Where Jewellery Tells a Better Story
A Community Jewellery Workshop, offering Classes, Repairs, Bespoke Commissions, and Fairtrade Gold Jewellery
More than a Jewellery Workshop. A Movement
Every ring made, every class taught, and every piece repaired is part of a bigger story — connecting craft, community, and conscience in the heart of Bishop Auckland.
Jewellery Classes
Hands-on workshops for all levels in our fully equipped studio. Silver stacker rings, gemstone settings, mixed metals, gemmology, and more. All tools included. Small groups of 6 to 8.
Repairs & Remodelling
Our expert goldsmith restores, resizes, and reimagines your beloved pieces. From a broken clasp to a complete transformation — every piece treated with the care it deserves.
Shop Ethical Jewellery
Fairtrade Gold rings, pendants, earrings, and bridal jewellery from Valerio Jewellery and leading independent designers. Each designer chosen for their ethical practice.
“Few can claim to have precipitated fundamental change in the jewellery business, but Greg Valerio is one of those who can.”
GAETANO CAVALIERI, PRESIDENT, WORLD JEWELLERY CONFEDERATION
Small groups. Expert tuition. All materials included. Take home a piece made entirely by your own hands.
Book your Place
UPCOMING CLASSES
Christmas Decorations
13th December 2026
10am–1pm · Max 6 · Beginners welcome
£80
per person
Festive Silver Earrings
13th December 2026
2pm–5pm · Max 6 · Beginners welcome
£80
per person
Pearl Stringing
14th November 2026
10am–4pm · Max 8 · Beginners welcome
£175
per person
FOUNDED BY
Greg Valerio MBE.
Greg Valerio is one of the most recognised names in ethical jewellery. A campaigner, jeweller, social entrepreneur, and MBE recipient — Greg has spent over 30 years fighting for Fairtrade Gold and human rights in mining communities.
PeaceGold is the culmination of that life's work — a jewellery community that puts people, craft, and conscience at its heart.
Jewellery as a Vehicle for Change
We use the jewellery trade as a platform for skills training, youth engagement, and inclusion. Whether you are 16 or 60, a first-timer or a craft enthusiast — there is a place for you at our bench.
THE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP
SKILLS TRAINING
Real, transferable silversmithing skills in a professional studio.
INCLUSION
Open to all backgrounds, abilities, and experience levels.
YOUTH ENGAGEMENT
Structured programmes for young people at risk of disengagement.
BUILDING FUTURES
Craft builds self-worth, focus, and aspiration.
Beautiful Jewellery. Ethical at its Core.
Every piece crafted in responsibly sourced gold, recycled precious metals, and responsibly sourced certified gemstones.
Greg Valerio MBE
Through PeaceGold, I aim to show that grandeur for the rich doesn’t have to mean grit for the poor. Everyone should have a share of the beauty and bounty.
Maverick, pain in the arse, social entrepreneur, out of the box, radical, passionate, emotional, idiot, unmanageable, direct, to the point, breath of fresh air, rebel, visionary, scruffy, non-conformist, looks like a bum, economic terrorist, heretic and dangerous bastard have all been used to describe Greg and his commitment to human rights, ecological responsibility, fair trade & ecologically just practices in marginalised and forgotten communities.
Respected as a social entrepreneur in jewellery, he believes the dreamscape, hopes and aspiration of communities cannot be built on the desolation of the destitute, economic injustice, the chaos of conflict and the ecological abuse of the planet.
Lindsay discovered her passion for designing and making jewellery whilst studying 3D Design at University. She combines her interest in drawing with a desire to craft pieces using traditional goldsmithing techniques and mixed materials.
Moving to the North East around 15 years ago, she started teaching jewellery workshops, with a focus on creativity for mindfulness and community. Sharing knowledge and skills with others is a joy, seeing people come together over a shared impulse to play with fire, making something that can be treasured and worn every day.
After spending many years training as a bench jeweller, doing repair work, Lindsay came back to her designer/maker roots. Learning more about precious materials and striving for creative ways to work more ethically and sustainably in her own practice.
Joining PeaceGold, Lindsay brings this variation of knowledge and skill to the bench as our in-house goldsmith.
Lindsay Forbes
Testimonials
"Greg Valerio unveils the ugliness of the beauty business. His truth has a sting, but he also has an unflinching, contagious hope that a better world is possible."
— Shane Claiborne, The Simple Way, Philadelphia
"Greg is a true hero."
— Katharine Hamnett CBE, Fashion designer and campaigner
"A fantastic story about how one man wouldn't take no for an answer."
— Harriet Lamb CBE, CEO of Fairtrade International
