BBC - British Broadcasting Corporation

08/08/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/08/2022 17:37

All That Glitters

Published: 8 August 2022
Updated: 8 August 2022

All That Glitters is back and on the hunt for the UK's next up-and-coming jewellery star. Hosted by the fabulous Katherine Ryan, the six-part series takes place in a specially built workshop nestled in Birmingham's historic Jewellery Quarter, home to more jewellers than anywhere else in Europe. Here, Ryan will welcome a fresh batch of talented jewellers each hoping to prove they're the next big name in jewellery.

The latest series welcomes new judge Dinny Hall, a jewellery world titan with over 35 years' experience in jewellery making, who has created pieces for celebrity A-listers across the world. Alongside jewellery royalty Shaun Leane who returns as a judge, each episode they will decide who has earned the coveted title of Jeweller Of The Week - and who will be leaving the competition.

From spinner rings to mismatched earrings, engagement rings to hairpins, each episode of All That Glitters sees the jewellers face two real-world challenges: The Bestseller, where they are tasked to design the latest must-have piece that everyone will want, and The Bespoke, where they create a one-off piece for some very special clients from all walks of life.

Gleaming with gemstones and precious metals, All That Glitters gives a fascinating insight in to the craftmanship and hard work that goes into creating stunning bespoke jewellery that will last forever.

The 6x60' series of All That Glitters is produced by Twenty Twenty.

Pictured above: Dinny Hall, Katherine Ryan and Shaun Leane

[email protected] / [email protected]

Katherine Ryan

Katherine RyanThere are some gut-wrenching moments this series where pieces break at the last minute or just that the jewellers just don't finish in time. You spend so much time with them you want everyone to do well and when it goes wrong it's awful. But it does make great TV..."- Katherine Ryan

Welcome back to the workroom! How does it feel to be back for a second series?

It's great to be back in Birmingham! It's incredible to see how much the first series of All That Glitters resonated with jewellers across the UK, and how many were inspired by the show. Showing the beautiful work and talent of this season's jewellers to audiences is going to be a thrill.

We have an amazing cast and one jeweller with a truly incredible story: he started to make jewellery whilst he was living in the Calais jungle, having walked there from Syria, and he's now settled in the UK. We get to see his heritage in his work and it's so beautiful. We also have a Brummy jeweller who could not be more proud of her hometown, weaving a little bit of it in to all her creations. But honestly, they're all so talented.

The first series of All that Glitters was such a success, what do you think made it such a hit?

Jewellery making is so visual and satisfying to watch, but it's the jewellers themselves that make the show unmissable. They're all so warm and different, and they all have uniquely compelling personalities and stories that they bring into their craft.

Hugo, our winner from series one, has gone on to do amazing things and launched the most beautiful collections, I think he has been nominated for an award too. That's pretty amazing. It's a cliché but proves that this show really can change our jeweller's lives.

And we have a new judge, Dinny Hall. How was it working with her and Shaun?

I had been a longtime fan of Dinny's jewellery - she's created some incredible jewellery for all kinds of A-listers all over the world - and to know her in person just makes me love her work more. She's hilarious, sweet and effervescent, but also an absolute expert in her field as a maker with a keen eye for detail and story. So our jewellers won't be in for an easy ride; she and Shaun are absolute forces to be reckoned with. I love Shaun and it's been joyous seeing him get his loupe out again. He likes to do that.

Did you do anything differently this series with the contestants?

I saw some comments online saying I shouldn't joke around so much when the jewellers are trying to complete a serious assignment, so I just did more of that really.

Are there any funny or dramatic moments that jump to mind from this series?

It was amazing to have Shirley Ballas as a celebrity guest client. It was a very tense challenge for the jewellers who were all desperate to have their piece worn on an episode of Strictly Come Dancing. There are some real gut-wrenching moments this series too where pieces break at the last minute or just that the jewellers just don't finish in time. You spend so much time with them you want everyone to do well and when it goes wrong it's awful. But it does make great TV...

Has the series changed how you shop for jewellery? What are your favourite pieces?

