Jewellers Academy Podcast Jessica Rose

In this bonus podcast episode, Jess interviews Alexandra, an Advanced Diploma graduate and jeweller who runs her own business called Von W Jewellery. Alexandra specializes in creating fine jewellery pieces using gold and diamonds, employing an experimental technique of melting diamonds into gold. She shares her journey, starting from her early experiences in silversmithing and her advanced studies on the Jewellers Academy Diploma courses, which equipped her with the skills to work with precious materials.
Alexandra also talks about her passion for gold and how she alloys her own metals to control the colour and properties of her jewellery. Alexandra is passionate about experimenting with materials and techniques to push the boundaries of traditional jewellery design, ensuring her pieces really resonate with her customers.
 
Von W Jeweller website
Alex on Instagram
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In this week's episode, Jess chats with Sima Vaziry, a talented metal clay jeweller whose work has been sold through the British Museum for over a decade, and who is the final jeweller to appear in the Handmade Jewellers series. The discussion focuses on how Sima uses her craft to support various charities, highlighting her involvement with Afghan Aid and other initiatives.
She shares how her journey began with creating pieces for charity events, which led to significant opportunities, including collaborations with the British Museum and other high-profile organizations. Sima elaborates on her work with artisans in conflict regions through Turquoise Mountain, a charity supported by King Charles, aimed at preserving traditional crafts. She describes her efforts to teach artisans new techniques and help them adapt their materials to international standards, thus enabling them to sustain their livelihoods. 
 
Sima on Instagram 
Sima's website
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In this week's episode, Jess chats with Iain Sainsbury, who is the featured jeweller in the fourth episode of the Handmade Jewellers series and who recently got accepted to showcase his work at Goldsmith North, a prestigious fair for jewellers. Ian shares his journey of applying to the fair, highlighting the challenges and decisions involved. He emphasizes the importance of having a platform where people can physically engage with his jewellery, which led him to apply to Goldsmith North. Iain describes the application process, which includes submitting a form, providing photographs of his work, and crafting an artist statement. He stresses the significance of high-quality images in presenting his collection effectively. Additionally, Iain discusses the mental hurdles of vulnerability and perfectionism that come with putting oneself out there as an artist, reflecting on his own experiences and growth in the process.
 
Iain's website
Iain on Instagram
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In this week's episode, Jess chats with Ange B, a jeweller who makes architectural style jewellery and who features in the third episode of Handmade Jewellers. Ange discusses her journey into working with gold in her jewellery business and explains how she transitioned from working mainly in silver to incorporating gold into her designs. Initially hesitant due to ethical concerns about gold plating, Ange eventually began using recycled gold, starting with a collection featuring mixed metals and gradually adding more gold pieces to her existing collections.
She describes her experiences working with 9 and 14-carat gold, emphasizing the learning curve and the importance of maintaining her ethical principles in her business practices. Ange's approach highlights a gradual and thoughtful integration of gold into her jewellery line, driven by customer demand and personal growth in her craft.
Ange on Instagram
Ange's website
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In this week's episode, Jess chats to Susannah King. Susannah is featured in episode 2 of The Handmade Jewellers, premiering this week on Thursday 2nd May ay 8pm BST. This week we're sharing a previous podcast recording with her from 2023. Susannah is a fourth generation jeweller and talks about her background in repairing jewellery and how she has built her jewellery business and a community on social media just waiting for her collections to be released, even selling out a collection in two minutes.
 
Susannah's website
Susannah on Instagram
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In this week's episode, Jess chats to Anna Sweet, a jewellery maker who specializes in creating unique pieces with a focus on storytelling, who also features in episode one of the Handmade Jewellers. Anna discusses her journey in the jewellery business, which hit a rough patch when she felt demotivated and lacked creativity. She even contemplated quitting her business. However, after taking a break and stepping back from the pressure, she found renewed inspiration.
A pivotal moment came when she created the "ribbon ring," a charming piece inspired by Victorian jewellery, which went viral on TikTok. This unexpected success reignited Anna's passion for her craft, leading to opportunities like showcasing her work at Selfridges. Through her story, Anna emphasizes the importance of allowing oneself to take breaks, experiment, and create for personal fulfillment rather than solely for commercial success.
This Story Jewellery on tiktok
This Story Jewellery on Instagram
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