Jewellery that Dazzled at The Goldsmiths' Fair 2021
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Last week, I made a visit to The Goldsmiths' Fair - a prestigious showcase of some of the UK's finest jewellery makers and silversmiths.
Organised by The Goldsmiths' Company the fair took place over two weeks in the gloriously opulent Grade 1 listed, gold leafed, chandelier-ed setting of Goldsmiths' Hall. Over 130 makers were present all of whom had undergone a rigorous selection process to take part. To qualify jewellery must contain an element of precious metal, and materials and craftsmanship have to be of the highest quality.
The jewellery in gold, silver and brightly coloured gems dazzled. Be your taste contemporary or traditional, bold or conservative, armed with a reasonable budget, there was something to suit everybody. Pieces could be bought direct from the makers on the stands or commissioned to collect at a later date.
Since we are entering into Autumn/Winter I was particularly drawn to warm colours and pieces of jewellery encrusted with brightly coloured precious or semi-precious gems - think emeralds, sapphires, garnets and rubys that complement a pale winter complexion. Here are a few of my favourites:
1) Ella Fearon-Low's delicious candy coloured brooches. Using traditional jewellery making techniques, precious and non-precious materials (recycled gold, oxidised silver, gold vermeil, Lucite, wood, vintage and fresh water pearls) are manipulated into fresh, funky brooches.
Ella won Best New Design Award at the Goldsmiths' Fair.
2) Castro Smith's hand engraved signet rings. Castro started training as a painter and printmaker before joining the Goldsmiths Company as an apprentice. His hand engraved signet rings have a fantastical, illustrative style. I particularly liked the gold heart rings with cornflower blue ceramic plated engravings.
4) Origin 31's The Wedge 9 ct Gemstone Ring. A playful ring inspired by a board game favourite. Can you guess which? Rings can be made in any combination of precious or semi-precious gemstones.
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- Tags: 18 ct gold, Abby Mosseri, acquamarines, brooches, Castro Smith, Ella Fearon-Low, emeralds, fine jewellery, garnets, gold, Goldsmiths' Centre, Goldsmiths' Fair, Goldsmiths' Hall, jewellery, jewellery makers, Origin 31, pearls, precious jewellery, rings, rubys, Samuel Waterhouse, sapphires, semi precious jewellery, signet rings, silver, silversmiths, tourmalines