The Ethics of Beauty: Rethinking Value in a Post-Luxury Era

What does ‘precious’ mean today, and how does this impact independent jewellery designers?

Luxury is changing. Customers are asking different questions: Where did this gold come from? Was this stone ethically sourced? Who made this piece, and what does it mean?

For independent jewellery designers and makers, this shift is both a challenge and an opportunity. With consumers moving away from traditional ideas of wealth and status, how do we define value in today’s jewellery world? Is it still about rare materials, or is it about craftsmanship, sustainability, and personal meaning?

Join us at FORGE during London Craft Week and be part of this essential discussion.

Limited places. Booking essential!

What will we explore?

Beyond Gold & Diamonds: Can independent jewellers thrive without relying on traditional ‘luxury’ materials?


Sustainability & Ethics: How do small makers compete when customers demand traceability and responsible sourcing?


Lab-Grown vs. Natural: Are lab-grown stones the future, or does emotional value still lie in the rare and the unique?


Resale & Remodelling: Will customers own less and repurpose more? How can jewellers build businesses around this?


The New Luxury: Craftsmanship & Storytelling: Handmade, one-of-a-kind, personal—are independent jewellers the new luxury brands?

Who is on the panel?

Chair: Dr. Nadya Ostroff

Dr. Nadya Ostroff is Subject Leader for the MA Luxury Business Management at the University for the Creative Arts, where she guides future leaders in understanding the business of excellence across luxury sectors. A respected voice in vintage and antique textiles, jewellery, and accessories, Nadya has sourced pieces for major archives including the Gucci Museo in Florence, and her work has featured in film and television, including Downton Abbey and The Village.

Known as ‘Dr.NO’, she founded the Navigating Luxury Conference to spotlight the often-overlooked makers behind the luxury industry. She contributes to The Protagonist Magazine and moderates discussions for one of the world’s largest online luxury fashion communities. Her upcoming academic writing includes contributions to Critical Posthuman Art and the Arts & Communication Journal.

Qualifications: BA (Hons), MA, PhD, SFHEA, GIA AJP, De Beers Certificate of Achievement.

Panel Members:

Kathryn Bishop

Kathryn is researcher, writer, and editor specialising in consumer insights, trends, and foresight. Her work centres on luxury, retail, and consumer behaviours, with a close eye on shifting markers of luxury and status. Kathryn has a decade’s experience working with leading foresight organisations including The Future Laboratory, Adorn Insight, SPACE10, FranklinTill, and WGSN.

Kathryn's work lands at the intersection of futures research and content, producing in-depth futures reports and thought leadership for global brands and organisations. Kathryn has presented trends and keynotes at events including Cannes Lions, The Walpole Luxury Summit, Business of Fashion, and The Future Laboratory's Futures Forums. Her work has been featured in global media including Vogue Business, The Guardian, The BBC, Stylist, and Raconteur.

Laura Chavez

Laura is the founder of Lark & Berry, a fine jewellery brand known for pioneering the use of cultured diamonds in luxury design. Launched in 2018, Lark & Berry has gained global recognition for challenging traditional norms in the jewellery world by embracing innovation, sustainability, and transparency.

Originally from Mexico, Laura studied in the US before completing an MBA at London Business School, where the idea for Lark & Berry was born. Motivated by a desire to offer beautiful, responsibly made jewellery without the ethical compromises of mined diamonds, she built a brand that fuses contemporary design with environmental integrity.

Lark & Berry was one of the first UK jewellers to exclusively use lab-grown diamonds and has since attracted a diverse and growing clientele who value craftsmanship with a conscience. Laura continues to lead the conversation around sustainable luxury, advocating for change in the fine jewellery industry.

Meritxell Lavanchy

Meritxell  is co-founder of Bloomsbury Manor, the UK’s leading reseller of pre-owned Tiffany & Co. engagement rings. Founded in 2011 with her husband Andrew Wilkinson, the business began with a shared aim: to offer authentic, beautifully crafted jewellery with a sustainable, ethical focus.  

Meritxell’s passion for jewellery was shaped by early visits to markets and auctions with her mother, where she developed an eye for quality and a love for craftsmanship. She studied Psychology at UCL and earned a Diamond Diploma with double distinction from Gem-A.  

Bloomsbury Manor specialises in vintage and pre-owned jewellery from Tiffany, Cartier, and Bulgari, with each piece carefully selected by Meritxell for its beauty and character. A pioneer of the circular economy in fine jewellery, she champions giving jewels a new lease of life through their unique Proposal-Ready™ process.  

Her approach is guided by instinct and experience, valuing the connection between nature, skill, and design.

Kayo Saito

Kayo is a Japanese-born jewellery designer celebrated for her sculptural, nature-inspired pieces that blend Japanese and European aesthetics. After studying metalwork in Japan, she earned an MA from the Royal College of Art in 2001.  

Kayo’s jewellery captures the subtle movements and textures of the natural world, translating seasonal changes into delicate, wearable forms. Alongside her work in gold and silver, she is now exploring wood and non-precious stones, reflecting her growing focus on material choice and ethical sourcing. A recent trip to Arizona to source rough stones directly from miners and ethical suppliers has deepened her commitment to responsible making and storytelling through materials.  

Her pieces are held in collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Goldsmiths’ Company, and she has exhibited internationally at PAD London and Collect. Kayo’s work continues to question and celebrate the relationship between nature, craftsmanship, and conscious design.

Who are the special audience guests?

To be announced soon!

Why should you attend?

As an independent jewellery designer or maker, this is your chance to:


— Gain practical insights on how to position your work in a changing industry.


— Understand what modern customers want and how to communicate the value of your craft.


— Discover new ways to source materials, price your work, and compete against mass production.


— Learn how to future-proof your business by embracing sustainability, personalisation, and ethical making.

The future of jewellery is being redefined, make sure you’re part of the conversation.

What will happen on the evening?

6.00pm: Welcome drinks

6.20pm: Panel discussion followed by open floor comments and questions. 

7.30pm: Drinks and mingle

8.30pm: Close

Who is it for?

Everyone interested in the benefits of creativity, education, learning, creative spaces, open access spaces, creative hubs and the future of craft learning, making and business. 

What should I bring?

- Note book and pen

- Glasses (if you need them!)

How do I get there? 

FORGE 59 Leather Lane, London.  EC1N 7TJ

See contact page for details on public transport and parking.