MONTH IN REVIEW
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The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity is to
support three new PhD studentships
at Cambridge University in order to
advance research in precious metals and
help develop new technical expertise.
The Goldsmiths’ Company
programme in precious metals
research, which will be based at
Cambridge’s Department of Materials
Science and Metallurgy, will build on
the University’s strengths in the study
of materials. The department is one of
the world’s leading centres in the study
of materials and metals.
The first two students are expected
to start in 2019, following a recruitment
programme this autumn. The date
marks the centenary of a founding gift
from the Goldsmiths to establish the
Goldsmiths’ Laboratory at Cambridge,
in April 1919.
The pool of expertise available to
the UK precious metals industry has
reduced in recent years, with fewer
younger technical experts coming in to
the field, and the programme will help
to grow capacity and contribute to the
UK’s standing as a centre of excellence.
Michael Prideaux, prime warden of
the Goldsmiths’ Company, said: “Items
have been made of precious metals for
millennia. Today, they are used across
medical, electronic and aerospace
applications as well as in jewellery and
silversmithing.”
Hallmarking in
October increased by
1.6%
to 1,071,799 items
(compared with the
previous October)
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
PRECIOUS METALS
Goldsmiths’
Company
Charity to fund
new Cambridge
research in
precious metals
1
“Working tirelessly since March of this year we have been
striving to save this unique piece of Chester’s history and
bring it back to the high standards and traditions that
made Lowe’s a destination for so many customers over its
long and illustrious lifetime.”
That’s what Leonard Prescott, store manager at Powell’s Fine Jewellery, said after
Lowe & Sons of Chester was saved from closure after its lease was bought by Powell’s
AUCTIONS
Sotheby’s sells
‘most expensive
watch’ at auction
in 2018
According to the group the timepiece
is one of ‘the most important vintage
wristwatches in the world.’
Sotheby’s Geneva has sold ‘The
Asprey’ for CHF 3,915,000 (£3m),
making it the most expensive watch
auctioned this year.
The timepiece was manufactured in
1952, and according to the group was
the “star lot of an exceptional selection
of world-class vintage wristwatches”.
The auction attracted over 900 bidders
from 54 countries.
The auction company said it
was “enthused by the quality and
expertise they found in the sale”, and
international collectors drove the final
total of the “Important Watches” sale to
CHF 12,208,000 (£9.4m) – the second
highest total in 10 years for a Sotheby’s
watch sale in Geneva.
Sam Hines, global head of Sotheby’s
Watches, said: “The enthusiasm we felt
from international collectors before the
sale has translated into strong bidding
today, in recognition of the world-class
quality pieces we offered, including of
course the legendary Asprey.“
PARTNERSHIPS
EC One partners
with Natalie
Perry Jewellery
Ethical jewellery designer, Natalie Perry,
has partnered with jewellery boutique,
EC One - the designer’s first bricks and
mortar stockist in London.
The boutique, based in London’s
iconic Exmouth Market, has a
collection of 12 pieces from the Floral
Fragments range in both 9ct and 18ct
fairtrade gold, which includes hoop
earrings, layering necklaces, bracelets
and rings.
Co-founder and owner of EC One,
Alison Skeates, said: “I’m thrilled to
add Natalie’s beautiful jewellery to our
edit of guest designers. The delicate
and unique style of her collection
coupled with Natalie’s responsible and
transparent ethos is really inspiring and
adds integrity to her pieces.”
Perry said: “EC One has long been
one of my favourite jewellery boutiques
and I’ve always admired their support
for new designers and the UK jewellery
industry as a whole, so of course, I’m
delighted to be included within their
original curation of designers. The
collection features easily wearable,
everyday pieces which offers
customers a unique take on staple
jewellery items such as diamond studs,
bracelets and pendants.”
December 2018 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk