Hockley Mint adds golden touch to winning Fairtrade ‘I Do’ ring
BIRMINGHAM, England, July 3, 2015 – Birmingham Jewellery Quarter business Hockley Mint is bringing life to an award-winning design in Fairtrade Gold, through its sponsorship of the British Jewellers’ Association’s (BJA) recent ‘I Do’ Fairtrade Gold ring design competition.
As sponsor of the ‘I Do’ competition, Hockley Mint will manufacture the winning set of two bridal rings by Jessica Mead, design assistant at Cambridgeshire jewellery studio Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery.
Jessica’s elegant design has a knot detail to the setting and shank of the ring, symbolising the love between two people intertwining and becoming one. She is now working closely with the team at Hockley Mint on the design, which will be crafted in Fairtrade Gold and presented to her by Hockley Mint managing director Gary Wroe.
Gary Wroe said: “It’s great to see young designers entering competitions, and we are very pleased to make these rings by transforming Jessica’s unique hand-drawn design into CAD, and casting them in 18ct Fairtrade Gold; a service Birmingham manufacturing jeweller Hockley Mint provides for designer-makers.”
Jessica added: “I entered the competition as I have a real passion for Fairtrade Gold and traceability, something that all of us at Harriet Kelsall Jewellery feel very passionate about. I feel so privileged to have won this competition. The modern bride is socially and environmentally aware, and cares about sourcing Fairtrade products, taking pride and enjoyment from caring and helping others.”
Jessica’s winning ring set will be unveiled at the BJA’s stand at jewellery trade show International Jewellery London in September, as part of its 60th Diamond Anniversary celebrations.
Jewellery designers from across the UK were challenged to design a matching wedding and engagement ring set to be crafted in Fairtrade Gold, featuring a .50ct round brilliant-cut certified diamond and other smaller diamonds, gifted by Birmingham diamond dealer Clark Diamonds.
The ‘I Do’ competition is part of a wider campaign launched by Fairtrade Gold earlier in 2015, in a bid to increase the number of couples choosing wedding and engagement rings crafted in Fairtrade Gold, and with it supporting artisanal miners in Peru and Africa.