I borrow a lot of jewellery and own very little, but All That Glitters has inspired me to investigate more local artists and invest in their work. It's so easy to forget the hours of work that go in to designing and making jewellery, but seeing it being crafted in front of you really brings it home. I love rings and broaches.

Was there a piece from the series you wish you could keep?

The jewellers made very ornate modern earcuffs for a special client and I loved those, but overall the pearl challenges are my favourite. I love every piece that comes from a pearl.

Shaun Leane

Shaun LeaneWe were four minutes away from the end of one of the challenges when one of the jewellers lost a ruby, which was the cherry of their piece. What was lovely was the camaraderie. Everyone stopped. Even the other jewellers, who had minutes until the end of the challenge, everyone starting looking for it."- Shaun Leane

Celebrated worldwide for his modern romantic jewels that push the boundaries of contemporary design, Shaun Leane began his career training at the bench in London's jewellery quarter, Hatton Garden. While working as a goldsmith, Leane began a long-standing collaboration with the late Alexander McQueen, creating provocative catwalk jewels that have become iconic milestones in the art of couture jewellery. Since then, Leane has been responsible for creating a new genre of jewellery through his own collections.

How does it feel to be back in the workroom?

The first series was amazing. I mean, what an experience. In short, it was very inspiring. It reminded me of the wonderful industry that I work in, and of my beginnings when I was exploring my craft, design and handwriting. To be part of that series and to help those jewellers to achieve, explore and evolve was really inspiring for me.

Walking into the workshop for series two I was energised, because not only did I know my role was as a judge, but also as a mentor to share my knowledge and experience. I was really interested to see how they would interpret our challenges, because they were even more diverse than series one.

I was looking for innovation in their craft and design, and looking for storytelling within their pieces that reflect who they are - and my goodness we got some amazing concepts and storytelling through the pieces of jewellery.

Dinny Hall has joined you as judge. How has it been to work with her?

I've known Dinny for many years and to get to know her even more was really interesting because our journeys are so similar. She trained as a goldsmith, as did I. She started working with fashion designers in her early career, as did I. Not a lot of goldsmiths do that, and when you do it opens you up to being a fearless and innovative jewellery designer because you're working with fashion.

Dinny and I had this connection which I think really helped as judges. We show the jewellers it's okay to push boundaries and think out of the box. Working beside each other was really good because she's very supportive and we were productive together. We were both firm in our decision making and what we were looking for. There was this real consideration and compromise, she helped me look at things in a different way, as I did her. We balanced out really well. And we had a laugh - at the end of the day, you've got to have fun! We're there to celebrate jewellery and the craft and design.

There were some incredible jewellers this series - tell us a bit about them.

The jewellers were so diverse and different. They were full of life and excitement and all brought something totally different. It was so lovely, I really feel in this series I saw storytelling and these jewellers were not afraid to put a lot of their character into the jewels, which was inspiring for me and created an array of very interesting jewellery. I feel like their characters really illuminate this series.

Were there any dramatic or funny moments during filming?

Yes! We were four minutes away from the end of one of the challenges where they had to set stones, and one of the jewellers lost a ruby, which was the cherry of their piece. They screamed out, "I've lost the ruby!" - at which point Dinny and Katherine got on their knees to search for it. Then I ran in and thought, it'll be in the skin, (the leather underneath the bench). I saw the ruby and picked it up.

It was this moment of panic, but what was lovely was the camaraderie. Everyone stopped. Even the other jewellers, who had minutes until the end of the challenge and everyone starting looking for it. That shows the tightness of everybody. It was brilliant. No egos, everybody on that set was the same.

Were there any pieces that you wish you could keep?

There were many pieces I wished I could keep! There's a particular one that jumps out, an ear cuff. It had a very powerful, dynamic silhouette and I really, really liked it. The concept was so clever, the shape and the form was so beautifully executed. It would be a piece I would wear to a very special occasion, more a piece to archive or put on display. It was beautiful. It blew me away.

And how about your own work - do you have any interesting stories?

