The Jeweller Summer '22: JET Stars

06 Jul 2022

We’re delighted to celebrate the latest recipients of the Clarity & Success Awards, presented each month for outstanding coursework.

Anna Marie Cieplak MR Emmanuel (January)

“Having previously worked in multiple jobs I didn’t find satisfying, I moved to a career which would inspire me. Three years ago, I joined a wonderful local jewellery business – MR Emmanuel Jewellers.

 “Thankfully our store policy is to train all employees in every aspect of the business, from working with repairs to choosing gemstones for a bespoke piece through to the customer-facing roles. When I started, my knowledge and experience was limited, and I wanted to know more about the nature of what I was doing day to day. The JET course really appealed as the content clearly covered so many areas to help me in my present and future roles. I read about this course in The Jeweller magazine after a recommendation from the director and founder of the business.

“Learning about the role of the designers was by far the most interesting part of the course since I discovered many incredible designs from the past which are rarely seen today. The most challenging part of the course was understanding the science behind the gemstones – I really needed to understand their technical aspects as well as appreciate their beauty.

“I spent many hours researching the history of diamonds, their formation, etc. Those efforts really paid dividends, since my appreciation of these wonderful gemstones has increased even further. Rene Lalique was my project choice – he injected art and mystery into every piece of jewellery.

“The JET course has helped me immensely, increasing my confidence in discussing jewellery with customers and giving me a more professional air. I have already started the next JET course as I would like to learn more about this subject; it’s more interesting the more I study.”

Megan Rolfe Allum and Sidaway (February)

“I joined Allum and Sidaway in 2018 as a sales consultant in the Andover Pandora store when I finished fine art at university. After working at Pandora for a year or so, after the 2021 January lockdown, I moved to the fine jewellery department of the Salisbury store.

“Following time in the brands department, I became a full-time sales consultant in fine jewellery … but still very happily make sales in the brands room. The company encourages staff to complete the JET training course as it gives a better knowledge of the jewellery world, which is very useful for sales. I enrolled during the lockdown.

“I enjoyed most the gemstones questions, in particular, the assignment on both rubies and sapphires, but I also was very interested to learn about the diamond values in the final project. The part I found the most challenging was the hallmarking section. For me, the research needed for the course was particularly enjoyable. I’m a visual learner so being able to see what I am discussing really helped me to write.

“I believe the JET 1 course made me much more confident when selling at work as well as identifying hallmarks and gems of customer items. I would definitely like to complete the JET 2 course and progress in my career at Allum and Sidaway.”

Tamarin Marriot-Wilkinson Hettich Jewellers (March)

 

“I was considering a move to Australia when I received a job offer at Hettich. My grandfather was a jeweller, my father a watch fanatic and I spent my childhood trawling through my grandmother’s jewellery box. This industry is close to my heart, so I jumped at the chance to join Hettich. I’ve been here over a year and am enjoying every minute!

“I work in marketing and events and manage the PR and social accounts. So I work closely with several incredible jewellery and watch brands, plan events from start to finish and showcase our fine offerings through marketing and social media. I spend every morning and evening in the store, setting up and removing the window displays and, on occasion, assisting customers. This allows me to spend time with other team members and learn more about the products.

“The most challenging module delved into hallmarking, a subject I’d never touched on before, so I had to do the most research for. I now feel confident and enjoyed going through my family’s vintage pieces, discovering where they came from, their date of manufacture and so on. One of the most perfect rings I’ve seen was my grandma’s engagement ring from 1945. My grandfather not only designed it but he also flew to Africa to source the beautiful blue sapphire. It’s my dream to eventually design my own jewellery – one reason jewellery manufacturing interests me so much, particularly ethical manufacturing processes.

“I did my project on Elsa Peretti, who I admire for her empowering personality, her unique and timeless designs and the concept behind her creations – she was the first jewellery designer to encourage women to buy their own statement pieces.

“JET was extremely enjoyable and informative and has been a huge help in my role. Every module offered different insights into the jewellery industry. Learning more about the gemstone families and which gemstones are suited to which pieces of jewellery was of huge interest, as were manufacturing methods. Now, at events, through PR and social channels, and if I’m on the shop floor, I can speak confidently about our products, the stones, where they come from, the symbolic meanings behind them and more. Whether helping a customer or conjuring up an engaging social campaign, the JET course has proven highly beneficial.”

Amarise Miller Chisholm Hunter (April)

“My jewellery career began when I started with Chisholm Hunter almost four years ago. I’d just graduated from university and had a keen interest in buying, so when a position opened up in the buying team, I applied. Since starting as an admin assistant, I’ve worked my way up through the department. Currently I’m managing a select number of our own CH jewellery ranges – plain gold, pearl, cubic zirconia and silver. We review and buy in new styles to purchase in-store and online. Completing JET has definitely given me a wider knowledge of the raw materials we buy.

“Investing in the people, Chisholm Hunter offers the course to all staff to increase their knowledge of products bought and sold. The course pushed me to actively learn within my role and apply some of my newfound knowledge to certain projects.

“I really enjoyed learning about the history of diamonds, how they’re sourced and their extraction processes. It’s been so beneficial to have covered these areas in such depth as I’ll be able to apply the knowledge throughout my career. The areas I found more challenging were casting and hand-fabrication as it can be difficult to fully comprehend without actually seeing the process.

“The final project was the most enjoyable part of the course. I researched awardwinning designer Marion Kane, who works close to my roots in the craft town of West Kilbride, Ayrshire. An excellent silversmith, she specialises in bespoke silver art works, utensils and jewellery. She uses a mix of metals and incorporates texture into her designs using manipulation processes to entice the consumer into interacting with the item prior to purchase. This concept, as well as her unique designs, sparked my interest in her. I visited her workshop to meet her, so I could fully understand and experience her processes when crafting a bespoke piece.

Source: The Jeweller