THE SHOOT

Shirt jacket £359, skirt £225

Jacket £315, top £255, trousers £215, sandals £175, bag £215

Blazer £359, shirt £169, trousers £179, sandals £235

Blazer £359, blouse £179, trousers £179, clutch £199, sandals £235

Jewel of BUCKS

Connie Platten, of The Jewellery Workshop in Old Amersham, explains what makes them such a gem

Q When did you first open your doors and why Old Amersham?

A We opened in January 1999, choosing Old Amersham as it was and still is a beautiful market town and a lovely area to work in. When we first started, many coach tours would stop in the Old Town and the tourists, from all over the world, would visit and could see our goldsmith at work.

Q Today, what kind of experience do you o er when clients visit?

A We have an extensive showroom, allowing our customers to browse. Once we get a feel for what they are looking for we can o er help choosing/designing a new piece or getting pieces in for them to view.

Q What types of jewellery do you stock?

A We o er all types of jewellery from silver, gold, diamonds, watches, and a lovely range of pre-owned pieces. Diamond rings are always a favourite, and we cater for all budgets.

Q How does your bespoke service work?

A Every customer is di erent, and we treat each commission accordingly. If a customer is not sure on a design, we get them to pick a few pieces from our showroom stock to get a feel for their style, and work from there. Sometimes we will make a piece up in silver so that they can try it on and get an exact idea of what the finished item will look like. Of course, there is also the CAD (computer aided design) option as well, but you can’t beat the feeling of actually trying something for size.

Q Have you created some ‘out there’ pieces in the past?

A We were once commissioned to handmake a Mickey Mouse watch in yellow gold, with each link in the watch bracelet being Mickey’s face.

Q What does having a workshop on site mean you can o er?

SILVER AND COPPER CIRCLE PENDANT & CHAIN £110 MATCHING EARRINGS £35

A Customers like the idea of their precious pieces being repaired on site. We can also o er a quick turnaround.

Q How tough has the pandemic and lockdowns been for you?

A Like everyone else and for our own sanity we tried keeping busy, preparing the workshop and showroom for when we were able to re-open.

Q What are your hopes for the future?

A To continue to provide the excellent level of service. Although we have had to move with the times, we still hope to provide that personal service that our customers appreciate.

THE JEWELLERY WORKSHOP AMERSHAM

2 Market Square, Amersham HP7 0DQ 01494 434178 jewelleryworkshopamersham.co.uk

18CT WHITE GOLD, AQUA MARINE AND DIAMOND RING £2,250

BEAUTY & HEALTH

FRESH FACED

HOW TO HYDRATE As winter comes to an end, our skin is at its dryest. We research all the best ways to keep yourself looking your best over the next few pages, from food intake to the latest products on the market.