There is a project I have been developing for the last 10 months and I'm very excited about it. I'm creating a four-piece, unique collection using four very, very rare diamonds. I'm using a ten-carat pink diamond, a ten-carat yellow diamond, a five-carat cognac and a very, very rare blue diamond. I've never worked with stones of such rarity or value before. They will be art pieces in their own right and auctioned at one of the world's most prestigious auction houses.

What jewellery trends should we be looking out for in 2022/2023?

For me, the industry has gone through such a wave. For many years, we had demi-fine jewellery, which was very fine and delicate. I found, post Covid, there was this real need for expression, to show one's personality or style - this rebellion. From the demi fine, jewellery is coming back to beautiful, grand, statement pieces, which we'll see more of.

There is a visionary trend. This is something that myself and Alexander McQueen worked on in the early 90s. We explored jewellery in the form of scale, silhouette and size. We questioned fashion and jewellery and crossed the line between the two. Visionaries are beautiful large pieces of jewellery that make a statement. It's not about materials, it's about design and scale. All the big houses are exploring that again, like Schiaparelli and Tiffany.

Dinny Hall

Dinny HallA successful jewellery designer needs to imagine then execute their ideas, hone their craftsmanship abilities as well as design ethos, and lastly, know their market."- Dinny Hall

Dinny Hall is the creative force behind her eponymous line with nearly 40 years' experience of jewellery design and making. Beginning as a goldsmith, she came to prominence when her entire Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design graduation collection was bought by luxury department store Liberty, London. Her work was an instant success with its experimental pieces made from unique natural materials such as leather and wood. She has famously made pieces for A-listers all over the world including Lily Allen, David Bowie, Sienna Miller and Liz Hurley, and has six stores in London as well as a concession in Liberty.

Welcome to the All That Glitters workshop! What made you want to get involved with the series?

After nearly 40 years of designing, making, retailing and online selling of jewellery, I am a veteran of the trade. What has come with that is a desire to mentor others who want to become designers or jewellers, and I can't think of a more rewarding way to do that than on All That Glitters.

How was working with Katherine and Shaun?

Katherine and Shaun are both amazingly talented, intelligent, dynamic and hilarious human beings - what's not to love about working with them both?! I hope you see how well the three of us got on. Both Shaun and Katherine had me in stitches, we had such a laugh doing it. That said, we also took the responsibility very seriously. They are both incredibly professional and they welcomed me into the fold really quickly so I felt comfortable. I've never done anything like this before; I've mentored and done talks but I've never done a TV show and they, and the production team, couldn't have been more welcoming.

Katherine absolutely loves jewellery and loves the way it's made. Shaun and I have met each other in the past and have a similar sense of humour about the business. The technique of the making is really hard and takes years and years and years to master. Then to build a brand and employ staff... it's really hard!

What can you tell us about this series, we have some incredible designers...

The eight amazing jewellers in this series have a very wide-ranging design sensibility. It's a constant and delightful surprise to see what diverse ideas they come up with and I am in awe of their bravery, taking part in the show. A successful jewellery designer needs to imagine then execute their ideas, hone their craftsmanship abilities as well as design ethos, and lastly know their market. It's fascinating to watch the jewellers grow throughout the show and the audience learns how difficult - but ultimately rewarding - being a jewellery designer can be.

How did you find the judging process? Was it difficult to say goodbye to the jewellers?

It's always sad to see anyone of them go. You have to develop a certain toughness when you've run a business as long as I have. If they don't perform, I have to say I'm really sorry that's not good enough. There were one or two eliminations where I was really sad and really didn't want to have to say the words.

Shaun and I didn't always agree, but there was no dominant point of view, it was a shared vision. It was really difficult, but every time I think we made the right decision.

When the jewellers did the private commissions for the bespoke challenge, it was nothing to do with us. It was all down to that person and that was fascinating. But that's what it's all about - it's a bit like being a chef in some ways, you make a wonderful menu but it's not to everyone's taste.

And Shirley Ballas was the client in the Bespoke Challenge in the final...

