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The Garden Club Social

The Garden Club Social 25th May 2023 5pm - til late Please join The Garden Club for an informal drinks evening on Thursday, 25 May at The Castle pub in Farringdon. Due to the popularity of our last event, we are very happy that The Castle have offered the upstairs of the pub for this and all future events, as they are keen to support the jewellery trade. Please spread the word and we hope to see you there! The Garden Club is an initiative created to support those businesses in the jewellery trade who are based in - or rely

London Fashion Week 2020

London Fashion Week 2020 17th - 22nd September 2020  British Fashion Council (BFC) today announces that London Fashion Week September 2020 will run from 5pm BST   Thursday 17  to Tuesday 22  September 2020 , inviting both womenswear and menswear designers to take part in its gender-neutral showcase. The event will include both digital activations on londonfashionweek.co.uk and physical, under government social distancing guidelines. A provisional schedule will be announced later in the summer. The digital LFW platform will continue to host exclusive multimedia content and will be available to both a consumer and trade audience, enabling collaboration and bringing

V&A launch open-call for homemade signs and rainbow drawings created during lockdown

The V&A has today announced an open-call for homemade signs created during lockdown to enter its permanent collection. From rainbow signs created by children to shop signs and hand-written notes posted in public spaces, the V&A is seeking signs that have been created by individuals and communities in response to the current isolation measures.  During social distancing, homemade signs have become commonplace on our streets. Whether they state temporary closure of a business, express messages of hope or critique, or raise awareness for a good cause, these signs have become a prominent way for us to communicate with the outside world during

Weston Beamor increases presence on Social Media

Over the past ten months, Weston Beamor, the Birmingham casting house, 3D printing and bespoke manufacturing company, has made a concerted effort to extend its reach across various forms of digital media. The results have been extremely encouraging, as evidenced by the significant increase in their followers on numerous social media platforms. Since June 2016 Victoria Maher, a Customer Service Administrator at Weston Beamor, has been managing the company’s social media channels in addition to her day-to-day role. Maher has sought to kick-start the company’s online presence by distributing posts covering a diverse array of topics, including bespoke jewellery, castings,

Brilliant social media wins Alice Barnes 2017 Industry's Choice Award

Alice Barnes built up a formidable following on social media for her unique paper art jewellery to win the IJL 2017 KickStart ‘Industry’s Choice Award’, beating nine other contenders for the prestigious prize of a complimentary stand in the Design Gallery in 2018. The ten KickStarters went into battle over the summer to win as many votes as possible from the public via social media and an online poll, with the prize awarded at the discretion of the IJL and The National Association of Jewellers.  Showing initiative and enterprise in her use of social media and email marketing, Alice gained

Part Time Social Media & Marketing Assistant, E.C. One - Clerkenwell, London

The Role Part Time Social Media & Marketing Assistant, E.C One the Jewellers (4 Days a week) E.C. One is the award winning jewellers based in Clerkenwell, London who are renowned for offering both designer and precious fine jewellery. Voted as ‘The Most Inspiring Jewellers in the UK’ as well as ‘Best for Fashion’ , and ‘Best Boutique Jewellers’ . We are currently looking for a Part Time Social Media & Marketing Assistant to join our happy team. The Role The ideal candidate will work closely with our Website Manager to create engaging content for the company's social media presence. This

Jewelry links: The power of jewelry as a social, political and creative connection

I’ve been following the Turkish contemporary jewellery art scene for a few years now and I have always had the feeling that in the development of their art and design there was something singular and unique. This is both in terms of stylistic evolution and research, and in the formation of a compact, intelligent and measured identity and a creative movement involving artists and designers either individually or collectively. The exhibition JEWELRY LINKS, on view until 11 August at alja&friends gallery in Vienna, brings together 13 jewelry artists from Turkey with the aim of showing stylistically and technically idiosyncratic work

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

Dialogues About Responsible Jewellery - JOYA Barcelona on Zoom

Origen Collective - Gold for Future:  Dialogues About Responsible Jewellery Zoom Lecture 5.00pm (GMT), 12 November 2020 As part of JOYA Barcelona part the Origen Collective invite attendees to a lecture via Zoom, of the Origen - Gold for Future collective, about the social commitment of Responsible Jewelry, on November 12 at 18:00 (Spanish time, 5.00pm UK time). The concern for social commitment and sustainability in jewellery is becoming more important nowadays. In this scenario, the Dialogues on Responsible Jewellery are presented as a space for exchange and debate around the challenges and opportunities of this new conception of jewellery

