BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need to Know

BEJEWELED LONDON JEWELRY DESIGNERS YOU NEED TO KNOW

BY ANGELA GILLTRAP

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

BEJEWELED LONDON JEWELRY DESIGNERS YOU NEED TO KNOW

BY ANGELA GILLTRAP

Copyright Š2016 Angela Gilltrap Published by Lot 17 Media | In Fashion Lot17Media.com BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need to Know All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any other information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the publisher.

For information contact Lot 17 Media info@lot17media.com ISBN-10: 153034557X ISBN-13: 978-1530345571

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

CONTENTS 6. Ware London 8. Saloukee 10. Tessa Metcalfe 12. Jezebel London 14. Lestie Lee 16. Alexandra Alberta 18. Jeanne Marell 20. Marianna Goulandris 22. Ornella Iannuzzi 24. LÁTELITA London 26. Alice Cicolini 28. Harry Rocks 30. Joanna Cave 32. Meriko London 34. Coco’s Liberty 36. Retrospective Jewellery 38. Missoma

40. KĂMA London 42. Alice Menter 44. Yasmine Everley 46. Mews London 48. Claire English 50. Branch on the Park 52. Ellie Air 54. Gee Woods 56. Lion Studio 58. Mabel Hasell 60. SB London 62. Lee Renee 64. Allumer London 66. Danielle Draper 68. Daou Jewellery 70. Miriam SOS 72. Michelle Oh

Images courtesy of Ware London

WARE LONDON

Image courtesy of Ware London

Designer: Emma Ware | EmmaWare.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Conscious. Elegant.

Unconventional.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? Very gradually. It was a reaction to my previous career which wasn’t creative and I wasn’t in control of. I just wanted to make beautiful things at my own pace, and make my life about having fun. It’s also something I’ve come back to throughout my life since my mother put together a basic jewelry-making kit for me when I was a girl.

What materials do you most like to work with? Tactile, sustainable, unusual—within those parameters, I’m open to ideas!

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life?

The importance of art. Being creative is a massively important part of life for the maker and the viewer/receiver. It’s not a necessity as such, but it is necessary. It’s a communication, a process, an expression, decoration. It is thoughts realized.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Really just having a growing business is a massive and continuing accomplishment for me. Also doing a photoshoot in my underwear for Triumph’s Women in Making campaign is one thing I didn’t expect.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

I used to work on Footballers Wives, Judge John Deed and Holby City among other silly U.K. dramas.

Priceless means: Irreplaceable. Unique. Our Earth and all the precious life on it is the epitome of priceless.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Saloukee

S A L O U K E E

Designer: Sarah Kelly | Saloukee.com Describe your designs in three words: Raw. Unique.

Unconventional.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I studied jewelry at college and university. After graduating, I worked for others and spent time traveling. By 2008, I knew working for myself—on my own terms—was the only way to take the steps to reach my goals.

What materials do you most like to work with? Ones that feel great in my hands, sometimes natural, sometimes found, always real; ones that I can morph into something new, contrasting textures and problem solving through the limitations that the materials have, to something unexpected, designed through exploration and adventure.

on my one-woman mission to change—in my own little way— preconceptions of what jewelry should or could be made from. Along the way, I’ve written a book on the subject, undertaken workshops with people, aged from five to seventy-five, and even lectured designers on the future on the subject. In all those years, 2016 feels like possibly the most exciting year yet. It’s finally the year where I will see the medium of paper in jewelry, being ‘accepted’ and sold in a designer boutique within one of the most stylish lifestyle stores in the U.S., so watch this space for more details.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? To listen to my instinct and trust my gut, it’s not often that they have done me wrong. It’s too easy to base life on what you believe are others’ expectations of you. With experience, I realized that the biggest critic in my life was always myself. The more I learn to have faith in my decisions, the more freedom I have to find contentment and answers.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

Having been a city girl my whole life, excited by bright lights, opportunity and bustle, last year I took a huge leap of faith and moved away from family and friends and settled in the tiniest hamlet in Shropshire with my now husband and two cats. In a ‘trust my gut’ moment, I realized that with only one life to live, I wanted to spend more of my precious time taking a moment to just ‘be.’ My studio now overlooks rolling hills, I get to breath fresh air on lunchtime strolls and I get more head and physical space than I’ve ever had. Luckily for me, family, friends and London are still only a few hours away, so I also get that fix frequently too, just with more energy to give when it does happen.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? When I set up my business in 2008, I set out

Priceless means: Something unique, with sentiment, never to be physically replaced.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Tessa Metcalfe

TESSA METCALFE

Image courtesy of Tessa Metcalfe

Designer: Tessa Metcalfe | TessaMetcalfeJewellery.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Fantasy.

Unnecessary. Decadent.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? While studying illustration at university, I became obsessed with pigeons. I decided I needed to make a road kill pigeon into a hat, so I started learning taxidermy. I had the feet left over so I cast them, and then started to build these mythical pigeon characters.

What materials do you most like to work with? Gold and silver, but stones are my addiction. I love going to see my stone dealers when they’re back from their trips and collecting rough opals and cloudy emeralds. It’s getting a little out of hand to be honest.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Learn from your mistakes.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? My favorite thing is being a part of other people’s stories. You share so much when designing the perfect engagement ring or reworking family heirlooms into a beautiful and nostalgic treasure. We hear a lot of pigeon stories too, I like those the best.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

Um... I have a goldfinch in my freezer.

Priceless means: Flawless stones are priceless but I prefer imperfections. It’s the inclusions and blemishes that give things character, they make it real.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Jezebel London

JEZEBEL LONDON

Designers: Yasmin and Tümay | JezebelLondon.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Contemporary. Diverse. Minimalistic.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? We met at the London College of Fashion while studying a BA Fashion Management. We noticed that wearing gold and diamond jewelry is a lot more “occasional” in London compared to Turkey. I guess it’s a cultural thing that we both love gold jewelery, we wear it day and night. Over time, we got the courage from people’s interest in what we wore, so we decided to make use of our studies to launch our own jewelry brand, Jezebel London.