Shirley Ballas was amazing! And she wore the winning piece of jewellery on Strictly Come Dancing. She was great. She gave a lovely bit of glam to the show.

Was there a piece from the series you wish you could keep?

Some of the jewellery designs had a narrative, some made me laugh and some really touched me, but my favourite piece was both precious, beautifully made and really quite out there. I'll keep that piece a secret though!

When did you first realise jewellery making was your passion?

Aged about seven, when I bought a brooch from our village hall jumble sale for about 10 pence. It turned out to be 1920s Cartier brooch made with gold, ebony, rubies, diamonds and emeralds! A jewellery magpie in the making.

Do you have a treasured piece of jewellery that you inherited/were gifted?

My most treasured piece of jewellery is a brooch I was given many years ago made for me out of found objects, on which is written 'I'm blue for you'. The sentiment still moves me. I never wear it but that's not always what jewellery is about. I had a heart-shaped diamond brooch from my grandmother which I sadly lost, but nowadays nobody dares to give me jewellery!

What's the favourite piece you've ever made for a celebrity and are you allowed to tell us who it is?

I really have made a lot of jewellery for famous people over the years - mostly rings - a diamond love heart ring for Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics; an old cut-diamond trilogy ring for Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd for his wife Polly, and I have created for Lily Allen, Liz Hurley and Sienna Miller - but mostly I keep my mouth shut as I think jewellery is personal.

What do you see as being the big trends in the jewellery world for 22/23?

We seem to be tapping away on our phones all day, every day. Most definitely I think the big trend for men and women is rings, so that we may look at our adorned fingers as we tap - statement gemstone rings, stacking rings in either silver or gold, stacking rings gem set and pearl, chunky silver rings, and all gender fluid.

Meet the Jewellers

Bonnie

Bonnie

Forty year-old Bonnie is a jeweller and metal technician from Birmingham. She first started loving jewellery when she was a child and made a pair of earrings with her father for her mother. Her husband, whom she met at university, is also a jeweller. Much of Bonnie's inspiration comes from Birmingham and its buildings, which she incorporates in to her pieces. She one day hopes to own a workshop of her own.

What first interested you in making jewellery?

I have always been creative, I studied Fine Art at Uni and would make jewellery as presents for people, and that just took over everything after I graduated. I realised that it was a great way to connect with people, and it was a fantastic medium for self-expression. I'm not conventionally trained and I've not done an apprenticeship, I've tried to shadow people, make friends and look over people's shoulders. Eventually I did go on to do a Masters in jewellery and I met my husband there about 12 years ago, so now I'm married into jewellery.

Are there any stand-out moments that you enjoyed from your time on the show?

I think 'enjoyed' is a weird word because the actual experience was terrifying. You're just going for it and just jumping! I met lots of like-minded people that were creators and designers that were bold and brave. What was most enjoyable was finding those kindred spirits and feeling like it's OK to be you, and it's OK to fail as long as you don't focus on those failures. Getting lovely comments was the icing on the cake. It's total validation that I haven't been spending big chunks of my life doing this for no reason!

Is there anything from the show that you took away or learned that you're still doing today?

If things go wrong, try not to panic. You can't always control what goes wrong, it's your reaction to how it's going wrong and how you can recover. It's more important to try and have fun and be playful. I think in the eyes of my family and myself, the show encouraged me to take myself a bit more seriously. It's also given my husband a boost as well because he's a jeweller and we're hoping to open a new shop in the jewellery quarter. It's given us new ways of communicating and coming together as two different designers, and enabled us to make the leap towards opening a shop.

David

David

Sixty year-old David is a jeweller and stained-glass window maker from Chichester in West Sussex, where he lives with his husband. His daring sense of style comes from his personality and unique perspective as a colourblind person. For David, making jewellery is a form of personal expression and his pieces have been described as bold and in your face. David is often known to sing out loud at his bench and also founded a singing group he regularly sings in.

What first interested you in making jewellery?