Appointment: Cockpit Arts appoints Annie Warburton as new CEO

Cockpit Arts had announced the appointment of Annie Warburton as its new CEO.  After five years as Creative Director of the Crafts Council, Annie will join Cockpit in November. “Home to some of the foremost makers and designers in the country, Cockpit Arts is a beacon for making at the heart of the capital. I am thrilled to be joining this award-winning social enterprise with its admirable track record of social impact and business success. With craft in the ascendant but pressures on creative businesses intensifying, its mission has never been more vital. I look forward to working with the

Greenery: The Colour Set to Revive, Refresh, Renew

Welcome to the fresh and zesty world of Greenery15-0343, the Pantone colour blooming into 2017! Greenery is natures' authentic omnipresent hue of thriving; emblematic for vitality and the need to strip back to our organic state of being. After suffering a turbulent political and social upheaval throughout most of 2016, this yellow-green shade symbolises a need to reconnect to nature and a more grounded sense of purpose.  In a world monopolised by social media and technology, 'Greenery' reminds us of noticing the real truth and beauty in the natural aesthetics around us; a sense of escapism from our materialistic society and

Folli Follie Partner with Photoslurp

Leading visual commerce and marketing platform Photoslurp has announced a partnership with the FF Group to improve their customers’ online shopping experience. The partnership gives flagship jewellery and accessory brands Links of London and Folli Follie the ability to gather user-generated content, such as hash-tagged photos, improving the path to purchase for customers by making them ‘shoppable’. “Social proof has always played an important role in building trust with customers ever more so in today’s digital world. With brand presence growing rapidly on social networks like Instagram, Photoslurp will ensure we are maximising both our engagement levels and our visual

Gemfields Recognised With The Chopard GCC Award

Caroline Scheufele, Co-President and Creative Director of Swiss luxury jewellery and watch company Chopard, launched The Chopard Green Carpet Collection Award in Cannes last week. Mining organisations that have played a key role in  Chopard’s  Green Carpet Collections were present at the events. Livia and Colin Firth, together with Caroline  Scheufele , took this opportunity to honour  Chopard’s  strategic suppliers who all share the same social and environmental values, awarding them the  Chopard  GCC Award for Commitment to Sustainability and Social Justice.  The awardees were: Gemfields ,  Kagem  mine , Zambia Lucara ,  Karowe  mine , Botswana Aurora Gems Pty

Centa’s London E-Business Support Programme

Centa’s London E-Business Support Programme offers digital support to small businesses in Camden. Their programme includes expert advice on digital marketing, free webinars, and networking opportunities. They also help businesses strengthen their online presence and streamline operations through social media, AI, e-commerce, and digital marketing strategies. For more information and to register click here .

The Art of Brooches - L'École Van Cleef & Arpels

The history of brooches reflects the social and technical evolution of humanity. During Antiquity, some mysterious fibulae made with bronze spirals tell us that this object was perhaps firstly used to secure clothing. Subsequently, this utilitarian and functional aspect will be lost in favor of an ornamental role: decorated with precious stones, brooches will express the wealth and power of their wearers. As a military badge, a sign of love and devotion, an expression of personal opinions or simply worn for Glamor, the brooch is rich in many meanings which we invite you to study in this Talk. With a

Anna Lewis: Stay

In the series Stay, Anna Lewis investigates the aesthetic, symbolic and costume imagery of the Victorian era, starting from an antique corset made of whalebone, linen and silk, dated 1780 writes Ilaria Ruggiero. The corset is an object of conflict and contrast; it represents both control and support. A ubiquitous object and outward symbol of self-control, or social control by men. The corset is a political element, for her it is symbolic of discipline, beauty and sexuality yet hides a dark truth by painfully punishing the body in order to fit this feminine ideal. The restriction of this tight cage, crushing

Schofer Germany Successfully Recertified as Member of RJC

Chain company, Schofer Germany has been recertified in accordance with the Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practices.  Managing Director, Mathias Kholhammer feels that the certification cements the company as a trustworthy partner, in addition to confirming its commitment to ethical, human rights, social and environmental topics. The managing director also notes that the next goal would be a certification in accordance with the RJC Chain of Custody.  Author:  Published: 

