It was a very, very long time ago, but I still remember it fondly and with gratitude: I was very fortunate to have the best trainers that an apprentice goldsmith could wish for: Bernd Rips and Dagmar Kleimann-Rips vom goldsmith studio”the forge” in Bocholt on the Lower Rhine. Many of my present-day craft skills started there and were shaped in the best sense by two excellent goldsmiths. In 1990, while I was training to be a goldsmith, the goldsmiths' guild in Münster held an apprenticeship competition on the subject of "classic jewelry design". I participated with my own design, implemented it and my two trainers then submitted my necklace to Münster.
Of course, I was completely surprised and speechless when I found out that I had won first prize in this apprenticeship competition. I was so perplexed that I even turned down an invitation to a radio interview out of sheer excitement - much to the delight of my training company 😉.
I will always have good memories of this valuable and exciting time. Bernd and Dagmar: Thanks again for everything - and sorry about the interview 😉