In 2017 I went on a medicine walk - where you go out walking whilst contemplating a question - and the idea is the answer that comes to you on the walk. My question was, what should my work be? And the answer that came back was monolithic. I started working on big copper vessels but became disconnected with the work, so I took the scrap pieces of metal using the same technique and did it in miniature. Suddenly I discovered I was making jewellery. It was only when I started creating my first collection in silver rather than copper that it suddenly became clear what monolithic was: it wasn't the size, it was the shape.

Do you feel like you took anything away from the show or learnt anything that you carry with you now?

I learnt that I could do lots of different things in jewellery making that I had never done before, the vast majority are things that I would never have thought of making. The most interesting part is that we were given a restricted amount of materials and we had to work with boundaries, like a limited amount of time. I think it's always interesting to have boundaries to work in because invariably the piece that you make is better. That was a very different way of working, which was really interesting in itself.

Emma

Emma

Jewellery school owner and teacher Emma is 45 and from Leeds. A 'mumprenuer' with three children and three stepchildren, she has a busy lifestyle. Her inspirations come from stories she has heard, or the metal itself. She is fascinated by the way it moves and makes her feel. Emma has aspirations of building up the jewellery marketplace platform she has created where she and other makers can sell their pieces.

What first interested you in making jewellery? What was the catalyst that started your journey?

My nan was a real glamour puss. She had this amazing jewellery box full of 60s crystals and everything sparkly and beautiful. I used to love to have a rummage through there. My mother is also of that ilk, she used to make necklaces with us and trawl all the gothic shops. I ended up at art college in school. When I went to the jewellery department, I felt like I had come home.

Is there anything from the show that you took away or learned that you're still doing today?

It has made me try things I hadn't tried before and I learned a lot about myself. It was amazing because for the last ten years I've had three kids. I've juggled family life, kids, running the business, teaching and hadn't realised that I had lost my creativity a bit. It gave me my creativity back. It was a six-month experience and to have that time dedicated to just coming up with new designs, thinking about what I wanted to make, the whole pressure of lots of people are going to see this, it made me give it a lot of thought. My designs are so much more me and so much more interesting, and I'm so proud of what I've done since. It's been a gift really, an eye opener and a kick up the arse!

Jack

Jack

Jack is a 35 years old jeweller from Bristol. His dad is a goldsmith and Jack started to make his own jewellery from the age of nine. He has spent the last seven years travelling the world and is a big fan of the outdoors and extreme sports like surfing and snowboarding which all provide inspiration for his work. He feels his dyslexia helps his craft and likes natural looking jewellery and to show off as much of the stone as possible.

What first interested you in making jewellery? What was the catalyst that started your journey?

I didn't do very well in school, so when I was 17 years old I did an apprenticeship to be a goldsmith. My dad also did it, which is another reason why I might have got into it.

Is there anything from the show that you took away or learned that you're still doing today?

On the show I learned how to look at designer stuff. I was trained as a goldsmith and got stuck in my ways. It's hard to think outside the box when you're trained like that, but on the show you tackle it in a whole new way. During the challenges, we were given briefs and there's a lot of pressure to do well; it's about doing something extraordinary, you don't want to do something simple or what you might usually do. Doing that was never going to come easy, it was a big thought process, and you can't do things in a way in the way I was doing it before.

Nyanda

Nyanda

Goldsmith Nyanda from East London is 49 years old and began her creative journey through sculpting and painting. She has spent the past 20 years putting hard work into her craft and is inspired by the organic forms within nature; she sees the body as the plinth and jewellery as art. She hopes to connect with more jewellers through this experience and beyond anything wants to make her mum, who passed away two years ago, proud.

What first interested you in making jewellery? What was the catalyst that started your journey?

I've always been creative and interested in drawing and photography. I was always interested in jewellery, but I didn't think humans made it. I know that sounds really stupid, but you just buy jewellery! I met a lady when I was young and she was the first person I saw making drill bits and that's how I discovered it. I think it's something you can do from home, I don't need a studio.

Are there any stand-out moments that you enjoyed from the show from your time on the show?

It was exhilarating, it was stressful. I enjoyed meeting the other guys, because making jewellery on my own can be quite insular. Most of the time I'm making jewellery from home, but I enjoyed being surrounded by people.

