The IJL Gold Award for Precious Jewellery at this year’s Goldsmiths’ Crafts and Design Council Awards was awarded to Sonia Cheadle London for her beautifully worked ‘Four Seasons Brooches’ at Goldsmith’s Hall, London, on Monday, February 26.

Known in the industry as the ‘Jewellery Oscars’, the Award was presented by IJL Event Manager, Sarah Kitley-Spencer.

The Four Season Brooches are a series of four that celebrate the changing of the seasons – Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Each was inspired by Sonia’s lifelong fascination with trees, how they grow, ‘dress’, move and ‘undress’ with the passing of time, under the influence of the elements and in a perfect year long cycle.

See all the GCDC Award winners here. 

Each brooch was engineered on a miniature scale to mimic the actions of nature, and worked in 9ct with Castelle set diamonds, white rose cuts diamonds and 18ct ‘leaf charms’.

IJL Event Manager Sarah Kitley-Spencer, who is also a GCDC representative and chairperson of the judging panel for the IJL Award, comments: “Sonia’s design and technical skills really are so impressive and are indicative of the amazing talent shown by British designers today.

“We look forward to showcasing The Four Seasons, her winning collection, at IJL 2018 this September and congratulate her on winning this fantastic accolade.”

Sonia Cheadle added: “I’m absolutely delighted, a touch overwhelmed but ridiculously proud. Recognition at this level is an amazing accolade and makes all the years of the hard work, problem solving and technical challenges worth the while.”

Consultant and jewellery industry icon, Brian Hill, noted: “Sonia Cheadle’s designs took IJL’s top prize because her complimentary set of ‘Four Seasons Brooches’ showed excellent visual and contemporary qualities, they were refreshingly different, refined, generic, sophisticated and elegant, as well as retaining a delicate precious ethos throughout.

“The judging panel were impressed with Sonia’ designs and also felt that they had potential to be successful as lightweight earrings of distinction.”

The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council actively encourages crafts persons, designers, apprentices and students to enter their work in these highly respected annual awards.

All the winning pieces will be showcased for the four day GCDC Awards Public at the Goldsmith’s Hall from February 27 to March 2 2018.

IJL is #withyou supporting leading industry awards and events that encourage creativity and craftsmanship. To find out more about our initiatives, including Bright Young Gems and KickStart, click here.

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