New Dealer: Creative Jewellery Company

This week we put the spotlight on Creative Jewellery Company, who have recently joined Alfies.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your company?

I come from a family of talented creative people, grandmother who was wardrobe mistress and dressmaker at the Old Vic Theatre, father and grandfather bespoke tailors to the entertainment and sporting industry.

I started off training at the Central St Martins school in Aldgate, (formally Sir John Cass School of Art), gained further knowledge at a jewellery company in Greater London, after two years was asked to join an upmarket fine jewellery company, in London's fashionable Marylebone High Street whose clients included celebrities and dignitaries, I setup a workshop there where I developed my abilities of designing and making fine jewellery to understanding and interpreting customers'  needs and requirements in the field of jewellery making, repairing and restoring.

Being passionate about jewellery making is something that comes from the heart (in my opinion).

My work varies from a silver range of jewellery with a very unusual range of "ripple effect" items, where no two pieces are the same, to alterations and restorations, (example, a ring that was driven over and was completely flat, was restored to its former glory rather than being scrapped), to creating unique bespoke creations from paper sketch to works of art.

Do you have a personal favourite in your collection? 

The diamond heart and tsavorite hinged bracelt, the Mimi Cross, the diamond flower & petal ring which is made of 29 seperate components of platinum, the Gold Flying V guitar pendant and the silver "Elements of inner earth" pendant, that took many attempts to create the design I was looking for.

"Elements of inner earth" pendant

Gold flying V guitar pendant

Mimi Cross

What is your favourite metal to work with ?

I prefer 18 carat gold and platinum, but love silver as well.

You also do jewellery repair are there any differences in doing repairs to new, vintage and antique jewellery?

Yes, there are many differences, most important for me is checking for any previous repairs before starting work on the item.

Crushed Ring

Crushed ring being repaired

Crushed ring restored to its former glory

What would you recommend for maintenance and care of jewellery, gold and silver?

TLC, treat jewellery with care, clean and gently polish the metal with soft silver or jewellery cleaning cloths, never use oil based solutions for cleaning any stones... Always get advice from a reputable jeweller for liquid cleaning any jewellery with stones in.

What is your favourite part of the job in your work as a jewellery designer and repair expert?

That's easy, the look of joy and excitement on clients faces when they finally see the finished article, the hugs are bonus too.

It's a great feeling as a craftsman to be able to put a smile on so many people's face and to create objects of art that hopefully will last a lifetime.

Creative Jewellery Company
Stand S052
Tel: 07754 059 856

Georgian gems

During the Georgian era (1714-1830) arts, architecture and literature flourished in the UK, with noted names such as Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, John Constable, J.M.V Turner, Robert Adam and John Nash making memorable contributions in their respective fields. The British Museum was established in 1753 and its growing collection of items from abroad brought new influences and decorative developments in the arts and architecture.

Georgian jewellery was inspired by the trends in architecture and interior decoration of the Rococo, Neoclassical and Gothic styles which spanned over the Georgian years. Designs from nature were popular; birds, flowers, leaves, insects, acorns, feathers, as well as intaglios, mosaic, the Greek key, hearts and urns. Cameos became fashionable in 1804 when Napoleon had Roman cameos placed on his coronation crown. Other prominent design forms of the Georgian period are bezels, foilbacked stones, low flat goldwork, cobalt blue and black and white enamelling. In essence, jewellery was elaborate and beautifully designed, such as this set from Marie Antiques.

Amazing Georgian Parure jewellery set in 15ct gold featuring pink topaz and pearls. All pieces present and within original box.

Miniatures containing pictures of loved ones were popular and the dead were remembered with early mourning jewellery, memento mori, which were decorated with skeletons, coffins, skulls and crossbones. Other prominent inventions were glass paste copies of real gems as well as a substitute for gold called "pinchbeck" named after its inventor. The best and most lasting paste jewellery was produced after 1734 by Georges Strass. Diamonds were the favoured gem at the beginning of the Georgian period, with coloured stones coming back in fashion in the 1750's. Emeralds, rubies, and sapphires were worn along with new stones like white-imperial-pink topaz, amethyst, chartreuse chrysoberyl, coral, ivory, pearls, and garnets. In addition, lava, shell, onyx, and carnelian became popular with the introduction of carved classical theme jewellery.

A 15ct gold ring with buckle style shoulders set with a large cabochon cut garnet stone from Peter and Naneen Brooks

Natural materials such as pearl and coral were favoured together with precious stones, seen in these seed pearl earrings from Peter and Naneen Brooks and multi-strand coral necklace with carved coral sections, also from Peter and Naneen Brooks

Fine gold work was celebrated in the Georgian period and items were made to the highest standard, like this beautiful French gold mesh purse in 18ct gold with sapphire and pearls from Marie Antiques.

Bright colours were combined with decorative motifs later on in the Georgian period, for example the strong blue together with a plant in this Bristol blue glass set ring with diamonds, ca 1830 from Peter and Naneen Brooks