Bright Young Gems (BYG) honours emerging jewellery designers with the support of an expert panel including leading jewellery designers and goldsmiths and press and industry professionals.
Register Interest
About Bright Young Gems
Bright Young Gems® (BYG) is an industry-supported initiative that seeks to uncover and develop young talent from final year students and students from UK colleges and universities who graduated within the last two years. Winners don’t just benefit from the title of being a bright young gem, but also enjoy commercial exposure within the sector.
Over the last fifteen years, Bright Young Gems has developed and perfected into the leading industry-recognized platform for fresh talent. More than 70 BYG winners have emerged from the Bright Young Gems competition so far, as they embark on their careers in the industry.
Pippa Small, Fernando Jorge, Ruth Tomlinson, and Tomasz Donocik are just a handful of the former winners.
Supporting BYG
The National Association of Jewellers generously sponsors the initiative, providing dedicated mentorship, hands-on career guidance and coaching the winners on how to make the most of their opportunity to present their work.
Additionally, the Benevolent Society has kindly agreed to provide each winner with a bursary of £300 to help towards travel and exhibiting costs.
BYG Supporters
New Zealand-born British journalist and former fashion director of the Daily Telegraph, Hilary Alexander OBE, says,
“Think of emerging jewellery talent and it Is almost impossible not to immediately think of Bright Young Gems®. For nearly two decades, this pioneering platform has championed a new way to identify, mentor and promote the next generation of young stars poised to dazzle the international jewellery market with their innovative creativity and 21st century mindsets.”
Maria Doulton, Founder of The Jewellery Editor, says,
“Bright Young Gems is a key initiative for young jewellers in the UK and has the power to transform careers. Starting out as a jeweller is a complex business beyond the exceptional talent and dedication past winners have shown. Bright Young Gems not only offers a showcase for their work but practical support and guidance in the many aspects it takes to make it as a successful jeweller.”
Award-winning London-based jewellery designer, Imogen Belfield, who was a former Bright Young Gem® in 2014, adds,
“BYG is a wonderful competition which attracts the best of graduates. It was extremely hard to choose the winners as the quality, talent and inspiring ideas were in abundance. I am always impressed by their industrious work and inspirational ideas – it is a joy to see such talent.”
NAJ Head of Communications and Industry Liaison, Lindsey Straughton, says,
“Jewellery design and making is a hands-on skill degree, so it is hugely impressive to see the standard of work achieved and how well entrants have embraced the criteria - as either Eco Warriors or Show Stoppers!”
British designer/maker Eloise Kramer, who was selected as one of IJL’s Bright Young Gems in 2019, says,
“Being selected as one of the Bright Young Gems for 2019 is a huge honour. For my work to be recognised by industry professionals at an early stage is extremely exciting. It can be difficult as a new graduate to find your place in the industry, Bright Young Gems provides me with a fantastic opportunity to showcase my work to the industry which I hope will lead to the next opportunity and help to determine the next step in my career”
Gay Penfold, Chairman of the Benevolent Society, adds,
“The Benevolent Society is pleased to support this year’s Bright Young Gems cohort. The support and training that they receive through this initiative is hugely beneficial to them as they embark on their careers in our industry.”
Those interested in entering Bright Young Gems can email BYG@hammondpr.co.uk for more information
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