Masterpiece London 2017

Masterpiece London launched in 2010 with a unique focus on cross-collecting. Over the past seven years it has established itself as the leading international event for viewing and buying the finest works of art, from antiquity to the present day. This fusion of heritage and style, tradition and the contemporary draws close to 40,000 visitors each year for an exceptional week of cultural, culinary and social experiences in the heart of London. Located on the South Grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, Masterpiece is an unmissable event at the height of the capital’s summer arts season. Dates 29th June -

Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) publishes State of the Nations Report

The Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) have published a report on the Creative Industries to interrogate 'persistent social inequalities in who produces and participates in arts, culture and heritage, and who gets the opportunity to work in the sector.' The State of the Nations report from the Creative Industries Policy & Evidence Centre (Creative PEC) uses census data to provide, for the first time, a comprehensive analysis of audiences and workforce. The insights shed light on where progress has been made on inclusion, and where significant inequalities and barriers still exist that require policy interventions. The analysis, using

East and West Dialogue: One World One Dream, ‘How to Develop the Sustainability of National Craftsmanship’

East and West Dialogue: One World One Dream,  ‘How to Develop the Sustainability of National Craftsmanship’ The London Design Academy 9.30am, Saturday 29 August 2020  The exciting international educational initiative – The London Design Academy (LDA) –  continues the global educational debate this weekend with the second in a series of online global forums, East and West Dialogue: One World One Dream,  ‘How to Develop the Sustainability of National Craftsmanship'  live online on Saturday 29 August 2020 9.30am     With the world facing unprecedented economic and social challenges in the aftermath of COVID 19, these forums are themed to the

I'm Working On It!

Maya Selway pledges in association with Fair Luxury to work towards making a positive change within the jewellery industry and use business as a force for good in 2021. Maya Selway Fine Jewellery has taken the next steps in moving towards being a business that nurtures a more sustainable environmental and social future by pledging with Fair Luxury to create jewellery that is handcrafted using only recycled gold, diamonds and sustainably sourced pearls. The first of these pieces have been added to her timeless Held collection and can be viewed as a capsule group at Tomfoolery in Muswell Hill as

Ute Eitzenhöfer - Subtext - Galerie Marzee

Ute Eitzenhöfer - Subtext Galerie Marzee Netherlands Now - 22 May 2021 Ute Eitzenhöfer’s exhibition comprises three groups of work, united by an underlying  Subtext . Driven always by a desire to make jewellery that is not only adornment but also a medium for social comment, her first group,  Talk , confronts the power of words uttered, words broadcast through a microphone not written or printed, texted or tweeted. Formed like small microphones pinned to the lapel of a news reporter, these oxidised silver brooches set with tiny diamond chips and small pieces of onyx, trick the eye. Their appearance misleads

Rabih Hage Bursary

Rabih Hage Bursary  for Creative Talents and Social Impact Launching in Spring 2025, the ‘Rabih Hage Bursary’ finds its origins in the creative sensibility of Architect and Interior Designer Rabih Hage, and his longstanding and recognised patronage of emerging creative talent. An annual programme of mentorship and financial support is designed to promote the next generation of Designers and Makers, The ‘Rabih Hage Bursary’ will help its recipients gain traction across an established network of collectors, patrons, galleries and the wider creative industry. The specific aim of The ‘Rabih Hage Bursary’ is to offer opportunities to individuals from both the

Jewellery Administration & Retail Assistant, KATA Jewellery - Royal Tunbridge Wells

Jewellery Administration & Retail Assistant  KATA Jewellery Royal Tunbridge Wells  KATA Jewellery are a luxury, family run, bespoke jewellery boutique. KATA specialises in bespoke jewellery design & jewellery remodelling. We also have our inhouse ready to wear collection which is all handcrafted in our workshop. We are looking for a Jewellery Administration & Retail Assistant to join our growing team in our Royal Tunbridge Wells retail workshop. We are looking for an new employee to join our growing team as an assist in the day to day running of our jewellery business, social media, copy writing and website. The role

Davina Mallinckrodt Appointed as Chair of the Board of Trustees of Cockpit Arts

Davina has been confirmed in the role on 8th April 2021, following her appointment as Chair-Elect in December 2020. She succeeds Cornelius Medvei, who has held the post for the past nine years.  Davina joins Cockpit following a year in which the award-winning social enterprise and leading creative business incubator has successfully supported its 150 strong maker community through the pandemic. In addition to the 40 young creative businesses receiving awards and bursary support, in 2020/21 Cockpit has provided substantially reduced rents to its makers at its two hubs, Cockpit Holborn and Cockpit Deptford and successfully pivoted to digital delivery

