announced that this year would mark his final term in office. As President, Alan holds key positions within the World Federation of Diamond Bourses’ Executive Council and the World Diamond Council, among others. To allow Alan to focus on these critical responsibilities, and with unanimous support

Bench spaces available in spacious Shoreditch Studio

Bench spaces available in spacious Shoreditch Studio We have some part-time or full-time bench space available from as of now in our studio in the heart of Shoreditch to share with two established ex-RCA jewellers. There are two large rooms, one is our office space, which can also be used for meetings and includes a kitchen, the other is a jewellery workshop which is fitted with jewellery benches, work surfaces, and essential tools. Both rooms have central heating and running hot water. Additionally there is a private covered outdoor space which is ideal for large work and storage plus private parking for tenants.   Part-time

Advertise with Benchpeg

Benchpeg is probably the widest read UK jewellery trade website and newsletter. Established over 18 years ago, Benchpeg is written by jewellers, for jewellers; bringing together industry jobs, opportunities, news and classifieds in one place. We have a number of services to trade and industry we offer, gained from 25 years + in the sector. Request our advertising Rate Card here Recruitment, Talent Aquisition & CV Writing Services With an unrivalled industry network, spanning all areas of industry from Head Office, Design and Studio based personnel, retail sales staff to skilled crafts people at the bench in the workshop –

The Platinum Jubilee Commission

The Platinum Jubilee Commission Application Calling All Silversmiths To mark the year of Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh seek to commission a contemporary piece of Silverware for the table. The chosen piece of Silverware will become part of The Incorporation of Goldsmiths permanent collection. The Scottish Goldsmiths Trust are delighted to have been asked to assist The Incorporation in selecting a silversmith for the commission. The only stipulation of the design brief is that the commission must incorporate a prominent Edinburgh Assay Office feature hallmark, which must include The Queen’s

Studio Spaces at Fisherton Mill, Salisbury

Studio Spaces at Fisherton Mill, Salisbury Studio to let in the multi-award winning Fisherton Mill, the South of England’s largest independent art gallery & café with 13 onsite studios. It is set within a converted Victorian mill near the centre of Salisbury & is a vibrant & busy location. Fisherton Street is the main walking route to the railway station from the centre of Salisbury & is full of independent shops and businesses. We have a first floor studio available in this unique setting. Studio Details Measures approx. 11m2 Ideal for creative people & arts related businesses as office/showroom/studio. Unique city

CAD Desk With Matrix Gold 3.5

CAD Desk With Matrix Gold 3.5 Modern 1st fl. Office/workshop Large space with lots of natural daylight. Air Conditioning Good security, alarmed safes etc. Discreet location Wi-Fi Shared kitchen & w/c Meeting room Shower Bike park Based off Greys Inn Road 5min walk to Hatton Garden £400 pcm One-month deposit in advance Potential work for suitable CAD designer specializing in traditional mounting techniques. Contact Mark mark.soley@dasoley.co.uk

Bench to Rent for Experienced Mounter

Bench to Rent to Experienced Mounter Ely Place, Nr Hatton Garden, EC1N Our workshop is situated in a very bright, spacious and modern new office on private road - Ely Place. You will have the use of rolling mills, gas and oxygen, a laser machine, 2 different kinds of ring stretchers and also usage of a polishing room /machine if required. We also have an engraving machine on site that can be used for a very small additional cost. All tools would have to be provided. WiFi, air conditioning and fridge/microwave all supplied. £385 inclusive per calender month. Please contact Emelie or

Elsa Peretti (1940 – 2021)

Tiffany's star jewelry designer and philanthropist Elsa Peretti dies in Spain It is with great sadness that Elsa Peretti’s death yesterday from natural causes was announced by her family office in Zurich and by the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation. The designer, who was famous for her creations for high-end US jewelers Tiffany, passed away in a village close to Barcelona, Spain, at the age of 80. Her legacy comprises a body of exceptional design work as well as a foundation dedicated to humanitarian, environmental and conservation causes. A true citizen of the world, her absence will be strongly felt

Artistar Jewels celebrates its sixth successful year and announces prize-winners

The sixth edition of Artistar Jewels has celebrated another successful year as the destination for the contemporary jewel from all corners of the globe. The event has grown to become a key event in the Italian fashion calendar.  Not just a showcase, but a genuine tool to champion, promote and grow jewellery businesses through tangible strategies, such as its book and e-book, commercial website and press office support for all exhibitors, it is serious about making a difference within the industry.  Over five-hundred jewels from around the world were on display, most of which were created specifically for the event. 

Q&A: Adam Jacobs

Adam Jacobs is joint owner of Reading's oldest independent retail jewellery shop, Jacobs the Jewellers . The business has won accolades such as Winner: UK 'Jewellery Retailer of the Year' 2015; Inspiring Independent 2015; Independent Retailer of the Year 2015; Inspiring Independent 2013; Independent Retailer of the Year 2013 and Inspiring Independent 2012. Before joining the family business Adam had worked at Head Office, Marks & Spencer Plc and then at Evidently, a boutique marketing agency in London. Adam holds a BSc (Hons) in Management from Bath University. Adam is a member of the National Association of Jewellers and is

Make Your Mark Awards 2019 Winners Announced

Now in its third year, the Make Your Mark award ceremony, organised by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, was held on Tuesday as part of the wider Make Your Mark event. The event, and the competition, were designed to celebrate and promote the British Hallmark.  As the event is largely geared towards newcomers to the trade, the competition has two entrance categories, one for industry members who completed their training within the last 5 years, and one to accommodate those who are a little earlier in their careers, for students and apprentices.    Dr Robert Organ, Deputy Warden of the

Allum & Sidaway Dorchester revamp wins customer approval

Award winning local jewellers Allum & Sidaway report a successful refit and festive period. The family run company closed for several weeks last autumn for a full revamp of their Dorchester head office including the expansion of their sales floor.  “We have been looking forward to creating a more luxurious retail destination for sometime now and are delighted to have invested further in our local high street.  We believe the design and features of our revamped store will prove a winning formula and are thrilled to see this has been reflected in a positive uplift of fine jewellery sales over

Make Your Mark 2019

Make Your Mark 2019 Once again Goldsmiths’ Hall will be opening its doors to all students, graduates and apprentices of the jewellery and allied trades to help you make your mark in industry. This free one day event led by The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office will be a one stop shop to learn everything you need to know about hallmarking, manufacturing and support networks to help you in your career, alongside a packed schedule of talks and demonstrations and our Make Your Mark awards.  Exhibitor List Who to see at this year's Make Your Mark Association for Contemporary Jewellery Bellore

New Technologies make for a growth industry and an emerging one

The advent of electronic mining - the process of extracting gold, silver, copper from discarded electronic objects to make jewellery - is now a growing industry. The 26 year old London based jewellery designer Eliza Walter, Founder of Lylie, is the only jeweller in the UK sourcing all the materials for her designs from ‘urban mining’. Eliza Walter has been awarded a hallmark by the Birmingham Assay Office for her efforts.  Other new technologies in mainstream use include 3D printing in jewellery schools and jewellery manufacturing companies like Weston Beamor (3D printing for jewellery has seen a 450% growth year

Appointment: Anchorcert Appoints Steve Hamon as New Sales Director

AnchorCert Group, including Assay Office Birmingham, is pleased to confirm that it has appointed new Sales Director, Steve Hamon. Steve has more than 17 years’ experience as a senior sales and business development professional, including more than 4 years’ leading the UK and Eire Product Division for global testing laboratory Intertek and more than 5 years’ managing the BSI (British Standards Institution) Engineering, Testing and Kitemark divisions. Steve was officially appointed in December 2017 and has been working closely with the senior management and executive team to understand the complexities of the jewellery industry, as well as familiarise himself with

Appointment: Scott Williams Appointed NAJ’s New Head of Membership

The National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) has appointed Scott Williams, previously the association’s Membership Services Officer, to fulfil the Head of Membership position. Scott will lead the Membership team based in the Birmingham office and travel across the UK to raise awareness of the association and its services. NAJ Chairman, Simon Johnson commented: “Since joining the association Scott has streamlined the administration process in the Membership department, his due diligence and sparkling personality have gone down well with members. Having excelled in his previous role, we are thrilled to offer Scott the opportunity to lead the Membership team and meet

Jewellery Jobs, Retail Jobs, Design Jobs, Sales Jobs, Marketing Jobs & Internships

Jewellery Jobs, Careers and Recruitment Benchpeg offers the best range of jewellery jobs in the jewellery industry for your career. Find and apply for the latest jewellery jobs and careers on benchpeg.com Benchpeg’s jewellery recruitment listings cover all areas of jobs in the jewellery trade and jewellery making jobs to make it the No. 1 resource for jewellery jobs in the UK.  About benchpeg.com/jobs The jewellery jobs listed on benchpeg.com/jobs provide opportunities for career moves in all types of jobs in the jewellery industry. From creative and jewelery design roles, to craft and jewellery manufacturing jobs, to head office, management

Cooksongold Mark 100th Year Anniversary with New Store Opening

Cooksongold, the UK’s largest jewellery making supplier, is celebrating 100 years of being at the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. The old shop layout In 1918 Cooksongold, established a manufacturing site and sales office on Vittoria Street, to serve both jewellery manufacturers and industrial users in the Midlands area. The business grew considerably in the early years constantly expanding its range of products and production facilities, and as a result bought the premises next door for use as production areas, stock holdings and a store. Following a series of further acquisitions the business has expanded further to form the Cooksongold

Catherine Hills 'takes over' Gill Wing

Gill Wing was the first gallery to show Catherine Hill’s distinctive jewellery, as a fresh graduate from the RCA, living locally in Islington. 20 years later, the gallery is allowing a 'take over' by the jeweller to celebrate their twenty year anniversary. Over the last twenty years Catherine Hills has won many awards for her nature inspired, textural treasures, as well as being famed as the chosen designer behind the jewellery for the box-office-breaking Harry Potter films. As one of Gill Wing Jewellery's original selected artists, Catherine has remained above fleeting trends with her unique and wearable designs, the epitome

Make Your Mark Judge Adam Phillips Keen To View Entries

A legal requirement to sell precious metal, the hallmark needn’t simply be regarded as a required stamp to be hidden from the wearer. Adam Phillips, account manager at The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, London, and judge of this year’s Make Your Mark Awards, encourages makers to get creative with their hallmarking to make a real impact.   How creative can makers be with the positioning of a hallmark? "While the hallmark is regarded as the oldest form of consumer protection, it can also be used creatively as a marketing tool. Not only does it provide provenance, but it can also

The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh launch first Ethical Making Resource

The Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh is set to host its second Ethical Making Symposium and Workshop event entitled It's In Our Hands - One Year On . At the event in Edinburgh next week the organisation will also launch the first ever Ethical Making Resource for jewellers and silversmiths. The Incorporation is a non-profit organisation set up by Royal Charter in 1687 which operates two charities, ‘Silver of the Stars’ and ‘The Scottish Goldsmiths’ Trust’ and administers and operates the Edinburgh Assay Office. Spearheading Ethical Knowledge Last year it held a ground breaking two day event

Scotgold Resources Ltd To Auction First Scottish Gold Rounds

On November 29 2016, Scotgold Resources Ltd will release 10 limited edition 1oz fine Scottish Gold Rounds. The Gold Rounds are made of the first pure Scottish gold mined from the Cononish Gold Mine in Tyndrum, Scotland and refined to 999.9 purity.  Scottish Gold Rounds can be bought in a sealed-bids auction with the deadline of 4pm 28th November 2016. Each Gold Round is stamped with a unique serial number corresponding to the Chain of Custody system and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the Edinburgh Assay Office. The Gold Rounds have been minted by Baird & Co Bullion

Winchester Creative Enterprise Centre Moves Forward

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

RJC Hosts Its First Ever Open Day In Birmingham

Last week, the RJC held its very first Open Day  in  Birmingham.   The newly built Birmingham Assay Office located in the Jewellery Quarter, played host to the event where attendees gathered to hear more about the commercial relevance and necessity of RJC membership and certification in today’s jewellery industry. Attendees heard from a panel of industry experts that consisted of David Lewis, Managing Director of Maker Mends (RJC member since 2011);   Himesh  Pala, Managing Director of Pala Diamond Company Ltd (RJC member since 2011) and Gary  Wroe , Managing Director of Hockley Mint Ltd (RJC member since 2013). The panel

The Benchpeg Awards 2016: Winners Announced

This week in partnership with the Make Your Mark event held at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London we held the Benchpeg Awards 2016. The event, which included a showcase exhibition, evening awards reception and awards conferment, was a culmination of months of planning, nearly 150 entries to the competition and a glittering array of prizes. Awards Showcase The event kicked off with a showcase which was open to the public, at Goldsmiths’ Hall, home of the London Assay Office, of the 19 shortlisted entries which had been selected by a panel of independent judges from 147 national entries. The Shortlist The

Weston Beamor Restructures Management Team

Weston Beamor, the Birmingham-based 3D printing, casting and bespoke manufacturing company, has restructured the workings of its Management Team and appointed new staff in a bid to grow further its customer base. Glen Day remains as Head of Business Development, but, rather than being office based as in the past, he will now spend four days a week travelling the country to meet with Weston Beamor’s customers and potential customers. Day, who reports directly to the company’s Managing Director Andrew J Morton, retains his overall, supervisory role within Weston Beamor. However he hands over greater responsibility for the day-to-day running

The Little Black Book of Jewellery Terms

Ever felt like you’ve stumbled into a foreign land of unknown territory like Alice falling into wonderland whilst a constant whirlwind of name-drops and fancy words are thrown your way? Welcome to the Jewellery world! Welcome to the Benchpeg library of learning! Listen up and take note as there's a lot to be said for confidently slipping some technical babble into conversation to elevate your respect and cachet within the Jewellery world... Assay Hallmark: The hallmark and coding indicating the office which has assayed a piece of Jewellery. Baguette Cut: A gemstone which has been cut and set into a

Goldsmiths’ Company to Stage UK’s Biggest Precious Metal Student Event

On 1 and 2 November, London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall will host the UK’s biggest careers event for apprentices and students of jewellery and allied trades. Following the huge success of the events in 2014 and 2015 the event will now be extended over two days and will deliver even more inspiration, advice and networking opportunities. Make Your Mark is a completely free tutor–student event open to apprentices, and anyone studying on a UK-based precious-metal-related course (full- or part-time) whether at degree level or on a short adult education or private tutored course. Led by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, and supported

Make Your Mark - Day 1

Make Your Mark is the leading event for students on a precious metal related course. It will be held on the 1st - 2nd November 2016 at Goldsmiths' Hall, London. Who should attend? Make Your Mark  is a completely free tutor–student event open to anyone studying on a UK-based precious-metal-related course (full- or part-time), whether at degree level or on a short adult education or private tutored course. What's it all about? Led by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Goldsmiths’ Centre, the event provides a packed programme of fascinating talks from leading figures in

Make Your Mark - Day 2

Make Your Mark is the leading event for students on a precious metal related course. It will be held on the 1st - 2nd November 2016 at Goldsmiths' Hall, London. Who should attend? Make Your Mark  is a completely free tutor–student event open to anyone studying on a UK-based precious-metal-related course (full- or part-time), whether at degree level or on a short adult education or private tutored course. What's it all about? Led by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Goldsmiths’ Centre, the event provides a packed programme of fascinating talks from leading figures in

Welcoming A Bespoke Beauty: Vaessen | Walker

March has arrived in all its glory and as Spring begins to sprinkle her beauty upon the world, new jewellery brand Vassen | Walker have planted their roots in the jewellery world; blossoming with their  debut jewellery collection ALLORA. Louise Vaessen-Walker is the creative and founding director behind the contemporary jewellery and tableware brand where h er innovative collections have received much recognition both nationally and abroad. Louise has been commended in receiving a number of awards in both design and craftsmanship, most notably the London Assay Office Special Gold Award, and the 3D Innovative Technology Design Gold Award from

Make Your Mark

Make  Your  Mark is t he leading event for students on a precious metal related course. It will be held on the 1st - 2nd November 2016 at Goldsmiths' Hall, London. Make Your Mark is a completely free tutor–student event open to anyone studying on a UK-based precious-metal-related course (full- or part-time), whether at degree level or on a short adult education or private tutored course. Led by the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, and supported by the Goldsmiths’ Company and the Goldsmiths’ Centre, the event provides a packed programme of fascinating talks from leading figures in the trade, live demos,

Awards

Every year Benchpeg holds the Benchpeg Awards. This year, we are extremely excited to announce that we are partnering with the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office London and the annual 'Make Your Mark' event to deliver the awards. As part of our ten year anniversary celebrations, the Benchpeg Awards have changed for 2016 and are now open to entry by all current students , recent graduates and new businesses . Previous awards reception at City Lit The Aim of the Benchpeg Awards The Benchpeg Awards have always been aimed at helping students and fledgling businesses, or those emerging to create a

How Do I Finance My Creative Business?

