Creative Links: The Science Behind the Sparkle
- Date
- 15 Jan 2025 · 6:00PM - 8:00PM
- Price
- Pay what you can (£5 or £10)
- Venue
- Online (via Zoom), UK time
- Programme type
- Talks, Business Skills Training
What can gemstones tell us about the universe, our planet and the nature of humanity itself? Join this Creative Links talk with gemstone supplier Stuart Pool and gemmologist Beth West to learn about the incredibly rich landscape of gemmology. Consider, how it can enhance your jewellery practice and inform the materials you incorporate into your work.
Gemmology traverses many areas of science including geology, physics, chemistry, crystallography, mineralogy and engineering. It has been practiced in some form since 300 BC but it wasn’t fully recognised until the 19th century. Today, it is an essential discipline in the context of the jewellery industry and for anyone working with gems. In this talk, you’ll learn about key topics relating to gems and gemmology, from the scientific to the historical aspects of the subject, plus you will hear about some of the practical sides of gem properties and identification.
FAQs:
The Goldsmiths’ Centre’s monthly Creative Links talks and networking events, designed for emerging makers and creative start-ups, provoke thoughts and questions which will enable you to reflect on where you are and how to get to where you want to be. Build your network, create links, learn to grow your business and become part of the community.
Details of our upcoming events and topics covered are listed in our What’s On. Every other month the event will be hosted online, should you not be able to attend an in-person event.
We run our events in person at the Goldsmiths’ Centre and online, so that as many of our community as possible can exchange ideas, learn from industry experts, and form valuable connections across the UK. We do not record these events, or broadcast them, to encourage the open sharing of ideas and experiences and preserve confidentiality. Popular topics will be repeated over time.
Who are the speakers?
Stuart Pool is a specialist in responsibly mined and fully traceable coloured gemstones, mainly sourced directly from mines in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. He runs gem trading companies Nineteen48 (www.nineteen48.com), and Crown Gems. He is also a key member of the Moyo Gemstones project (www.moyogems.com).
Stuart works very closely with local mine owners to provide a mine-to-market service, from extracting the rough gem material and the cutting and polishing of gemstones, right up to the marketing and sale of gems to the end customer. The emphasis throughout the supply chain is on maximum transparency and fair rewards for everyone involved.
Stuart supports charitable projects in both Sri Lanka and the UK and he is also committed to educating the widest possible audience about the issues within the jewellery sector. He is supportive of many initiatives and programmes within the industry which are trying to improve conditions and benefits for those involved in all stages of the supply chains.
Stuart is one of the co-founders of Fair Luxury, which was established in May 2014.
Beth West is a skilled gemmologist, educator and writer with over sixteen years’ experience in the jewellery industry across varying senior roles, covering auction house specialism, museum curation, advanced gemmological testing and grading, but predominantly, teaching. As a Fellow and Diamond Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain and a member of the Federation of European Education in Gemmology, she maintains a wealth of passion for her subject, which, outside of her immediate professional responsibilities as Senior technical educator for De Beers Group, she employs across a number of independent projects, including her work as a volunteer for NGO, Diamonds for Peace, and her involvement with the Fair Luxury group. Her focus is on the importance of gemmological education along the supply chain, particularly within the artisanal mining sector, where knowledge truly can drive positive change.