Preparing to Sell

Preparing to Sell  Craft Festival  MAKE South West in Bovey Tracey  Our popular, one day training and networking day,  Preparing to Sell  will be hosted at MAKE South West in Bovey Tracey on Wednesday January 25th. This lively and useful day, which is led by Sarah James, Director of Craft Festival, gives makers at all stages of their career, the best possible advice for selling directly to the public. The day includes presentations by Rosie Davies from PR Dispatch and Instagram Specialist, Lou Chudley, from Spark Social. Venue MAKE South West, Riverside Mill, Fore Street, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9AF

Camden Pop-Up Business School - Small Business Resilience course

Camden Pop-Up Business School - Small Business Resilience course We’ve partnered with the popular PopUp Business School to help business in Camden become more resilient and build their online presence, if you’re a Camden business who would like to access the free training – sign up today. Day 1 - Hose to make your business resilience (AM) and Protecting your business (PM) Day 2 - Building your online presence (AM) and How to win at social media (PM) Day 3 - The sales mindset (AM) and Find supporters, Not Customers (PM) To view the overview of the training programme,  click

Benchpeg turns 15 in Lockdown

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

Vanilla Ink The Smiddy Creates San Martín Quaich

Banff silversmithing and jewellery school, Vanilla Ink The Smiddy are delighted to announce the creation of the José de San Martín Quaich. The North East social enterprise, which opened in 2018, was commissioned by Friends of Duff House to create a gift to present to the Argentine Ambassador during the bicentennial celebrations of the South American General’s visit to Banff in 1824. San Martín, known as “the Liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru”, is a true national hero in his home country, whose name and image stir emotions and feelings of pride. Scott McIntyre, founding Director of The Smiddy, explained:

KnivesOut: Crafting a Safer Birmingham Launch Crowdfunding Campaign

This multi-disciplinary project seeks new and innovative routes to tackling the issue of knife-crime in local envronments, using a unique programme of social intervention. The project is a partnership between established community activists, a collaborative practice, brought together as “Knives Out” by Swords Into Ploughshares CIC working with experienced staff from Round Midnight Theatre, Street Doctors, TAS Mentoring and Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery. At the core of the project is an innovative approach which uses participant-led craftivist practices to challenge thinking around ‘road life’, gang membership and, specifically, knife-crime. Working with schools in the Jewellery Quarter and Soho

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

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

Classic Blue 19-4052: Pantone Colour of the Year 2020

For over 20 years, Pantone's Colour of the Year has influenced the design and buying decisions acorss several indsutries, including industrial design, interior furnishings, fashion and graphic design to name a few.  Pantone colour experts comb the world looking for new influences, including fashion and travel destinations, new technologies, textures, socio-economic conditions and social media trends that are capturing the world's attention. From these seasonal trend forecasts, Pantone forecast global colour movements to help advise companies on the modern best practise of brand visual identity. This annual colour psychology and colour consulting gives global brands the power to expedite their

2024 Ethical Gem Fair Tucson

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

Knives into Jewels: Crafting a Safer Birmingham

A leading artist, activist and academic is using jewellery as a vehicle for social intervention as he launches a special project aimed at tackling knife crime among young people in Birmingham. The ‘ Swords into Ploughshares: Knives into Jewels’ project had been co-developed by Dauvit Alexander, Senior Lecturer in Jewellery and Silversmithing at Birmingham City University’s (BCU) School of Jewellery and former head of School Professor Norman Cherry. This collaborative project will take jewellery into schools in Areas of Multiple Deprivation (AMDs) bringing together drama, virtual reality, crafting, intensive mentoring, and first-aid training to encourage 14 to 16-year-olds to think

Cockpit Open Studios - Winter 2023 - Deptford

Cockpit Open Studios - Winter 2023 - Deptford 2 - 3 December 2023 Cockpit is a centre for excellence in craft, bridging the gap between talent and opportunity. We are an award-winning social enterprise, home to 160 independent creative businesses in London. Twice a year we open our doors to the public, for the opportunity to meet some of the world’s most celebrated craftspeople in their studios. Surrounded by their tools, materials and work-in-progress, this is a rare authentic glimpse behind the scenes and a chance to hear first-hand about their inspiration, process and the often meandering journeys they’ve been

