BRIGHT YOUNG GEMS RE-LAUNCHED AS BRIGHT NEW GEMS WITH EXCITING NEW PLANS ANNOUNCED FOR 2023 - SCHEME NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS
Bright New Gems, the prestigious industry supported mentoring programme for graduating jewellery designers, is now open for applications. Renamed as a result of feedback from colleges and students alike for the name to be more inclusive, the 2023 initiative is supported by a new judging panel and the generous support of industry bodies including the NAJ, Retail Jeweller, the Benevolent Society and, for the first time, the e-tailer Pearls & Pomegranates.
Now in its eighteenth year, this annual programme nurtures new talent and provides the six winners with their first commercial platform. To date this initiative has supported seventy-nine BYG® winners as they embark on their individual careers. The roll-call of previous winners includes designers Pippa Small, Fernando Jorge, Ruth Tomlinson and Zeemou Zeng.
Award winning Jewellery designer and previous Bright Young Gem 2006 Tomasz Donocik joins this year’s judging panel. Tomasz comments “Bright Young Gems really does give young jewellery artists an initial springboard to launch their careers. It was where it all started for me! I clearly remember how thrilled I was when selected as a winner to exhibit at the show. It was the first time for me to exhibit on an international platform where a lot of attention was focussed on the few chosen winners.”
Returning panellists include influential press editors Jessica Diamond (Watch & Jewellery Director, The Sunday Times Style & The Times LUXX) and Maria Doulton (Editor-in-chief/Co-founder of The Jewellery Editor), together with jewellery designer and responsible and sustainable industry expert Susi Smither, (Founder of both The Rock Hound, East London’s Gemmologist Jeweller and Fair Luxury collective) and retail associate John Lewis & Partners represented by jewellery buyer Elena Bergonzi.
Missing very sadly from this year’s Panel is the late Hilary Alexander, the former Fashion Director of the Daily Telegraph and President of the Graduate Fashion Foundation, who having supported the scheme from its conception was a judge for seventeen years. An integral part of the initiative, Hilary’s enthusiasm and support for new talent provided annual inspiration to the winning designers. As reflected by Tomasz Donocik: “The biggest honour of being a Bright New Gem was to be introduced to Hilary Alexander who was immensely thrilled to see my work. She later wrote in one of her articles that I was determined, spearheading to change the way of self- adornment and how men wear their jewellery”.
Further underlined by returning judge, Susi Smither: “I’m thrilled to be back for a third year judging Bright New Gems. We’ve an even more important role following the sad passing of Hilary earlier this year who was a judge from the start - we promise to do her proud. It’s always such a privilege being presented with the culmination of our graduates’ creative studies. I’m especially on the look-out for fresh ideas to drive our industry forward with their Responsible Thinking. I can’t wait to get started”.
Speaking about the role and success of the initiative, Jessica Diamond Watch & Jewellery Director, The Sunday Times Style & The Times LUXX explains: “I have always as an editor and journalist prioritised supporting fresh new talent as a way of helping to ensure the ongoing success of the jewellery industry. So I am very much looking forward to seeing all this year’s entries which never fail to excite”.
Maria Doulton observes: “Students from around the world come to UK’s jewellery design schools and their graduates continue to make their mark on the world. The level of creativity continues to be of an impressively high level and design competitions such as Bright New Gems recognises this and encourages students to strive for ever greater heights”.
The Application Process
Jewellery designers graduating this summer from UK colleges and universities can apply and the competition is open to both current year BA and MA UK graduates. They can submit their work for both or either of the two categories:
Show Off - Statement pieces
Designs and/or finished pieces showing creative flair with innovative use of materials and which demonstrate potential commercial viability
Responsible Thinking - Sustainable eco-heroes
Designs and/or finished pieces made with ethically sourced or sustainable materials and which demonstrate potential commercial viability
The two degree groups will be judged separately and four BA winners and two MA graduates will be selected by the stellar line up of judges. All will benefit from publicity and valuable online mentoring in July, provided by associate, the National Association of Jewellers, as well as virtual meetings with each of the judges to discuss their work.
The Bright New Gem programme will roll out in April through the colleges and universities and the deadline for submitting entries is Sunday 11 June and interested designers can also contact [email protected] for application information.
The Progamme
Retail Jeweller have generously invited the six winning Bright New Gems to showcase their collections at the two-day UK Jewellery Festival 2023 on 5th and 6th September, Hilton London Metropole. Here they will meet senior retail decision makers and buyers and also have the opportunity to hear from some of the most respected names in retail, talking on topics including the future of the store and experiential retailing.
