On Wednesday evening, BAJ welcomed students, friends, family and industry connections to their Camden campus to celebrate our project with UKFCG-certified Advance Cutter Martin Prinsloo of Martin’s Gems.
The jewellery exhibition displayed 9 unique student-made pieces featuring exquisite hand-cut gemstones, generously gifted by Martin, including stunning varieties of Rhodolite Garnet, Lavender Quartz and Topaz, among many others. Martin also brought in a selection of hand-cut stones and jewellery from his collection.
Martin’s Gems is a highly creative and innovative precision gem-cutting business based in London. Having previously collaborated with BAJ as a sponsor for the ‘Precision and Technical Excellence’ and ‘Statement Jewellery’ awards, this project saw them elevating their partnership to new heights.
The brief for this project was to design and manufacture a distinctive piece of jewellery that showcases the exquisite craftsmanship of Martin’s exceptional gemstone-cutting skills. This project aims to highlight the beauty and uniqueness of a carefully selected gemstone through an innovative and professionally crafted jewellery piece.
“With this piece, I wanted to create something that would really stand out. The citrine gemstone brought so much character that it was only right to go all out on the design. Designing the setting for the head was challenging; I came up with two options, and while one was easier, the harder choice truly made the piece come to life. A valuable lesson I learned was to push a little harder for something that ultimately worked out in the end.” – Ben
“My piece was entirely inspired by the geometry of Martin’s beautiful stone, made in sterling silver with his custom-cut Ouro Verde Quartz. I’d like to thank Martin for his generosity and support, and of course the BAJ staff for the opportunities and support they have constantly offered us. Thank you everyone!” – Gabe
“This collaboration provided our students with a truly exceptional opportunity to work with gemstones of remarkable quality and precision. Martin’s generosity and commitment to nurturing new talent enabled our students to push creative boundaries and showcase their skills in an inspiring way. We are immensely proud of the pieces on display and grateful for Martin’s support in helping the next generation of jewellers bring their visions to life.” – Lily Henderson, Technical Diploma Coordinator.
Opportunities like this to gain hands-on industry experience are a key part of BAJ’s educational approach, distinguishing it from other training institutions. Click here to learn about our other partnerships, and here to find out more about our Jewellery courses.
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