Insta hashtags prompt sales in lockdown

The artist Matthew Burrows set up an artist-led movement and network on 16th March 2020 to support artists struggling financially during Covid-19 using the social media platform Instagram – with a simple pledge. The pledge #artistsupportpledge created a much needed route to market in lockdown for artists and makers. He released a statement saying that within a month “…from making the first sales pledge I am a little awe struck yet completely delighted by the momentum and viral take up of this campaign. It is not just an important network and survival mechanism for artists: It has become a global Hear

The National Festival of Making

The National Festival of Making 5 & 6 July 2025 Blackburn The seventh edition of the National Festival of Making will return to Blackburn, Lancashire on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of July 2025! The National Festival of Making is curated, produced and delivered by the Festival of Making Community Interest Company (CIC) – registered number: The social enterprise, set up in 2017 has evolved to deliver a festival weekend and year round cultural programme that celebrates making and manufacturing from the kitchen table to the factory floor and advocates for impactful and place specific cultural regeneration in Blackburn, Lancashire

News Edit: 9 November 2024

A curated edit of this week's national and international jewellery news... Designer Francesca Amfitheatrof Readly reports: The trailblazing artistic director has revolutionised… readly.com Chaumet’s New Exhibition in Doha Showcases Centuries of Nature-Inspired Jewelry Vogue reports: From its launch 244 years ago, haute jewelry maison Chaumethas been inextricably linked to the effortless harmony and delicate details found in nature, from the beat of a butterfly’s wings to the shimmering elegance of pearls. en.vogue.me Six trends shaping the jewellery industry now Vogue Business reports: The jewellery sector is bucking luxury’s downturn, thanks to investment value, innovation and a stronger stance on social

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

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

Cockpit Open Studios - Winter 2023 - Bloomsbury

Cockpit Open Studios - Winter 2023 - Bloomsbury An Open Studios event from London’s leading makers 23 - 26 November 2023 Cockpit is a centre for excellence in craft, bridging the gap between talent and opportunity. We are an award-winning social enterprise, home to 160 independent creative businesses in London. Twice a year we open our doors to the public, for the opportunity to meet some of the world’s most celebrated craftspeople in their studios. Surrounded by their tools, materials and work-in-progress, this is a rare authentic glimpse behind the scenes and a chance to hear first-hand about their inspiration, process

Vibrant meets Vintage in Fei Liu's new 'Victoriana' Collection

For Autumn Winter 2019 Fei Liu Fine Jewellery will launch their new 18ct gold ‘Victoriana’ collection, which will form as part of a campaign with their top ten retail partners.  Characterised by Fei Liu’s aesthetic of colour, three-dimension and femininity, the collection breathes new life into vintage inspired looks. The victorian-era stones are cut in two ways: the first being octagonal, popular in the Victorian Era, and the second is Octagonal, which is longer, giving it elegant appeal.  For the campaign, Victoriana will exclusively launch with ten chosen retail partners, and will be promoted through offline, on social media and through

IJL Show Director to step down after IJL 2017

International Jewellery London biggest stand alone jewellery trade event, will bid farewell to Event Director Sam Willoughby in October, after eight years at the helm and more than 13 years working for Reed Exhibitions. Willoughby and her team have developed unique and market leading features at IJL, including the VIP Diamond Club programme and an innovative 365-day strategy across content marketing, social media and industry support. At this year’s show, as well as over 500 jewellery exhibitors of which 150 are new, there is a revitalised Seminar Programme featuring brand new learning areas such as The Academy, Digifest and Skills

This time, it's personal: Gecko launch new Alphabet collection at Jewellery and Watch 2019

Personalisation was one of 2018’s most popular trends, according to the Business of Fashion- and it doesn’t seem to be going anywhere this year as Gecko unveil their new ‘Alphabet collection’ at Jewellery and Watch event today.  Consumers, now more than ever, seek to define themselves. With the emergence and prevalence of social media platforms, people no longer see themselves as just consumers, but producers also. Self-image has never been more important, nor has the idea of one’s own ‘personal brand’.  The idea of creating ‘personalised’ items for those with the most popular names or initials is outdated, with a

#BehindTheBling campaign catches on

A social media campaign to persuade jewellery companies to adopt a supply chain free of child labour has been given massive support following the publication of a Human Rights Watch report on responsible sourcing. #BehindtheBling , launched by the human rights group earlier this month and promoted at Baselworld 2018, has reached audiences of more than a million users with around 8,000 letters also sent to the 13 companies who were ranked in the report for their responsible sourcing practices. This coincides with an announcement by Chopard, who were ranked as ‘weak’ in the report that from July, it will

