On Wednesday evening, we welcomed an eager and diverse audience of recent graduates, current students, friends, family, and leading industry professionals to celebrate the future of the jewellery world. The 2023/2024 London Final Show, held at BAJ’s vibrant Camden campus, was a sparkling showcase of our Jewellers creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship.

The event highlighted the exceptional work of students from both Further Education and Higher Education courses, providing a platform for these emerging talents to display the skills they have honed throughout their studies. Under spotlights throughout the campus, nearly 200 pieces were displayed, alongside design journals and insights into the creation process.

As well as being a celebration of the graduates’ hard work and talent, this event reflected the strong relationships BAJ fosters with the wider industry, with over 30 industry connections in attendance.

“We are deeply grateful to our sponsors for their continued support in nurturing the next generation of jewellers through these prestigious awards. Opportunities like The Betts Group ‘Craftsmanship’ Award, The NAJ’s ‘One to Watch’ Award, The Sierra 3DESIGN Creative Achievement Award, The Martin’s Gems Award for Statement Jewellery, and The Queensmith Rising Star Award provide our graduates with invaluable recognition and resources to propel their careers forward. We are thrilled to see so many of our students being celebrated for their creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation, and we look forward to supporting their journeys as they make their mark in the jewellery world as proud BAJ alumni. ” — [Ioanna Kefalogianni], Careers and Industry Engagement Manager

AWARDS

Further Education:

The Betts Group Craftsmanship Award

The NAJ’s One to Watch Award

The Sierra Consultancy 3DESIGN Creative Achievement Award

Prize: 1-year practice license

Presented by: Pooja Sahny

Winner: Olumide Badejo

The Martin’s Gems Award for Statement Jewellery

Prize: A precious gem from Martin’s collection

Presented by Martin Prinsloo

Winner: Isabelle Gearing

The Queensmith Rising Star Award

Prize: A day at the Queensmith workshop, mounting or setting

Presented by Brett Afshar

Winner: Konrad Gergely

Award for the Use of Colour & Texture

Prize: Signed copy of Rebecca Cheeseman’s book

Presented by BAJ’s Academic Team

Winner: Marko Jakovics

BAJ Award for Most Improved Student Level 3

Prize: Place on a short course

Presented by BAJ’s Academic Team

Winner: Abeyola During

BAJ Award for Most Improved Student Level 5

Prize: Place on a short course

Presented by BAJ’s Academic Team

Winner: Olumide Badejo

Higher Education:

Best CAD Design

Prize: Book – Advanced Jewellery CAD Modelling in Rhino

Presented by Jack Meyer

Winners: Rommy Georgiou and Veronika Dika

Liz Olver x BAJ Live Project Award

Prize: Book-  The New Jewelers: Desirable – Collectable – Contemporary 

Presented by Liz Olver

Winners: Pasquale Rossi and Anastasiia Riabokon

Excellent Performance During the Course

Prize: Book – Art in the Making

Presented by BAJ Academic Team

Winners: Saffron Gomes and Razia Nazir

Most Impressive Development During the Course Award

Prize: Signed copy of Rebecca Cheeseman’s book

Presented by BAJ’s Academic Team

Winners: Zaida Cruttenden and Saoirse Long

Olumide Badejo (Thirty One Grams) cemented himself as a Jeweller to watch after taking home three awards. Of his experience, Olu said: “Thank you to all the staff that supported me while I was at BAJ, including with my own projects I was working on outside of coursework. I just really like seeing people’s ideas come to life in jewellery, and I never expected to get one award, talk less of three, and thank you to everyone who liked my designs and jewellery.”

“We are immensely proud of the incredible talent on display at this year’s London Final Show. These graduates are the future of the jewellery industry, and we are confident that they will leave a lasting mark with their skills and vision. At BAJ, we are committed to fostering the next generation of jewellers, and it is inspiring to see them take their first steps into the professional world.” — [Graham Wills], Head of Curriculum, Higher Education/Vice Principal

Thank you to our beloved BAJ community for attending and helping make the night a success. To learn more about the winning Jewellers, head to our socials, or click here to learn about our jewellery courses.