As in previous years, the National Association of Jewellers will contribute valuable hands-on career advice on how the winners can best maximise the opportunity to showcase their work at the UK Jewellery Festival.
The Benevolent Society have kindly agreed to provide each winner with a bursary of £400 to help towards travel and exhibiting costs.
Gay Penfold, Chairman of the Benevolent Society, explains: “The Benevolent Society helps individuals starting or progressing their career journeys in our industries. We are pleased to once again provide support for the 2023 Bright New Gems cohort. This mentoring initiative for graduating jewellery designers provides hugely beneficial support and training to them as they embark on their careers in our industry. We wish them every success”.
Pearls & Pomegranates, the online retail website for independent jewellers is offering the winners a free one year subscription to the site. Founder Natalia Kübler is keen to support emerging talent and explains the support Pearls & Pomegranates offers. “Jewellers don't necessarily become jewellers to also be a website designer, marketing expert, business strategist, and professional photographer. Through this collaboration, these talented emerging jewellers can have an immediate online presence to start selling.”
News from the 2022 Winners
The cohort of (2022) winners have had a busy year refining their collections, exhibiting and taking up new positions in the industry.
Aleyna Badat accepted an offer at the Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris. She is currently a designer for the Women’s Fashion Jewellery department.
Rachel Adams is working on securing funding for her business and following on from exhibiting at the V & A Dundee is hopeful that her Ethica Jewellery Collection will be retailed through the V & A shop alongside her existing stockists, Diana Porter and Pearls & Pomegranates.
Kathy Chan worked as a graduate assistant at Central Saint Martins for a summer term. To be better equipped for a career in fine jewellery, Kathy enrolled in the jewellery design course at GIA in Hong Kong which she is currently attending.
Xinyi Chen -has been busy exhibiting in both the UK and US including the London Design Festival and NYC Jewelry Week, She showed at Munich Jewellery Week where her 'Data Garden' Collection was selected for Talente 2023. Xinyi is also a finalist of Retail Jeweller's Rising Stars 30 Under 30 for 2023.
Yanmin Zhao has been refining the details of her jewellery design and showed her collection in the NYC Jewelry Week.
Mary Chan has been hired as Jewellery Designer at Tiffany & Co. in New York. She has also been awarded 3 scholarships from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) for certifications in Diamond, Color Stones and Jewelry Essentials.
For further information please contact
Suzanna Hammond [email protected] 07770 802 442 or Jennifer Hall-Thompson [email protected] 07932 690678
Now in its eighteenth year, this annual programme nurtures new talent and provides the six winners with their first commercial platform. To date this initiative has supported seventy-nine BYG® winners as they embark on their individual careers. The roll-call of previous winners includes designers Pippa Small, Fernando Jorge, Ruth Tomlinson and Zeemou Zeng.
Award winning Jewellery designer and previous Bright Young Gem 2006 Tomasz Donocik joins this year’s judging panel. Tomasz comments “Bright Young Gems really does give young jewellery artists an initial springboard to launch their careers. It was where it all started for me! I clearly remember how thrilled I was when selected as a winner to exhibit at the show. It was the first time for me to exhibit on an international platform where a lot of attention was focussed on the few chosen winners.”
Returning panellists include influential press editors Jessica Diamond (Watch & Jewellery Director, The Sunday Times Style & The Times LUXX) and Maria Doulton (Editor-in-chief/Co-founder of The Jewellery Editor), together with jewellery designer and responsible and sustainable industry expert Susi Smither, (Founder of both The Rock Hound, East London’s Gemmologist Jeweller and Fair Luxury collective) and retail associate John Lewis & Partners represented by jewellery buyer Elena Bergonzi.
Missing very sadly from this year’s Panel is the late Hilary Alexander, the former Fashion Director of the Daily Telegraph and President of the Graduate Fashion Foundation, who having supported the scheme from its conception was a judge for seventeen years. An integral part of the initiative, Hilary’s enthusiasm and support for new talent provided annual inspiration to the winning designers. As reflected by Tomasz Donocik: “The biggest honour of being a Bright New Gem was to be introduced to Hilary Alexander who was immensely thrilled to see my work. She later wrote in one of her articles that I was determined, spearheading to change the way of self- adornment and how men wear their jewellery”.
Further underlined by returning judge, Susi Smither: “I’m thrilled to be back for a third year judging Bright New Gems. We’ve an even more important role following the sad passing of Hilary earlier this year who was a judge from the start - we promise to do her proud. It’s always such a privilege being presented with the culmination of our graduates’ creative studies. I’m especially on the look-out for fresh ideas to drive our industry forward with their Responsible Thinking. I can’t wait to get started”.
