Make Your Mark Award winners announced

This year’s winners of the Make Your Mark Awards were announced at a VIP drinks reception at London’s Goldsmiths’ Hall on Tuesday 31 October 2017. The winner of this year’s Jewellery category was recent graduate Charelle Smith for her Unlock the Hallmark pendant. She was presented with an exclusive coaching session with prestigious jewellery house Garrard, as well as a business consultancy session with FACETS PR and a trophy donated and engraved by Creative Awards. Smith said: “The purpose of the piece is to educate the wearer. When the hallmark is lined up with the diamond, the diamond end can be removed from its casing a reveal a hidden vial. The inspiration derives from mechanisms and is made in the same way as a combination lock – when the hallmarks are aligned, hidden treasures can be unlocked.” Catherine McGinty was highly commended in the Jewellery category for her ‘At This Very Moment in Time’ brooch, and was awarded with an introductory course at Joanna Hardy’s Online Jewellery School. Both of the winning designers in the category have recently completed a Jewellery Manufacturing Level 3 Diploma at the British Academy of Jewellery. Meanwhile, judges of the Silversmithing category unanimously decided that they could not award a winner as none of the entries completely met the brief or reached the competition’s high standards. However, Dr Robert Organ, deputy warden of The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office, presented a special deputy warden’s prize to Rebecca Neil for her ‘Take Your Pick’ cocktail stick set, which, Organ said, “was a particularly interesting concept that deserved recognition”. Neil was given a £125 voucher from Cooksongold. All three winners on the night also received prizes from The Goldsmiths’ Company Assay Office including a tour of the Assay Office and free hallmarking registration including sponsor’s punch. Dr Organ, said: “Charelle really cracked the code of what the judges were looking for! She locked in the winning combination of imagination and craftsmanship – and indeed has unlocked the potential for future entries to this innovative competition. Catherine’s brooch was also an excellently thought out concept – and congratulations to the BAJ for producing both students. I extend my thanks to our sponsors and everyone who entered.”