Is there anything from the show that you took away or learned that you're still doing today?

I'm more resilient than I acknowledge, and it taught me to believe in what I do. I'm not bothered by opinions as long I'm being authentic to myself; you can't take them on board because they could just throw you off your own course. You have to persevere with what you're doing, because some people might lose heart if someone says your work is rubbish. You have to think, how can I improve?

Piers

Piers

Twenty five year-old Piers is a jeweller who works in an antique jewellery store and lives with his wife in Kent. He can often be seen wearing Victorian style coin rings and chains that have a story. Piers holds himself to high standards and admits that he would rather melt a piece and present nothing, than show something that he is not 100 percent happy with.

What was it that first interested you in making jewellery?

We were going through family photographs the other day and I was a baby - maybe three or four - and I always had some sort of chain or necklace on. It started before I actually knew it! I had a piece of jewellery made when I was 12 or 13 in my local jewellers, and I suppose that sparked my interest. My mum knew the guy who owned that shop and I worked there for five or six years before the jeweller took me on and taught me.

Did you have any stand-out moments from the show that you particularly enjoyed?

I enjoyed it all really. It was quite stressful but I liked being pushed out of my comfort zone. At the time, the weirder challenges were really daunting but it was quite satisfying and freeing to make something completely different.

Steve

Steve

Jeweller Steve, 29, lives in London with family and his three cats, who he's obsessed with. Though he goes by Steve, his birth name is Mustafa and he is a Syrian native - he lived in Syria until he was 20. When he was displaced during the war he made his way to the Calais Jungle on foot. It was there he made his first piece of jewellery, from a nail in the camp, which he still wears every day. He became the unofficial camp jeweller, making jewellery for all his friends. When he became a resident of the UK, he was introduced to Hatton Garden and now runs a small jewellery business where he sells designs informed by his birth culture and his journey.

Steve still has materials he found in the camp, such as wire, and when he makes gifts for someone special he will include this in the jewellery, to make them feel part of his journey.

What first interested you in making jewellery? What was the catalyst that started your journey?

I was in Damascus, Syria when the war broke out and I had to flee at the age of 20. I walked across Europe on foot up to France. It was in the Calais Jungle refugee camp that I discovered jewellery making. When I was there, I made myself a few pieces of jewellery from random materials like nails and wires and whatever waste items I could find there. I was also working with the volunteers at the time, helping out in the in the camp, and one of them noticed what I was wearing and it turned out that she was a silversmith. I was interested in silversmithing and so she introduced me to it, and that was my introduction really to jewellery making.

Is there anything from the show that you took away or learned that you're still doing today?

I enjoyed making a connection with all of the other jewellers. There were nice moments, fun moments with Katherine on the show.

Is there anything from the show that you took away or learned that you're still doing today?

I learnt that in order for me to make jewellery I need to be by myself in a quiet place!

Tianne

Tianne

Originally from East London, Tianne is a 25 year-old stone setter who lives in Berkshire. Her dad, a diamond mounter, was a major influence for her, and at the age of 18 she decided she wanted to follow in his footsteps and be a jeweller. Tianne loves to make mechanical pieces that move and says her pieces are regularly described as flamboyant. When she's not at her jewellers bench, she can be found out on the open road on her motorbike.

What first interested you in making jewellery? What was the catalyst that started your journey?

My dad was a goldsmith. I remember going into the workshop with him as a young child and then going in when I got older, that was what started my journey.

Is there anything from the show that you took away or learned that you're still doing today?

I learnt so much about myself. It taught me to be more patient and have more confidence in myself. When the challenges were happening, I thought, I don't know what I'm doing here - but it meant I needed to be more patient. That gave me the chance to have space and time to learn new skills. I had to actually slow the process down and take a moment to think about what I'm doing not just knocking it out. Sometimes the planning of the piece actually takes longer than the making of it. I always tried to just get the plan in place and get it right the first time, as you wouldn't have time to fix it!

Search by tag: