The Association for Contemporary Jewellery

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The Association for Contemporary Jewellery

The Association for Contemporary Jewellery is devoted to the promotion, representation, understanding and development of contemporary jewellery in the United Kingdom and abroad.

 

Website: http://www.acj.org.uk/
Location: UK
Members: 67
Latest Activity: Oct 11, 2020

The Association for Contemporary Jewellery

is devoted to the promotion, representation, understanding and development of contemporary jewellery in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Founded as a membership association in 1997 and registered as a Limited Company in 2006, it recognises a need to foster discussion, debate and critical review and interaction amongst its members. To this end we organise conferences, lectures, seminars, workshops and an annual general meeting for our members. Our regular newsletter, findings, features reviews, information, comment, book offers and discounts and is of benefit to both our members and the wider public. We also produce a monthly e-bulletin featuring news and opportunities.

We welcome as members practising jewellers, associated designers and crafts people, educators, students, gallery owners and retailers, museum curators, critics and collectors - indeed, anyone with an interest in contemporary jewellery.


The Association for Contemporary Jewellery 
PO Box 37807 London SE23 1XJ United Kingdom 
Telephone: + 00 44 (0)20 8291 4201 
Fax: + 00 44 (0)20 8291 4452 
Email: enquiries@acj.org.uk

 

WHAT WE DO

• promote greater understanding of contemporary jewellery
• support jewellers’ creative and professional development
• develop audiences for this lively field of contemporary craft and design

Discussion Forum

streamlining our pages

Started by Rebecca Skeels Oct 11, 2020. 0 Replies

Dear All Members, Followers and Likers of our Network pages.We are currently streamlining our pages at the moment and have found that fewer people are now following and using twitter and crafthaus to find out about jewellery events, exhibitions, opportunities, seeing new work and generally chatting about jewellery.If you use these, please head over to our other pages on other platforms: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Association.Contemporary.Jewellery/Linkedin Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3628898/Linkedin Business page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/association-for-contemporary-jewellery-limitedInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/acj.org.uk/and of course, our main website…Continue

Comment Wall

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Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 21, 2014 at 6:29am

Our 12 material highlights from this week show how materials are pushing boundaries like never before

Join the adventure!

Team Materia

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=5844fd3f408710a9183a70477&i...

Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 21, 2014 at 6:26am

Helping Students Make their Mark

Story image

Image: Queues outside Goldsmiths' Hall prior to opening

One of the most successful events of this year was hosting "Make your Mark". The popular open day attracted over 800 students and tutors from across the British Isles.

The aim was to provide practical information, advice, contacts and inspiration to encourage and enable students to advance in their chosen career in the world of precious metals.

Highlights included talks by renowned London jeweller Theo Fennell, the acclaimed silversmith, Miriam Hanid and The Gemmological Association of Great Britain. Experts from the Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office and the Goldsmiths’ Centre offered insider advice on hallmarking, internships, grants and training opportunities.

We are excited to announce we will be hosting another "Make your Mark" event in 2015. More information coming soon....

Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 21, 2014 at 6:24am
Welcome to the "Q"


Next year's date letter will be a lower case 'q' in a square shield with cut corners (shown above).

At the Assay Office in London, we believe that the date letter is a very important component of the UK hallmark. Although it is a voluntary mark, we are the only assay office to continue the tradition of applying the date letter as standard at no extra charge.

More information on the UK hallmark can be found here.
http://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/welcome-to-the-assay-office/hallmark...
Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 21, 2014 at 6:21am

Congrats Dave Merry
Dave Merry, Head of Training and Trading Standards Liaison, has recently been elected as an Honorary Member of the Trading Standards Institute.

Dave has been working for our assay office for an impressive 43 years. His intensive knowledge and experience in hallmarking and assisting TSI officers in upholding the Hallmarking Act has earned him this special award. Dave is renowned for sharing this information with members of the public and trade alike with insightful talks and TV appearances.

This accolade is in addition to his earlier achievement this year in becoming a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths.

We congratulate Dave who heartily deserves this recognition.

Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 21, 2014 at 6:18am
how cute it this linisher http://wolftools.com/wolf-belt-sander/
Wolf Belt Sander

This compact and convenient Belt Sander is ideal for sprue grinding, model making and bench work. It is powered by a flex shaft that is easily attached with the quick change collar. Quick belt tensioning and changing is done with the turn of a knob. Clamps onto bench or counter, adjustable to infinite angles. Uses 1” x 10” belts. Comes complete with Adjustable Clamp, vacuum connector and 5 assorted ruby belts– 80, 120, 180, 240 & 320 grit. Dreamy.
Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 21, 2014 at 6:17am
looking for a new job for the new year, become a member of crafthaus
http://crafthaus.ning.com/page/jobs-positions?xg_source=msg_mes_net...
Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 21, 2014 at 6:13am
After 30 successful and happy years we want to announce the closure of Lesley Craze Gallery as of 31st January 2015. We will be open as normal until this date and hope that you can visit the gallery one last time.

Lesley Craze Gallery is truly a force of collaboration and Lesley wants to give heartfelt thanks to all our artists, customers, collectors, staff and supporters.
Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 21, 2014 at 6:12am
Jewellery evening class at 318 with new tutor Christine Johnson
http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=a8bb2acfc503ad6fb69ead0d5&i...
Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 17, 2014 at 3:48pm
Fantastic craft retail opportunity. I have a gallery studio in Manchester Craft & Design Centre. In the new year I'm looking for another maker to share with. Its a fully equipped jewellery studio with all the tools & equipment required for making. I would preferably like an established maker but am open to discussion. I shall be refreshing the studio in the new year and open to a new look. I can only cover the studio on Tuesdays & Wednesdays so the person would need to be able to be there Mondays, Thursdays & Fridays and every other Saturday 10-5.30pm. It doesn't have to be another jeweller either! I want somebody committed! Please if you know or think of anyone please give them my details my email is redmondeve@yahoo.com and mobile is 07930 604345 Happy Christmas everyone and best wishes for 2015! Boost Post Eve Redmond Jewellery
Comment by Rebecca Skeels on December 14, 2014 at 12:51pm
Stone cutter/lapidary
SARAH MARTEN 29 NOVEMBER 2012

A stone cutter, also known as a lapidary, cuts, shapes and polishes precious and semi-precious gemstones.

This 22ct gold plated silver 'cave treasure' ring designed by Ruth Wood contains cubic zirconia stones with facets cut into them. Image sent
What do stone cutters (lapidaries) do?
Stone cutters often specialise in coloured gemstones. These could be anything from emeralds, sapphires and rubies to amethyst, rock crystal and black onyx. These stones are then used to make jewellery or decorative objects.

As well as cutting stones for new pieces of jewellery, lapidaries also repair and re-polish jewellery stones, often from antique pieces. They may also repair the stones in other antiques, such as stone-inlaid clocks, urns and goblets.

What is the job like?
As a lapidary, your job would involve:

using a magnifying lens to examine the stone for fissures, holes and cracks
cutting the stone into the required shape, such as a block, or slicing it using various saws and grinders with diamond-blade edges. The diamond may be applied manually, or the machine may have an electro-plated diamond-blade edge
using a faceting machine to cut the stone at certain angles so that it catches the light
drilling holes in specific places
using hand and machine tools to sand the gem in several stages to produce a very fine surface
using different types of polishing equipment to finish the stone.
You would need a detailed understanding of the different types of gems and their properties, such as the various grains, to enable you to cut the stones properly. Stones vary in their hardness and heat sensitivity, and some are more prone to breaks or cracks.

Some lapidaries are employed in jewellery workshops, whilst others are self-employed and make bespoke jewellery for clients.

How do I become a lapidary?
If you want to become a lapidary, you need to be:

a creative person who loves to make things and who enjoys working with their hands
interested in gemstones, and stone generally
extremely patient and meticulous
willing to work hard and take pride in your work.
If you are self-employed, you will normally be working on your own all day, so it's important that you enjoy working independently. Teamwork skills are important if you are employed in a workshop with other people.

Relevant school subjects include GCSE Design and Technology and GCSE Art, and an interest in jewellery and gemstones is important.
http://ccskills.org.uk/careers/advice/article/stone-cutter-lapidary...
 

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