Weston Beamor student design competition winner announced

Lucy Whitehouse has been announced as the Weston Beamor student design competition winner, edging the award over three other short-listed candidates. 

The winner of the competition, an annual event for second year students taking Birmingham City University’s (BCU) Higher National Diploma in Jewellery and Silversmithing, was announced at Weston Beamor’s stand yesterday (Tuesday February 3) afternoon at the Jewellery and Watch Show.

The competition brief was to design a solitaire engagement ring with a matching wedding band in platinum or 18ct gold, to include a 1ct diamond, and embellished, if desired, with smaller precious stones.

Announcing Lucy Whitehouse as the overall winner, Andrew Morton, Weston Beamor’s managing director, praised all those students who had participated and said that the high standard of entries had made it very hard for the judges to make their choice.

Morton said: “The winners impressed us with their drawing, their CAD [computer-aided design] skills and their ability to deliver to the brief they were set in just six weeks.”

Lucy’s winning design, which was influenced by Art Nouveau and its extremely feminine style, uses a round brilliant diamond to create an unusual vintage-style engagement ring with feature claws and a shaped band incorporating five small stones.

Speaking at the NEC after her win was announced, Whitehouse, who is 21-years-old and comes from Worcestershire, said it was “amazing to win first prize” and that she was very much looking forward to the week of work experience with Weston Beamor which is a part of her prize.

In addition to the work experience at Weston Beamor, Lucy Whitehouse will also receive a £500 cash prize with £250 for the student placed second and £100 each for those placed third.