What materials do you most like to work with? Our collection features only rose gold and diamonds. We work with white, black and brown diamonds but our favorites are always the pieces with brown diamonds. We love the harmony between rose gold and brown diamonds and think that it looks less girlie, more contemporary with a refined edge.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Pay attention to the smallest details because those create the big picture.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? We are a very recently established brand. We have just started selling Online and in some retailer boutiques. However, we believe that our most significant move was to jump at starting up our own brand straight after graduating. It was a very bold way to start a career.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

Yasmin: I didn’t liked London too much before coming here to study, whereas now I can’t picture my self living anywhere else.

Tümay: Well for me, I have to admit that I like looking more at men’s jewelery than women’s.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Lestie Lee

L E E L E S T I E

Image courtesy of Lestie Lee

Designer: Lestie Lee | LestieLee.com Describe your designs in three words: Refined. Subtle.

Minimalistic.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I was trained at Central Saint Martins, about nine years ago where I first got introduced to jewelry design. I gradually fell head over heels and devoted myself to the industry after working for different design houses, such as Adler, Buccellati and Jimmy Choo couture and completing my GIA diploma in gemology. In 2011, I decided to launch my own brand.

What materials do you most like to work with? I love color combinations, unusual matches and contrasts. Semi precious and precious stones have always been featured in my work, yet I like them to be adorned with a luxurious touch. Sterling silver with gold vermeil and 18K gold are the catalyst to be engaged with.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? I follow my heart in design and in life. Jewelry design is transcendence and timeless. Symbols and meanings are delegated, transcended and carried through from generations to generations. While these symbols and meanings could be perceived in many different ways, yet still sublime.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Being awarded The Designer of the Year at Treasure at London Jewellery Week 2012 was incredibly amazing. It was a little step forward, but the greater professional accomplishment is, hopefully, yet to come.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

I have OCD and I hate anyone who messes up my kitchen.

Priceless means: My family and Bailey (my westie)— these are the first things that come to mind.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Alexandra Alberta

ALEXANDRA ALBERTA

Designer: Alexandra Alberta | AlexandraAlberta.com Describe your designs in three words: Playful. Bold. Refined.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I started off working in the fashion industry for designers such as Rag & Bone, Opening Ceremony and Lanvin in New York City and Los Angeles. My innate love for accessories steered me over to the jewelry industry where I immersed myself in the study of colored gemstones and diamonds at GIA (Gemological Institute of America) New York. I started off designing pieces for myself, and the brand grew organically into a business.

What materials do you most like to work with? I’m a Gemologist, so I have a deep passion and love for colored gemstones.

I love to use off-the-radar, unique and rare gemstones in my designs such as colorful jades, kunzite spodumene, aquamarines and colored sapphires to name a few.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? To be a keen observer. One can draw inspiration from anything and everything. Simple, everyday objects can turn into something magical and creative just with the power of imagination.

Inspiration is everywhere, from the trees and landscapes that surround us, to the buildings that we come into contact with.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? To be selected within the Top 5 Emerging Designer Collections in the United Kingdom.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I used to compete as a national runner in track and field and was also a national gymnast.

Priceless means: Uniqueness.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Jeanne Marell

JEANNE MARELL

Image courtesy of Jeanne Marell

What materials do you most like to work with? I love mixing precious and non-precious materials in an unexpected way.

Designer: Jeanne Marell | JeanneMarell.com Describe your designs in three words: Minimalist with a twist.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I did my first goldsmithing course at an evening college in the Netherlands— where I’m from—back in 1999. I considered studying jewelry design in university, but started a Product Design degree at The Design Academy instead. I took a semester break from this to go and study gold and silversmithing at Escola Massana in Barcelona, but then returned to finish my Product Design degree.

A few years on, during my first job at General Motors, I continued studying jewelry in evening education at Cranbrook School of Art near Detroit, Michigan. Fast forward a decade and a long jewelry hiatus, I picked up my tools again for an evening course at Citylit in London. My first piece there, the Parody ring, was nominated for the Benchpeg award and all the interest and feedback propelled me into setting up my business a few months later, in 2014.

Having the experience— and the peace of mind of a steady income from my other design career—I plowed on to get established, one step at the time. It took quite some evenings, weekends and holidays, but I am really proud of the result!

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Certain things can’t be rushed, you have to go through all the steps required to get a beautiful, and sustainable, end result.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? My short jewelry career so far has already known so many highlights! My first nomination for the Benchpeg award is what inspired me to start my business. Becoming a Kickstarter at International Jewellery London (IJL) was a massive honor and propelled my career forward within months of starting out.

Being admitted to Goldsmiths’ Fair the first time I applied was totally unexpected, and now I am nominated for the New Designer of the Year category in the U.K. Jewellery Awards 2016. It doesn’t stop!

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? In my previous and parallel career in product and service design I’ve worked on all sorts of exciting, and different things: from cars (BMW, Cadillac, Hyundai) to catheters (Coloplast).

Priceless means: Being rich with memories and stories.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Marianna Goulandris

MARIANNA GOULANDRIS

Designer: Marianna Goulandris | MariannaG.com Describe your designs in three words: Bold. Glamorous. Mythical.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I studied design at university and although I’ve always been passionate about jewelry, I never expected to make it a career. It all started when I made a one-off bracelet for myself. It got a lot of positive reactions so I made a few more designs, and it gradually grew into a business.

What materials do you most like to work with? Gold and silver. I’ve used a lot of tsavorite, blue sapphires and white diamonds but moving forward; I’m designing using more colored sapphires and cognac diamonds, and I love more traditional stones like rubies and emeralds.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? The biggest lesson I have learned is attention to detail, precision and patience!

