Meet the Britain's Next Gem's Contestants!

It's that time of year again!

The live rounds of this year's Britain's Next Gem are here.

On Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th November, you will meet the 4 contestants who have wowed the JM team enough to make it through to the live TV rounds. You can tune in for an extra hour of JM with the BNG contestant from 1:30pm on Monday with Mark Smith and Tuesday with Debbie Kershaw.

Here's a little bit about each contestant, so you get to know them more too!

Monday's contestants:

Justine Jones

Hello, I’m Justine.

I studied jewellery at the School of Jewellery & Silversmithing in Birmingham jewellery quarter and later at university from 1987-1991…due to going down many different paths in my life I haven’t made a piece of jewellery for over 25 years…so at the beginning of the year of 2024 I enrolled myself onto a jewellery workshop course just to see if it all came back to me…and so here’s what I’ve made( photo attached)…I made a white & yellow gold ring with a diamond set in the middle. I like what I think is still called, fine jewellery. Although I have made some rather obscure pieces when I was at university. Designs just pop into my head, like this ring that I made. I didn’t put a pencil to paper and that is probably a downfall but I like to visualise things in my head then play with materials in my hands and just see how it turns out.

Christine Smith

Hello, my name is Christine Smith. My specialism is wire wrapped jewellery. I fell in love with jewellery making after my young daughter wanted me to make her some ‘princess’ jewellery made from our beach finds in March 2023. My inspiration comes from Dorsets beautiful Jurassic Coast, the areas rich maritime history and the history of jewellery making from Dorchester’s rich Roman and Celtic heritage. My jewellery is made using authentic sea glass which my daughter and I collect from along the Dorset coast, usually from the Charmouth and Lyme Regis areas.

Watch Monday's show below:

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Tuesday's contestants:

Bev Milner

Hello, I'm Bev. My jewellery marking specialties are

• Seed Beading
• Wire working
• Beading pearl knotting
• Resin
• Soutache
• Chainmail
• Fascinators from sinnerma
• Stamping on metal sliver soldering

I found myself stuck in doors, when Steve Bennett came into my life on a gemstone adventure, i found myself falling in love with gemstones. My journey began with jewellerymaker from 2012, I have learnt not just to buy but to desgin amazing works of art, i've also discovered where gemstone come from and the history behind them, no other company I know will do this. When you decided to launch Britain's Next Gem my brain went into over load, I told myself this is it.

Diane Fennell

My name is Diane Fennell, I live in Leeds, I am an artist and have worked in graphics and fine art painting realistic murals and portraits. Since moving back to my home town from London I work as an upholsterer and make jewellery whenever I can . I have followed JM since the very beginning and taken inspiration and knowledge from your talented designers and presenters. I have been to workshops at your old and new venues and participated online, I was even on the Sunday sofa in the early days.

I have tried many techniques including beading, polymer clay and Silver clay and sold jewellery by commission and at fetes and fairs, from pocket money items to high end. I am now endeavouring to specialise in wedding and event designs, mainly using pearls and gemstones with silver, bracelets, tiaras, earrings, rings etc. I feel I need to find a niche rather a bit of everything, though my jewellery making has not been my main source of income, I would love it to be.

I still make seasonal items, Christmas, Valentines, Halloween etc, and most of all love creating personalised items with birthstones and gems with meaning , sentiment and support. I find the history and meaning of Gems so interesting and want to study them more.

Watch Tuesday's show here:

Watch Show