The British Academy of Jewellery collaborates with Fuli Gemstones

The British Academy of Jewellery (BAJ) has collaborated with modern mining company Fuli Gemstones to give its jewellery design and manufacturing diploma students the experience of working with peridot, an ancient gem of the mineral olivine.

The collaboration involves a project for the students to make a piece of jewellery featuring a Fuli peridot, the aim of which is for the piece to capture the history and meaning of the gemstone, while still being modern.

The jewellery pieces will be exhibited at the Fuli Gemstones lounge as part of The Jewellery Cut Live, the London-based boutique jewellery show, a platform to showcase independent jewellery designers, in April 2022.

Pia Tonna, chief marketing officer for Fuli Gemstones, said in a statement: “We are looking for innovation in setting, striking designs, conceptual yet wearable pieces.”

Kate Rieppel, head of academy at the British Academy of Jewellery, added: “This project allows our students to develop a deep understanding of what it’s like to work with a professional jewellery brief, while also giving them the experience of designing and creating with real gemstones.

“We are particularly proud to be partnering with Fuli Gemstones, whose transparent and progressive approach clearly aligns with our own values of teaching our students awareness of the context of materials in the jewellery industry.

“It’s an incredibly rare and special experience for our learners to experience working with coloured gemstones; particularly peridot. They will find incredible inspiration from the beautiful vibrancy of these unique stones.”

Photo credit: British Academy of Jewellery