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| London Jewellery Week | |
|---|---|
| Name | London Jewellery Week |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Festival |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Location | London |
| First | 2012 |
| Founder | Shaun Leane |
London Jewellery Week is an annual festival held in London that celebrates contemporary and historical jewellery through exhibitions, talks, workshops, and trade showcases. The event brings together designers, retailers, institutions and collectors across venues in Mayfair, Soho, London, Shoreditch, Camden Town, and South Kensington to present a programme spanning commercial showcases and curatorial projects. Organisers aim to position London alongside global jewellery centres such as Paris, Milan, New York City, Geneva, and Hong Kong while engaging museums, galleries and the trade.
London Jewellery Week was established in 2012 by a group of industry figures seeking to create a city-wide celebration comparable to London Fashion Week and Frieze Art Fair. Early collaborators included jewellers and retailers from Hatton Garden, craft organisations from Goldsmiths' Company, and curators linked to institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and British Museum. Milestones include thematic editions timed to coincide with major auctions at Sotheby's and Christie's and partnerships with educational bodies like Central Saint Martins and Royal College of Art. The festival expanded geographically from a focus on Clerkenwell and Hatton Garden to include cultural quarters including Brixton and Whitechapel and engaged international delegations from Italy, India, Japan, and South Korea.
The festival is organised by a board of industry professionals with contributions from trade organisations such as the British Hallmarking Council and commercial partners including department stores in Oxford Street and membership bodies like the National Association of Jewellers. Programming is overseen by curators and guest directors drawn from institutions such as the Design Museum and academic departments at Goldsmiths, University of London and University of the Arts London. Funding models combine sponsorship from brands listed on stock exchanges, ticket revenues, and in-kind support from galleries in Mayfair and Chelsea. The format typically spans a week and comprises public exhibitions, invitation-only trade events, panel discussions with representatives from Tate Modern, Barbican Centre, and auction houses, and educational workshops hosted by makers from Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham.
Programme highlights have included curated exhibitions in partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, pop-up showcases in Covent Garden, and satellite events at venues such as The Old Truman Brewery and Somerset House. The festival has featured thematic exhibitions addressing conservation practices highlighted by curators from the British Museum, retrospectives of makers represented by galleries like Sotheby's Contemporary Jewellery and installations commissioned by contemporary spaces including Southbank Centre. Trade shows during the week often align with specialist fairs such as The Original Design Fair and collaborations with biennials and festivals including London Design Festival and Frieze London.
Past participants range from established maisons and houses from Hatton Garden and Bond Street to independent studios from Goldsmiths' Course alumni and graduates of Royal College of Art. Notable names who have taken part include designers associated with brands such as Shaun Leane, ateliers linked to Boodles, and contemporary studios showcased alongside retailers including Liberty (department store), Harrods, and Selfridges. International participants have included craftspeople from Valenza Po in Italy, workshops from Istanbul, and designers represented at galleries such as Galerie Noel Guyomarc'h and Galerie Templon.
The festival has been associated with awards and competitions that spotlight emerging talent, often judged by panels featuring curators from the Victoria and Albert Museum, editors from publications such as Vogue (magazine), and buyers from Harper's Bazaar. Prizes have included commissions, retail placements with stores like Fortnum & Mason, and mentorships linked to institutions like Central Saint Martins. Recognition within the festival has helped laureates secure placements at international jewellery fairs in Basel and auction room consignments at Christie's and Sotheby's.
Critics and trade commentators in outlets such as The Guardian, Financial Times, and The Times (London) have credited the festival with raising the profile of contemporary jewellery in the UK and supporting the retail ecosystem in Mayfair and Hatton Garden. Academic assessments from departments at Goldsmiths and market analyses from consultancies working with Mintel have documented increased footfall and strengthened buyer-seller networks. The festival's emphasis on craft and innovation has influenced curricula at institutions including Royal College of Art and prompted collaborative projects with museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and British Museum.
Promotion of the festival leverages partnerships with fashion and design media like Vogue (magazine), Wallpaper* (magazine), and Dezeen, plus mainstream coverage on broadcasters such as the BBC and interviews in business outlets including the Financial Times. Social media campaigns have engaged communities across platforms and amplified events showcased in lifestyle supplements of newspapers such as The Telegraph and magazines including Harper's Bazaar and Elle (magazine). Collaborations with influencers and editorial features in trade magazines like Professional Jeweller have further extended reach to collectors and industry professionals.
Category:Jewellery festivals in the United Kingdom Category:Annual events in London