Pricing, costs and business plan: How do I finance my creative business?  Crafts Council Are you looking for advice on how to manage your finances? How to price your work? Looking for expertise on how to manage your cash flow finances or set up a budget? Looking for knowledge and support in seeking income for a project?  Why should you attend?  Find out about how to manage your finances for your creative practice  Find out about funding options for your business whether you are a start up or more established  Find out the top tips from experienced makers on costing

Quality Outwork Service

Quality Outwork Service Handmade – CAD – Assembly – Clean Up – Pre-Polish Laser Welding Based In North London – Pick Up – Drop Off – Post Out Call Josh: 07876200606 greenstone.jewelry@gmail.com www.greenstone.jewelry

Hatton Garden Workshops Available To Let

Hatton Garden Workshops Available To Let 4B Leather Lane Affordable Jewellery Manufacturing workshops available to rent 550-800 Sq Ft. Flexible lease terms, Comfort Cooling/Heating Can be fitted out to own spec, Keypad intercom with 24/7 access Secure Entrance Contact jwalsh@centa.co.uk

What's in Trend Now: Rocking Rhinestone

If you're wondering how you're going to transition your summer jewellery staples into fall favourites, the trick is to swap out your golden coin medallions and fruity, floral brights for something a little more overstated and substantial: rhinestones. Falling in torrents from the lobes of runway models was unapologetically bold, look-at-me rhinestones in all shapes, styles and colours. We're not talking about the subtle and dainty nod to bling we've seen in previous seasons, no, designers want you dripping and glistening with shiny blinged out bracelets, earrings and necklaces hanging off every ear, wrist, body and decolletage. A little bit

Sizzle in Summer Sparkle

In our opinion, summer is one of the most exciting times to experiment with jewellery. Whether you're packing your flipflops and jetting off to tropical lands or want to elevate your laid back look for another beer garden invitation, there's nothing that transforms an outfit than a bit of sparkle! Right now there is some seriously chic sparkle on our radar. From cascading earrings that dust past the decolletage to sleek sculptural pieces, there is no shortage of new sparkly silhouettes to try out this summer. If you're looking for some summertime sizzle with some blinged out, dripping crystals or

Shine Bright with a Technicolour Touch

Perhaps the most prominant trend to consistently swing back into the fashion sweepstakes, nothing makes a statement or ties an outfit together better than a splash of technicolour. From a summers night out filled with wine and dancefloor moves to commanding the team brief at work in the city, there is a piece of colour pop charm out there to fit any personality or lifestyle. If you're looking to keep a pulse on the latest movement in the jewellery department, we have you covered! From sultry power shades to eye-catching rainbow displays, there's a technicolour timepiece  guarenteed to inject some

Healthy outlook for Goldsmiths Fair 2017

The enterprising ​organisers of this year’s Goldsmith Fair have pulled out all the stops to make sure Britain’s most successful designers of precious metal jewellery and contemporary silver have been given the strongest platform possible to promote and develop their trades. There is no shortage of shine and shimmer from the moment you enter the opulent Goldsmith’s Hall and the immediate impression is inevitably one of wealth and success. Gold leaf on the ceilings, champagne in the bars and the finest silver flashing luxuriously across display cabinets. Only time will tell whether all that glitters turns out to be gold but

Gemstone & Hardstone Carving for Jewellery with Charlotte De Syllas - I

Gemstone & Hardstone Carving for Jewellery with Charlotte De Syllas NOW FULL Charlotte De Syllas Short Courses 2017 Intensive 5 Day Workshop Courses 5 days intensive work to learn how to carve from cutting out through to polishing an object in hard or gemstone in well equipped studio in Norfolk. About the Short Course Classes are small and friendly, with expert individual tuition. We have saws, grinders, carving spindles and micro motors as well as burrs, files & polishing pastes so that you can go from sawing a piece of rough stone to blocking it out, carving it and polishing the

News Edit: 10 June 2018

A round up of this week's international jewellery news... Reed Krakoff on how he plans to revitalise Tiffany & Co for the Instagram generation The Telegraph: While many column inches are devoted to the frantic spinning of fashion’s creative-director carousel, the jewellery industry’s head honchos tend to stay out of ... www.telegraph.co.uk   Woman makes stunning jewellery out of fruits and vegetables Metro: It’s nice to have jewellery that you won’t see on anyone else. So perhaps it’s even more special to have bling so exclusive that it can only be worn for less than a week.  metro.co.uk   Markles'

A Taste of Cockpit Arts

A Taste of Cockpit Arts Are you a maker interested in applying for a studio at Cockpit Arts? Cockpit Arts is holding its second informal evening for makers interested in applying for a place at its studios in central and south London. If you’re looking to grow your business and creative practice, whether as artist-maker or batch producer, come along and find out more. During the evening you’ll have the chance to see inside the studios and meet some of the Cockpit Arts team and talented makers. You’ll find out about the many benefits of being part of Cockpit Arts’ unique creative

Pamper Your Pooch with The World’s Most Expensive Dog Jacket

With a choice of 24k gold, Swarovski crystals or diamonds you can now kit out your dog with a bejewelled and encrusted 24k gold dog jacket to keep your canine companion blinged up. However, the most expensive doggy jacket in the world has also incorporated nano technology within the specialised fabric to keep working dogs as safe as houses in their daily working lives. Kit out your pooch with 24k gold, diamonds, bows and n ano metallizing technology   Doggy Armour and VeryFirstTo.com have announced the ready to market armoured dog jacket which can be encrusted with a choice of

Gemstone & Hardstone Carving for Jewellery with Charlotte De Syllas - II

Gemstone & Hardstone Carving for Jewellery with Charlotte De Syllas A FEW PLACES LEFT Charlotte De Syllas Short Courses 2017 Intensive 5 Day Workshop Courses 5 days intensive work to learn how to carve from cutting out through to polishing an object in hard or gemstone in well equipped studio in Norfolk. About the Short Course Classes are small and friendly, with expert individual tuition. We have saws, grinders, carving spindles and micro motors as well as burrs, files & polishing pastes so that you can go from sawing a piece of rough stone to blocking it out, carving it and

Large Scale Art Installation, Boomtown Festival UK Ltd

Commissioning Opportunity for Large Scale Art Installation Boomtown Festival UK Ltd Boomtown Fair are looking for Artists who can interpret the following brief and submit proposals for a Large scale Outdoor Art Installation to be positioned up on a hilltop look out point looking out over the festival. The space is green field, an Area of outstanding natural beauty in the South Downs National Park. We would like a sculptural Art installation to contain the following elements Providing  welcoming safe space for festival goers to enjoy a moment of calm and reflection away from the hustle and bustle of the

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

The Design Museum Market, Design Museum Kensington

The Design Museum Market bring over forty leading contemporary designers to the Design Museum for a three-day market, in time for Christmas. The Design Museum Market presents a beautiful selection of jewellery, ceramics, glassware, textiles, homewares, graphic design, digital and children’s products - everything from original stocking fillers to stand-out gifts. Launching for the first time this year the market offers visitors the opportunity to meet new designers, find out more about their work, and view, buy or commission items. Featuring: Myia Bonner Jewellery, Josef Koppmann, Heather O'Connor, Sarah Herriot Design, Before Breakfast, Lollipop Designs, Meylor Paper Goods, Baker Street Boys, SenaGu, Markless

Full Casting Shop

Full Casting Shop  Barely used it was only used for samples for x3 months Includes: projet 1200 3d printer 2kg wax machine mould press vulcan 3-550 digital burn out furnace graficarbo 2kg graphite crucible pre-cast vacuum casting machine cost me £10k+ a few years back, I still have receipts Cost: £1850 Location: London Contact jegede@lovebullets.co.uk 07903311532

Emerald: May's Beautiful Birthstone

Vivid, vibrant and the vivacious colour of May, Emerald in all its zesty rich hue celebrates the promise of sunny summer days but the arrival of all those May babies out there. As the gemstone of Venus and fertility, Emerald is a stone of inspiration and aspiration by encouraging its wearer to live and act authentically from the heart. A catalyst for the abundance of human emotions, Emerald channels the energy patterns that surface straight from the heart chakra. Encouraging us to strengthen our interactions with the external world by opening up our hearts, emerald is seen to be a

Jewellery buying sentiments highlighted as NAJ publish consumer research

The National Association of Jewellers has published its consumer research on the role of Jewellery in the lives of UK customers, in whitepaper and research report format. Profiling the opinions of more than 2500 consumers, the ‘outside in’ research is one of the largest market research activities to be carried out by the trade for a decade, and a first for the Association. Supported by The Company of Master Jewellers and The Goldsmiths’ Company , the research is now available to download. Download Whitepaper The report identifies key themes underpinning purchases such as ‘to celebrate or commemorate a relationship’, which

New short film, Warrior with a Crown, collaborates with jewellery designer Ugo Cacciatori to explore the subconscious

An anonymous beach. A young man looks out at a baron sea, a blurred horizon line. A bleak dawn- a vulnerable time of day free of outward distraction, pregnant with opportunity to be seized, or wasted; a torturous, immobilising thought. The monotonality of the backdrop provides a blank canvas for the  the voyeur watches as he wrestles with his inner voice, as it transcribes the motivation, or lack of, behind his actions.  The film posits that fear and failure are manmade illusions and highlights our propensity to be captives in our own minds. The short film addresses how

Community Engagement Opportunity

Community Engagement Opportunity,  Riverside Park, Andover, Test Valley Borough Council Test Valley Borough Council are looking for a Hampshire based arts organisation that can help us work with our residents and stakeholders in a programme of community engagement. The organisation will creatively gather views and opinions about existing artwork and ideas for two new public art commissions. We are interested to find out what this will look like and how we will deliver it. Full details are on the creative brief attached on this page. www.testvalley.gov.uk Brief: www.testvalley.gov.uk

Exhibition Volunteer, Stonehenge

Call for Applications: Exhibition Volunteer, Stonehenge The galleries and exhibition spaces at Stonehenge showcase some extraordinary artefacts and objects from across the Stonehenge World Heritage Site. We are looking for volunteers to help our visitors explore the meaning of Stonehenge and bring the collections to life. You can find out more information at: www.english-heritage.org.uk Please register your interest by completing and submitting the online Volunteer Registration Form. If you have any questions, please email volunteer.enquiries@english-heritage.org.uk . Deadline: 1 December 2019

Meet the (IPG) Masters at IJL

Meet the Masters The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths at IJL 2018 The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths [IPG] proudly presents Meet the Masters, a series of demonstrations by Fellows of the institute. These master craftspeople will be displaying their skills and taking questions from visitors at the IPG stand, E149, at International Jewellery London. This is a  fantastic opportunity to meet some of the most highly skilled and experienced veterans in our industry. Come and see them  at work, find out more about the Institute and perhaps become a member yourself. The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths (IPG) is an organisation that

Opportunities knock for youngsters at BAJ event

Soon to be graduates of the British Academy of Jewellery will get their chance to impress movers and shakers in the British jewellery industry at a special networking event where dreams could turn into reality for the next generation of jewellers looking to progress. A group of trade members, doubling up as potential employers, are being invited to meet the students and their teachers over lunch where they can discuss the BAJ's apprenticeship programme and the funding before they are given a tour of the workshops to find out more about the training. Students of the “Preparation for the Jewellery

Meet the Masters - The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths at IJL 2017

Meet the Masters Come and find out about The Institute of Professional Goldsmiths at International Jewellery London, Stand B154. Demonstrations The IPG will have a range of demonstrations by master craftspeople ot the Institute, as well as a broad range of other experts on hand to talk to about the craft and the IPG. Displays On show will be a cabinet of work by Fellows and Associate Fellows of the Institute, as well as a slide show demonstrating the range of work of the IPG membership. Films A selection of training films will viewable at the IPG stand. The demonstrations Programme

Traditional to Contemporary Wax Carving and Wax Modelling at K2 Academy

Traditional to Contemporary Wax Carving and Wax Modelling 5 Week Course - Thursdays 26 April 2018 - 24 May 2018 About the Course The course is designed to explore working with different traditional carving and modelling waxes, that are used for jewellery making. If you are starting out on wax carving, you will get a set of projects, such as carve a simple ring and a pendant or brooch. If you are a returning learner, you will be guided to work on your individual projects and pieces. You will also be shown how to integrate gems into your designs and

May You Say It With Emeralds

Vivid, vibrant and the vivacious colour of May, Emerald in all its zesty rich hue celebrates the arrival of not only Summer soul adventures but the arrival of all those May babies out there. May has forever been known as the month that sits in the deep heart of Spring whilst teasing us with snippets of the sunny blue skies and mischief of Summer days. As the gemstone of Venus and fertility, Emerald is a stone of inspiration and aspiration by encouraging its wearer to live ad act authentically from the heart. A catalyst for the abundance of human emotions,

Experimental Casting Course, Cockpit Arts - Holborn, London

During this course you will explore and experiment with different casting processes and use them in an unconventional way. Traditional techniques like sand, water, ice and cuttlefish casting will be taught and used as the starting point of your creative journey. Through casting into different media, you will be encouraged to ‘cast outside the box’ and take the process literally outside the studio, to cast into gaps, cracks and other items in the street. We will be using different metals such as pewter, silver and bismuth. You will explore the possibilities of the different techniques and metals and find out

Made London 2024

Made London: Marylebone The Contemporary Design and Craft Fair 24 October – 26 October 2024 One Marylebone, London, NW1 4AQ The Fair MADE LONDON returns in October 2024 to our first and long standing venue One Marylebone. We seek out and select the most original and innovative designer-makers across the UK and beyond to exhibit with us at MADE LONDON each year. A diverse selection of around 120 exhibitors working in all disciplines make for an exciting contemporary design and craft fair, one of the very top in its field. One Marylebone Our venue is a One Marylebone which is

British Hallmarking Council issues guidance on hallmarking of partially constructed items

The British Hallmarking Council (BHC) publishes guidance on hallmarking of partially constructed items. Assay Offices can apply hallmarks to partially constructed items, providing certain conditions are met. These conditions are designed to ensure that the finished article complies with the Hallmarking Act. The BHC’s guidance sets out the conditions: The article must be sufficiently advanced in workmanship If composed of one or more parts, all parts must be present: the guidance gives some examples of required components The article must comply with Hallmarking Act conditions, eg as to fineness, to permit it to be hallmarked If an article is submitted

The Glasgow School of Art Degree Show 2024

The Glasgow School of Art Degree Show 2024 31 May - 9 June 2024 2024 Graduate Showcase Launch Physical + Online Work from this year's GSA Degree Show can also be viewed from anywhere in the world via our digital online platform, the GSA Graduate Showcase launching on 30 May. This website features bespoke, curated pages by our graduating students featuring not only their Degree Show work but also other projects and works in progress. The Showcase is a rich resource for industry and those interested in our graduates and keen to find out more about them and look into

Slovenian Jewellery Week 2023

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

Slovenian Jewellery Week 2023

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

Foundation Degree Arts - Metalwork, West Dean College

[youtube url=http://youtu.be/4R-YxX8Dpvs] Foundation Degree Arts - Metalwork Duration: Two academic years (36 weeks each year) full time ​Applications open for 2021/22 Scholarships and bursaries are available from £500 to £10,000.  Find out about  funding opportunities On this foundation degree course, you will develop well-rounded metalworking theory and skills that will enhance your employment prospects or allow you to continue your studies in higher education. Projects become more challenging as the course progresses and encompasses both silversmithing and blacksmithing. You will be encouraged to understand historic craft practice to place your own work in a broader context and gain

The Art of Movement, Van Cleef & Arpels

The Art of Movement, Van Cleef & Arpels Design Museum, London 23 September – 20 October 2022 Featuring almost a hundred creations from Van Cleef & Arpels' patrimonial collection, numerous archive documents and lender masterpieces, this exhibition illustrates the French High Jewellery Maison's constant quest to impart movement into precious materials. Van Cleef & Arpels has constantly blended the excellence of its High Jewellery savoir-faire with great delicacy of vision in order to imbue the most precious materials with lightness and dynamism. Notable for their unique designs, their three-dimensional volume and their composition, the creations showcased stand out as manifestos

Durston Jewellers Bench For Sale

Durston Jewellers Bench For Sale Heavy duty workbench in a very good condition, professional LED lamp, tools station with few pliers - All bought from Cooksongold. Bench Features:  Six graduated drawers A high rail surrounds the durable 40mm deep oak work top, preventing anything from falling off A large centre tray, designed for catching and easily removing scraps and filings An additional work tray A curved cut out area Arm supports for comfortable working An extra centre drawer for storage A centre bracket for mounting bench pegs  Supportive footrest The Durston Superior Hardwood Workbench measures approximately 1240mm x 660mm x

Cockpit Summer Festival

Taking place over two weekends – 10-12 June in Bloomsbury and 17-19 June in Deptford  -  Cockpit Summer Festival and Open Studios will be a joyous, experience of all things making. Cockpit is home to some of the most exciting makers in the world. Spanning every kind of craft, the Cockpit makers are united by their extraordinary skill and imagination.   With free entry , Cockpit Summer Festival and Open Studios is a chance to experience craft, meet with makers in their studios and buy their products direct - and enjoy a great day out. Go behind the scenes and into

Matrixgold Tips & Tricks Part 2

Matrixgold Tips & Tricks Part 2 Join us on Tuesday 27 September at 10:00 for this 2 hour free webinar with MatrixGold CAD Tutor Jack Meyer. In the class we’ll discuss: NURBS problem solving strategy in MatrixGold The difference between Rhino History and MatrixGold Dynamic Commands, and how to get the most out of both Effectively managing and organising Dynamic Command trees The limitations of solid modelling We will be using the latest version of MatrixGold V3 and Rhino 7, Join us at 10am on Tuesday 27 September 2022 To enrol, visit the Eventbrite link at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/matrixgold-tips-tricks-lecture-part-2-tickets-421717106217

Goldsmiths & Mounters, G. Collins & Sons - Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent

The role Goldsmiths & Mounters G. Collins & Sons Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent G. Collins & Sons are a family-owned business based in Royal Tunbridge Wells. Due to expansion, we have a unique opportunity for Skilled Goldsmiths and Mounters to join our on-site workshop team. With a history that spans back to 1985, we are a small, family-run jewellers that handcrafts all our jewellery on-site and looking to expand our team. Goldsmiths & Mounters are essential to our production workflow, and they must show meticulous attention to detail when carrying out their work. We are keen to hear from applicants who

Join FORGE as its Open House!

Discover how you can be part of our community, how to get involved and what opportunities there are for you. Have a look around and ask questions any time on Thursday 6th April between 11am - 4pm.  Register your attendance here , FORGE was born out of our founder’s passion to celebrate Hatton Garden’s heritage, promote UK design and protect craft skills, by offering business support and affordable workspace to Artisans and future talent. Our motto is ‘enriching lives through creativity’ and at the heart of that is the belief that creativity is not only inspirational and nurturing but helps

Silver + Form: A contemporary jewellery and silverware fair launching October 2024

Silver + Form is thrilled to announce its inaugural exhibition and fair, set to take place at the stunning Turner Contemporary Art Gallery in Margate. This exclusive event, running from October 19th to 20th, 2024, will showcase a captivating collection of contemporary jewellery, silverware, objets d'art, and sculptures crafted by some of the most talented silversmiths and metalsmiths in the UK. Silver + Form was founded by Anja Hessler, a Ramsgate-based artist known for her contemporary mobile sculptures, and Nessa Warner, a designer of fine silver and gold jewellery. The event was conceived out of a shared passion for creativity

InnovationRCA Creative Brands Accelerator Pop-up

Introducing… Royal College of Art RCA Battersea, Howie Street, London SW11 4AS  7 - 8 December 2022 You are invited to  Introducing…  a pop up event by  InnovationRCA , the Royal College of Art’s centre for entrepreneurship. This is a great opportunity to find out more about the innovative jewellery start-ups they support by meeting the founders, all recent alumni from the RCA, and seeing their products first-hand. A curated selection of 20 startups that have progressed through the Creative Brands Accelerator programme over the past 3 years will be showcased, from sectors including homeware, fashion, jewellery, ceramics and textiles. Through this programme,

Artist in Residence - Witley

Artist in Residence, King Edward's School Witley September 2022 to July 2023 We are looking for a practising Artist in Residence to complement our thriving Art Department. The successful applicant will receive studio space, a flat and full board (term time only) together with a contribution towards materials. In exchange, they would be required to work with and mentor young artists, assist with workshops, and help out when required. There is an opportunity for the artist’s own work to be shown at an end-of-year exhibition. An interest or specialism in photography/textiles would be welcomed as this is an area we

Turbulence: Metal, Flows in Thinking and Things

Turbulence: Metal, Flows in Thinking and Things 17 January 2024 RCA Battersea,1 Hester Road, London SW11 4AY A symposium which draws new dialogues and approaches to understanding the functions and potential of metals in art and design. Turbulence: Metal, Flows in Thinking and Things  seeks to find new dialogues and approaches to understanding the functions and potential of metals in art and design. Metals create our contemporary world, often just out of view (screen). Metal art and design is highly pluralistic and multi-facetted; the boundaries of which are to be tested and expanded. With an increasing interest in materiality and

Craft Focus - Hever Castle and Gardens

Craft in Focus at Hever Castle and Gardens 8 - 11 September 2022 Edenbridge A visit to Hever Castle and Gardens makes a perfect day out. The craft fair is held in marquees within the award-winning Hever Castle Gardens set in 125 acres of glorious grounds at Hever Castle. Highlights include the Italian Garden, the topiary chess set, the Tudor Garden and the 38 acre lake. The moated Castle dates back to the 13  century and was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn. Children can enjoy the playground, while visitors of all ages enjoy the challenge of finding their way through the Water

PR guru Suzanna Hammond has died

Jewellery stalwart Suzanna Hammond, the luxury and lifestyle PR guru, has died. Suzanna was a well known, well liked personality within the jewellery industry, who was always perfectly turned out, with a glamorous aura and friendly and warm personality to match. She had set up Hammond PR in the early 1990s after being on the board at Ogilvy Mather and became the go-to agency for jewellery and luxury sectors. Suzanna and her team achieved a reputation for their professionalism, intelligent strategies and considered advice, advising on corporate social responsibility and liaising with government for the BG Group and BG Foundation. Suzanna

Historical Mughal Jewellery and Objets d’Art from a Private Collection

Historical Mughal Jewellery and Objets d’Art from a Private Collection  Schmuck Museum, Pforzheim 22 November 2024 through early February 2025  Architecture, literature and painting, as well as jewellery, experienced a heyday during the Indian Mughal Empire. Mughal jewellery from the 16th to 18th centuries in particular stands out for its excellent quality in terms of design and craftsmanship. Although made of precious gold and embellished with gemstones, it does not look overly ornate but testifies to a well-developed sense of aesthetics and refinement, and is clearly distinct from 19th-century Maharaja jewellery. The exhibition will be featuring superlative examples of the goldsmith’s

PR guru Suzanna Hammond has died

Jewellery stalwart Suzanna Hammond, the luxury and lifestyle PR guru, has died. Suzanna was a well known, well liked personality within the jewellery industry, who was always perfectly turned out, with a glamorous aura and friendly and warm personality to match. She had set up Hammond PR in the early 1990s after being on the board at Ogilvy Mather and became the go-to agency for jewellery and luxury sectors. Suzanna and her team achieved a reputation for their professionalism, intelligent strategies and considered advice, advising on corporate social responsibility and liaising with government for the BG Group and BG Foundation. Suzanna

Opsydia Secures Investment to Drive Growth in its Innovative Security Solutions for the Diamond Sector

The UK-based laser technology specialist welcomes significant funding from three core investors to support the next phase of its growth and development.  Leading gemstone security specialist, Opsydia, has secured significant funding to kickstart the next phase of its development and support its continued growth in the international diamond and coloured stone industries. The investment will enable the wider roll-out of Opsydia’s secure laser inscription technology to international businesses, including numerous new client acquisitions in 2021/22. The funding will also enable Opsydia to expand its sales team and invest further in its Oxford-based production facilities. Elsewhere, the injection of funds will

News Edit: 4 December 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   A dazzling year: the best jewellery moments of 2022 Tatler: From Zoë Kravitz on the red carpet to the Princess of Wales at the state banquet, these were the jewels in the crown. www.tatler.com St. George studio offers silversmithing workshops, donates portions of profits to humanitarian efforts St George Utah: Looking for a place to celebrate an anniversary, a birthday or a girls’ night out? You can learn the art of silversmithing in just one session at this unique studio. www.stgeorgeutah.com Channel the Roaring Twenties this season in

News Edit: 15 July 2023

A round up of this week's national and international jewellery news...   The Most Jaw-Dropping Jewellery Presented At Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week Vogue: Despite the riots in France last weekend, Paris was relatively calm by the onset of haute couture week on Monday. www.vogue.co.uk The Jewels That Keep You Looking Chic And Cool In Summer Forbes: I usually like it hot. In winter, I dress in layers, sleep in cashmere and hang out in down slippers that might be suitable for Alaska. www.forbes.com Jewellery industry urged to see the light on sustainability FT: A recent global summit offered warnings

News Edit: 30 January 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   New Jewels for the Modern Maharajah Town and Country: Boucheron’s new high jewelry was inspired by their best male client. www.townandcountrymag.com Gems Aren’t Just for Your Fingers NY Times: From sparkly pins to glittering skullcaps, jewelry for your hair is regaining popularity. www.nytimes.com York based jewellery brand offers service to help keep engagement rings a secret York Press: A jewellery brand based in York has launched a secret service engagement ring concierge to help its customers keep their engagement plans from getting out. www.yorkpress.co.uk 4th generation jeweller invests

Enamelling Workshops - Blending Colours with Enamel

Enamelling Workshops FORGE, Hatton Garden 16 March, 20 April, 6th July Immerse yourself in the vibrant colourful world of enamelling with FORGE’s upcoming workshops! Did you miss out on our last enamelling taster session a few weeks ago? Not to worry! Here’s your chance to join in and master this ancient craft with the talented and multi award winning Linda Connelly with our upcoming enamelling workshops. "Great venue, great tutor, great course, great fun!" - Andrew Beney, February 2024 workshop participant. Cloisonné In this class you will learn how to use vitreous enamelling techniques and cloisonné wires to create a

News Edit: 26 February 2023

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Life on the farm inspires Ballymoney jewellery Kathryn Reid who has taken Tiktok by storm with her creations Northern Ireland World: A jeweller from Ballymoney has taken inspiration from life on the farm to create a business which has skyrocketed after millions of people across the world began watching her videos on Tiktok. www.northernirelandworld.com Mariah Carey Is Decked Out in Butterfly Bling With Her New Chopard Collections Elle: The pop icon has teamed up with the jewellery brand for two collections that are sure to set your heart

News Edit:2 November 2024

A curated edit of this week's national and international jewellery news... Jeweller draws inspiration from Dartmoor for her unique creations The Moorlaner reports: Dartmoor’s mystique inspires local jeweller’s craft. www.themoorlander.co.uk Forever sparkling: jewellery shop is launching collection to honour The Goldsmiths Company Islington Now reports: A Jewellery shop in Exmouth Market is launching a collection in early November to honour a seven-century-old jewellery company established by King Edward I. islingtonnow.co.uk Blake Lively Brought Dramatic Diamonds to the 2024 CFDA Awards Natural Diamonds reports: Blake Lively has made a habit out of glistening in Lorraine Schwartz diamonds throughout the years. www.naturaldiamonds.com

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair 2022

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair brings 200 of the UK’s finest makers to the Edwardian splendour of Victoria Baths over the weekend of 13-16 October 2022. Already a firm favourite with those in the know, the fair offers an unrivalled line up of designer makers from all over the country, each one selected for the quality, desirability, and innovation of their work. Craft says something in a society obsessed with mass production and throw-away culture. It says that something is unique, joyful, special, and out of the ordinary. It says that something was made with love and built to last. It

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair once again brings the UK’s top makers to Manchester’s iconic Victoria Baths

The North of England’s most exciting craft event returns to Manchester this autumn! The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair brings 200 of the UK’s finest makers to the Edwardian splendour of Victoria Baths over the weekend of 13-16 October 2022. Already a firm favourite with those in the know, the fair offers an unrivalled line up of designer makers from all over the country, each one selected for the quality, desirability, and innovation of their work. Craft says something in a society obsessed with mass production and throw-away culture. It says that something is unique, joyful, special, and out of the ordinary. It

Silversmith apprenticeship / studio assistant position wanted

Silversmith apprenticeship / studio assistant position wanted I am looking for an apprenticeship or studio assistant position to further develop my silversmithing skills, preferably within the Greater London area, but willing to relocate. I know the traditional goldsmithing and silversmithing techniques as soldering, chasing, sinking, raising, repoussé, casting, filigree, enamel, etc.; as well as modern production techniques - 3D modelling (Rhino3D) and 3D scanning (123DCatch).  Besides my craft related skills, I have several years of experience creating and maintaining websites (WordPress), carrying out administrative tasks, creating content for social media platforms and designing booklets. I have a great regard for

Dimexon Transitions To Solar Power At Coimbatore Factory

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

News Edit: 25 June 2023

A round up of this week's national and international jewellery news...   FOPE Is The Jewellery Brand You Need In Your Life Elle: Hello easy-to-wear elegance. www.elle.com The Sustainable Jewellery To Invest In Now, According To The A-List Vogue: Investing in statement jewellery is one of the easiest ways to update your wardrobe this summer – but how to ensure that any pieces you purchase don’t have a hugely negative impact on the planet? www.vogue.co.uk Jewellery to shell out on FT: Unleash your inner Ariel this summer. www.ft.com Fine Jewelry for Every Part of Your World W Magazine: Among gadgets

FORGE Launch Event Showcase

FORGE Launch Exhibition 59 Leather Lane London EC1N 7TJ 9 - 23 February 2023 FORGE was born out of our founder’s passion to celebrate Hatton Garden’s heritage, promote UK design and protect craft skills, by offering business support and workspace to Artisans and future talent. Our motto is ‘enriching lives through creativity’ and at the heart of that is the belief that creativity is not only inspirational and nurturing but helps forge long lasting friendships and professional relationships too. There are over 100 jewellery shops in Hatton Garden, but FORGE isn’t just another jewellery shop – it’s a destination where

How can Apprentices help your Business ?

Apprenticeships: How can Apprentices help your Business ? Are you an employer looking to engage with the next generation  of  talent? Join us at BAJ London or Birmingham to find out about the new Apprenticeship Standard for Jewellery, Silversmithing and Allied Trades Professional. Our team  of  experts will be  on  hand to provide IAG  on   re cruiting an Apprentice, as well as information  on  the programme, funding, and delivery.    You'll even get to see our premises and student work, giving you a comprehensive understanding  of  everything our programme has to  of fer. We understand that  re cruiting an

British Academy of Jewellery Student looking for part time work

British Academy of Jewellery Student looking for part time work I am a recent first-class business graduate about to begin my diploma in jewellery manufacturing at the British Academy of Jewellers in Birmingham. I am ideally looking for entry-level or trainee bench opportunities that will complement my studies. I am a highly creative and practical individual eager to gain hands-on experience that complements my studies and will provide a solid foundation to build my jewellery career. I am available Monday – Wednesday and looking for opportunities within the East Midlands and Birmingham area. Please feel free to reach out to

Fair Luxury Open House: Packaging

Fair Luxury Open House: Packaging  Creating that perfect sustainable unboxing experience We’ve dedicated this Fair Luxury Open House to a topic which we know a lot of our community struggle with. You’ve created your dream ring with certified gold, gone out of the way to only use the best responsibly sourced gemstones but the box this comes in will be the first sight that your client has. You want their unboxing moment to be as magic as your ring but not at a cost to people and planet. During this open house session we’ll be exploring why it is so

Made London 2023

Made London: Angel The Design and Craft Fair 3 - 5 November 2023 The Block, 10 White Lion Street, Islington, London N1 9PD THE FAIR After an enforced break due to Covid and related issues, MADE LONDON returns to a new venue, bigger and better. We aim for MADE LONDON to be the best show of its kind in the country. We seek out and select the most original and innovative designer makers in this country and beyond to exhibit with us. A diverse selection of around 120 exhibitors across all disciplines making for an exciting contemporary design and craft

Freelance Jeweller / Polisher

Freelance Jeweller / Polisher I have many years’ experience within the jewellery and silversmithing industry and now undertake work as a contractor undertaking mounting and polishing work, for a number of casting companies as well as offering bespoke pieces to my customers. I am based in Essex and am happy to work on one off pieces or batch production work. I currently post and can collect work on request. Please feel free to check out my Instagram page to see my previous work, and I happy to provide references from the companies I currently work with. I am available for

FREE Online Invicon Session

On Sally Leonard’s latest trip to Vicenza Oro, she met an awesome company that specialises in colour coatings for jewellery, including PROPER industrial ceramic (that you can set stones in!!!) They don't really have a presence in the UK at the moment, so she has set up this 90 minute session to show as many people as possible what it is, what it can do and how you can use it. Invicon will demonstrate their three colour coating products for jewellery, HyCeram, LuxArt and Luxon. Find out how they are used and how you can procure any or all of

Enamelling Workshops - Cloisonné

Enamelling Workshops FORGE, Hatton Garden 16 March, 20 April, 6th July Immerse yourself in the vibrant colourful world of enamelling with FORGE’s upcoming workshops! Did you miss out on our last enamelling taster session a few weeks ago? Not to worry! Here’s your chance to join in and master this ancient craft with the talented and multi award winning Linda Connelly with our upcoming enamelling workshops. "Great venue, great tutor, great course, great fun!" - Andrew Beney, February 2024 workshop participant. Cloisonné In this class you will learn how to use vitreous enamelling techniques and cloisonné wires to create a

GOLDDUST 2022

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

Second Careerist Jewellers - Establishing A Creative Business Through Further Education

Second Careerist Jewellers - Establishing A Creative Business Through Further Education 20th March 2024 Morley College + Online Join ACJ Director Melanie Eddy, as she chairs a panel discussion with three second careerist jewellers: AngeBDesigns, Ella Fearon-Low and Poppy Norton. Find out about how they became interested in jewellery and their journeys towards a new career. This will be a hybrid event, available in person and online. Date: 20th March 2024 Time: 6:00 -7:30pm Location: Morley College and online - 61 Westminster Bridge Road London SE1 7HT Room: WB13   The event is free but booking is essential Please visit

Enamelling Workshops - Enamel with Decals

Enamelling Workshops FORGE, Hatton Garden 16 March, 20 April, 6th July Immerse yourself in the vibrant colourful world of enamelling with FORGE’s upcoming workshops! Did you miss out on our last enamelling taster session a few weeks ago? Not to worry! Here’s your chance to join in and master this ancient craft with the talented and multi award winning Linda Connelly with our upcoming enamelling workshops. "Great venue, great tutor, great course, great fun!" - Andrew Beney, February 2024 workshop participant. Cloisonné In this class you will learn how to use vitreous enamelling techniques and cloisonné wires to create a

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

Great Scots in Isolation @ The Scottish Gallery

Great Scots  The Scottish Gallery Online 3 - 27 June 2020 The Scottish Gallery are pleased to introduce  Great Scots in Isolation , which is a series of short 1-2 minute films by Scottish Gallery artists from Scotland, UK and internationally. The Scottish Gallery wants to show solidarity to all at this time of isolation and let you into our artists' worlds.  When the country went into lockdown on the 23rd March 2020, our lives changed dramatically. As the world around us closed down, our instinct was to reach out to our artists and allow them to have a voice [youtube [youtube [youtube [youtube [youtube [youtube