Appointment: Monika Kamycka Appointed as Chair Of British Society of Enamellers

Jewellery designer and Mona Pink founder, Monika Kamycka, has been appointed as Chair of The British Society of Enamellers’ at the trade organisation’s Annual General Meeting, by unanimous vote following her successful year as Vice-Chair. Under Monika’s leadership the trade organisation has realised a number of notable achievements including an innovative and successful online exhibition, a full review of membership benefits, evaluation of website and social media platforms with renewed focus on member and follower engagement, improvements in terms and conditions – both online and offline, digitisation of the organisation’s finances, membership database review (with a view to digitise fully

It's In Our Hands - One Year On, Ethical Making Symposium

It's In Our Hands - One Year On, Ethical Making Symposium This Symposium is aimed primarily at jewellers and silversmiths, but is relevant to makers of all disciplines who have an interest in adopting an ethical approach in their practice. Speakers Speakers will include award winning British Fairtrade ethical jeweller and environmental activist, Greg Valerio MBE; jeweller Ute Decker; researcher Dr Peter Oakley; founder of the Precious Metals Workshop, Ian Nicholson; and Jane Barnett and Theodora Panayides of consultancy and social venture, Levin Sources.  Speakers will discuss the importance of implementing an ethical approach and how to face the challenges

Precious ?

Precious ? 28 members from over 10 countries will take part in the Precious Collective's Launch Exhibition in Plymouth, 16th to 28th April 2019 Born in November 2017 with a membership of over 120 members from 30 countries worldwide it is a very eclectic and diverse group of makers which now boasts over 4 thousand Instagram followers. Previously solely social media based; Ocean Studios will now host the physical launch of the collective. 28 selected members will present what promises to be a very exciting and possibly challenging Art-Jewellery exhibition. If precious means 'of high cost or worth: not to

Making Impact - Ethical Jewellery Conference

Making Impact - Ethical Conference Presented by The Incorporation of Goldsmiths and Fair Luxury Edinburgh College of Art, The University of Edinburgh 3 April 2019 The Incorporation of Goldsmiths and Fair Luxury are partnering once again – this time for Making Impact – a conference for jewellers and silversmiths to explore how the  UN Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) relate to jewellery and metalwork practice in the UK. More and more businesses are using the SDGs to help them prioritise and communicate areas for social, environmental and economic impact and we will be looking at how they can become a set of tools to

Make Your Mark offer One-on-One Surgeries

This year the  Make Your Mark  event will offer visitors the opportunity to book places on one-on-one Surgeries with industry experts and young designers. The surgery sessions, which will take place throughout the two days, will be provided by specialist jewellery and watch communications agency FACETS PR and will offer visitors the chance to speak to industry experts on a one-to-one basis on subjects including PR, social media for business and how to communicate with press to secure coverage. There will also be a team of young designers available at the surgeries, who can give the attending students a realistic

Appointments: Sarah Kitley-Spencer appointed IJL Event Manager

International Jewellery London, the jewellery industry trade fair event, has announced that Sarah Kitley-Spencer has been appointed as the new Event Manager. Sarah Kitley-Spencer has worked at IJL for the past seven years and Reed Exhibitions for ten years. In her former position as Marketing Manager at IJL, Sarah worked closely with her predecessor, Sam Willoughby and the wider team, to expand the show commercially - nationally and internationally.  She has been involved in implementing many of the market-leading features at IJL 2017, including the newly formatted seminar programme and the innovative 365-day strategy, encompassing content marketing, social media and

Meet the Benchpeg Team

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

EC One Leads the Way with Sustainability by Becoming B-Corp Certified

London based jewellery boutique E.C. One is leading the way in sustainability within the jewellery industry, by becoming only the second jeweller in the UK to be B-Corporation Certified and joining an established community of companies using business as a force for good.  The accreditation process to become a B-Corp involves an in-depth analysis of the business’ entire social and environmental performance, to assess its impact on its workers, community, environment and customers. Other well-known brands within the B-Corp community include: Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s, and Eileen Fisher. Ethics and sustainability have long been high on the agenda at E.C. [youtube