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Starting a company so young and having my designs worn by inspirational women around the world, such as European Royalty.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I’m a bit of an adventure fan. I’m trying to find the time to go bungee jumping!

Priceless means: Family.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Ornella Iannuzzi

ORNELLA IANNUZZI

Image courtesy of Ornella Iannuzi

Designer: Ornella Iannuzi | Ornella Iannuzzi Describe your designs in three words: Distinctive. Excellence.

Sculptural.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I was studying design and applied arts for my bachelor’s degree and I discovered René Lalique’s jewelry while doing some research on Art Nouveau.

I totally fell in love with the beauty of his artworks, and with what jewelry could be as a body adornment or independent work of art.

So, I decided to go and study it after my bachelor’s degree. It’s been over ten years now that I have been making jewelry. I launched my own business in 2008.

What materials do you most like to work with? Natural gemstone crystals (such as emerald, tanzanite, tourmaline, aquamarine, garnet, etc), opals, and gold (yellow and rose are my favorite).

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life?

Patience and determination.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? I just won another Gold Award at the Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards—our Jewelry Oscars—thanks to my pendant called “L’Exceptionnelle Tanzanite.” Last year, I won two Gold awards at the same competition including the Goldsmiths’ Company Major Award (first time given to a ring) and the IJL Precious Jewellery Gold Award for my ring called “The Uprising.” I also won the title of the U.K. Jewellery Designer of the Year 2015. So last year was quite good!

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? My age.

Priceless means: Nature.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of LÁTELITA London

L ÁT E L I TA L O N D O N

Designers: Lee and Al | LATELITA.com Describe your designs in three words: Elegant. Vibrant. Timeless.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry?

Lee: I developed a passion for jewelery making as a way of exploring my creativity while working in corporate finance.

After designing one off commissions for friends and family, I decided to pursue it as a profession.

Al: After studying traditional jewelry making techniques from the artisans of Istanbul, I collaborated with Lee in developing LÁTELITA London—Eastern influences with contemporary European design which create unique, intricate & elegant jewelry.

What materials do you most like to work with? We use delicate leathers and sterling silver together with a wide variety of semi-precious natural stones, sometimes crystals, always with smart contrasts of colored cubic zirconia. The craftsmanship required is nothing short of fine jewelry however, the afford-ability is always granted through the use of alternative materials in our designs.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Always follow you gut instinct, more often than not, it will serve you well.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Seeing our designs stocked at department stores, and curated boutiques such as Wolf & Badger and Jewelstreet.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

Lee: For someone so passionate about jewelry, I never wear it myself.

Al: I have a degree in mechanical engineering.

Priceless means: Time!

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Alice Cicolini

ALICE CICOLINI

Image courtesy of Alice Cicolini

Designer: Alice Cicolini | AliceCicolini.com Describe your designs in three words: Master-crafted. Elegant.

Complex.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? Through my friend and mentor Simon Fraser, course director MA Jewellery at Central Saint Martins. He helped me to see that jewelry was a place where you could still create a hybrid identity creatively—part fashion, part craft, part industrial design. It was certainly not as formulaic a place to inhabit as fashion at that point. Through working very briefly for Andrew Grima in the late nineties; untrained formally, his immense creativity taught me to understand that there many ways to be a jeweler.

What materials do you most like to work with? I love to work with carved wood and stone, 22ct gold, enamel and richly colored semiprecious stones (fire opal, yellow sapphire, peridot, pink tourmaline, almandine garnet, chrome tourmaline, azure opal).

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Good things come to those who wait. In a world of fast luxury, the challenge is to find a way to express that positively. The value of the work I make, is in its master-craftsmanship, in the rich heritage of skilled artisanship that underpins it, as well as the materials that I work with–values that are perhaps less obvious to audiences more familiar with material value alone. So, building the narrative around the skill and the process becomes critical, as does building the confidence in my clients to appreciate the heritage behind what they are buying. My work is slow luxury, celebrating the beauty of ancient master-craft and privileging artisanship alongside fine materials.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Every time a client says that something I’ve made brings them joy, feels like a professional accomplishment.

Priceless means: Craftsmanship.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Harry Rocks

HARRY ROCKS

Designer: Laura Rowan | HarryRocks.com Describe your designs in three words: Classic. Long lasting. Feminine.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? My love and obsession with jewelry started from a very young age.

I was transfixed with my mother’s and grandmother’s jewelry boxes, especially their charm bracelets. I am still a total magpie about trinkets, charms and lockets. I love going to vintage markets, finding jewelry and charms that have a history or story to tell. After working for a stone dealer for a couple of years, I spent over a decade designing jewelry for the high street in the U.K. What materials do you most like to work with? Precious stones that are unique, especially one-of-a-kind stones. They make jewelry that little bit more special.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? That putting a bit of jewelry on can perk up your mood.

It’s also very sentimental. I love hearing stories from customers about their friends or partners buying my personalized collection for a wedding, engagement or a new baby gift. It means a lot to put thought into a gift for the giver and the recipient. My favorite thing is hearing from a happy customer.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Being stocked in Harvey Nichols is my biggest accomplishment, being such a small business I feel very proud of being part of such a wonderful store among established and well-known brands.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Joanna Cave

JOANNA CAVE

Image courtesy of Joanna Cave

Designer: Joanna Cave | JoannaCave.com Describe your designs in three words: Ethnic. Petite.

Architectural.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? When I was sixteen, I worked at my father’s designer jewelry shop in the summer. It’s located on a Greek island. It was inspiring and I knew instantly, that’s what I wanted to do.

What materials do you most like to work with? Silver, gold and pearls.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life?