Speaking about the role and success of the initiative, Jessica Diamond Watch & Jewellery Director, The Sunday Times Style & The Times LUXX explains: “I have always as an editor and journalist prioritised supporting fresh new talent as a way of helping to ensure the ongoing success of the jewellery industry. So I am very much looking forward to seeing all this year’s entries which never fail to excite”.
Maria Doulton observes: “Students from around the world come to UK’s jewellery design schools and their graduates continue to make their mark on the world. The level of creativity continues to be of an impressively high level and design competitions such as Bright New Gems recognises this and encourages students to strive for ever greater heights”.
The Application Process
Jewellery designers graduating this summer from UK colleges and universities can apply and the competition is open to both current year BA and MA UK graduates. They can submit their work for both or either of the two categories:
Show Off - Statement pieces
Designs and/or finished pieces showing creative flair with innovative use of materials and which demonstrate potential commercial viability
Responsible Thinking - Sustainable eco-heroes
Designs and/or finished pieces made with ethically sourced or sustainable materials and which demonstrate potential commercial viability
The two degree groups will be judged separately and four BA winners and two MA graduates will be selected by the stellar line up of judges. All will benefit from publicity and valuable online mentoring in July, provided by associate, the National Association of Jewellers, as well as virtual meetings with each of the judges to discuss their work.
The Bright New Gem programme will roll out in April through the colleges and universities and the deadline for submitting entries is Sunday 11 June and interested designers can also contact [email protected] for application information.
The Progamme
Retail Jeweller have generously invited the six winning Bright New Gems to showcase their collections at the two-day UK Jewellery Festival 2023 on 5th and 6th September, Hilton London Metropole. Here they will meet senior retail decision makers and buyers and also have the opportunity to hear from some of the most respected names in retail, talking on topics including the future of the store and experiential retailing.
As in previous years, the National Association of Jewellers will contribute valuable hands-on career advice on how the winners can best maximise the opportunity to showcase their work at the UK Jewellery Festival.
The Benevolent Society have kindly agreed to provide each winner with a bursary of £400 to help towards travel and exhibiting costs.
Gay Penfold, Chairman of the Benevolent Society, explains: “The Benevolent Society helps individuals starting or progressing their career journeys in our industries. We are pleased to once again provide support for the 2023 Bright New Gems cohort. This mentoring initiative for graduating jewellery designers provides hugely beneficial support and training to them as they embark on their careers in our industry. We wish them every success”.
Pearls & Pomegranates, the online retail website for independent jewellers is offering the winners a free one year subscription to the site. Founder Natalia Kübler is keen to support emerging talent and explains the support Pearls & Pomegranates offers. “Jewellers don't necessarily become jewellers to also be a website designer, marketing expert, business strategist, and professional photographer. Through this collaboration, these talented emerging jewellers can have an immediate online presence to start selling.”
News from the 2022 Winners
The cohort of (2022) winners have had a busy year refining their collections, exhibiting and taking up new positions in the industry.
Aleyna Badat accepted an offer at the Louis Vuitton headquarters in Paris. She is currently a designer for the Women’s Fashion Jewellery department.
Rachel Adams is working on securing funding for her business and following on from exhibiting at the V & A Dundee is hopeful that her Ethica Jewellery Collection will be retailed through the V & A shop alongside her existing stockists, Diana Porter and Pearls & Pomegranates.
Kathy Chan worked as a graduate assistant at Central Saint Martins for a summer term. To be better equipped for a career in fine jewellery, Kathy enrolled in the jewellery design course at GIA in Hong Kong which she is currently attending.
Xinyi Chen -has been busy exhibiting in both the UK and US including the London Design Festival and NYC Jewelry Week, She showed at Munich Jewellery Week where her 'Data Garden' Collection was selected for Talente 2023. Xinyi is also a finalist of Retail Jeweller's Rising Stars 30 Under 30 for 2023.
Yanmin Zhao has been refining the details of her jewellery design and showed her collection in the NYC Jewelry Week.
Mary Chan has been hired as Jewellery Designer at Tiffany & Co. in New York. She has also been awarded 3 scholarships from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) for certifications in Diamond, Color Stones and Jewelry Essentials.
For further information please contact
Suzanna Hammond [email protected] 07770 802 442 or Jennifer Hall-Thompson [email protected] 07932 690678