Kingston, Jamaica – “We think there’s a very strong and interesting value chain here. From persons collecting rocks on the seashore or by the riverbed, to converting those into high-quality, value-added products,” says Colin Porter, Technical Services Manager at the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) on the heels of field trip to St. Mary where jewellery-making trainers went in search of stones. The end goal – fine jewellery and a profitable business in craft.
Continuing on its push for innovation in Jamaica’s craft offerings, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) is encouraging Micro, small & Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to move away from reselling mass-produced Jamaica-branded souvenirs and tap into the unique value proposition of supplying high value Jamaican-made jewellery created from locally sourced gem stones.
Jamaica has a rich deposit of natural resources including semi-precious stones like Jasper, agate, quartz, calcite, malachite, and azurite found in and along the island’s rivers. There is a quiet magic in these gems as they hold centuries of geological history. Scattered across Jamaica’s rivers admired for their beauty and texture, these rocks hold significant creative and economic potential. Yet, few artisans have tapped into this opportunity.
The global semi-precious jewellery market was valued at US$ 250.1 million in 2022 and is projected to reach US$ 678.1 million by 2029 with the largest markets being Europe and the Unites States. (Semi-precious Jewellery Market, Global Outlook and Forecast 2025-2033).
This June, the JBDC invites artisans, jewellers, and creatives to explore how Jamaica’s semi-precious stones like agate, jasper and quartz – can be transformed into wearable art at ‘The Perfect Finish – The Merge of Nature’, a four-part intermediate-to-advanced jewellery workshop hosted at the JBDC’s Craft Incubator.
Through its craft development agenda, the JBDC plays a pivotal role in implementing Jamaica’s National Craft Policy (2017), which emphasises value chain development. This means transforming raw, underutilised materials into high-value products that contribute to the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) and position Jamaica on the global stage as a source of fine, handmade, luxury craft.
“One of the big objectives is to help entrepreneurs create new business opportunities and showcase that Jamaican craft isn’t just about low-level trinkets—but also includes high-end, artisanal products like handmade jewellery”, Porter emphasises.
Led by Product Development Officer, Donna-Gay Uter-Campbell, this workshop is part of that push.
Porter emphasised the significance of the training, highlighting its connection to Jamaica’s broader National Craft Policy. To this end, the agency provides a haven for producers to learn and innovate.
Dubbed ‘Artisan Hub’, the JBDC’s craft incubator is equipped to accommodate clients who produce a variety of products including jewellery, leather goods including footwear (sandals), printed textiles among others. The space is able to accommodate multiple users at a time and is equipped with tools such as tumblers, drills, polishing wheel, rolling mill, laser etching machine and a variety of hand tools. The incubator is also ideal for clients who want to experiment and develop new product concepts and prototypes.
The June workshop will run every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., starting June 7, at the JBDC’s Incubator and Resource Centre in Kingston. Participants will have full access to equipment and instruction in sizing and cutting stones; forming, sanding, and refining metals; conceptualising and designing pieces that reflect Jamaican culture.
The cost is just $36,000 for the full series and includes all working materials such as sterling silver and semi-precious stones, plus refreshments.
“On completion of the training, participants will be able to design and construct their own collection incorporating agate stones and precious metal,” said Uter. “Each participant will be exposed to a more advanced level of jewellery-making through the construction of different bezels from metal sheet as well as stone-setting techniques.”
Interested persons can register via JBDC’s website at www.jbdc.net or contact the JBDC at (876) 758-3966-8. Email inquiries can be sent to .
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