Happiness. I’m happiest when lost in my designs. It’s like a different dimension of the brain.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date?

Designing a hotel room for the fashion house hotel in the style of my jewelry. It was fantastic seeing the end result.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

I’m half Greek.

Priceless means: Having the freedom to do as you please.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Meriko London

MERIKO LONDON

Designer: Meri Hovsepyan | MerikoLondon.com Describe your designs in three words: Bohemian.

Timeless. Unique.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? My father is a designer of fine jewelry. Since I was a small child, I have been surrounded by precious stones and wonderful jewels. Instead of learning colors from a book, I learned shades of turquoise and blue and navy from the sparkling bejeweled pieces my father made. I studied Art History at a university in the U.K. and then went onto study business and qualified as an accountant, which I did for many years until I finally had the confidence to follow my dream. So, with my love of fashion and jewelry—and my experience in business—I ventured into the world of high-end fashion jewelry and have never looked back. I now live between London and the South of Spain and combine my love for travel with raising my family and building my business. I’m a very lucky person.

What materials do you most like to work with? Most of my work features gold plated and rhodium plated sterling silver and semi precious stones such as Turquoise, Rose Quartz, Malachite and Lapis. But we are very excited this season, as for the first time in Meriko history, we are planning to launch a collection with enamel, along with other metals such as brass and black rhodium plate. So watch this space.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? That you can’t stand still. Fashion, like life itself, is

ever evolving. Trends, styles and people’s tastes are forever changing and I like to keep one step ahead. Although another big life lesson for me has been the realization that good style never dates, which is why I try and combine contemporary fashion with timeless elegance. I want my designs to be passed down through generations and worn by women of any age.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Well nothing has been finalized yet, but we are in talks with a beautiful and inspiring U.S. celebrity about the possibility of a collaboration. If it goes ahead, it will be the most exciting thing to happen to Meriko London, because not only is it a huge buzz to see your creativity and hard work worn on the red carpet, but it is really important for me to work alongside amazing women that understand what it means to be a Meriko girl. So, this will be a dream come true.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

That, although I am surrounded by fashion and glamor all day, and I get to work with fantastic models, photographers and celebrities—what I really love to do is be at home with my little boy and husband, and bake cakes. I make a very decent pink ombre cake and my vanilla sponge is pretty special too.

Priceless means: Confidence. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, what you look like or how much you want something, as long as you go through life with confidence and a smile, you will always be beautiful and you will always succeed.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Coco’s Liberty

COCO’S LIBERTY

Image courtesy of Coco’s Liberty

Designer: Elina Bergert | CocosLiberty.com Describe your designs in three words: Minimal. Fierce. Statement.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I have been into jewelry since I was a child. My father is a dentist, and he would teach me how to create jewelry with left over gold. Ever since then, I have developed a love for unique jewelry.

As I grew up, I could never find the jewelry I was interested in, so I took goldsmith classes on the weekends while studying law.

After working as a lawyer for two years in Hamburg, I quit to pursue my love of modern jewelry design. I’m currently on a year break from a Jewelry Design Degree at Central Saint Martins in London to build up Coco ́s Liberty.

What materials do you most like to work with? I love working with 18ct solid yellow gold, as I personally only wear yellow gold. I love the fact that it looks nice the entire time you work with it. Since it’s quite expensive, I have developed a love for solid silver which I then have plated.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life?

Patience. An amazing jewelry piece cannot be rushed, it needs love and affection.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? My biggest accomplishment to date, is being shortlisted as New Designer of the Year 2016 (awards are in June 16) by U.K. Jewellery Awards/ U.K. Jewellery Retailer.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? Probably that I am fostering five elephants and two little orangutans.

Priceless means: Spending quality time with my sister and her three rescue dogs, which I love to bits and pieces.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Retrospective Jewellery

RETROSPECTIVE JEWELLERY

Designer: Danielle Underwood | RetrospectiveJewellery.com Describe your designs in three words: Innovative. Wearable. Expressive.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? A love for drawing pushed me to go to Art school where I specialized in 3D design. I then chose to do a degree in Jewellery Design at the Sir John Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Design in London.

What materials do you most like to work with? Gold, silver and brass. I believe jewelry does not need to be made out of precious materials to be sought after or adored.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Nothing is presented to you on a plate, you need to work hard, and learn as you go.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Creating my own jewelry brand.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I danced ballet from the age of three to present.

Priceless means: When somethings personal wealth proves to be greater than its actual value.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of Missoma

M I S S O M A

Images courtesy of Missoma

Designer: Marisa Hordern | Missoma.com Describe your designs in three words: Contemporary. Fashion-forward. Wearable.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? When I was six, my mother gave me a piece of Labradorite, and my lifelong love affair with gemstones began. Fast forward eighteen years and I decided to leave my job at luxury goods holding company Richemont, and pursue my love of jewelry. Over the years, I loved making beaded pieces around the kitchen table with my mother and sister, and would sell them to high-end boutiques in London. It was always something we enjoyed doing together, and my passion became my hobby. When I left Richemont, I took this full-time and founded Missoma, which is a combination of my mother Michele, sister Sophie, and my own name.

I traveled to Jaipur looking for gemstone suppliers and workshops to interpret my designs, and ever since it has been a fantastic adventure working alongside them to perfect the shapes and cuts of each gemstone, and to develop the look and contemporary finish that has become associated with a Missoma piece today.

