PRESS RELEASE: Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards 2026

Winners honoured at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London - The Goldsmiths’ Company Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and 67 Gold Awards presented at the 2026 Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards.

The Annual Goldsmiths Craftsmanship & Design Awards (GC&DC Awards) were held at Merchant Taylors’ Hall in London on Monday 9 March 2026, with more than 300 guests in attendance.

The ceremony was opened by The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council’s chair, John Ball, and hosted by Council vice-chair Judith Lockwood who announced this year’s award winners.

In his welcome, John Ball told guests and award winners: “The volume and quality of entries are reassuring reflections of the staggering amount of creativity and energy we continue to have in the industry, particularly given the tough year we have all faced with rising materials prices. 

“As Henri Matisse said, “Creativity takes courage.” And while I’m sure we are all looking forward to times that require a little less resilience, I commend everyone in this room for their continued courageous dedication to craft.”

Alongside this year’s award winners, guests included representatives from world-renowned jewellery houses, notable sponsors, industry associations, leading designers, and the UK press. The Awards presentation was live-streamed on YouTube, which meant the total audience tuning into this year’s awards totalled 1.9k on the night.

2026 Awards Highlights

For 2026, the Awards comprised 46 categories in both 2D design and 3D craft and design categories. In total, there were 837 entries received for this edition of the awards, with a total of 67 Gold awards given.

Three Premier Awards, 3 Major Awards, 30 Patron Awards and 4 Bursaires were presented, including the prestigious College Trophy. This year’s competition was generously supported by 60 patrons and sponsors.

Among the Major and Premier awards presented, leading accolades included:

Prime Warden Ed Butler, Clive Burr and Tom Fattorini 

The Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Thomas Fattorini Ltd, was presented to renowned silversmith Clive Burr, in recognition of his 30+ years in the trade, producing and designing exclusive ranges, corporate production runs and prestigious commissions for the likes of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the late Queen Mother, The Oman of Kuwait, The Sultan of Brunei and No. 10 Downing Street. 

The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award

The GC&DC Awards foremost prize, The Jacques Cartier Memorial Award, was not awarded in 2026. The award is given at the discretion of the Council for exceptional and outstanding craftsmanship and is only presented when, in the Council’s judgement, an entry achieves a standard to justify the honour.

Prime Warden Ed Butler, Janet Barber and CEO Annie Warburton

The Goldsmiths’ Company Award

The 2026 Goldsmiths’ Company Award, given for exceptional and outstanding design, is only awarded when an entry achieves the highest standard of design and originality.

This year, the prize was awarded to Janet Barber for the ‘Downy Feather Brooch’. The brooch received multiple accolades in the competition, including Gold and The Freeform Fabrication Award for Laser Technology, Gold and The Brown & Newirth Award for Jewellers Craft, and Gold and The Gold & Silver Wyre Drawers Award for Wire Innovation. Judges praised the piece for both its technical excellence and exceptional design.

Prime Warden Ed Butler, Anna Gordon of GSA and David Hendy, Betts Metals

The College Trophy

The College Trophy, presented by special patrons The Betts Group, was awarded to Glasgow School of Art and collected by Anna Gordon, course leader from Glasgow School of Art.

This trophy is awarded to the College or University that has achieved the highest total points accumulated from any Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards given in the competition.

The Theo Fennell Apprentice & Master Award

The Theo Fennell Apprentice & Master Award honours the special partnership between an apprentice and their master, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship while celebrating the guidance and expertise of skilled mentors. This award highlights the outstanding work of apprentices and acknowledges the invaluable contribution of their masters.

This year the award was presented to apprentice Josh Hook and his master Dominic Walmsley for the Infinite Geometry Drop Necklace.

Junior and Senior Awards

The Junior Award was presented to Annabel Hood for ‘Florid Scrolls’, which received Gold in Engravers 3D Craft Junior. Judges praised the piece for an incredibly high level of craftmanship from fine cutting and design artistry on steel, with particular excellence in the background to the scroll work, high-quality engraving throughout.

The Senior Award was presented to Kurt Calow & Ben Algar for “Acanthus ∞”, which received Gold and The Lindström Award for Polishers 3D Craft Senior. The piece was recognised as an excellent example of collaborative craftsmanship. Judges were extremely impressed with the high quality of finish on an astonishingly difficult piece to navigate – some even said they would be reluctant to attempt it themselves. In the recent history of the competition this is the first time that this major award has been attributed to polishing.

Special Awards

Among the Special Awards presented this year was The English Art Works Bursary, which was awarded to Katherine Campbell-Howard for ‘Ossature’. In addition to the Premier award for ultimate craftsmanship, Cartier, through its esteemed English Art Works workshop, is committed to supporting and inspiring the next generation. In collaboration with the GC&DC, Cartier is offering, for a second year, meaningful and career-enhancing work experience to emerging talent—an opportunity designed to cultivate the craftsmen and women of the future.

Acknowledgements

“The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council would like to extend congratulations to all of this year’s winners, and especially those who were honoured with Special awards. “For those scooping a Bronze or Silver award in 2026, we hope the Awards inspire continual growth and determination in your field,” John Ball added.

“To see so much talent all in one room is truly humbling, and inspiring.

“Congratulations to all of our winners this evening, and my deepest thanks to our 60 patrons and sponsors who make this competition possible, along with our amazing judges who uphold our high benchmark standards.  Together we are stronger and able to support this great and vibrant creative industry.”

The Craftsmanship and Design Awards are unique to the British jewellery industry and allied trades in rewarding excellence in technical skills and creative design in precious metals and related materials. The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council (GC&DC), which operates the competition, actively encourages all craftspeople and designers in the industry, as well as apprentices and students to enter their work.

2026 Awards Exhibition

A free-to-view exhibition of all the award-winning work from the 2026 Awards will be held at The Birmingham Assay Office from 23 – 27 March.  Curated tours by appointment. 

To book contact info@craftanddesigncouncil.org.uk.

About the Goldsmiths Craftsmanship & Design Awards

The annual GC&DC was established in 1908. Its competition has been running for more than 50 years, and rewards excellence in technical skills and creative design in precious metals and related materials.

The competition 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.

For 2026, the Awards comprised 837 competition categories in both 2D design and 3D craft and design categories, five other special awards, three bursaries, three Major Awards and three Premier Awards, as well as the prestigious College Trophy, totaling 46 Awards. This years’ competition was  generously supported by 60 Sponsors and Patrons.

Visit the GC&DC Website for further details on the other of the competition’s winners.