Download Winter PDF

Front cover: Tish Lyon

• NAJ Awards Winners
• Goldsmiths' Fair 
• Jewellery Show Review
• Vicenzaoro September Review
• CMJ Event Report
• Better Business
• And much more...

Two things happened last week. One of them happens (almost) every time I ask an industry VIP to be the subject of our regular Last Word interview, and Allum & Sidaway’s Jason Allum didn’t falter: “I find writing about myself difficult,” he said.

“Tsk, it’s easy,” I (always) reply, “you know all the answers; you can knock it out over breakfast.” Reader: if you turn to page 66, you see that Mr Allum managed it perfectly well.

The second thing that happened – for the first time since editing The Jeweller (15 years, according to LinkedIn) – the tables were turned on me. I was invited to be a guest on jewellery expert and Juraster founder, Jessica Cadzow-Collins’ podcast Inside the Jewel Vault. Would I “share my life and career in jewellery” through six special pieces of my own jewellery to go into a fantasy jewel vault. Really? I’d have to answer questions about myself? And make sense? For a whole hour? Eek! I now feel a tad guilty for cruelly putting at least a hundred blameless industry bods under our spotlight over the years.

My working life involves questioning others about the jewellery they design, create and/or sell, and this, the last issue of the year, is full of the results of observing, examining, querying and generally oohing and aahing over beautiful pieces and latest collections.

My first visit to Vicenzaoro in Italy (yes, it’s been a long time coming) was the visual feast I’d been promised – see page 26 for just a few of my highlights from the show. The trip followed hot on the heels of the Jewellery Show (my report on page 18), before I was walking, notebook in hand, the aisles of the CMJ Autumn Event (p36), so my brain was swimming with images and information. The icing on the (coffee and walnut) cake – a day at Goldsmiths’ Fair during week one saw me fantasy shopping for ‘my favourite things’ feature on page 30. I love my job!

Talking of jobs, we’re excited to introduce Faceted Futures, the NAJ’s new careers website that addresses the recruitment challenges facing our industry. Turn to page 34 to learn more about the Association’s plans for this invaluable resource. Then, (unapologetic segue alert) if you’ve ever wondered what a gemmologist is (and does), Kerry Gregory of Gemmology Rocks has her own enlightening opinions on page 36.

Designer, salesperson, goldsmith, valuer, engraver, marketer, mounter, setter… just some of the careers represented at the NAJ Awards, and on page 10, you can catch all the inspiring individuals and businesses that were winners on the night. More award categories than ever, a record number of entrants, a sold-out event, mirror ball decorations and a sax player all made it a fabulous night to remember. Roll on December’s Benevolent Ball for more partying!

Meanwhile, if you need me for anything (chat shows, after-dinner speaking, fete openings) just get your people to call my people.

Happy Christmas!