What materials do you most like to work with? I have always been obsessed with gemstones since I was a little girl and collected over 200 different types. Today, Missoma is known for its 18ct gold vermeil jewelry and its use of bold colors and special hand faceted gemstone cuts. Although we have always specialized in gemstones, we have recently also branched out into diamond pave jewelry, with a more delicate and minimalist look that is centered around everyday luxury.

me so much. I have evolved with my brand and have learned to persevere along the way. When I used to get a knock-back, I would lose confidence in myself. Now I just brush it off and keep working until I get it right. Everything we do is a work in progress.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? I don’t know if I have one single accomplishment that stands out, but when I look back on the last 10 years, I see a multitude of proud moments… The day I first saw someone wearing Missoma on the street, the day we landed our my first department store (Harvey Nichols London), seeing Jennifer Lopez on the front cover of Elle wearing our signature hoops. I feel we have come a long way and accomplished a lot, but the last year has been particularly good for us. We have recently doubled our team and are looking to move to a larger office in the next few months, something which I am hugely excited about. I am very proud of the team, and the way in which they all love being part of the brand.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I never studied jewelry design. In fact, I studied History at Oxford, but always wanted to do something more creative. I was meant to go into law, finance or something corporate, but jewelry was my first love and I’m so happy I chose this path.

Priceless means: The bond that building Missoma has created between my mother, sister and I is priceless to me. Building a brand and running your own business can be so stressful, and there are often ups and downs, but I have always had my mother and sister there right beside me to support me in the journey.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Founding Missoma has taught

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

Images courtesy of KĂMA London

KĂMA LONDON

Designer: KamaLondon.com Describe your designs in three words: Vivacious. Expressive. Memorable.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? KĂMA is inspired by Kamadeva, the mythological God of Love and Desire and is made to celebrate a woman’s individuality and elegance. KĂMA stands for expression, color and vivaciousness. London, for us, is the most beautiful city in this world that could do with just one thing...That extra dash of color! KĂMA London was born to play with this paradox and celebrate the beauty of color and natural gemstones. Our clientele is elegant but acutely aware that they can dress up a dull gray or black outfit with a piece of jewelry that gives them the power to stand out without overpowering them.

What materials do you most like to work with? We want our products to utilize precious and semi-precious metals and gemstones only. This means we concentrate on sterling silver and gemstones like garnets, labradorites, chalcedonys, peridots, sapphires and amethysts. We love the natural texture of each stone, we celebrate the hand craftsmanship and we stand proudly behind the uniqueness of each piece, which may be ever so slightly different from the one next to it.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Balance and symmetry are often underrated.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? We are a young brand and we do not yet have a huge marketing budget. Yet, we have a rapidly growing loyal following that continues to surprise us every day. We are grateful to Vogue, our Chelsea boutique partners and platforms like Wolf and Badger that have discovered us, trusted us and held our hand as we have started to crawl, walk and run.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? Well, did we mention our marketing budget!

Priceless means: Value that is measured in the happiest of memories.

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Images courtesy of Alice Menter

ALICE MENTER

Image courtesy of Alice Menter

Designer: Alice Menter | AliceMenter.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Elegant. Rebellious.

Distinctive.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I’ve had a passion for jewelry since I was very young and, after dabbling in making it in my late teens, I went on to study Contemporary Jewellery Design at university, graduating with First Class honors. After leaving university, I worked on my jewelry as a side line to my day job, but took the plunge to make it my career and launched my label in 2011.

What materials do you most like to work with? Industrial nuts, washers and zips are my signature materials. I really enjoy the idea, that in their pure form, these elements are considered unremarkable but, by working them into intricate, repetitive surface patterns and combining them with precious metal plating, luxurious chain and suede, I can transform the everyday into something beautifully covetable.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life?

On a personal level, designing and creating is central to my happiness but I’ve seen that on a wider level great design brings happiness and enjoyment to many.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date?

When I first saw my jewelry on display in Harvey Nichols, I couldn’t have been happier—it’s a retail institution and I felt a great sense of pride being able to count them as a stockist.

Being shortlisted by Retail Jeweller as New Designer of the Year in the U.K. Watch and Jewellery Awards was a great confidence boost too!

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I have a fascination with ghosts.

Priceless means: A strong personal significance.

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Images courtesy of Yasmine Everley

YA S M I N E E V E R L E Y

Designer: Yasmine Everley | YasmineEverley.com Describe your designs in three words: Astrological. Entomological. Typographical.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? My mother, Joy Everley, is a designer with an ardent following in Soho, and so I have been surrounded by jewelry for longer than I can remember. Working alongside my mother since the age of eleven, has inevitably influenced my own designs. However, my degree in Classical Studies, combined with my love of the late 18th and early 19th century–the age of exploration and excavation–is my main source of inspiration.

What materials do you most like to work with? I love the versatility of Sterling silver, it can completely change its attitude depending on the finish that it’s given. Even an otherwise completely plain band can be polished, hammered, oxidised, matted etc. and the same design can appear minimalist or grungy, boho or refined. I like to play with color contrasts by having parts of the same piece in oxidised silver while other parts shine bright with pure gold plating.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? You can show the same idea to ten different people and they will draw out ten different meanings from it. People will read meanings into my designs that I have never even thought of, or sometimes I alter their perception of something they thought they knew. The same goes for so many areas in life, you cannot project your own interpretations onto other people and there is always so much to learn from listening to the reactions of others.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? It has to be asking to design my friends’ engagement rings, that takes a lot of confidence and trust, and I feel so honored to be a part of it.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? Sometimes I work as a sales assistant and don’t let on that the jewelry on display is my own. You get the most honest feedback when you work anonymously!

Priceless means: Something that evokes a feeling or a moment in time that will never be replaced.

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Images courtesy of Mews London

MEWS LONDON

Image courtesy of Mews London

Designers: Natalie Lever, Dani Tucker and Rochelle Radstone| Mews-London.com Describe your designs in three words: Timeless.

Confident. Effortless.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry?

We have a shared passion and enthusiasm for accessories and a mutual love of jewelry. Having all come from creative backgrounds, we formed Mews London to explore this industry further. Jewelry plays a huge part in our individual identities as women.

Fragments, our signature collection, embodies this.

What materials do you most like to work with? We love to work with materials that feel luxurious but are affordable such as gold-plated brass, semi-precious stones, chain, and Swarovski crystal elements. We feel the juxtaposition of these materials creates something truly interesting.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Fashion fades, style is eternal. Stick to designs you love, be brave and fearless.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Turning a dream into a reality and seeing our initial designs being brought to life.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? We are all obsessed with Lindt chilli flavor chocolate. Our office is never without it.

Priceless means: Something which you always keep close to your heart—a recipe, a memory, spontaneity, doing what you love and tirelessly laughing in the office everyday.

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Images courtesy of Claire English

CLAIRE ENGLISH

Designer: Claire English | ClaireEnglish.com Describe your designs in three words: Unmistakably English and unforgettable.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I began selling my work with a stall at Portobello market on Fridays. I soon got spotted by Jo Malone who introduced me to Stephen Webster, who became my mentor. The jewelry trade is full of generous characters who have helped me along my way.

What materials do you most like to work with? Found objects, particularly magpie parts, silver, gold and gemstones.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? How important it is to cultivate resilience and to persevere.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? I felt I must be doing something right when I saw Vivienne Westwood wearing one of my necklaces, a top a tank, in the Guardian newspaper last summer.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? Only one?! There are far too many to choose.

Priceless means: Time to dream.

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Images courtesy of Branch on the Park

BRANCH ON THE PARK

Image courtesy of Branch on the Park

Designer: Julia Cook | BranchonthePark.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Colorful. Beautiful.

Organic.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I’ve been obsessed with colorful gems ever since I was small and I’d make jewelry with my sisters, Susanna and Louisa. We’d visit the Bead Shop in Covent Garden, buy loads of beads and make lots of jewelry.

As time went on, we then hired a stall at craft fairs and sold it all.

We used to do really well. Even though I loved it, I didn’t plan on making a career out of jewelry design.

After a two year art foundation course, I went to take a look at Central Saint Martins for what I thought was a ceramics and jewelry course, as I wanted to be a ceramicist. I was then told it was only jewelry but I had a really good feeling about the place so went for an interview anyway, passed and ended up studying there for three years.

What materials do you most like to work with? I adore color and take great delight in picking gemstones. I love to use them in pretty much all of my jewelry and like to work in gold the best, 18ct & 22ct being my favorite.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Jewelry has taught me that it is an incredibly special thing.

It is given at momentous times in someone’s life—an engagement, a wedding, an anniversary, a birthday— and represents love and new life and marks important dates. Jewelry and its memories last forever and are passed down through generations.

I often see the emotions expressed after a piece of jewelry I have made has been given—the tears, laughter and gratitude of what it means to them and how special it is. When you are making commissions for clients you get to know them. I feel very privileged to be doing something that means so much and brings such happiness. I love my job.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? My greatest accomplishment was opening my shop nearly six years ago and an even better one, is that it is a success and gets better and better each year!

Priceless means: Something that is irreplaceable and loved very much, whether its a pebble from the beach given to you from a memorable holiday, a painting from your son or daughter, your dog and of course my lovely husband! Family, love and happiness.

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Images courtesy of Ellie Air

A I R E L L I E

Designer: Lauren Rowden | EllieAir.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Minimal. Classic. Timeless.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? It was quite accidental. I left school, didn’t want to go to university and so got a job in a jewelry shop. I fell in love with gemology and the traditional craft, and the owner mentored me through an apprenticeship for a few years.

What materials do you most like to work with? I love gemstones, and would put them in every design if I could. I love working in 18ct gold too, it’s fun to work with and finishes up so well.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? You can achieve anything if you are truly passionate about it; that passion seeps into everything you do and make.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? I think that every piece I’ve ever made takes it’s own place in my list of accomplishments. I have been selected for this year’s New Designer of the Year Award, and last year won the Adorn Insight Award 2015.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I studied in Florence, Italy.

Priceless means: Time and love.

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Images courtesy of Gee Woods

W O O D S G E E

Image courtesy of Gee Woods

Designer: Gee Woods | GeeWoods.com Describe Gee Woods in three words: Simple. Linear.

Luxurious.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I got made redundant from my job as office manager and was offered a temporary position at a jewelers. I ended up staying there for three, very happy years where I got so much experience and completed a gemology course. I then decided that the time had come to branch out on my own, so I enrolled myself in the GIA design course where I learned a huge amount about how to sketch working drawings of jewelry from all angles. The rest, as they say, is history.

What materials do you most like to work with? Gold, gold and more gold! There is something so luxurious about a heavy, yellow gold ring. I love working with diamonds but am equally happy with a beautiful yellow sapphire, tourmaline or citrine.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life?

Always follow your instincts and your own style. You have to make pieces of jewelry you love and not to simply fit into a certain style bracket. Oh, and life’s too short to wear jewelry you don’t like.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? It was amazing to be included among Retail Jewellers Magazine’s Top 30 Rising Stars Under 30 however, every time I finish a bespoke piece I get a great feeling of accomplishment.

Priceless means: Weekends away in the countryside with family, friends and my adorable little pup Lola. I’m always such a busy bee, so it’s good sometimes to take a break from it all and really unwind in peace and quiet—often in the local country pub!

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Images courtesy of Lion Studio

LION STUDIO

Designer: Lei Sihan | LionStudio.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Purity. Challenge. Originality.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I was inspired by my grandma’s collection, specifically an antique silver hair pin with blue enamel, marked with the handcrafter’s name.

What materials do you most like to work with? I use different materials with each collection, and I decide on the materials depending on the final look I want to portray. For example, with my the Shape of Time collection, I used lots of metal (silver or golden plated brass) as I wanted to keep the look very minimalistic.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Caution, the limit on a limited situation. Be positive.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Lion Studio is one of the winners and the only jewelry brand to be selected as a New Pioneer Designer 2015 for Centre of Fashion Enterprise in U.K. from hundreds of fashion brands.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I love reading poems, I recently read Elizabeth Bishop’s.