Lebrusan Studio reveals an increase in searches of over 1,200% for shoppers looking for commitment rings

Award winning ethical jeweller, Lebrusan Studio, has today released figures that show an increase in searches of over 1,200% for shoppers visiting the site looking for commitment rings. The stats, gleaned from a comparison between January to March versus June to August, show that during the three months coming out of lockdown, more lovers were searching for the term ‘commitment ring’ than ever before. During the first quarter of the year, Lebrusan Studio saw 380 searches for this key term, compared with 5,378 in the last three, showing an exponential spike and an undeniable feeling that when all else fails,

The Goldsmiths’ Company’s ‘Moon Trophy’ Remembered 50 Years After the Moon Landing

Fifty years ago in 1969, the first men landed on the moon, and with that the Goldsmiths' Company fittingly commissioned a piece to commemorate Sir Alan Herries Wilson’s time as Prime Warden from 1969-1970. Sir Alan Herries Wilson, a distinguished physicist laid the foundations for today’s understanding of microelectronics, as well as the Apollo 11 mission itself which landed the first men on the moon. The ‘Moon Trophy’ stands at 38.7 cm tall, and depicts a hand reaching out toward a magnificently modelled, oxidised and electroformed moon, hand sand cast in silver. Surrounding the moon are silver-gilt rings, set in

News Edit: 19 May 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Fairytale that thrust me into the fabulous world of Fabergé! Daily Mail: Sarah started life in a modest semi, now she rubs shoulders with billionaires after discovering she was a scion of the world’s most famous jewellery family. dailymail.co.uk ‘I want to see it, I want to touch it’: the new alchemist at Louis Vuitton The FT: In her first interview since taking over jewellery at the luxury house, Francesca Amfitheatrof talks about the... ft.com The shifting shapes of Scandi jewellery Vogue: Geometric lines are out, soft, organic shapes are

Start Ups in London Libraries

Start-ups in London Libraries The British Library’s Business & IP Centre offers free support for start-up businesses through its Start-ups in London Libraries programme, which is now fully available online. Join the full and half-day workshops to cover all the fundamentals of starting a business, and book for a virtual one-to-one for bespoke support designed to get your start-up journey off to the best start. Our  Start-ups in London Libraries workshops  are now available as webinars which are accessible remotely, wherever you are. Check out our schedule and register your place on one of online workshops at our  Eventbrite page

Early Career Silver Group

Call for Applications: Silver Society's Early Career Silver Group The Silver Society have created an  ‘Early Career Silver Group’ (ECSG). The group sets out to nurture members at a relatively early stage of their ‘journey with silver’ including collectors, students, and early professionals in the silver world such as curators, dealers and silversmiths. The ECSG will host a series of activities, alongside the core events of the society, in a more informal ambiance and taking account of work/study commitments of young professionals and students, to ease their way into the silver world. All those under the age of 35 at

Celestial Ring launched by W&W Jewellery

W&W Jewellery have taken inspiration from antique jewellery and atomic post-war design to create a strikingly beautiful piece that is out-of-this-world to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. The ‘Celestial Ring’ which interweaves historical and cosmic influences, combines a vintage jewellery aesthetic, upcycled old cut diamonds and a contemporary geometric design concept. Digitally designed and made in platinum the ring incorporates a unique double orbit shank below the star burst set with old cut diamonds, black diamonds and pale blue sapphires. The sculptural black star draws the focus into the heart of the ring and is black

Essex County Council Tree Clock Commission

Essex County Council Tree Clock Commission Call out to Essex artists for £10k commission We are inviting artists to apply for a £10,000 commission running between October 2020 to February 2021 to create work which responds to the Essex Forest Initiative based at and inspired by one of Essex County Councils’ parks and places. Overview Essex County Council (ECC) has pledged to plant 375,000 trees across Essex to reduce carbon levels as part of the Essex Climate Change Action Plan. The £1million Essex Forest Initiative will plant trees over five years, capturing 60,000 tonnes of carbon, whilst the cross-party Climate

Goldsmiths' Company Apprentice, Sam McMahon, to Compete in Worldskills Finals in Russia

Last Friday 8 March, set against a backdrop of luxury cars, three Goldsmiths’ company apprentices battled it out for a spot on the UK team at the Worldskills Finals in Kazan, Russia this Summer.  Apprentices, Sam McMahon from Mappin & Webb , George Schembri from B&M Bijoux and Robert Dean from The House of Garrard, spent three days in Nottingham demonstrating their exceptional technical skills in jewellery making. Set to the task of creating an Aston Martin badge to a specific design, testing their accuracy, time management and problem-solving skills. Sam McMahon proved his mettle against his fellow competitors taking

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,

Q&A: Gary Williams

Gary Williams is a Director at Presman Bullion Ltd, a company based in Hatton Garden which is one of the largest reclaimers, processors and recyclers of precious metal jewellery scrap, sweeps and residue services to the UK’s jewellery trade. He also sits on the Board of parent company, Mastermelt Ltd. Gary's career in the jewellery industry spans some 40 years, having started out working as a representative for a jewellery wholesaler, then for award-winning manufacturer Brown & Newirth Ltd, leaving as their Sales & Marketing Director. Gary was also a Director with Amore Cranleigh Ltd, a Surrey based retailer specialising

Jonathan Boyd, Acting Head of Jewellery and Metal at the Royal College of Art launches book

Jewellery Manifest is Jonathan Boyd’s first publication and in it he sets out to discuss and give context to ten years of his practice, unpicking thoughts on jewellery, language, the digital and narrativity in objects.  Within the book Jonathan draws on philosophical, anthropological and autobiographical discourse using image and textual montage to deconstruct both his jewellery and the printed book format deployed in presenting his practice. The book chapterises key themes prevalent in his practice and contains contributions from Michael Rowe and Helen Clara Hemsley.  Jonathan Mathew Boyd is an artist and jeweller. He is Acting Head of Programme of

Q&A: Liz Olver

Liz Olver is currently Design Director at Annoushka, based out of their flagship store and building on Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea. Previous to this, she was Designer at Links of London, both companies founded by Annoushka Ducas MBE. Liz is an author of three jewellery making titles, has worked as Product Development Manager at De Beers LV, has run her own jewellery label and was for many years a Senior Lecturer at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design on the BA Hons Jewellery Design course. She has an MA from the Royal College of Art and a degree in

Bench Space in Friendly & Professional Jewellery Workshop in East London

*Two Remaning Bench Spaces Left* Bench Space in Friendly & Professional Jewellery Workshop in East London £295 per month HONE is unique an East London based workspace company dedicated to professional craftspeople and creators. We are now taking applications for our new Jewellery workshop, suited to the creative & professional jewellery maker.  The workshop has individual benches kitted out with lamp, tool storage, pendent drill etc. There is a shared tooling area with a rolling mill, forge, torch, drawbench, etc. Ventilated equipped polishing area, access to secure precious metal lockers. Etc. Alongside being part of our community of craftspeople and

News Edit: 24 May 2020

As we find our 'new normal' here is a round up of last week's international jewellery news...   Why the super-rich are investing in diamonds and rare gemstones in lockdown The Telegraph: Amid economic uncertainty, the super-rich are looking to ultra-rare precious gemstones as a 'safe' store for their wealth. telegraph.co.uk In a pandemic, why are collectors splashing out millions on jewellery online? CAN Luxury: Despite the current climate, collectible jewellery sales are soaring at online auctions, with collectors having no qualms about purchasing pricy jewels sight unseen. channelnewsasia.com Stellar Price of Gold Might Dent Jewelers’ Profits This Year WWD:

Hardstone & Gemstone Carving: Intensive 5 Day Workshop with Charlotte De Syllas

Hardstone & Gemstone Carving: Intensive 5 Day Workshop with Charlotte De Syllas Summer Course 2019 - Maximum 5 students per course 22 – 26 July 2019 Places still available Absolute beginners as well as those with some experience are welcome. Classes are small and friendly, with expert individual tuition. All equipment & stone provided in a spacious studio in Norfolk, 16 miles from Norwich, in quiet countryside. We have saws, grinders, carving spindles and micro motors as well as burrs, files & polishing pastes so that you can go from sawing a piece of rough stone to blocking it out,

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

Gold Crashes Through the $2,000/Oz Mark

"The gold price surged 12% in July to hit new record levels. This momentum has carried into August with gold  tearing above the never-seen-before levels of $2,000-an-ounce mark on the third day of trading. The rally in gold has been powered by safe-haven appeal for the metal due to the worsening economic conditions resulting from an out-of-control pandemic." - Cameron Alexander "The gold price surged 12% in July to hit new record levels. This momentum has carried into August with gold  tearing above the never-seen-before levels of $2,000-an-ounce mark on the third day of trading. The rally in gold has been powered by

Jewellery house Alessa announces annual charity campaign to support families, women and children

Alessa Jewelry was born out of a fairy tale romance between Yuvraj Pahuja and Alessandra Robles, after meeting at the Gemological Institute of America. Inspired by Alessandra’s Guatemalan ancestry and Yuvraj’s family experience within the jewellery industry, the brand boasts striking, vibrant and edgy designs for the modern woman, whilst nodding to both Latin-American and Indian heritage. Six years ago, Alessandra; born and raised in Guatemala launched ‘Give Wings,’ a year-long charity initiative on a mission to give back to the community. As part of this, the brand teams up with Not-For-Profits that not only provide housing, health and educational

News Edit: 9 August 2020

Here is a round up of last week's international jewellery news...   How The Jewelry Industry Is Mobilizing To Stamp Out Racism Forbes: In the wake of the global social justice movement over recent weeks, black jewelry designers have found themselves thrust front and center as consumers look for ways to show their support. forbes.com Shiny new business idea from Chippenham jeweller Wiltshire Times: Chippenham jeweller Tamara Eggleston has had a Eureka moment. She had to cancel her silver jewellery making workshops due to lockdown back in March. So she has invented a home jewellery making kit to keep her

Experience the magic of a Jewellery Quarter Christmas from home!

With over 50 participating businesses, this year’s Christmas Window Trail was set to turn Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter into a true winter wonderland. However, as the country has entered its second national lockdown, they are bringing the magic of the JQ’s streets to you so you don’t miss out on the festive fun!  Browse all the window displays from the comfort of your home and vote for your favourite for a chance to win a JQ Prize Bundle which includes artisanal chocolates, silver earrings, a whisky testing set, vouchers to use in local businesses & more! Vote for your favourite display

Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council reports on Covid-19 survey results

A survey with 120 respondents carried out by  The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council  has found that Covid-19 is adversely impacting designer-makers across the UK, driving it to announce a series of new initiatives to support, connect and inspire isolated craftspeople during this time. In a survey shared with silversmiths, jewellery designers, manufacturers, apprentices and those working in allied trades, The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council (GC&DC) sought to understand the current needs, concerns and mood of its audience in order to best support them during this time. Among key results and feedback from over 120 respondents, the GC&DC reports:

Open Days at West Dean

Open Days at West Dean Saturday 8 February 2020 West Dan College, Chichester Book your place at open day and see for yourself why 97% of students would recommenstudying at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation (2018 student survey). A visit to the College is the perfect opportunity to: Meet the tutors and discuss study options See the large studios, workshops and  brand new  science facilities Tour the student accommodation and library Chat with current students about student life and what it's really like to study here Explore the historic interiors used for site-specific work Find out more about

News Edit: 21th February 2021

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Five minutes with… Emirati entrepreneur Noor Shamma Gulf Business: The founder of an eponymous New York City-based jewellery brand ensures that ethical and sustainable practices are implemented right through the supply chain. gulfbusiness.com What does it actually mean to be an ethical and sustainable jewellery brand? Fashion Journal: How to tell if ‘sustainable’ jewellery brands are really putting in the work, according to the founder of one. fashionjournal.com.au Missoma launches its first fine jewellery collection Harpers Bazaar: The affordable brand branches out with solid gold and diamond pieces.

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

News Edit: 28 April 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   This Sustainable Fine Jewellery Collection from Dover Street Market Is The Perfect Mix of Creativity And Innovation Vogue: There are few conversations within this industry that have become as profoundly important as that surrounding sustainability. vogue.co.uk In My Jewellery Box: Marla Aaron The Telegraph: New York-based jewellery designer Marla Aaron fell in love with jewellery as a young girl playing with her grandmother’s collection, but she never envisaged making a career out of it. telegraph.co.uk The jewellers turning their hand to home furnishings How To Spend It: Cutting-edge jewellers are

Jewellery Quarter Festival and Open Studios Open Day Event – Selling Opportunity

Call for Applications: Jewellery Quarter Festival, Open Studios & Open Day Event A Selling Opportunity 29 th  June 2019 School of Jewellery, Birmingham As part of the Jewellery Quarter Open Studios we announce a call out for exhibitors to take part in our School of Jewellery Open Day event on Saturday 29 June – 10am-4pm We are looking for our school Alumni who are trading as jewellery designer makers and currently running their own business. We are offering a ‘market’ stall selling event in the Vittoria street gallery, our main atrium. Limited spaces available so apply now   What you get

The Cockpit Arts / Arts Society Award 2019

Call for Applications: The Cockpit Arts / Arts Society Award 2019 Cockpit Arts have announced that the Arts Society Award at Cockpit Arts is now open for applications. The Cockpit Arts / Arts Society Award comprises of business support provided by Cockpit Arts as well as subsidised studio space for one year. Applications are invited for the Award which aim to support professional craftspeople working with traditional craft skills. Particular consideration will be given to crafts requiring skills at risk of dying out. The Award is worth £3,000 towards a studio at either Cockpit Arts site, to be supplemented with £1.650

Pandora and UNICEF forge new global partnership

Pandora and UNICEF have announced a new global partnership to support the world’s most vulnerable children to lead healthier and safer lives and fulfil their potential. The three-year partnership between the international jewelry retailer and the United Nations Children’s Fund will also fund life skills training, with a focus on programmes that support female empowerment. Every day, girls are vulnerable to losing out on their education due to poverty, cultural practices and poor infrastructure. Violence and conflict also play a part in preventing girls from getting an education. Girls’ education goes beyond getting girls into school. It is about ensuring

Q&A: Aishleen Lester

Aishleen Lester is an emerging new talent in the jewellery industry, having founded her new business in 2016 after coming to jewellery design at Kensington & Chelsea College through evening classes. She is a well reputed fine artist in her own right, known for large scale, sculptural installations who’s work is held in private collections and has previously exhibited in the Riflemaker and Nyehaus galleries. Trained at Wimbledon School of Art and the Royal Academy Schools, she built up her jewellery industry credentials by working with the likes of Shaun Leane and Paul Raven before venturing out on her own

The Goldsmiths’ Centre’s New Talent and Tutors Scoop Twenty Five Accolades at the ‘Jewellery Oscars’

The Goldsmiths’ Centre scooped twenty-five accolades at this year’s Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council competition, known as the 'Jewellery Oscars', seeing its new talented craftspeople and their tutors represented across award categories. The prestigious award ceremony, which was held at Goldsmiths’ Hall on Monday 25 February 2019, saw the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s current and former Foundation Programme trainees, Goldsmiths’ Company apprentices, Setting Out course participants as well as their tutors win accolades across specialisms, from polishing, diamond mounting to silversmithing, reflecting the exceptional standard of talent, skill and the level of teaching in both the Junior and Senior Award categories. Chosen

News Edit: 3 March 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   The Oscars 2019: The Best Jewellery on the Red Carpet Luxury London: Lady Gaga led a cavalcade of diamonds at the Oscars 2019, adorned with a Tiffany & Co. necklace last worn by Audrey Hepburn in 1962 and worth an estimated $30 million. luxurylondon.co.uk Oscars 2019: The Best Jewellery The Vogue: This year's Academy Awards was a night for stunning necklaces and archive jewels. www.vogue.co.uk Helen Mirren takes inspiration from Princess Diana with her stunning Oscars look Woman and Home: Last night the stars were out in force at the

Vicenzaoro Hosts Industry's First Ever Hackathon

An earring able to call the police when in danger. A bracelet that warms up thanks to solar energy. A ring that staves off skin problems. A bracelet that explains Italy’s cultural heritage. An accessory able to exploit time. These were the best ideas to come out of the jewellery industry's first hackathon at this year's Vicenzaoro. Vicenzaoro January, staged the first edition of  The Gold Run , the jewellery technology hackathon for more than 60,000 students and researchers, devised in collaboration with Padua University within the context of T.Gold. The Gold Run opened Vicenzaoro to fusion with the world of research, [youtube

Suppliers experience “best event in 15 years” at CMJ spring trade event

From record numbers through the doors to magic numbers on stage, this year’s CMJ spring trade event turned out to be “the best event in 15 years,” according to suppliers who attended. Held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on 17 and 18 February, the event saw more than 100 retail member businesses and more than 80 jewellery and watch suppliers make the journey to Birmingham to network, discuss latest trends and to enjoy an evening of unforgettable entertainment. Robert Day of Allied Gold was just one supplier to praise the event. He said: “This has been the best CMJ

News Edit: 21 April 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Coachella 2019: The most beautiful jewelry spotted on models at the festival Vogue: From seashell earrings to wild necklaces, take a look at some of the most beautiful jewelry looks spotted at the first weekend of the most fashion-forward festival out there. vogue.fr Artist recreates exiled dictator's treasure trove in 3D—but what happened to the originals? Art Newspaper: Pio Abad and Frances Wadsworth Jones's replicas of jewels smuggled into Hawaii by Imelda Marcos are displayed at the Honolulu Biennial alongside the social services they could have paid for. theartnewspaper.com Nigora

