Cover image: Tick Tock Depot

• Jewellery Show Preview
• Valuers' Conference Report
• Retail Congress Review
• NAJ Awards Preview
• Goldsmiths North Report
• Is Gold Still King?
• Member Previews
• Better Business

Did you know it’s been 10 years since the National Association of Goldsmiths merged with the British Jewellers Association, giving birth (after a pretty intense labour) to the National Association of Jewellers? Ten years! Well, I’ll go to the foot of our stairs! In some ways, the newness and anticipation of that union feel like yesterday, but the strength and solidity of today’s NAJ actually give the sense of very many decades under its belt.

It’s just how I imagine those businesses enjoying significant birthdays must be feeling – and such milestones should certainly be celebrated. Which is why the NAJ Awards this year (see p28) will include a special raising of glasses to long-standing NAJ members who’ve been with the Association for 50, 75, 100 and 125 years. And in this issue of The Jeweller, we’re highlighting two businesses – Lido Pearls and Claudia Bradby – who’re marking 20th anniversaries in 2025 (p32), as well as the Bright New Gems initiative, which also turns 20 this year (p30). Many happy returns to them.

We’re on a bit of a roll, celebration-wise, because on page 14, we’re congratulating NAJ winners of the UK Jewellery Awards (and happy centenary to Retail Jeweller!) and acknowledging two major industry initiatives that underscore the importance of hallmarking – the Halo Award and the Touchstone Award. On page 40, we reveal the two very worthy winners and outline the awards’ criteria. We also give three rousing cheers to our outgoing and incoming presidents – the two Garys – who salute each other on page 8.

And talking of hellos and goodbyes, this year’s Retail Congress marked JBN facilitator Michael Donaldson’s final such event before his well-earned retirement and was also the chance to introduce his successor, Steven Ennis… meet him (and discover the weekend’s highlights) on page 10. Then, at the risk of triggering FOMO for those who weren’t there, turn the page to read all about the best bits of the not-to-be-missed Valuers’ Conference (p12).

The same can be said of Goldsmiths North 2025 – a stunning fair against the backdrop of beautiful Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield – from which I’ve selected some of my favourite pieces on page 36. It’s also where I met bespoke jeweller David Fowkes, who’s profiled on page 43. Read on to meet fellow members Lily Blanche, Gemima and 4D Design. Meanwhile, on page 24, I seek the views of other industry figures on their strategies to address the rising gold price… the implications of which visitors may well encounter while attending the upcoming Jewellery Show at Olympia – see page 16 for my preview of this steadily growing two-day event.

I look forward to seeing you there (I’m bound to have thought of something else to celebrate by then).