Coutts London Jewellery Week: 8th-14th June 2009

So with less than a week until the launch of this year's Coutts London Jewellery Week, I thought I'd give you all a glimpse of the events to be held across the capital in celebration of all that glitters.

Image courtesy of Coutts London Jewellery Week

There's plenty going on - from in-store events and exhibitions, to jewellery-making workshops and valuation events. Here's my pick of the goings-on...

Monday 8th June

Make sure you check out Shaun Leane's celebration of his 10th anniversary, where he will be launching a new collection. The event, entitled 10x, can be found in the jewellery room at Selfridges, Oxford Street and will be in-situ all week.

Recent jewellery graduates of Central St Martins will be hosting an open studio event, commencing on the 8th. They will be selling their own designs, so make sure you drop in - you might be the first to discover the future of British jewellery designing and making!


Tuesday 9th June

Online retailer Astley Clarke will be hosting an open house event during London Jewellery Week, where they will be showcasing their current web collections and never before seen collaboration between themselves and Osman Yousefzada. A great chance to see Astley Clarke's jewellery 'in the flesh'.

Ana de Costa and Kabiri have joined forces to present a retrospective of the young designer work, The Story So Far... Kabiri will be using their Covent Garden store as a space to present sketchbooks, photographs, prototypes and finished pieces of Ana's work.

Jade, diamond and white gold chain earrings by Ana de Costa. Image courtesy of Kabiri

Wednesday 10th June

The Belgravia Jewellery Treasure Hunt will be giving locals and passers-by the chance to win a fabulous - and secret - jewellery prize. All you have to do is visit four jewellery shops in the area (including Erickson Beamon and De Vroomen) and with a beady eye spot the 'odd piece out'. Entries will be put into a draw, with the winner announced at the Elizabeth Street Carnival, also on Wednesday 10th.

If you find yourself on the other side of London on Wednesday, head to the Alice in Londonland exhibition, a showcase of contemporary jewellery from designers including William Cheshire and Tomasz Donocik. Situated a stone's throw from Old Street, this exhibit is sure to attract the discerning Shoreditch crowd.

Thursday 11th June

Thursday seems like the busiest day of the week, so make sure you plan ahead! There's an interesting event tailored to those interested in ethical jewellery. The Green Gold exhibition, a stone's throw from Russell Square, will feature ethically sourced gold and fairly traded gemstones from Colombia. Certainly worth a look for the designs by Stacey Whale.

Later on Thursday, EC One in Notting Hill will be holding an evening dedicated to last year's jewellery Designer of the Year, Alex Monroe. Drop in for a glass or two of champagne and a chance to view Alex's new collection, with a special discount on the evening. See you there!

Gold-plated Bird & Nest ring by Alex Monroe. Image courtesy of Alex Monroe

Friday 12th June

Friday is the first day of Treasure, one of the central attractions of this year's CLJW. The event will be held in the flower cellars below Covent Garden market. There's a large number of designers exhibiting at Treasure, notably Francesca Sibylla Augusta FSA, Sarah Herriot (previously featured on Like Gold Dust), and Jason French. Plenty of sparkle guaranteed!

If you visit Treasure on Friday or Saturday, make sure you head Laura Lee's majestic boutique around the corner on Monmouth Street. Laura will will be presenting her autumn/winter collection Because the Night. I'm a big fan of her playful signet rings. Inspiring stuff!

Saturday 13th June

Show your support for current jewellery students by visiting the Mary Ward Centre Student Show on Saturday afternoon. The show will feature rings crafted from a whole host of materials, from precious metals to fabric and even paper. If rings are your thing, then this one's for you!

If you're interested in seeing jewellers at work, then head to arts hub that is Camberwell, where Flux Studios will be opening their doors to the public. Jewellery demonstrations are the attraction of the day; if you've never seen a jeweller's workbench then this event is a must: a great chance to understand the processes involved in jewellery making.

Rose gold and black diamond ring by FSA. Image courtesy of FSA

Sunday 14th June

After a week of busy jewellery activities, you'll likely need a bit of a break. Afternoon DeLight by Pomellato is a treat fit for any discerning jewellery lover. The Met Bar has designed a special menu of inspired by Pomellato's sugary-sweet jewels. Surely I'm not the only one tempted by the sound of "cupcakes in a glittering array of bright colours, adorned with edible gems, and hand-made dark chocolate macaroons"... thought not!

Rose gold stone set rings by Pomellato. Image courtesy of Butterboom