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• Jewellery Show Preview
• Goldsmiths' Fair Preview
• NAJ Summit Review
• Goldsmiths North Review
• The Power of Collaboration
• Better Business
• And much more...

Phew. Pulling together the final pages in The Jeweller so it’s ready to go press on time is a wearisome business. It can turn a generally benign, cheery editor (me) into a nagging harridan (also me) – possibly discernible in some of my chivvying emails (despite the I’m-nice-really ‘x’ after my name).

That’s my way of saying the Jewellery Show preview on page 14 required a little pestering – lead times mean I’m chasing product images irritatingly early – soz, exhibitors! It’s all worth it, though; my appetite (and yours too, I hope) is now properly whetted, and I can’t wait to see all the new collections IRL.

If I was becoming a tad impatient to get up close and personal with beautiful jewellery and silverware, a trip to Goldsmiths North in Sheffield last month proved to be just the ticket. The splendid Cutlers’ Hall was the backdrop to a curation of high-end contemporary makers – turn to page 20 for a selection of mouthwatering pieces that caught my eye (yes, a little retail therapy was involved). And now, back to the future – I’m looking forward to Goldsmiths’ Fair in London later this month; see page 36 for a snapshot of another coterie of crème de la crème creatives.

Talking of the best of the best, the UK Jewellery Awards was, as ever, a lovely evening of high praise, plaudits and prosecco, set this year against the handsome backdrop of Old Billingsgate on the River Thames. Turn to page 24 for details and pictures of 2024’s winners – many of them NAJ members. Expect more celebrations when, later this year, we hold the NAJ Awards: new categories, new date, new venue... same carousing and anticipation! See page 32 for all you need to know.

Never let it be said our industry’s beautiful people don’t know how to party, especially when the party combines with a weekend of intense learning and networking. The NAJ Summit in June offered three days of insights, information and inspiration as it brought together a solid slice of people from across the trade – the perfect opportunity for meeting up with friends and making new connections. (See page 10 for our report.)

Which, handily, leads me (ooh, I do love a segue) onto the subject of collaboration, a topic I look at on page 34. Collusions, alliances, working together... it’s about people and businesses learning from each other and supporting each other for mutual benefit. It’s a win-win thing. Do let us know if it inspires you to work on something in a similar vein. For an extra dash of inspiration, read about the difference a JET course can make (page 62) and the jewellery journeys of a few of our members (pages 40 and 48). And you can meet trophy-winning valuer Craig O’Donnell... he tells all on page 28.

Right, get on with your work, class. I’m off for a lie-down.