Wisley Craft Fair Goes Virtual

The annual Contemporary Spring Craft Fair held at RHS Garden Wisley may have been cancelled this year due to Covid-19 but the organisers, Craft In Focus, have moved the fair online.   Visitors who were planning to attend this, the UK’s most popular craft fair, will not need to miss out and can now find all their favourite exhibitors online and discover a fabulous selection of professional contemporary craftmakers and artists selected from the finest in the UK.  They will not even have to queue to enter! The virtual craft fair can be found on the Craft In Focus website www.craftinfocus.com

Autumn '19: Bibs n' bobs

Thought we'd left bib necklaces in 2010? Think again! As we tumble into September, designers have been busy in their summer slumbers putting the finishing touches to their fall collections, ready for a season of all things, bold, sophisticated and striking. If there is one thing we are sure of this fall, it is that the F/W 19 runways are proving that the dainty, barely-there pieces which have ruled in seasons past have been given a bold, bodacious and breathtaking revamp. Whilst designers have doused us with a fresh plethora of jewellery trends fit for any fashion thrill-seeker out there, there

Giovanni Corvaja Talk, Sarabande Foundation

Inspiration Series | Giovanni Corvaja in conversation with Russell Cassleton Elliot Sarabande Foundation, London 5 November 2019 Turning gold into fibre and building a Laboratory High Vacuum Chamber in his studio; Giovanni Corvaja may as well be dubbed the Jesus of Fine Jewellery. Bringing novel and bewildering approaches to his craft and the world of jewellery, and adding 'inventor' and 'innovator' to his extensive list of accolades, Giovanni will be joined by Russell Cassleton Elliot.   A truly fascinating and inspirational conversation awaits you all - tickets are limited so don't miss out! Not many can say they’ve mastered the art

Crafting Business Seminar

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

BBA Artist Prize 2021

BBA Artist Prize 2021 Who can apply International call, open to all media, all ages over 18, all genders and all educational backgrounds. ‘Early bird’ application phase 1 15 November 2020 - 17 January 2021 (midnight CET) Out of all applications we receive during phase 1, we will select 10 artists for the longlist. Apply early and secure one of the first positions on the longlist! You will be notified until January 30th and we will already start promoting you in February 2021. 1st Prize Solo show at BBA Gallery in 2022 Cash prize 1000 € Artsy profile BBA Gallery

News Edit: 7th February 2021

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   The Jewel Box offers a versatile melange of handcrafted silver and fashion jewellery Indulge Express: The outlook towards wearing jewellery has undergone a tremendous change. From flashy and elaborate gold metal the shift is towards ‘less is more’.   ndulgexpress.com Lockdown love: Couples pop the question to beat pandemic blues EDP24: People in Norfolk are being "more sentimental and romantic" during lockdown, jewellers have said, having seen couples and families go out of their way to make loved ones smile during the pandemic. edp24.co.uk Reddit Forum Said to Cause

The Business of Jewellery with Alex Monroe and Jos Skeates Talk, Sarabande Foundation

The Business of Jewellery with Alex Monroe and Jos Skeates Sarabande Foundation, London 12 November 2019 Running a business can be hard, and finding the information you need can be even harder. For our Jewellery series we welcome Alex Monroe and Jos Skeates to explore the business of jewellery, with a crucial focus in managing a small business, production and how to scale production. With over 20 years of experience within the business of jewellery, and seeking out the best amongst emerging British and international jewellery brands, Jos Skeates of boutique store ECOne Jewellery has developed an excellent view of

NAJ create 'Bitesized Brexit Briefings' for industry

The Nationl Association of Jewellers have creates a set of special webpages, a 'Bitesized Brexit Briefings' blog intended to share information, opinion and intelligence for the Jewellery Industry leading up to the UK leaving the EU, and afterwards as the Jewellery community acclimatises to post-Brexit Britain. Along with other Association members of the British Allied Trades Federation, NAJ has commissioned specific guidance notes in case the UK crashes out of the EU with no deal, which remains unclear despite today’s positive noises from the Prime Minister meeting with EU Negotiators. The guidance notes  covering key topics such as Intellectual property,

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

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

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

A touch of modern romance

When you think of heart-shaped accessories, what springs to mind? For many, thoughts would fly to the heart-shaped chocolate boxes, teddy bears holding heart-shaped cushions and delicate heart pendants that come out in full force around the annual Valentine's Day holiday tradition.  Whilst some may adore these heart-shaped accessories, others have found them to be too sickly and girlish. Whatever your personal opinion of this symbolic shape, the heart has been an iconic motif used throughout period antiques for many centuries.  First created as a symbol of enduring love and romance, the heart shape was first reported at the end

Postponed: Loot 2020

Postponed: Loot: Mad About Jewelry Museum of Arts and Design, New York City, USA 20 - 26th April 2020 LOOT: MAD About Jewelry has been postponed to the week of December 7, 2020. Out of an abundance of caution and with careful consideration of evolving public health concerns in New York City, the Museum has determined that the potential risk to the well-being of LOOT's international roster of artists, the attendees, and Museum staff must be the primary consideration. We thank all of our supporters for their understanding and cooperation during this unprecedented situation and for their commitment to support

Brighton entrepreneur opens 'The Crop'

Luxury jewellery shop, The Crop, has opened its doors in the North Laine area of Brighton with the support of a five-figure funding package from NatWest. Entrepreneur and jeweller Kerry Huff has used £50,000 of finance from NatWest, alongside a personal investment of more than £150,000 to acquire a 10-year lease for the Sydney Street premises and complete an extensive retail fit out. Funding from NatWest has enabled Kerry to undertake an extensive refurbishment programme, which includes bespoke fixtures and furnishings, as well as ensure the retail outlet is fully stocked. She has also created two therapy rooms on the

Loot 2020

Postponed: Loot: Mad About Jewelry Museum of Arts and Design, New York City, USA LOOT: MAD About Jewelry has been postponed to the week of December 7, 2020. Out of an abundance of caution and with careful consideration of evolving public health concerns in New York City, the Museum has determined that the potential risk to the well-being of LOOT's international roster of artists, the attendees, and Museum staff must be the primary consideration. We thank all of our supporters for their understanding and cooperation during this unprecedented situation and for their commitment to support MAD. We look forward to

SOUL NOW: A workshop with Ruudt Peters

SOUL NOW: A workshop with Ruudt Peters After the success of the last 17 years, this year Ruudt Peters begins his summer workshop under the title SOUL NOW. Peters loves working around universal and ancient concepts. The spiritual aspect of his work, which can be found in his creations, is also what guides him in transmitting knowledge and skills, a bit like Socrates liked to do with the maieutic: to stimulate the disciples to bring out the truth from themselves, truth that is not teachable, but it is a knowledge of the soul.  In this case, Peters also includes an

Jewellery Quarter Cemetery Memories Campaign

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

Brazillian designer who turned her back on fast-fashion to exhibit at Milan Fashion Week

Brazillian designer, Roberta Mattos’, evolution from fast-fashion student to slow-design is encapsulated in her latest collection: Pause.  The designer began her career in the clothing industry but fell out of love with it due to wide-spread ‘fast-fashion’ practices. She finally settled on jewellery design after trying her hand at other creative industries, such as gastronomy and culture, inspired by a visit to a local jewellery atelier.. The ‘’Pause’’ collection is intentional and conspicuous with its meaning, incorporating the geometric ‘pause’ symbol as a motif within the designs, serving as a gentle reminder to take a break from technology and connect

Q&A: Stephen M Goldsmith FIPG MBGG

Stephen M Goldsmith FIPG MNGG KCHS is a precious metal polisher of high repute having worked in some of the most prestigious jewellery houses in the country. With some 45 years of experience as a craftsman in the jewellery and silversmithing industry, a former employee of the crown jewellers he has even worked in the Tower of London on the Crown Jewels. Starting out on a pre-apprentice course at Rochester, and then an apprenticeship, he can now be safely described as a Master Craftsman, and has just has his first book published, ‘Polishing and Finishing for Jewellers and Silversmiths’ which [youtube

Q&A: Tiffany Browne

Tiffany Browne is a Micro Diamond Setter and has worked on some of the most intricate and luxurious pieces which adorn London's Bond Street. With an unconventional entry into industry, she answers the Benchpeg Q&A. What’s your name, and what do you for a living? TB: My name is Tiffany Browne, and I'm (mostly) a diamond setter specialising in very fine, close pavé work which I do under microscope. How did you come to work in the jewellery industry? TB: It wasn't the obvious choice for me! I started out studying languages and have an MA in translation. Meeting my husband, whom

Makers' Marathon

The Makers' Marathon Fuel your creativity: a peer-led adventure for makers & artists Do you love making stuff? Does the idea of trying out new techniques fill you with glee? Do you want to cultivate your creativity in the company of other curious and crafty people? The Makers' Marathon is a multidisciplinary, peer-led  Learning Marathon  for those who itch to create. Over 6 months we’ll experiment and collaborate as we grow ourselves and our practices, together. Whether you’re a pro or a hobbyist, this peer group will unlock possibilities for your craft. We’ll share techniques, swap skills and fuel each

Experts share insight on non-essential retail shops reopening and provide reassurance on how to shop safely

This week, all non-essential retail shops re-opened after 12 weeks of closure since the COVID-19 outbreak. Hundreds of thousands of non-essential retail shops across England are set to reopen including Shopping centres and shops will look and operate differently compared to three months ago, when the public were last shopping in them.  To inform the public on what to expect and showcase the new changes that have been implemented, shopping expert and TV star Gok Wan along with media doctor Dr Zoe Williams were granted early access to some stores on London’s iconic Oxford Street to find out more before they

Developing your Creative Practice

Call for Applications: Developing your Creative Practice DYCP supports individuals who are cultural and creative practitioners and want to take time to focus on their creative development. Round 9 is now open The next round of DYCP opened on 11 January 2021 and closes on 12pm (midday), 18 February 2021. About the fund Are you interested in making an application? You can plan your application at any time, take a look at our  guidance for applicants  and find out if you're ready to apply with our  short quiz . The fund supports creative practitioners thinking of taking their practice to

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust

Call for Applications: Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Travelling Fellowships for artists/makers and arts in the built environment The Winston Churchill Trust awards travelling fellowships includes an artists and makers award category and is currently open for applications. If you are inspired by the work of overseas designers, have a project in mind to support craft skills or want to work with overseas craft people/designers and have a project in mind to advance practices in the UK design sector, find out more on the Trust’s website. A new category of Churchill Fellowship has been set up to fund travel that will

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

'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

Get Ready for Laidback Luxe

 It's that time of year that leaves you in a bit of a style conundrum - relaxed laidback comfort for at-home mooching or showstopping glam for all those festive drinks and parties galore! Striking that perfect balance between comfort, quality and style is no easy feat which is why we've scouted the best laidback luxe looks for you this party season. Not everyone wants to go all out with the glitz and glamour of showstopping pieces dripping in colour, gemstones and glitter. Pieces that intrigue with subtle hints of chic design and detailing is exactly what designers have been tapping

News Edit: 24 March 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Beyond Fabergé: Bykovs And Russian Jewelry Renaissance Forbes: From the Tsars to the Kardashians, uniqueness outweighs carat-count when it comes to fine jewelry ownership. forbes.com Meet Göran Kling, Who Is Crafting Street-Smart “Slang” Jewelry in Sweden Vogue: Peer out jeweler Göran Kling’s window and what do you see? An abandoned concrete factory riddled with graffiti. vogue.com Contraceptive Jewellery Could Be The Next Method Of Birth Control Independent: Contraceptive jewellery is currently being tested by scientists as a new form of birth control. independent.co.uk Mystery of the largest hoard of Celtic

Galactica - Jacqueline Cullen @ The Scottish Gallery

Galactica - Jacqueline Cullen The Scottish Gallery 29 June - 20 July 2019 It’s a coincidence that this month marks the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s Space Oddity and the Apollo 11 Moon landing - there is a also a space theme in the beautiful Galactica jewellery collection by Jacqueline Cullen.  Her Whitby jet and black diamond jewellery is exquisite; offset by her work in grey agate.  It really is out of this world! Jacqueline Cullen creates wearable, sculptural jewellery in 18ct gold featuring materials such as Whitby jet, black diamonds and agate. With diverse inspiration ranging from thunderous skies to

Talent Spot: Six Exciting New Jewellery Designers to Watch from New Designers 2019

The array of talent on display at New Designers 2019 was phenomenal- it would appear the future of the jewellery industry is as sparkling as the displays that were on show. Following on from our recent exhibition review and award announcement , Benchpeg shines a spotlight on six exciting designers to watch. Tianyu Zhao  Tianyu’s work stood out at New Designer’s as a delightfully juvenile departure from the seriousness of the more traditional work on display. Working from a deliciously pastel colour-palette, she evokes the naivity of  childhood to instil the wearer of the “adult amulet” with the courage to

Vanilla Ink Open Day

Vanilla Ink Open Day Glasgow, Scotland 10 - 11 April 2019 Vanilla Ink is throwing open its doors to give you a chance to have a good nosey and find out all about the Jewellery School in the West End of Glasgow. Ever wondered what it is we do and all the things we offer, or simply after some tool porn? For the first time since we moved in to our West End location, Vanilla Ink is having an Open Day(s) and welcoming you in to have a wander. This will be a chance for you to come and have

News Edit: 27 January 2019

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   My head, their hands — a jeweller’s extraordinary collaboration After being paralysed from the neck down, Romilly Saumarez Smith found a new way to make art. www.ft.com 4 Jewellery Trends To Embrace In 2019 With fashion changing every season and the constant pressure to turn out fresh looks for every event, keeping up to date with the trends can feel exhausting.  www.elle.com.au   "More And More Women Are Buying Jewellery For Themselves" - Maya Magal On The Changing Market A quick scroll through Instagram will tell you that semi-precious jewellery

Call for Applications: Kickstart 2018

Call for Applications: Kickstart 2018 Emerging UK up-and-coming jewellery designers with their sights set on success are invited to battle it out for one of just six places in this year’s KickStart initiative – organised by International Jewellery London, the must-attend annual destination for the jewellery industry, taking place at Olympia London from 2 – 4 September 2018.  This long-running mentoring, advice and exhibition platform is a key link in the IJL Journey – a unique industry path that guides design talent from final year student to successful consumer-facing brands. In a change for 2018, KickStart will accept just six

Sotheby's Diamonds showcase world's rarest white rock

A 'perfect' white diamond had a coming out party today in London and was immediately made available to purchase though Sotheby's Diamonds who match the worlds rarest diamonds with the worlds richest collectors. Its value is believed to be around £25 million though Sotheby's who unveiled the 102.34 carat rock as part of their first year anniversary celebrations have put it on the market for an undisclosed sum. Extraordinarily rare, the white diamond, mined in Botswana, is the only known round brilliant-cut diamond over 100 carats with an extra cachet of being flawless in colour and clarity. It is the

Silversmith Claire Malet completes National Museum Wales Commission

‘The Company of Old Roads’, a new sculptural installation by metal artist and silversmith Claire Malet, commissioned by the P & O Makower Trust, will go on display at the National Museum Wales Cardiff, from 12 December 2017.  The installation, in fine silver on a walnut base carved by woodworker Nick Barberton, makes reference to ‘Roads’ by the poet Edward Thomas (1878-1917), the centenary of whose death on the Western Front falls this year.  Inspiration The piece grew out of Claire’s love of walking holloways, tracks and drove roads. Her explorations of old roads and the literature and art they’ve

Fiona Rourke presents Reflect, Refract, React at Blinkered

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

Modern Metallics

As the temperatures plummet, seasons transition and the sale of pumpkin spice lattes are everywhere to be seen, it can only mean one thing for the fashion-minded: new season jewellery is out in full swing. A signature style of elegance and grace, metallic metal pieces are a favourite for Autumn/Winter 2017 wardrobes and the perfect way of injecting a touch of glitz and magnetic wearability. The slinky finish of modern metallic adornments offer lightweight aesthetics that will cast a flattering glow to any skin tone hue. Arrive in style at any winter dinner soiree shining in subtle, eye-catching beauty; the

#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;

All the sparkle for a season of fun

With the countdown well and truly underway to the season of all things fine, fancy and fabulous, there are a plethora of stunning pieces for every kind of jewellery fanatic out there! When it comes to the cocktail schedule of festive fun, everyone know that sparkly, sentimental and statement showstoppers are the only way to ensure you shine this party season. Glorious gold, delicate silver and daring black are the traditional colours designers plump for around Christmas but just like fashion trends that come and go, a shift in jewellery style has arrived. Colour has blossomed throughout the jewellery picks

Scotland's Paul Adie 'proud' to be 2018 Loewe Craft Prize finallist

Scottish jeweller Paul Adie will find out next week if he has won the prestigious 2018 LOEWE Craft Prize after he became one of just 30 finallists shortlisted for the second iteration of the awards, created to recognise the merits of artisanal excellence. Glasgow born and Munich based, Adie, 34, crafts rings, pendants and brooches from steel and solder, his most recent collection called The Earth is Moving' launched in 2016, following the success of 'Fruits from the Wasteland' the previous year. His latest collection 'Searching for Solid Ground' was submitted for the LOEWE Craft Prize as one of 1865

