Creative Links: The Science Behind the Sparkle

What can gemstones tell us about the universe, our planet and the nature of humanity itself? 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.

Hours: 6 pm - 8 pm.
Price: Pay what you can: £5 or £10
Location: Online (via Zoom), UK time.
Booking link: https://www.goldsmiths-centre.org/whats-on/creative-links-the-science-behind-the-sparkle/


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, and Crown Gems. He is also a key member of the Moyo Gemstones project.
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.