Lily Blanche wins Business Women Scotland Award

Stirling-based jewellery company Wow (Scotland) Ltd has triumphed in the main Scottish awards for female entrepreneurs. The company, which trades under the name Lily Blanche, won the award for best use of social media in the BWSWES Awards run jointly by Business Women Scotland and Women’s Enterprise Scotland. Founder Gillian Crawford was presented with the award by the Financial Times’ Miss Moneypenny and Dean of the Edinburgh Business School, Professor Heather McGregor. The company won the award for its Facebook campaign Lin’s Locket, which promoted the Lily Blanche Memory Keeper Locket. This innovative locket opens to reveal six secret photographs

IJL Launches New Seminar Offering 2017 Show

International Jewellery London has unveiled a completely revised and revamped seminar schedule for 2017, bringing back the Inspiration Theatre and Trends Catwalk and introducing DIGIfest, The Academy and Skills Lab for the very first time. The three-day seminar programme has been carefully tailored to 2016 show feedback, ensuring the questions most commonly asked by jewellery retailers, brands and businesses are answered in style. Topics covered by expert speakers and panels this year include social media marketing, working with influencers, digital design, retail experience, the customer journey and expert sales training. Leading luminary Stephen Webster shine brightly in this year’s line-up,

Silent Protest - Political Jewellery by Mahtab Hanna

Silent Protest Political Jewellery by Mahtab Hanna Silent Protest is an interactive, thought-provoking and controversial show that fuses wearable art with social commentary. Political jewellery is about perspective: the ability to transform an individual’s or group’s isolation and pessimism into a method of communication, to bring people together to share values, beliefs or ideals, in a single action. War, identity, gender and consciousness are important themes within politics and therefore translate into interpreting political jewellery as progressive, oppressive or radical.  The beliefs of many can be divided: those who have invented messages, the patrons of the jewellery; those whose job

GSFA 2016 | April Doubleday | Fairtrade Gold Mining in Colombia

April Doubleday is an Ethical deigner/maker of Contemporary Jewellery, living on the North Coast of Devon. She uses the coastline, rock formations and the sea as inspiration for her designs. Her Jewellery is bold and energetic using line, form and colour where every piece is given its own sense of creation and individuality of its own.  April's vision of her company is to strive for complete transparency throughout her business. This transparency spreads from her sourcing of precious metal suppliers and gemstones to the design process with clients. April is committed to ensuring she uses suppliers that have social and

New Designers 2017 Events Programme Announced

An opening speech by  British ceramicist   Keith  Brymer  Jones and  Design   Reels ,  the  new digital catwalk and screening area are just two of the event highlights at New Designers, the UK’s leading exhibition for emerging design, announced today. The inspiring programme of public talks, tours and awards has been revealed as over 3,000 graduates and 80 emerging designers finalise their presentations for the show – sharing their making processes, inspiration and a glimpse of their final pieces on social media with the hashtag  # comingtoND .     A leading figure from the world of design will

Christmas Open Studios 2016, Cockpit Arts - Holborn

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

Christmas Open Studios 2016, Cockpit Arts - Deptford

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

Kate Laven

Meet Benchpeg's Contributing Writer Kate Laven. She makes up part of the team that bring the Benchpeg website, newsletter and social media feeds to our lovely readers, subscribers and followers   Kate Laven Contributing Writer Kate is a journalist with over 20 years’ extensive experience and has written for an expansive range of titles including the Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph, the BBC and the Daily Express as well as being a contributing writer for The Times, The Sunday Times and the Guardian. Kate brings her background in  corporate communications, PR, marketing, blogging and media consultancy  to Benchpeg. Kate maintains

Sarah Salmon

Meet Benchpeg's Trends Editor. She makes up part of the team that bring the Benchpeg website, newsletter and social media feeds to our lovely readers, subscribers and followers   Sarah Salmon Trends Editor Sarah has a natural flair for creativity and design, and is our trends and blog guru. She manages Benchpeg's weekly  trends and fashion content . Her full time job is as a Digital Marketing Executive in the Educational Sector. Previously she worked as the Editorial and Digital Assistant at  Gem-A , where she worked on Gem-A's Gems & Jewellery and The Journal of Gemmology publications as well as on

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

3D Printing: The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful

3D Printing: The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful In partnership with the University of Lincoln, The National Centre for Craft & Design presents a thought provoking exhibition exploring 3D printing technology. The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful, urated by Bryony Windsor, Head of Exhibitions for NCCD, in partnership with Professor Anne Chick for the University of Lincoln, celebrates innovation, poses ethical questions and considers the future of the manufacturing process. Works on display explore the innovative, political, social and environmental aspects of 3D printing. The show highlights that whilst the process is opening up new creative possibilities for makers, the

