BJA Launches Brooch Competition for Diamond Jubilee Year
June, 2012 – To celebrate the Jubilee the British Jewellers’ Association has launched a competition to create a commemorative diamond brooch for The Queen.
A brief has been devised by members of the BJA National Committee “The Graceful Modernisation of the Monarchy,” inviting BJA members to send in their designs.
Designers are encouraged to be inspired by The Queen’s 60 year reign, and to bring a contemporary interpretation to a fine-jewellery brooch design that represents the elegance, grace, and empathy with which The Queen has guided the nation and the Commonwealth over that time.
In commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee and as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the BJA, pledges and donations have been and continue to be received from our members and we have an excellent “pot” of materials from which the winning brooch can be manufactured.
“The idea is that the manufacture, mounting, setting and polishing is all undertaken by BJA member firms that are willing to put their skills to use and give their time to fashion this unique item,” said Lindsey Straughton, BJA Marketing Manager.
“The brooch is to be made primarily in platinum and Lonmin have generously pledged up to 60grammes. Other mines across the British Isles are giving some small quantity of rare English, Welsh, Scottish and Irish gold which may also be incorporated in to the design.”
The brooch will be gifted to The Queen after being displayed at a BJA event at the House of Commons in November.
The deadline for design entries is July 27th 2012 and shortlisted designs will be shown and voted on via the website and at the BJA stand during International Jewellery London in September.
The winner will be announced at the show on the last day at lunchtime.
BJA Members are encouraged to download an entry form at www.bja.org.uk/jubileebrooch
