A Legacy to Be Proud of Since 1909
I feel that we are fortunate to have a goldsmith working in our on-site workshop as it is very much part of our business heritage that goes back over 115 years. This month I thought I would take a look at one of the many things we do in the workshop, which we call ‘Melt and Make’. This is when we recycle old gold, often using unwanted family jewellery that has been kept for years and re work this into something new. I cannot help but admire the expertise this needs and the best way to show this skill is through some pictures of a recent project we have undertaken. We were asked by one of our lovely clients to melt down two gold rings and re use her gold to make a three stone pendant adding in some of her diamonds to give it some sparkle! With this as a starting point, we set about exploring designs that she liked and focused on key elements that were important to her.
This month I am taking inspiration from rainbows with their beautiful displays of jewelled colours in the sky which can also be found in the spectrum of tantalizingly different gemstones. Red is the first arc of the rainbow and it’s a colour that grabs attention. One of the most popular red gemstones is the glorious ruby which features in both antique and contemporary jewellery. Colours vary from red to pink, but the most prized is the Burmese ruby which has a rich crimson hue. It’s wonderful velvety softness known as silk gives a hazy shimmer on the surface.
A couple of months ago I went to learn a thing or two from the gardener Adam Frost. His talk was motivating and he spoke of his garden as a journey down memory lane saying ‘every bed is a little piece of art, which all together add up to a collection with lots of links running through them.’ I came home totally inspired and thought about my own garden in a different light. My small garden has little pockets of memories which relate to me, for example my grandma’s sweet peas, an Aunt’s penny farthing stepping stone and an old water pump from my first house.
This month I focus my attention on the much loved precious white metal we know as silver. I have always admired silver for its beauty and having started my career as a silversmith, I learnt to appreciate the skills and techniques required. Silver is a malleable and ductile metal and has excellent working qualities, great reflecting power and an ideal material for a young aspiring jewellery student like myself to work with. I admit that my early attempts were at best mediocre but I still look at my first creation with pride! My admiration of silver was not diminished and when early in my career I was offered a job with the Danish silver company Georg Jensen I did not hesitate. After all, Jensen was acclaimed to be the greatest silversmith of his time and helped transform jewellery design in the early twentieth century. When interviewed he once said “that silver is the best material we have; it has this wonderful moonlight lustre, something of the light of a Danish summer night.”
Summer is the most popular time to get married with one in five being held in August so as we approach this busy season I hope to inspire and guide those of you to plan to tie the knot or perhaps renew your vows. When it comes to finding the perfect wedding ring, the journey can feel both exciting and overwhelming. Understanding the latest trends, your personal style, materials, metals, gemstones and of course budget; it can feel never ending. Some styles have stood the test of time and remain eternally in vogue. The best examples of these are plain wedding rings which are timeless choices but there are interesting alternatives to consider. So why not look for a ring that not only represents your love, but also fits your unique personality and lifestyle.
I can remember when I was just a little girl, I would delve into my grandma’s jewellery box trying on her rings on all my fingers! I am pretty sure that I am not alone with this as I think many of us have similar fond memories of a cherished family piece. So, this month I am going to focus on rings. These continue to be a favourite part of our jewellery collection as they are considered to be the most evocative and hold a multitude of meanings. Whether worn as a sign of love or fashion accessory, rings can make your heart sing!
The heart symbol is one we all recognize, from the little sketched hearts we drew as children, this beautiful icon represents the love between two people dates back centuries and still continues today. One thing for sure there is love in this ‘Valentines’ month of February! Whenever Cupid comes calling, love can be many things from infatuation, passion to deep eternal love. When King Edward VII wanted to show his love Wallis Simpson the depth of his feelings for the woman who would motivate him to abdicate the British Crown, he gave her a heart charm which opened to reveal the words ‘The Heart Has Its Reasons’.
With the arrival of a new year, I thought I would touch on a subject that always lifts my spirits. The night sky, with all its twinkling lights and bright beams of moonlight is quite magical and is surely a jeweller’s dream. I am not alone taking inspiration from the celestial night sky - these cosmic motifs have enthralled stargazers and jewellers alike throughout history. The phenomena of Halley’s Comet in 1758 created a legacy of comet inspired jewellery and during the Victorian period the author Jules Verne released a novel called ‘From the Earth to the Moon’ which further captured the Victorians fascination with stars and moons. This was a time for sentimentality and meaningful symbolism which was almost like a second language where love, friendship, loyalty could be silently communicated through specific styles and motifs.