Masterpiece London Highlights 2016

At the height of the international summer arts season over 150 of the world's top exhibitors joined us at Masterpiece London to show works that span 5,000 years of art history, furniture, jewellery and design; from antiquity to the present day. In association with Principal Sponsor Royal Bank of Canada, the fair drew close to 40,000 visitors for an exceptional week of cultural, culinary and social experiences in the heart of London. Relive the fair with the highlights video here and hear from the 2016 exhibitors as to why in their opinion Masterpiece has established itself as the leading international

Hockley Mint Welcomes Peruvian Fairtrade Gold Miners to Birmingham

Award winning fine jewellery and bridal jewellery manufacturer Hockley Mint welcomed Peruvian Fairtrade gold miners to it's factory in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter earlier this month, producing a video of the visit that it will use to promote Fairtrade gold on its website and across social media platforms. Peruvian Fairtrade gold campaigner Dajhanna Zarate, who is the daughter of a gold miner in Sotrami, was accompanied by Macdesa miner Roger Arcos Ponte on the visit to Birmingham. The two guests were in the UK as part of a wider Fairtrade gold campaign with the Fairtrade Foundation, and were invited to Hockley Mint

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

Stella & Dot: Covet Collection

Stella & Dot, the global social-selling accessories brand have launched the Covet Collection, a new line of fine jewellery, luxury handbags and wallets to bring together a sense of bold and passionate style this fall/winter. The Covet Collection blends timeless beauty with unmistakable quality, and understated luxury with timeless silhouettes. The necklaces feature 14k gold and hand set diamonds (ethical and conflict-free) at highly competitive price points. The chain is custom developed and produced in the U.S. and can be worn at 4 different lengths. The Covet collection is a unique selection of everyday essentials, timeless elegance designed with a

Trollbeads Grow

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

Carmarthen School of Art - Coleg Sir Gâr

Established in 1965, the Foundation programme at  Carmarthen  has a national reputation for excellence. It offers learners the opportunity to explore a diverse range of  art  and design options to enable them, through experience, to make an informed choice about future education, training and employment progression.   HERITAGE Carmarthen School of Art has been providing Art education since 1854, being one of the first Art Schools set up in Britain following the Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace in London. The School has been continually evolving ever since, responding to social, creative and cultural developments and the changing needs of its

Jewelley brand STÖÖKI has collaborated with FLAARE for socially focused project

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

Anthropologie Celebrates 'Women who Weld' this International Women's Day

From today, right up 'til April 23rd, the Anthropolgie store on Kings Road, London, will play host to a curated selection of jewellery, designed by Britain's most inspiring female jewellers.  The showcase, which will feature eight designers, was designed to celebrate both International Women's day and Women's History Month, as well as British design. Throughout the event, customers will have the opportunity to buy  one-of-a-kind and numbered pieces, all of which have been carefully handcrafted in the UK. International Women's Day  (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also

International Women's Day Event

International Women's Day Event National Design and Craft Gallery Friday 8 March 1pm - 4pm Celebrate International Women's Day at the National Design and Craft Gallery. Join us for crafternoon tea treats, chats and tote bag screen printing to mark the occasion. All are welcome to drop in between  1pm - 4pm. For group bookings please email   events@ndcg.ie  to confirm your time of arrival. FREE event. International Women's Day  (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. International Women's Day

Nambé Celebrates Successful UK Launch Event

Designer lifestyle brand, Nambé, hosted its official UK launch event on June 29, giving retailers, buyers, journalists and social media influencers the chance to see its extensive ranges for the first time.  The award-winning brand took over a private room at London’s popular Hoxton Hotel to bring its lifestyle collections to life, while also displaying its new sterling silver jewellery offer that impressed buyers at JCK Las Vegas earlier this year. Representatives from jewellery retailers and department stores were particularly impressed with the brand’s wide-ranging giftware items, including wedding, baby, new- home and special occasion items. Buyers in attendance also

Howard van Rooijen

Meet the other of Benchpeg's Co-Founders. Although on a day to day basis he takes a back seat, he makes up part of the team that bring the Benchpeg website, newsletter and social media feeds possible to our lovely readers, subscribers and followers   Howard van Rooijen Co-founder Howard  has been at Benchpeg since the beginning. With an exceptional  understanding of business and technology , he has provided us with practical, financial and moral support for over a decade. We couldn't have achieved half of the things we've done without his stalwart presence.  When he's not involved in Benchpeg stuff Howard