Priceless means: My own time and space, and of course, my family’s happiness.

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Images courtesy of Mabel Hasell

MABEL HASELL

Image courtesy of Mabel Hasell

Designer: Mabel Hasell | MabelHasell.com Describe your designs in three words: Vibrant. Personal.

Unique.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I grew up on a farm in a small country village in Devon. That environment gave me the opportunity to explore and be creative from a young age. I would create sculptures from obscure rusty pieces of metal lying around in old barns. I have always liked the idea of transforming old scraps into something beautiful. My love of art led me to study Fine Art locally before moving to London in 2006 where I did a degree in jewelry design at Middlesex University.

What materials do you most like to work with? I like to work with both raw crystals and cut, polished gems with silver and gold. No gemstone is the same, which means each ring is crafted around the specific shape of each stone, their shapes directly influence the design of each piece. My personal favorite stones to work with are sapphires and raw aquamarine crystals. The end products are slightly uneven to compliment and embrace the vibrant stones.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? If you put your mind to it you can make a living from your passion. It’s quite special to make a very personal piece which someone will hopefully wear for a long time.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Selling to a celebrity was a welcome surprise! I sold a ring to Stockard Channing—Rizzo from Grease.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I’m quite a big yogi, it’s the perfect way to unwind after spending the day at the bench.

Priceless means: A beautiful ring that someone can cherish forever.

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Images courtesy of Punam Gudka

L O N D O N S B

Designer: Punam Gudka | SBLondon.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Everyday. Elegant. Eclectic.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? In late 2013, I was creating capsule collections of one-of-a-kind fashion accessories using luxury Indian printed fabrics and vintage textiles. While on a sourcing trip to India, I visited Jaipur, the Pink City. I fell in love with it’s beautiful, rich architecture and abundance of precious and semi precious gemstones. I found myself going from shop to shop, looking for high-quality gemstones at the right price. On my return to London I began hand-making very bohemian, one-of-a-kind beaded earrings and necklaces with all that I had collected, but this was not enough. The creative juices were flowing, I was inspired, I wanted more, so I started working on more technical designs using precious metals. I wanted to design quality pieces that would make great heirlooms with high-end appeal. Soon the Bella Ball Pendant evolved and it just went from there.

What materials do you most like to work with? Precious and semi-precious gemstones, their natural beauty can really bring a design to life. They also have great energy, healing powers and can celebrate someone’s birthday or an important anniversary.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Make the most of every opportunity and talk to as many people as possible, you never know what doors it may open.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? In 2012, whilst pregnant with my daughter, I found the courage to follow my heart into the fashion world. A world I had always dreamed of working in. I explored all aspects of the industry, and took the time to learn new skills, techniques, develop designs and experiment with different materials. It is this journey that led to the launch of SB LONDON, Fashion Fine Jewellery in 2015.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I love to play scrabble on my iPad. Priceless means: Spending quality time with my family and the sound of my daughter’s laughter.

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Images courtesy of Lee Renee

R E N E E L E E

Image courtesy of Lee Renee

Designer: Lee Renee | LeeRenee.co.uk Describe your designs in three words: Delicate. Timeless.

Fun. How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I worked in advertising agencies in London for many years, but I have always loved jewelry and really wanted to work with my hands, so I decided to take a risk and change my life for the better.

I retrained as a silversmith and studied part-time while still working my old job, then I got a lucky break by securing an apprenticeship for a year in Hatton Garden—London’s jewelry quarter. They taught me some amazing skills which gave me the confidence to launch my own brand Lee Renee, three and a half years ago. It’s not easy changing professions but it’s definitely the bravest and best decision I ever made.

What materials do you most like to work with? I love to work in silver as it’s such a flexible, beautiful metal that only looks better as it ages. But I’m also experimenting with making pieces in solid gold which is a joy and makes each piece I create feel extra special.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life?

That to create something exceptional, you have to be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail, and to never give up on things, hard work and perseverance really do shine through, even if it takes longer than you imagined.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date?

Being voted into Vogue Magazine’s list of Jewelry Designers to watch for 2015, that made me so proud.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you?

When I was eleven, I won a contest to design a new cartoon character for Disney, and Madonna featured it in her Dear Jessie video, that was pretty cool.

Priceless means: Something or someone that makes you smile every day and that you cannot live without.

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Images courtesy of Allumer London

ALLUMER LONDON

Designer: Natasha Leith-Smith | Allumer.co.uk How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I made a bracelet for myself and when my friend saw it, she absolutely loved it and asked me to make one for her. She got lots of compliments and people would ask her where they could get one. She featured the bracelet in her column in Vogue calling it ‘the Rolls Royce’ of friendship bracelets and just like that, Allumer was born.

What materials do you most like to work with? I really love to work with different types of gold, silver and precious gemstones.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Life can create unexpected opportunities.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Of course winning Every Woman Retail Ambassador 2015 award was a great achievement for me. As was winning Fashion Accessory of the Year 2015 award from BTAA. I love being able to support charities through the work I do so collaborating with Style for Stroke to create a pendant and charm bracelet to support the charity was very rewarding. I also worked with the children’s charity CORAM to design a bespoke pendant to be auctioned off to raise money for the charity.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I lived in Hong Kong for twenty-five years.

Priceless means: Incomparable. Invaluable. Inspired

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Images courtesy of Daniella Draper

DANIELLA DRAPER

Image courtesy of Daniella Draper

Designer: Daniella Draper | DaniellaDraper.com Describe your designs in three words: Timeless.

Sentimental. British.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I started making metal sculptures when I was on my Art and Design Foundation course at De Monteford university. I found that working with metal came very naturally to me which inspired me to go on to study a Degree in Jewellery Design at Central Saint Martins which was where I started to make and design jewelry.

What materials do you most like to work with?

I love working with silver, it’s easy to work and play with, plus it looks great. Gold is my go-to for special items, I wear mainly gold myself. I find it so exotic and precious.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? It has shown me how much love and generosity there is in the world. As a lot of my items are personalized, I am so touched at how thoughtful and generous people can be to the ones they love.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Opening my third store and hearing great praise and encouragement from customers.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I’m incredibly superstitious!

Priceless means: Something that gives you that much joy you could never ever put a price on it.

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Images courtesy of Daou Jewellery

DAOU JEWELLERY

Designer: Dalia Daou | DaouJewellery.com Describe your designs in three words: Elegant. Modern. Thoughtful.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I trained in gemology at the GIA, design at Holts and Central Saint Martins after a lifetime of familiarity with fine jewelry and art practice. Daou was originally founded in 1930, in another world though and after an interrupted history I have revived the jewelry family name in London.

Debuting with the Stars collection, followed by Sunset Sunrise modern impressionistic colorful pieces, Sparks and Quanta collections, all referencing light in its wondrous forms, colors and effects.

What materials do you most like to work with? 18 carat gold and white gold, diamonds, and all the colored gemstones from opal to sapphires in all their shades.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Every person likes something different.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? Being shortlisted for the U.K. Jewellery Awards New Designer of the Year (the winner has yet to be announced). Showing at London Fashion Week.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I have a degree in Physics.

Priceless means: Irreplaceable, whether jewels, people or memories.

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Images courtesy of Miriam SOS

M Y R I A M S O S

Image courtesy of Miriam SOS

Designer: Myriam Soseilos | Myriamsos. co.uk

to follow my passion and work really hard in the process. By challenging the conventional, in the end, it is really about discovering abilities that I didn’t know existed!

Describe your designs in three words: Edgy. Transformable. Unique.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? Well, my career actually started in accounting, so jewelry design has been a truly big leap! I was born into a family of accountants and was always expected to join the family business. My professional journey took me from accountancy to advertising and journalism, and my creative search brought me to the world of design. As a result of personal and professional evolution and transformation, I have discovered that jewelry design is my true calling.

What materials do you most like to work with? My jewelry pieces are defined by attention to detail using gold and diamond, rubies, aquamarine, citrine, emeralds and sapphires. I love experimenting and innovating with shapes, color and functionality. Carefully selected, high quality materials ensure structural integrity and long-time guarantee. My signature feature: the invisible diamond stone setting that matches the embodied architectural design ethos.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? The fundamental learning for me through my journey in jewelry design has been to trust my gut and to dare to stretch myself out of my comfort zone—Be comfortable, being uncomfortable! It has taught me not to accept that anything is outside my reach,

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? It has to be my Transformers’ Collection. I always strive for innovation in design; through my collections I have pioneered new techniques and never ceased to explore new, more intricate designs, aiming to raise the bar in the crafting of diamond jewelry.

To create transformable jewelry it is essential to have additional, specialized knowledge and skills in jewelry design and making. A combination of product design, technical knowledge and excellent craftsmanship skills are required. My Transformers’ Collection is the outcome of years of design research, skilled artistry and excellent 3Design CAD knowledge and practice, it is a further “step” to the usual “static” jewelry the industry and clients are accustomed to.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I have a fear of cats.

If a cat unexpectedly brushes through my legs under the table in a public restaurant, expect to find me standing on my chair!

Priceless means: A deep meaningful personal experience, good or bad. Such experiences are priceless collector’s items.

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Images courtesy of Michelle Oh

MICHELLE OH

Designer: Michelle Oh | Michelle-Oh.com Describe your designs in three words: Organic. Uncommon. Playful.

How did you get started in the jewelry industry? I had a mass of experimental prototypes from the projects I did while studying jewelry design at Central Saint Martins. In 2010, I discovered Etsy and began selling some of my creations Online. I was so happy to be able to turn a hobby into a living, and I never stopped making since then.

What materials do you most like to work with? I love working in gold, it’s a very satisfying metal to work with. There is a permanence about solid gold that is appealing to me, but at the same time metal is surprisingly forgiving. If you make a mistake, you can melt it all down and start over again. There is minimal waste when working with metal, even the gold dust that accumulates can be collected and refined back into ‘new’ metal.

What’s one thing jewelry design has taught you about life? Patience.

What’s your greatest professional accomplishment to date? More than any accolade or juicy bit of press, I honestly feel like there is nothing that makes me feel more accomplished than a job well done. I specialize in creating bespoke alternative wedding jewelry and it still blows my mind to think that there are couples out there, committed to wearing something I’ve made everyday for the rest of their lives! Each completed job feels like a shiny new medal.

What’s one thing people would never guess about you? I giggle when I’m nervous.

Priceless means: Something only you know the true value of.

BEJEWELED: London Jewelry Designers You Need To Know

This gorgeous design book—created by Heaven Has Heels’ Angela Gilltrap—features exclusive interviews from more than 30 of London’s hottest jewelry designers. In their own words, each designer shares their inspiration, process, and role in shaping today’s contemporary jewelry world. Uplifting and insightful, this is the definitive resource for accessory lovers, stylists and aspiring designers. For more inspired accessory design head to HeavenHasHeels.com.

ANGELA GILLTRAP is an award-wining fashion editor and author of five books, two television series’, several documentaries and countless articles for publications internationally. She has traversed the globe—in ridiculously high heels— all in the name of fashion. As Global Content Director of Lot 17 Media and Editor-In-Chief of Heaven Has Heels magazine she likes her heels as high as her standards and has a passion for showcasing independent talent and emerging designers. — AngelaGilltrap.us