Aurum by Guðbjörg to launch new retail strategy at IJL

Internationally recognised for their authentic, mindful jewellery and drive to innovate, leading Icelandic jeweller Aurum by Guðbjörg are introducing an exciting and original new way of working with buyers and retailers.   The new strategy will be implemented for the first time for orders taken at the prestigious IJL at London’s Olympia, 2nd – 4th September 2018. In a novel departure from the traditional retail format, Aurum’s co-founders Guðbjörg Kristín Ingvarsdóttir, goldsmith and designer and CEO Karl Jóhann Jóhannsson’s mission is to simplify the way they work with their resellers in order to get closer to their stockists and cut out

News Edit: 2 December 2018

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Jeweller announces profits of £13.7m for last 12 months The Business Desk: Lancashire based jewellers Beaverbrooks has announced profits of £13.7m over the last 12 months. www.thebusinessdesk.com Meghan the muse! Jeweller Shaun Leane reveals he now designs collections with the Duchess in mind - after the royal prompted his £225 A-list approved Talon earrings to sell out Daily Mail: Jeweller Shaun Leane has revealed how the.... www.dailymail.co.uk The House of Garrard has created a glamorous Christmas tree for The Lanesborough Tatler: Jewellers to the royal family, the House of Garrard, [youtube

The IJL Kickstarter ‘Industry's Choice’ Award Now Open For Voting

IJL has announced the launch to choose this year’s ‘Industry’s Choice’ 2017  KickStarter . Now in its fifth year, the newly titled ‘Industry’s Choice’ competition rewards one  KickStarter  with a much sought after complementary stand in the Design Gallery at IJL 2018 ,  with   the winning designer will be announced at the show.   IJL Show Director, Sam Willoughby, explains the new format for voting: “This year, once again, we are extremely pleased with our  KickStarters . All ten are extremely talented and very different. I look forward to seeing who comes out tops .  Fingers at the ready

Tropicool Charm for Summer

You've got the paradise destination ready and booked, your holiday wardrobe is getting locked down and your suitcase is already out of the attic loud n'proud so what 's left to take your SS18 holiday style to the next level? Pile on the colour, texture, print and shapes with the perfect summer colour-popping jewellery! Life becomes a whole lot more fabulously fun with a taste of the exotic so dive into the tropical world of summer with palm leaf prints, juicy fruit motifs, multi-coloured parrot pendants and brighten your life with statement style. Transform your life in rich ornamental synergy

Bounty of riches for Lucara Diamonds at Karowe

Lucara Diamond's stock rises ever higher after they rolled out yet another massive diamond from their treasure trove Karowe mine in Botswana, on the northern fringe of the Kalahari Desert.  This one, a 472 carat light brown stone, is reckoned to be the third largest ever recovered at the state-of-the-art mine, which was only comissioned in 2012 and has quickly become one of the biggest producers of diamonds in the world. The Vancouver-based mining company acquired the Karowe Diamond Mine from De Beers in 2009  when after 40 years of mining small and low grade diamonds at the site, the

Ravish In Resin

Whilst the weather outside is less than Spring fresh and bright, the jewellery world is tapping into trends that will bring our lives some much needed sunshine and colour. Resin jewellery is breaking out into the spotlight and taking centre stage across many springtime collections.  Embodying an organic feel with irregular solid shapes and intricate abstract edges, resin jewellery is increasingly being used by designers to tell a tell a story of a millennial lifestyle. Beautifully preserved organics are embedded within clear and coloured resin cabochons with botanical natural elements in free form design and shapes. A beautifully eye-catching trend

Baby, it's Icy Outside!

With Halloween now a cobweb of the past, Guy Fawkes night over with a bang and remembrance Sunday beautifully celebrated across the country, it's that time of year where the festive cheer begins to roar loud for all to hear! Oh yes. The Christmas period is now upon us! With festivities, drinks and delectable soirees cropping up amongst our busy schedules, it's the perfect excuse to jazz up your look so that you sparkle just as much as the decorations around you! Get yourself mistletoe-ready and stand out for all the good reasons this season with some of our favourite sleek and

School of Jewellery Graduate Show 2018

Graduate Show 2018: School of Jewellery The School of Jewellery's Inspired festival, is a culmination of graduate shows, exhibitions and events highlighting the creativity, hard work and progression of our Art, Design and Media students. The shows will be a celebration of the students and their innovative work, and an opportunity for them to showcase their inventive, fresh ideas to audiences. The School of Jewellery welcomes you to the 2018 graduate exhibition. The graduate exhibition sets out to inspire visitors and provide an insight into the prestigious School. It shows how individual talent has been developed through our courses and

Call for Applications: Emerging Designer-Maker Pavilion

Call for Applications: Living Crafts 2018 Applictions are now open for Living Crafts 2018 at Hatfield House 10 - 13 May 2018 Emerging Designer-Maker Pavilion This is an opportunity for free space in the Emerging Designer-Maker pavilion at Living Crafts, a four day major craft event which is being held Hatfield House in Hertfordshire from 10-13 May, 2018. This is an initiative to support recent graduates and is sponsored by Craft&Design online.  About the Event Living Crafts brings beautifully crafted designs chosen for their high quality and innovation. More than just a craft show, this is creative day out for

Appointment: Andrew Marshall Joins DBC London as Production Manager

London based jewellery design and manufacturing process bureau DBC London has announced the appointment of Andrew Marshall as its new Production Manager. Andrew has been working within in the jewellery industry for 25 years and has previously successfully managed him own business, reaching out to customers and proactively addressing their queries. David Marshall the Managing Director of DBC London said: “We are all confident that Andrew will take on his new responsibilities with the same enthusiasm and professionalism as he has in his previous positions.” Andrew will take up his new position from 20 August 2018 at the Goldsmiths’ Centre,

Birmingham's historic JW Evans silver factory goes global

A glimpse into Britain's bygone age of silver has been rolled out to a worldwide audience after the historic JW Evans Silver Factory in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter was chosen to feature in a new series of virtual tours produced by English Heritage and Google Arts and Culture. Until now, the 19th century silversmith factory, which opened in 1881 and closed 127 years later with all the old tools, machinery and half-finished silverware still in place, has been open just two days a fortnight, offering guided tours only. But after the new partnership, between English Heritage who bought it from the

Call for Applications Emerging Designer-Maker Pavilion Living Crafts 2018

Call for Applications: Living Crafts 2018 Applications are now open for Living Crafts 2018 at Hatfield House 10 - 13 May 2018 Living Crafts brings beautifully crafted designs chosen for their high quality and innovation. More than just a craft show, this is creative day out for all the family with hundreds of designer-makers, masterclasses, workshops and spectacular craft demonstrations. The event takes place in matted pavilions on the Queen Elizabeth Oak Showground, in the magnificent parkland at Hatfield House and admission includes entry to the West Gardens. Featuring the best of contemporary and traditional craft from jewellery-making, ceramics, studio

Craft Scotland Summer Show 2018

Craft Scotland Summer Show 2018 3 - 26 August 2018 Edinburgh, Scotland This August, discover contemporary design-led craft from 37 Scotland-based makers in one unique venue right in the centre of Edinburgh. You can shop curated handmade objects, including beautiful homewares, exquisite jewellery, stylish accessories and handcrafted gifts. Unleash your creativity with the careful guidance of our knowledgeable makers in the inspirational surroundings of our Summer Show. Many of the workshops are sold out, but we do have some spaces left: Carve a Ring Workshop with CARVE Carve your own ring in jeweller's wax. Get creative and make your own

Precious Pearl for Those Born in June

What better way is there to celebrate the fact that we're exactly half way through the year than with a little organic charm for all those June babies out there?! Those born in June are lucky enough to have not just one but three birthstones associated with their birthday; pearls, alexandrite's and moonstones. Unlike most other gemstones that are found within the Earth, Pearls are unique in that they have an organic origin. Pearls are often either created inside the shells of living creatures such as clams and oysters or occur naturally in the mollusks of freshwater species in rivers

The Goldsmiths’ Centre Launches New Business Growth Programme

The Goldsmiths’ Centre launched a new Business Growth Programme, designed to offer business skills short courses and inspirational talks tailored to the fine jewellery and contemporary silversmithing sectors, earlier this month. Led by experts and industry practitioners, this programme aims to provide ambitious entrepreneurs with the tools to confidently craft their business skills and spearhead a step-change in their practice. From prestigious business incubation programmes for emerging makers, such as the Getting Started and Setting Out courses, to one-day intensive short courses for more established businesses, and a successful leadership pilot programme started in 2017, the Goldsmiths’ Centre in London

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

Green with Envy

There's no denying that a flash of green has something of the 'wow' factor.  Fresh, vibrant, energetic and charmingly mysterious, expect pops of this  stone to make a   this fall. From deep jewel tones of charm to zingy flashes of tropical greens, there's a  colour and style of green envy  jewellery for every personality out there. Wear it bold and bodacious as head-turning showstoppers or as chic and subtle hints of colour  in everyday attire.  From left to right : Gold Green and Blue Charm Necklace , Green Stone Thin Bracelet , Green Drop and Crystal Ring , Emerald and Diamond Choker

Dynamic new trends take shape at IJL 2017

Spotting important new trends will be as easy as 1-2-3 for exhibitors and visitors to IJL 2017 when the latest product ranges from over 550 high end jewellery manufacturers, designers and suppliers from 32 countries around the world are rolled out at Olympia over three days. World famous as a ‘360 degree’ platform for striking deals, networking and sharing knowledge, IJL 2017 will kick off a range of new features including newly themed seminar theatres, workshops and a dedicated Skills Lab to showcase talent and skills. A new Retail Experience Area is designed to help retailers enhance their in-store offer

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

Strong performance earns Anna Blackburn place on Beaverbrooks board

A strong performance from retail chain Beaverbrooks has earned managing director Anna Blackburn a place on the board, marking only the second time in the company's 99 year history that a non family member has served as a board director. Blackburn has been with Beaverbrooks for 20 years, starting out as a shop assistant in Manchester,  and has served as chief executive since 2013, when she became the first non-family CEO in the company's history. Since then, the company has enjoyed sustained growth with turnover rising by around 20% and operating profits doubling, despite a challenging UK market. Anna Blackburn

Heavy Metal Charm

This winter kicks it back to the classic glamour of old-school rock n'rollwith heavy metal and lashings of sparkle.  Lustrous metallics, holographic fabrics, oil slick colour-play and shimmers of glitter will transform the way your winter wardrobe makes a statement this season. With designers jumping on this trend left right and centre, be ready to snap up some chunky cuffs, double layered chokers, rich jewel gemstones and colour metal mixes guarenteed to turn a head or two. We've scoured the jewellery collections and picked out our favourtite bike chain necklaces, mixed metal bracelets and clever metal magic to take your

Swinging Into New Year Ear Bling

New Year is all about ringing in the changes, embracing something different and refreshing your look ready to kick last year into the past. After the ear cuff was the jewellery prince of royalty throughout 2017, this year will welcome the pendulum swing of XXL length earrings in shiny, sculptural, arty, glitzy chandeliers. 2018 is all about going big or going home so step up your bling game and make a statement with elegant cascading stand-out earrings! From left to right: Gold 3D Flower Droppers , Large Pearl Drop Earrings , Gold & Black Perspex Flower Droppers , Shell Dropper

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

Horsham jewellers Wakefields switch buying partners

One of the south's oldest and most respected high street jewellers Wakefields in Horsham has joined the Houlden Group, switching its allegiances from The Company of Master Jewellers, to become the 30th member of the buying and business services group. Wakefields, stockists of Rolex, Thomas Sabo and Links of London among other high end brands, has been in the same family for more than 100 years and is now owned jointly by Dominic Wakefield and his sister Melissa. The store stands out on Horsham's busy High Street for its classical facade but more significantly for its durability as other famous

Goldsmith / Jobbing Jeweller, David Mellor Family Jewellers - Totton, Southampton

The role Goldsmith / Jobbing Jeweller David Mellor Jewellers Southampton, Hampshire We are a Hampshire-based family jewellers looking for a full-time Goldsmith / Jobbing Jeweller to join our friendly team, working from our workshop in Southampton. Our workshop undertakes all aspects of jewellery repair from ring sizing and chain repairs to full restoration work. All of which we would expect to be completed to the highest standard, whilst working efficiently to tight deadlines.  About the Candidate As well as jewellery repairs, we also carry out bespoke manufacturing for our clients, and the successful candidate will be au fait with traditional

Cockpit Arts Awards 2018

Call for Applications: Cockpit Arts Awards x4 Cockpit Arts have four awards currently open for application - comprising subsidised studio space and support for one year. Cockpit Arts are looking for talented makers to join the Cockpit Arts community: The Cockpit Arts / The Arts Society Award - This Award supports a maker practicing a traditional craft that requires skills at risk of dying out. The Cockpit Arts / Clear Insurance Award - This Award which specifically aims to support professional makers who have been in business for less than three years and have aspirations to develop their craft business.

News Edit 20 May 2018

A round up of this week's international jewellery news... Meghan Markle Wore The Most Beautiful Tiara With Her Wedding Dress Elle: Although—no lie—we were waiting with baited breath to see Meghan Markle step out in her wedding dress at Windsor Castle, we have also been waiting for the other big reveal of the night: her tiara. www.elle.com.au A close-up look at Meghan Markle’s wedding jewellery The Telegraph: An old pair of Cartier earrings, a new bracelet (also by Cartier), a borrowed tiara from the Queen's collection and, as part of her evening look, a blue cocktail ring that belonged to

Dazera announce first art jewellery competition winners

This September Dazera launched its first competition to reward the artistry of fine jewellers.  “Jewellery is often appreciated most for its fine gemstones and exceptional craftsmanship, but much more rarely for the creative thought that has gone into it, ” explains Dazera founder Domini Hogg.  “The aim of the competition is to highlight the creative talent out there.” This September Dazera launched its first competition to reward the artistry of fine jewellers.  “Jewellery is often appreciated most for its fine gemstones and exceptional craftsmanship, but much more rarely for the creative thought that has gone into it, ” explains Dazera

West Dean College Open Days 2017

West Dean College Open Day Programme You are invited to come and explore the workshops and studios, take a tour with students, explore your study options and find out about funding at our next Open Day. Friday 1 December 2017, 10am - 1pm Programme School of Arts - Location Edward James Studios 10.00  Registration and Open Studios 10.30-11.00  Informal presentation in the Old Dairy Seminar Room : Welcome and Introduction - Francine Norris, Director of Education Outline Visual Arts Programmes - David Stent, Programme Leader, Visual Arts Outline MA Creative Writing and Publishing - Martine McDonagh Outline Part Time Visual

Mari Funaki Award Announce 2018 Winners

Benedikt Fischer, has been announced as the winner of the 2018 Mari Funaki Award for Contemporary Jewellery in the Established category for his series of five Pearly Whites brooches, made from shell, mother of pearl, remanium and sculpey. Benedikt receives A$8000 (£4,379.78) and his work will enter the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria (subject to approval of the Board of Trustees). The judges said of this work: "What stands out in these pieces is the freshness and humour, as well as the incredible material resolution and skill. It’s difficult to work with shell and create something that isn’t

The Modern Pearl Collection by Margot McKinney

Internationally acclaimed jewellery designer  Margot McKinney  is redefining the way women wear pearls with a new collection created from the unusual beauty of Australian South Sea pearls. Based in Australia, Margot  McKinney hails from a long family tradition of luxury retail  dating back to 1884.   Transcending mere adornment,  her  jewelry  designs  are statement pieces of pristine craftsmanship that lend any ensemble a touch of the sublime. For Margot, it often begins with the stone, sourced with extreme care from rare finds. Out of its intrinsic qualities, she fashions the ideal setting for the gem to shine at its most

'Tis The Season To Party & Shine

The nights have drawn in with dark and bitter blights of misery so it's time to draw them out in a festoon of festive shimmer, shine and all things fine. The party season has officially begun so grab a hot coco and dip into our seasonal festive style guide that will transform your RSPV's from maybe to 'hell yes Santa baby!' As we spin into the most sociable time of year, dazzle and twinkle your way through copious cocktail hours in a haze of head-turning adornments, from striking arm candy, fabulous fringing, glamour cocktail gemstones to tantalising shimmers of diamond

Marcia Lanyon going going... almost gone

One of the UK’s industry’s leading figures Marcia Lanyon might be winding down her much loved business but customers have no reason to worry about being left in the lurch, she says. The 69 year-old gemmologist, who is one of the leading suppliers to jewellery designers and makers in the UK, announced her retirement last week having carved out an unrivalled reputation for sourcing precious stones from all corners of the planet. Over a period of 40 years, she has built up an enviable mailing list of around 7,000 clients but says none will be left high and dry when

Jewels of The Ocean: The Trend Making A Wave This Spring

An oceanic explosion of creative artistry has plunged onto the 2018 spring jewellery edit. Prepare yourselves for an expansive sea-bed of eye-catching, beautifully bright, mis-matched pieces, inspired by the vibrant life found underwater. Throwing it back to the 90s surfer vibes, long gone are the days of cornrows and white shell chokers ready to reveal the sophisticated and playful pieces jumping for air this spring. The fashion runways revealed models adorned in mismatched shell earrings, revamped conch-shell rings and gemstone encrusted charm bracelets in tropical palettes of dazzling colour. From door-knocking droppers and decked-out chokers to dainty delicates, embrace this

