On Wednesday night we hosted renowned London Jeweller, Lewis Malka, at our Camden campus for an exhibition and awards night showcasing our collaborative Engagement Ring Project.

The project, set for our HNC Art & Design 3D Design (Jewellery Design and Manufacturing) course, encouraged the students to fine-tune their manufacturing skills while pushing the boundaries of traditional jewellery design. Through working with industry professional Lewis Malka, renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and contemporary designs of engagement rings, the students were provided with practical experience, preparing them to enter the industry.

The project brief was designed to foster creativity and innovation, challenging students to create a unique engagement ring that celebrates a chosen culture. During the design process, students dove into the stories behind cultural betrothal customs and the rich history of engagement rings. Each engagement ring features a faceted stone, presented on a stand designed by the students themselves, effectively communicating the cultural inspiration behind their creations.

The exhibition took place in our Camden campus, showcasing the students’ bespoke engagement rings along with their accompanying display stands that further enhanced their meaning. The door was open for attendees to view their workshop space, and a TV visual highlighted the student’s design concepts. Students had the chance to meet Lewis and present their pieces, discuss inspiration and talk about their journey as aspiring future professionals.

Lewis chose two winners – one from each cohort that participated. After much consideration, Agnieszka Mlynarczyk was selected from cohort G1 and Rose Nwe from cohort G2. Lewis commended the two students for their technical excellence and inspiring designs; these two lucky winners received a copy of his book: The Engagement Ring and a mentoring tour in the London Diamond Bourse.

Agnieszka commented on her win, saying: “My 9ct gold, orange blossom flower ring with an orange sapphire has been awarded by diamond engagement rings expert Lewis Malka at the Academy’s exhibition this week. This is my first event and first award. It means a lot to me. I owe my success to my very knowledgeable teacher Bekkie Cheeseman, who always knows the way out when I struggle, and my classmates for your feedback, sharing ideas and tools and helping me with Rhino (CAD software)”.

Rose Nwe shared the design process for her Ruby and Diamond engagement ring, explaining “I created this ring by imagining a woman with a strong and kind personality who enjoys simplicity. She deserves the best and she offers the best to life – always bringing love, happiness and encouragement to the relationship. I decided on this as the final design because it is an elegant and unique, yet simple look, which can also tell the story of the Burmese culture that I was inspired by”. 

“The exhibition and awards night was a fantastic way to celebrate our collaboration with Lewis Malka, it was wonderful to see their bespoke jewellery and unique stands on display”, said Eleni Zolia, Course Leader for HNC Art & Design 3D Design (Jewellery Design and Manufacturing). “The students worked hard on their designs and really enjoyed the challenge of designing to the brief. This engagement ring project was an excellent way to fine-tune their design and manufacturing skills and I look forward to seeing what they create next!”

This new project in BAJ and Lewis Malka’s ongoing professional collaboration is a further testament to their shared commitment to nurturing aspiring jewellers.
BAJ is dedicated to providing hands-on industry-applicable training to the next generation of Jewellers. Find out more about the HNC Art & Design 3D Design (Jewellery Design and Manufacturing) course here.