We are thrilled to announce an event this Friday, celebrating two groundbreaking collaborations, fusing jewellery, gemmology and technology.

On the 4th April, we’ll be opening our Camden Town campus to the public, showcasing two innovative BA (Hons) Jewellery Design and Production projects, ‘Glow’ and ‘Wearable Technology’.

‘Glow’

In 2013, BREVALOR introduced a groundbreaking type of strontium aluminate in the form of transparent glow in the dark crystals. These crystals exhibit persistent luminescence, emitting light for many hours after just a few minutes of sunlight exposure. In partnership with Dr. Sofie Boons, these materials were transformed into gemstones for incorporation into jewellery pieces. The students’ designs aim to highlight the luminescent properties of the gemstone, exploring innovative ways to integrate this feature into their jewellery pieces. The students will also produce detailed research and a render to accompany the final piece. This is a competitive project, with the best design receiving the incorporated stone as a reward.

“Today, crystal growth is driving innovations in a range of sectors. In the jewellery industry, however, lab-grown gemstones remain a topic of great discussion, despite their creative potential. The materials created by BREVALOR demonstrate how crystal growth technologies could create materials that reimagine what the gemstones available to us could do. The testing of the incorporation of glow-in-the-dark gemstones in jewellery designs is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for BAJ students to consider the position of such a new material.” – Dr. Sofie Boons, BA (Hons) Course Leader

‘Wearable Technology’

In this creative project, our BA (Hons) students are designing a functional, wearable car key that reflects the essence of luxury, precision, and innovation that Vaughtons Automotive is known for. Vaughtons has been pouring over 200 years of experience into creating the perfect finishing pieces for some of the best brands in automotive history. Some of the iconic pieces they’ve crafted include the FA Cup, Olympic medals and Aston Martin’s bonnet badges.

Second-year BA (Hons) students have been invited to reimagine the car key as a stylish, innovative, and wearable piece of jewellery. The brief was assigned during a visit to Vaughtons Automotive in Birmingham, inspiring them to begin working on the challenge. Students will then pitch ideas to Vaughtons Automotive for feedback on their designs before presenting their finished projects at the event.

“Through this collaboration, students have gained invaluable experience – the project not only enhances technical and creative skills but also encourages forward-thinking approaches to the future of jewellery. Students have explored CAD, manufacturing techniques, and prototyping to develop dynamic designs that challenge traditional jewellery concepts and inspire new possibilities for the future.” – Annie Law (Associate Lecturer Jewellery Manufacturing and Design)

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Vaughtons Automotives and Brevalor on these groundbreaking projects. At BAJ, we’re dedicated to pushing the boundaries of jewellery design, and these partnerships offer our students a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of design, technology and innovation in the jewellery industry.” – Gabriel Ghersovic, CEO of BAJ

Book your free ticket here now to attend on Friday 4th April, and click here to learn more about the BA (Hons) degree programme.