PRESS RELEASE: Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council’s Awards Exhibition returns to the Goldsmiths’ Centre this summer

Running from 2 July to 11 September, the exhibition will highlight extraordinary creativity, technical skills and original design across a breadth of disciplines.

For 2025, the Awards comprised 33 categories in both 2D design and 3D craft and design categories. In total, more than 567 people entered the 2025 edition of the awards — almost 20% more than the previous year — with a total of 36 Gold awards given.

Spanning both 2D and 3D disciplines, each submission was assessed by an independent panel of industry specialists, who judged the work for its originality, technical excellence, design flair and craftsmanship. The result is a compelling showcase of the skill and creativity thriving within the jewellery, silversmithing and allied trades.

One of this year’s award-winning entries, which will be on display as part of the exhibition, is Alexandra Raphael’s Honest Bowl, which was awarded the GC&DC Awards’ foremost prize, The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award.

The award is given at the discretion of the Council for exceptional and outstanding craftsmanship. It is only awarded when, in the Council’s judgement, an entry achieves a standard to justify the honour.

Alexandra won unanimous votes from the Council for her exquisite plique-à-jour enamelled bowl - a stunning tribute to nature, showcasing an exceptional command of colour, composition, and artistry.

Also on display will be Janet Barber’s Moth Orchid Brooch, which was awarded the 2025 Goldsmiths’ Company Award, for exceptional and outstanding design. This prize is only awarded when an entry achieves the highest standard of design and originality.

This delicate, ethereal brooch is made of carved magnesite, niobium, titanium and peppered with sapphires and diamonds, and judges were in awe of both the design and craftsmanship.

Other winning entries that visitors to the exhibition can expect to see include Heather Blake’s garlic amulet, which scooped one of two golds in this year’s Gem-A Award. Blake utilised the subtle colour variations of cacholong, including its translucent centre and opacity near the crust, to carve the form of an incredibly realistic-looking garlic bulb.

Elsewhere, also on display, will be Caitlin Murphy’s Imitation Brooch, featuring niobium, which was awarded gold this year in the Mixed Metals and Patina category sponsored by Louisa Guinness as well as Blythe Jolley-Ellis’s Art Deco Lapel Pins & Brooch, which received both the Theo Fennell Apprentice & Master Award as well as this year’s Junior Award for its incredibly high level of craftsmanship in mounting.

GC&DC chair John Ball explained: “This year’s exhibition is a compelling reflection of the creative and technical brilliance that continues to drive our industry forward. From inspirational apprentice submissions to sophisticated works from seasoned professionals, the breadth and quality on display reinforces the GC&DC’s mission to encourage, stimulate and promote excellence in craftsmanship and design. We hope all who visit feel inspired to pursue and support these values in their own creative journeys.”

The Awards is open to all in the jewellery, silversmithing and allied trades including craft persons and designers in the industry as well as apprentices, students and hobbyists and is completely free to enter.

The exhibition will be open from 9am-6pm Monday – Friday and will run from 2 July – 11 September. For more information visit The Goldsmiths’ Centre website.

The exhibition will be complemented by two events hosted in partnership with The Goldsmiths’ Centre. On July 7th, the GC&DC and the Centre will host a Techniques in Focus online talk for jewellery designers looking for an introduction to all aspects of hand-rendering 2D designs. The event will be led by award-winning jewellery designer Janet Weller.

On the afternoon of July 15th, emerging makers are invited to book a slot to take part in the GC&DC’s inaugural Jewellery Feedback Session, hosted at the Goldsmiths’ Centre.

Participants will have the opportunity to talk with industry experts and GC&DC judges, Peter Crump, Robin Kyte and Steve Jinks, about an example of finished jewellery they have made, to gain tips, feedback and guidance on the development of their skills, approach and designs going forward.

For more information on the GC&DC Awards and this year’s other competition winners, or to learn more about the Council’s work, visit the GC&DC Website.

About The GC&DC

The Goldsmiths’ Craft and Design Council is a non-profit making organisation founded over one hundred years ago in 1908. Today, the Council continues its work from its original remit: “to encourage, stimulate and promote the pursuit of excellence in craftsmanship and design amongst all those in the United Kingdom who work within silversmithing, goldsmithing, jewellery and the allied crafts.”

The central aim of the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council is to promote excellence in the industry through its prestigious annual awards. The Council’s members, elected volunteers, give their time in organising and managing the annual competition, awards ceremony and subsequent exhibitions of winners’ work.