BAJ Collaborates with Graff in Exclusive Project for Jewellery Design Students

The British Academy of Jewellery (BAJ) is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration with the esteemed fine jewellery house, Graff, offering a unique opportunity for the first-year students of BAJ's BA (Hons) Jewellery Design & Production degree.

Founded in 1999, the British Academy of Jewellery has established itself as a premier institution dedicated to nurturing talent and providing world-class education in jewellery design and craftsmanship. BAJ's commitment to excellence in education is evident in its innovative programmes that blend traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology, preparing students for successful careers in the dynamic world of jewellery.

Graff is synonymous with unrivalled craftsmanship and breathtakingly exquisite diamonds. Established in 1960 by Laurence Graff OBE, the company has become a global icon, renowned for creating extraordinary jewellery pieces featuring the rarest gemstones. To this day the company remains a family business. Graff's commitment to perfection and innovation aligns seamlessly with BAJ's mission to inspire and empower the next generation of jewellery designers.

As part of this collaboration, Graff has provided each student enrolled in BAJ's BA (Hons) Jewellery Design & Production degree with a 3D-printed version of an iconic Graff pear-shaped white diamond. This remarkable 18.38-carat D Flawless diamond, cut as a satellite stone from the incomparable 1,109-carat Lesedi La Rona carat rough form, will serve as the centrepiece for the students' creative exploration. The Graff Lesedi La Rona is the largest highest colour, highest clarity diamond ever certified by the GIA (Gemmological Institute of America) and the world’s largest square emerald cut diamond.?

The task assigned to the students is to design a Graff-inspired wearable piece of jewellery that showcases the diamond's inherent beauty and brilliance. This project not only challenges the students to push the boundaries of their creativity but also provides them with a unique opportunity to work with a world-renowned diamond from Graff.

Each student will hand draw and render their design, then create it digitally utilising computer-aided design (CAD) software. Once they have finalised their jewellery design, they will submit their creation to Graff, who will 3D print the pieces. Meanwhile, using the state-of-the-art facilities at BAJ, the students will begin to create the collet the 18.38-carat pear diamond will sit in.

Hollie Paxton, Year One BA (Hons) Jewellery Design & Production Lead, said “This project is an opportunity for our students to gain a valuable insight into the high-end jewellery industry. In the workshop, lecturer and master stone setter, Nicholas Yiannarakis will teach the students how to create stone settings. Creating a piece that seamlessly fits into Graff's collection will be a design and technical challenge, but I'm looking forward to seeing how the students respond and how their skills progress. We have given them quite a challenge in the first year of their course!”

The designs submitted by the students will be evaluated by Mr Raymond Graff and Sam Sherry from Graff. The winning student will be awarded a prestigious 2-week internship with Graff, providing an invaluable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in one of the world's most distinguished fine jewellery houses.

Graham Willis, Head of Higher Education at BAJ, said “We are incredibly grateful to Graff, one of the primary goals for students choosing higher education is to boost their future career prospects. By working closely with industry partners such as Graff, BAJ students have an excellent opportunity to observe evolving trends in industry and to gain a better understanding of what employers look for in graduates, and the skills required to be successful in the workplace.”

This collaboration signifies a powerful fusion of education and industry, creating a platform for students to showcase their talents on a global stage. BAJ and Graff are excited to witness the innovative designs that emerge from this project and to support the growth and development of the next generation of jewellery designers.

For more information about the British Academy of Jewellery, please visit baj.ac.uk.

For more information about Graff, please visit graff.com.