Champagne Showers in Race Day Jewels

Galloping off to a day of sumptuous hospitality, world-class racing, fabulous fashion and sartorial elegance? Welcome to the season of popping corks, fine-dining, frivolous antics and the mixing and mingling of tradition and fun; Race Day tomfoolery is off to a flying start! Experience the spirit of summer out on the racecourses with a winning selection of jewellery wonders that'll have you turning heads come rain or shine. Accessorise your polished champagne flutes with a touch of regal refinement in graceful gemstones and delicate drapery dripping in colour, charm and unforgettable glamour. From classic milky pearls to modern bursts of

Parliament of Trees

Parliament of Trees - Catherine Dee Artist and landscape designer Catherine Dee is cultivating a  Parliament of Trees  at Persistence Works. ‘Parliament’ refers not only to gallery visitor conversations and debates concerning trees, but to a ‘language’ of trees cultivated by the artist. On show are Dee’s ‘art povera’ stick sculptures, and installations of tiny living trees comprising landscape designs that may be commissioned (free to non-profit organisations) for planting out at the end of the exhibition. Dee is a world-renowned educator in landscape architectural design and will be available to offer free public advice to individuals and groups on

Met Gala Extravagance

Whilst it came with some controversial murmurs, it's without question that this year's Met Gala theme of 'Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination' provided a night of jaw-dropping celestial charm. Celebrating an ornate sector of religious art, guests of the Gala pulled out all the stops with big-time ornamentation which left a sea of dramatic and decadent jewellery to admire. From oversized rings to ornate drop earrings, guests upped their ante with subtle and chic references to depictions of renaissance saints and deities. Wrapped strands of oversized jewels, bejewelled headpieces, tiaras and crystal-crystal-encrusted religious crosses and rosaries adorned the

Summer Open Studio Event with Melissa Hunt Jewellery

Summer Open Studio Event with Melissa Hunt Jewellery Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire The workshop will be open on Friday 1st June between 4pm and 8pm, Saturday 2nd June from 12pm - 6pm and then until Sunday 17th June by appointment.  There will be jewellery making demonstrations, course information and pieces for sale. Guest exhibitors The Banshee Jewellery Group will also be showing their work with me for the first time. Other Nearby Attractions The nearby  Smithy Studio  will be selling beautiful gifts and homewares, and  Aardvark Books  will be launching their Out of the Hills Exhibition Marches Art 2018, a new event showcasing

Leyla Abdollahi's new Trinity Collection

London based designer Leyla Abdollahi, known for her use of flamboyant palettes of gemstones, has launched a new collection, 'Trinity'. Inspired by and conceived out of Leyla’s fascination with the mysterious world of astrology and divine geometry, the designs of geometrical crafted gemstones blend spirited colour such as tanzanite, white and champagne diamonds, blue sapphire, white opal and emeralds and highlight rhythmic alignments throughout the collection. Abdollahi's exploration of the relationship between dazzling ornaments and the human body is hown through the use of delicate chains, adding fluidity and sensual, subtle movement. Elaborate and intricately complex designs twinned with skillful

BRON - Ruudt Peters

Bron - Ruudt Peters Retrospective A  BRON  (source) is a beginning, a starting point. Different ‘things’ are bubbling up and coming out of sources, both literally as well as figuratively. In SOURCE, the retrospective exhibition of Ruudt Peters, the sources of his work are the main focus. Peters shares in this exhibition not only his work, but also what inspires him at the deepest level. Alchemy, nature, the human body, beauty, the subconscious, intuition, spirituality and sexuality; everything has been a source of inspiration and was the beginning of a quest for Peters. His starting point is his curiosity in the

Put The Sparkle In Christmas: Jewellery Gift Guide

Seasons greetings everyone! It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and as Andy Williams so tunefully sung, 'It's the most wonderful time of the year'! Tracking down that perfect gift to jingle the silver bells of that special someone can end up feeling more like a trek through ice than a gliding sledge ride through the snow. Chill out and put your feet up - we've put on our Christmas elf boots and have scoured the festive collections to bring you the sparkling stars of the Jewellery Christmas tree - guaranteed to inject a touch of merriment to even

Annie Haak Launches New Season Collection

Whether holidaying to a far-flung exotic location or heading for a romantic weekend away, catching that chilled festival vibe or catching up with friends, the Annie Haak Heavenly Collection of beautifully hand-crafed pieces will ensure that you stand out from the crowd.  Mixing marble and turquoise beads with sterling silver, gold and rose gold, the delectable selection of rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings guarantee that you will shimmer with style in the sunshine. Subtle seasonal shades of pink, cream and mauve are sure to brighten any day and outfit, working wonderfully together with delightfully dainty charms and pendants. Featuring new

IJL & Goldsmith's Centre partner to provide designer support

International Jewellery London and The Goldsmiths’ Centre have announced that they will have an official partnership for this year’s show. The sponsorship agreement will focus on providing invaluable support for exhibiting designers. This includes using The Goldsmiths’ Centre as the venue for the IJL Exhibitor Summer Masterclasses on June 15, when inspiring industry leaders will provide mentorship and guidance on getting the most out of IJL’s unique networking, PR and marketing opportunities. The expert tutors at the Centre will also participate in IJL’s Show Seminar programme, as well as sharing valuable mentoring advice in pre-show IJL online content.  Sam Willoughby,

Artist Residency, ArtsTaunton

ArtsTaunton is an organisation working to make Taunton a great place to live - somewhere where art and nature combine to make a town that has a unique identity. To achieve this aim ArtsTaunton has secured funding to support an artist to explore the enduring character of our town - its people and its landscape. In the coming years we want to support our creative sector and stimulate the appetite in people for brilliant and meaningful art. This residency is one of the first steps to help us find out what would be meaningful for Taunton’s citizens. The residency asks

Diamonds Are Forever

Happy birthday month to all you April babies out there! With Spring in full swing and summer fashion trends ready to ring-a-ding-ding, the diamond dazzles as queen bee in this months gemstone spotlight! Owing to their superior robust structure, remarkable luster and beautiful crystal lattice patterns reflecting and refracting light spectrums, the diamond sparkles with a hidden beauty of intrigue and desirable finery. Diamonds are not only a notoriously ancient coveted treasure of the wealthy elite but it is highly loved many  gemmologosts  for being one of the only gemstones made entirely from one element- carbon. Owing to its isometric

When Sparks Fly: Leading Lady Gift Guide

There's no more hiding under your blanket of ignorance anymore so it's time to stop playing ostrich and embrace the fact that tis' officially the season to shimmer & shine topped off with an abundant shower of bubbly wine! Bring a touch of sparkle to Christmas morning and enchant the leading lady(ies) in your life with a gift that speaks from the deep dark depths of your wallet heart! When it comes to present plucking for the fine female in your life it can often leave you feeling like a duck led to a barren river-bed...out of your depth &

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

Raid On Design Maker Studios Results in Plea to Help Track Down Over 200 Pieces of Stock

Last weekend, following a successful weekend-long Open Studios event at Cockpit Arts, Holborn, London, a jewellery workshop was targeted and broken into in the early hours of Sunday night /Monday morning and the occupants’ entire stock was stolen. Ros Millar, Victoria Coleman and Alex Hammond had over 200 pieces of jewellery - stock, loose stones and bullion - stolen, wiping out any inventory they had in the run up to the Christmas selling period. Minimal Damage Caused in Break-In The culprits were not caught on CCVT, and managed to enter the building without causing any damage to main doors or

Call for Makers / Digital Makers to Deliver Craft Workshops, Crafts Council

Maker Brief - Make Your Future The Crafts Council is looking for traditional and digital craft makers to plan and deliver workshops on our flagship craft education programme Make Your Future.  The project is a major new nationwide initiative to ignite a passion for craft among 6000 young people in secondary schools and enable them to discover their craft and making talents. Introduction to Make Your Future In 2014, Crafts Council launched  Our Future is in the Making  - the evidence-based education manifesto supported by educators, artists and makers, crafts professionals, engineers, scientists and industrialists. This manifesto sets out the case

Fairtrade Gold Jewellery UK Push

The Fairtrade Foundation have unveiled an exciting new initiative as part of its Fairtrade Gold campaign, tagged ‘I DO’, to stamp out practices that have tarnished the jewellery industry’s reputation.   The push will kick off with a series of five nationwide conferences which will be held across England, Scotland and Wales throughout September and October. It will also include the launch of a unique new e-learning platform, a Fairtrade gold business advice clinic and seminar hosted by International Jewellery London, and the creation of a suite of new business resources and new campaigner literature. The conferences will be attended

Flo: The Jewellery Edit 2016, Crafts Central

  FLō: The Jewellery Edit 2016 sees the return of contemporary jewellery collective Flō to Craft Central in a new show following its successful exhibition in 2015. Flō is made up of six designer-makers from Spain, Portugal, Sweden, South Africa and the UK working out of the same studio in London. This showcase highlights how individual approaches to design that draw inspiration from sources as diverse as arid vegetation, the London skyline, tribal patterns and Scandinavian summers can find common ground through the exploration of form and body adornment. Flō is made up of: Viveka Alvestrand        www.vivekaalvestrand.com

Jubinale 2017

10th edition of International Summer Jewellery and Watches Trade Fair JUBINALE! Do you run a gallery, shop, on-line store or warehouse? Do you design jewellery and constantly look for new solutions and suppliers? JUBINALE is where you need to be - it's been connecting jewellery professionals from Poland and Central Europe for past 10 years! Do you want to get to know the latest trends and would like to establish new contacts? Visit Krakow and check out the latest collections and offers prepared especially for JUBINALE. Personal entry passes, authorizing to enter the fairgrounds, can be prepared and printed free

Makers Market

The first National Festival of Making will take place in Blackburn, Lancashire on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May, 2017. A key event within the Festival of Making is a weekend Makers Market situated in Blackburn’s King George’s Hall. The Makers Market is a collaboration between Festival producers, Deco Publique and guest curators, Hopeful and Glorious who bring their unique perspective to the market seeking out a great mix of makers and designers from across the region. Hopeful and Glorious will curate a showcase of artists, makers and designers who have been selected for the quality and originality of their

Adi Toch Finalist for The LOEWE Craft Prize 2017

Adi Toch has been  selected as a finalist for the  international Loewe Craft Prize 2017,  an annual international award celebrating excellence in craftsmanship. LOEWE seeks to recognise uniquely talented artisans whose artistic vision and will to innovate will set a new standard for the future of craft.  26 works have been selected as finalists by the Experts Panel out of almost 4,000 participants.  LOEWE Craft Prize 2017 entrant piece - Encircling Vessel from Whispering Vessels Series Works have been submitted to the Jury for their final decision this month and will form part of a touring exhibition.  The winning work

The Textures of Craft, Heritage Crafts Association Annual Conference

The Textures of Craft, Heritage Crafts Association Conference Kaffe Fassett, worldwide authority on textiles and colour, is keynote speaker at The Textures of Craft, the conference of the Heritage Crafts Association on Saturday 6th May 2017. Kaffe kicks off a spectacular day when craftspeople and anyone interested in the UK’s rich heritage of traditional skills can hear from makers, browse the Instant Gallery, celebrate the best craftspeople in the country and find out more about the Heritage Crafts Association’s research into endangered crafts: The Radcliffe Red List. Other speakers include archaeologist, historian and TV presenter Dr Alex Langlands, potters Lisa Hammond

Morley Winter Fair 2016, Morley College - London

It's that time of year again! Celebrate the festive season at our annual Winter Fair. Join Morley College at their annual Winter Fair for a day of festive fun for all the family. Pick up unique, handcrafted gifts for Christmas, hang out with friends and family, taste some amazing street food and enjoy live performances and demonstrations. There will be stalls selling a variety of arts and crafts, as well as performances and taster sessions, children's activities and street food on offer. Corrine Edwards London will be selling Contemporary Silver jewellery including her Hexagon range and bee jewellery. You can

Creative Business Workshops, Crafts Council

Three workshops coming up this November to support your creative business development.  The Crafts Council recognise the need for artists, makers and designers to be supported throughout their career whether just starting out or as an established international artist.  These accessible, enjoyable, and informative workshops offer the right mix of key experts and experienced makers offering advice to help you establish and sustain a creative business or realise ambitious projects. Tickets Costs start at just £20 and are based at different regions across the UK.  Dates: Dates this November 3rd in Sunderland 16th in London and 21st in Leicester To

Jewellery Trade Christmas Party - London WC2

Jewellery Trade Christmas Party 2016 Presman Mastermelt are hosting a Jewellery Trade Christmas Party on the 14th December, at SWAY Bar, Great Queen Street, Holborn, all in support of the Silversmith and Jewellers Charity. Tickets cost just £25.00, which includes a donation to the Charity, live music, DJ, entertainment, food and even a Christmas gift! Date: Wednesday 14th December Times: 7pm till Late Venue: Sway Bar, 61-65 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5BZ Tickets: Cost £25.00 each To find out more about the Silversmiths and Jewellers Charity, please click here tsjc.org.uk Tickets are selling fast, so If you would like

Pforzheim: 250th Anniversary of the Golden City

In 2017 Pforzheim, Germany will celebrate the 250th anniversary of its jewellery and watch industry.  The city will mark this anniversary with unique exhibitions and spectacular live acts, with jewellery and design art, with conventions and congresses, with plenty of music and theatre and it will demonstrate which innovations have developed out of Pforzheim’s traditional industry. It was Margrave Karl Friedrich, who in 1767 issued the privilege to create a pocket watch and silverware manufactory in Pforzheim. In doing so, he initiated a story of success that would shape Pforzheim to this day and finally make it the “Golden City”. 

Summer-ise Your Seasonal Style

Prep your jet-set summer staples with only one concern in mind this year: Make it unashamedly bright. Welcome to the season of fun all you sun-seekers! As the warm weather begins to creep into our daylight hours and beer garden fairy lights start to glisten, the season of fun and luxury calls for everything bold, bodacious and brave. Nothing screams summer relaxation louder than a full-on tropical explosion of colour, textures, tones and motifs. From sunflower yellow, hibiscus fuchsia pink to chalky pillar red and zingy forest green, the time to throw out your timid shyness is now! Unleash your

Rediscover The Signet Ring at Atelier Romy

From a workbench in London’s idyllic Notting Hill came the vision for a jewellery brand that embodied the needs of the modern woman. Introducing ATELIER ROMY, a timeless collection of rings, bangles, necklaces and earrings created by renowned master craftsman Sabine Roemer and brand architect Hermione Underwood.  Offering easy-to-wear, classic and aspirational pieces, Sabine and Hermione saw an opportunity to create a brand that was both beautiful aspirational but attainable. By cutting out many of the unseen costs in the production line, ATELIER ROMY embraces the needs of the modern consumer, discovering digitally and shopping online. With careers and lives

Call for Applications: Product Design 2017, Red Dot Award

50 free registration places for upcoming designers     Product Design 2017 Red Dot Award Designers and manufacturers can currently register their products for the Red Dot Award: Product Design 2017. “Young Professionals Application Day” provides an opportunity for upcoming designers to also take part in the competition. 50 Free Registration Places On 7 December 2016, trained designers who have graduated within the past five years have the chance to apply for one of a total of 50 free registration places. The international design competition thus gives an opportunity to those starting out on their career to prove their abilities and

Jeremy France Jewellers delights with glitz at The Odd Ball

On 19th November, guests gathered at the Hilton, Ageas Bowl, for a night that had promised to be a visual masterpiece of unrivalled glamour and intrigue.  Hosted by married actors Sarah Parish and James Murray, the sold out ‘Odd Ball’ was in aid of the Murray Parish Trust and their nationwide #2MillionSteps campaign, to raise £2 million for a state of the art children’s emergency and trauma department at Southampton General Hospital. Guests embraced the steampunk Trash and Tiaras dress code, with an abundance of aviator goggles, tiaras and top hats on display. Greeted by men on stilts and golden

About Benchpeg

A little bit about our history... 18 years ago, the UK jewellery industry was lacking accessible information. Organisations in the trade were keeping themselves to themselves, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the latest developments.    In 2006 we founded Benchpeg, and launched the first digital newsletter for the jewellery industry and allied trades aimed at promoting information from across the trade and bridging the gap of information out there and accessibility to it. In 2024 we published our 800th issue of the Benchpeg newsletter. Today we support the jeweller by assisting with recruitment needs, sharing the

Cutlery Design Challenge, Institute of Making and Worshipful Company of Cutlers

Earlier this year the Institute of Making and Worshipful Company of Cutlers launched a very exiting design challenge to design and make a new implement, tool or device for eating. The art, craft and science of what we eat and how we eat it has engaged civilisations across the ages. Rituals, routines, manners and methods have been developed to ensure that the way we eat and the tools we use to eat with perform a huge range of functions; from preventing us contaminating our food with unwashed hands, to marking us out as from a particular social class. in recent

“Exceptional” 3 Star Rating for leading Jewellery Trade Insurance Broker

Chartered Insurance Broker T H March will be able to celebrate its 130th anniversary with extra gusto later this year having been awarded an ‘Exceptional’ 3 star rating by independent customer service assessor; Investor in Customers (IIC). IIC conducts research and investigation into how well companies treat customers and staff. The highly detailed analysis carried out and the valuable insights gained by bravely allowing an independent third party to talk to customers and staff (at all levels) helps companies like T H March continue to improve on what they do. In order to achieve the ‘Exceptional’ 3 Star rating a

Auverture adds Gaelle Khouri to Luxury Offering

A carefully curated selection of Khouri's iconic pieces from her Soft Deconstruction and Garden of Earthly Delights collections is available at auverture.com  amongst the likes of Fernardo Jorge, Venyx, Lydia Courteille, Delfina Delettrez, Pamela Love, Noor Fares and Bibi van der Velden. Gaelle Khouri creates her beautifully elaborate jewellery to lend the women who wear it a feeling of strength, so they can “better express who they are, silently and effortlessly,” says the jeweller. This Lebanese designer’s creations stand out for their rare, unique beauty. Her first collection, “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” is inspired by what Khouri calls “the

Rings

Rings, Craft Centre and Design Gallery - Leeds  Every year we select jewellers to display with us whose rings offer a unique alternative to what you might find out on the high street.  Stunning engagement and wedding rings, rings to mark special occasions or just a ring to wear every day; there’s something for everyone to enjoy.  Exhibition Run 14th January – 24th June 2017 Venue The Craft Centre & Design Gallery City Art Gallery The Headrow, Leeds West Yorkshire LS1 3AB www.craftcentreleeds.co.uk

Official Timekeeper for Clipper Round the World Yacht Race

British watch brand Elliot Brown has signed up as the Official Timekeeper for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 17/18. To mark this partnership Elliot Brown will be launching a new flagship collection called Portland Adventurer in time for the start of the race. The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is one of the greatest challenges of the natural world, an endurance test like no other. A fleet of twelve identical 70-foot ocean racing yachts, battle it out over 40,000 nautical miles during 325 days enduring all the elements. Built around our proven shock and water-proofing systems, the ‘Clipper

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

Indulge In Some Detail Therapy

In a fashion frenzied world where velour juicy tracksuits are becoming the new LBD and rubber crocs are suddenly the seasonal It shoe, the easiest way to stand out in the crowd is simply through your dramatic adornments! With high-street fashion positively blooming with Springtime must-haves and our bank accounts starting to recharge back to health after the festive blowouts, we risk looking like trend-heavy clones of each other. Here at Benchpeg we fervently believe that to inject a sense of individual flair and pizzaz it comes down to one little game changer: It's all in the detail. An easy,

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

Kaleidoscopic October Birthstones: Opal & Tourmaline

Happy Birthday to the October Librans & Scorpios! You lucky devils have been gifted with two beautiful birthstones to mark the month of Autumnal change and new beginnings. Both Opal and Tourmaline are as transient, adaptable and changeable like the month of October which makes them perfect to suit the plethora of different personalities and tastes out there. Legend has it that both gemstones have made their journeys's to this Earth through rainbows which is represented through the myriad of rainbow shades, colours combinations and reflections that each stone showcases. With Opal and Tourmaline, the dancing light and tonal patterns

Ring In The New Year With Smoulder, Style & Sass

With fine festivities, fabulous frolockings and filthy fun well under way and rocking round that glittering christmas tree it's time to turn our attention to one important date left in the diary; New Year's Eve darlings!  If there was ever a time to sparkle and shine it's would definately be the last night of 2016! What better way is there to ring in a brand new year of unknown memories then decking yourself out like a belated Christmas tree in your newly gifted boughs of crystals, silver, diamonds and all things glittery? With New Years tomfoolery comes celebratory crack, bang

Welcome To The Dark Side Of The Jewellery World

With fingers hot on the unpredictable fashion pulse and the 90s revival unfurling from the style graves of the past, dramatic sensualism and extravagant grandeur have been creeping out from the deep, dark underworld ready to make a killer appearance on the fall fashion roller coaster. There's no doubt that making a boldly bodacious entrance this season is the crucial fashion nod of enviable approval with seductive demonic designs swathing the catwalks in gloomy glory! A tricky trend to keep romantic and mysterious without finding yourself as an extra member of the Adam's family who face planted the dressing up

Hockley Mint opens its doors for tailor-made Retailer Days

Birmingham-based fine jewellery and bridal manufacturer Hockley Mint has launched an initiative to support independent jewellery retailers, opening its doors to invite businesses to find out more about Hockley Mint and to network with fellow retailers. The tailor-made events, which will take place in early 2017, will start with a comprehensive tour of Hockley Mint’s state-of-the-art in-house facilities, offering retailers the chance to gain a unique insight into the award-winning manufacturer’s extensive jewellery production capabilities. Visitors will then be invited to spend the afternoon in an informal networking session, where they will be free to discuss hot industry topics and

NYNOW | Symmetry Bridal: Shimell and Madden

Shimell and Maddens' brand new alternative bridal selection will be out in full force at NYNOW this August 2016. It is the first time the brand will be exhibiting at the show and are excited to release some exclusive pieces and new additions to their signature collection, Symmetry. Situated in the Handmade section of the show, we are part of 20 designer makers from the UK.  Every Shimell and Madden piece is made by hand in their London studio. Shimell and Madden securely set each diamond and finish the metal with their unique deep texture  making each piece perfect for

Our history

Just over a decade ago, the UK jewellery industry was lacking accessible information.  Organisations in the trade were keeping themselves to themselves, and it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with the latest developments.    In 2006 we founded Benchpeg, and launched the first digital newsletter for the jewellery industry and allied trades aimed at promoting information from across the trade and bridging the gap of information out there and accessibility to it. Today we support the jeweller by assisting with recruitment needs, sharing the latest news stories and promoting business opportunities. Our website and newsletter has a national

News Edit: 12 May 2024

A round up of this week's national and international jewellery news... UK’s online jewellery marketplace Nivoda raises €27.9M; plans to double its team size London-based Nivoda, an online jewellery marketplace, announced that it has secured $30M (approximately €27.92M) in its Series B round of funding. siliconcanals.com Watches of Switzerland buys Roberto Coin jewellery brand for £104m The Italian brand, founded in 1996, is the sixth largest by sales in the US. www.standard.co.uk Why Watches of Switzerland has bought Italian luxury jewellery brand Roberto Coin Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) has splashed out $130 million (£104 million) to buy Italian handcrafted jewellery

News Edit: 6 February 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Victoria de Rothschild’s Arty, Colorful Jewels to Be Sold at Auction WWD: James Nicholson of the British auction house Dreweatts called de Rothschild “a true champion of modern design," with a taste for breaking boundaries. wwd.com   Sparkle and shine: The most dazzling high jewellery collections of 2022 Luxury London: Meet the most magnificent jewels you'll see this year. luxurylondon.co.uk   Want A Tiara? Get In Line Vogue: After a sell-out year in 2021, tiara-aficionado Chaumet marries past and future in its latest collection. www.vogue.co.uk   Trial opens

News Edit: 31 July 2022

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Highland artist Gilly Langton celebrates 25 years of contemporary jewellery at Plockton Village Hall Ross Shire journal: An internationally renowned jewellery designer is celebrating 25 years of practise this week by showcasing her vivid collection at Plockton Village Hall. www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk High Jewelry From Chanel, Cartier and Others Debut Just in Time for Emmys Red Carpet Planning Hollywood Reporter: Marion Cotillard and Henry Golding were among the stars to attend splashy events planned around the latest high-jewelry presentations during Paris haute-couture week. www.hollywoodreporter.com Out East, Renna Jewels Launched a

Benches for rent and opportunities to display in new workshop/shop in South Bank

Benches for rent and opportunities to display in new workshop/shop in South Bank Multiple opportunities available in a new and exciting jewellery workshop/shop in Gabriel’s Wharf. Excellent proximity to Hatton Garden.  Workshop facilities include: rolling mill, ultrasonic, internet, microscope, ring stretcher, vices, punches etc. Bench for full-time rent Available from 10 December Standard access 10am-6pm Tues-Sat, potential for out of hours access by prior arrangement Ideal for engraver or new jeweller  £380/month £380 deposit and first month rent upfront Bench for hire by the day Available from 10 December Mon-Sun available by prior arrangement  £40/day (8 hours)  Display / Sales

Part Time Bench Worker (Jewellery Repairs), Crafted Jewellery - Kings Langley

Part Time Bench Worker (Jewellery Repairs) Crafted Jewellery Kings Langley Position:        Part Time Bench Worker (Jewellery Repairs)                     Scope to progress to full time in future Workshop: Fully Equipped, On-Site Workshop (Including Laser Welder) Are you an experienced jeweller with a passion for repairing and restoring Jewellery? Crafted Jewellery, a well-established jewellery shop in Kings Langley, is looking for a talented Part-Time Bench Worker to join our team. Key Responsibilities: Carry out high-quality jewellery repairs and restorations Work with a range of materials, including gold, silver, and platinum

News Edit: 7 November 2021

Here is a round up of this week's international jewellery news...   Fine Jewelry Meets Sustainability: Ethical Boutique La Maison Couture Launches Selfridges Pop-Up Forbes: From October 25 to November 21, holiday shoppers will be able to check out the fine jewelry pieces from La Maison Couture up close at the ethical boutique’s newly launched pop-up site in the heart of the prestigious luxury department store Selfridges. www.forbes.com ‘I was concerned’ Gok Wan addresses reservations over ITV role amid break from career Daily Express: GOK WAN has addressed his reservations over presenting his latest ITV show Bling, as he spoke

News Edit: 29 August 2020

Here is a round up of last week's international jewellery news...   Katherine Ryan revealed as host of BBC Two's All That Glitters I Talk Telly: The six-part series sets out to find the UK’s next up-and-coming jewellery star. italktelly.com Caroline Scheufele and the passion for Gemology CEO World: Caroline Scheufele’s passion for gemstones began long before she began designing jewellery for Chopard. As a little girl, whilst her peers played with dolls, Caroline Scheufele played with diamonds. ceoworld.biz Scarborough auction this week for family collection of jeweller-watchmaking dynasty begun by Samuel Sharpe The Scarborough News: The private family collection

How to earn more money from your workshop waste!

Learn how to make money from the rubbish your workshop! 11 March 2020 Drill Hall, Edinburgh A FREE reclamation event for practical jewellers, students and jewellery groups, teaching the secrets of making money from the ‘rubbish’ in a jewellery workshop. ➕Additional Guest Speaker: Kerry Gregory, Gemmology Rocks . Presenting ‘Dosh For Diamonds’, an informative talk on how you can make money from your reclaimed diamonds. Date and Time Wednesday, 11 March 2020 17:30 – 20:30 GMT Add to Calendar Location Out of the Blue Drill Hall 36 Dalmeny St Edinburgh EH6 8RG View Map Tickets FREE To Book www.eventbrite.co.uk

Craft Festival 2019

Craft Festival 2019 We proudly present Craft Festival 2019, it’s 200 makers, workshops and brand-new website. As well is getting to know our selected makers, we hope you enjoy browsing this year's programme which includes new features  The Forge  and  The Common Room  with returning favourites including  Craft Cinema  and  Out of the Woods.   FULL DETAILS HERE Dates 7 - 9 June 2019 Venue Directions SAT NAV co-ordinates TQ13 9AL Bovey Tracey is only 2 miles off the A38 Exeter to Plymouth Expressway. Exit the A38 at Drumbridges Roundabout and follow signs to Bovey Tracey town centre.  Follow the

News Edit: 25 October 2020

Here is a round up of last week's international jewellery news...   Meghan Markle’s go-to jeweller Kimaï launches ethical engagement rings Vogue: The label’s founders, Jessica Warch and Sidney Neuhaus, discuss their new collection of eco-conscious rings that don’t cost the planet. www.vogue.in Missoma launch jewellery advent calendar for second year - and it’s out today Daily Mirror: Priced at £395 but worth over £745, after the huge success in 2019, Missoma’s advent calendar is making a much-anticipated return. www.mirror.co.uk Shop Local: St Albans jewellery stores owner reveals: ‘This Christmas is essential’ Herfordshire Advertising: Sarah Gillow, owner of Galio and

ten Hompel completes National Museums Scotland’s Glenmorangie Commission

Since 2018, Simone ten Hompel has been taking a journey into the world of National Museums Scotland, its artefacts, and the research that is being currently conducted as part of the Glenmorangie Fellowship into the 9th to 12th centuries, an era of rapid change, political instability and cultural diversity, out of which the Scottish nation was born.  [youtube url=http://youtu.be/w22ppGiynms] The final blog by Sarah Rothwell, Curator, Modern & Contemporary Design can be read here: blog.nms.ac.uk The resulting artwork,  coordinate  explores Scotland’s journey through time – its changing landscape and the continual rediscovery of its past. It represents an abstracted interpretation of Scotland’s landmass, one [youtube

Energetic amulets: ‘’living technology’’ by John Farris

John Farris, affectionately deemed just 'Farris' by his fans, is not your average jeweller. From the red rocks of Sedona, he creates beautiful jewellery and sculpture using a unique ''guided'' technique. By his own admission, John Farris’ business was born out of reactionary emotion. His story begins in picturesque Northern California, in 2010. ‘’Making these amulets was not even on my radar. I had purchased an amazing pendant from a friend’s store and had really fallen in love with it! Well, the next day she contacted me and said I needed to return it as the pendant was her [business] partner's

Watch loving boxer Floyd Mayweather adds to his sumptuous collection

Less than two months after forking out almost £14 million for a unique Jacob Arabo watch, the world's wealthiest sportsman and prolific watch lover Floyd Mayweather has made another couple of extravagant purchases to add to his diamond-encrusted custom collection. In June, the boxing champion who last year reportedly earned around £230 million from a short 36 minute fight against another well known watch lover Conor McGregor, snapped up the now famous Billionaire Timepiece, featuring 260 carats of emerald cut diamonds. Previously sponsored by Hublot, Mayweather, 41, whose nickname is 'Money' , has long been a fan of luxury bling

News Edit: 7 October 2018

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   How I reinvigorated my family business as the first female CEO Harpers Bazaar: The jeweller Carolina Bucci reveals her glittering journey. www.harpersbazaar.com Incredibly rare 26-carat Fortuna diamond unveiled at an exclusive event The CEO Magazine: A woman unknowingly wore an exquisite 26-carat diamond ring for three decades after... www.theceomagazine.com In My Jewellery Box: Charlotte Møbjerg Ansel-Henry, co-founder of The Jewellery Room The Telegraph: Charlotte Møbjerg Ansel-Henry is co-founder, along with her sister Pernille, of The Jewellery Room.... www.telegraph.co.uk All the jewellery gems to look out for at this year's PAD

News Edit:19 August 2018

A round up of this week's international jewellery news...   [youtube url=http://youtu.be/vtExACnYmKs] Van Cleef & Arpels weaves fairytales through high-jewelry Luxury Daily:  French jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels is  immersing consumers in a storybook world to debut its latest haute creations to a digital audience. www.luxurydaily.com Inside Tiffany & Co’s New London Store Living Etc: Meet the chicest vending machine you've ever seen...Tiffany & Co. have launched an interactive concept store in Covent Garden. www.livingetc.com   Maria Tash Isn't Finished Mapping Out Our Ear Estate Vogue: When Liberty London invited

Jewellers Recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

In a tradition which dates back to 1860 when Queen Victoria gave out the first Birthday Honours, a total of 1,057 people have been recognised in this year’s Queen's Birthday Honours list including two well known figures in industry. From left to right, clockwise: Nicholas Wainwright, Stuart Laing, Pippa Pearce, Vanessa Swann and Sam Fanaroff. The Queen's Birthday honours lists recognise the achievements and service of people across the UK who have undertaken outstanding work in their communities. ​This year members of the jewellery, craft and metalwork industries were recognised with the Order of the British Empire. Sam Fanaroff, Founder of the Sussex Guild for

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

The Jewellers Toolkit

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

Full Time Setter, Nicholas Wylde -Bath Store

Full Time Setter – Bath Store Nicholas Wylde Bath NEW YEAR, NEW JOB in the beautiful city of Bath Nicholas Wylde is recognised to be one of the leading designer jewellers in the Southwest specialising in delivering stunning individual pieces of jewellery and providing a highly reputable standard of service in the beautiful cities of Bath and Bristol. We are looking for a full time Setter to join our team in the main workshop located in our Bath Store. The candidate must be experienced and confident in setting to a very high standard, all styles, including Micro setting. Confident in

Goldsmith, Nicholas Wylde -Bath Store

Full Time Setter – Bath Store Nicholas Wylde Bath NEW YEAR, NEW JOB in the beautiful city of Bath Nicholas Wylde is recognised to be one of the leading designer jewellers in the Southwest specialising in delivering stunning individual pieces of jewellery and providing a highly reputable standard of service in the beautiful cities of Bath and Bristol. We are looking for a full time Goldsmith to join our team in our workshop located in our Bath Store. The candidate must have a good level of bench skills covering basic commissions, repairs, setting, good communication skills, and to be able

Goldsmith / Jobbing Jeweller, Gold Arts - Eastbourne

The role Goldsmith / Jobbing Jeweller  Gold Arts Eastbourne We’re a family run independent manufacturing jewellers with ten branches and five workshops based along the Sussex coast. We are looking to hire a full time Goldsmith for our onsite workshop in our Eastbourne branch. The work involved will be everything from standard repairs, ring resizing, retipping, polishing & cleaning castings, up to working on bespoke jobs. It’s important to be actively involved in the process of manufacturing and decision making on how to do certain repairs / designs. We’re looking for a friendly presentable individual capable of working with a

Head of Customer Service, Brown & Newirth - Hatfield, Hertfordshire

Head of Customer Service Brown & Newirth Hatfield, Hertfordshire Role Overview We are seeking an experienced, dynamic, and hands-on Head of Customer Service to lead our customer service department. You will be responsible for driving excellence in customer interactions, ensuring every customer touchpoint reflects our brand values of quality, precision, and dedication. This role is integral to enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty and ensuring high standards of customer service are maintained. Key Responsibilities Leadership: Lead and inspire a team of customer service professionals, fostering a culture of exceptional customer care. Strategy Development: Develop and implement customer service strategies that align