Rosie Greener, Good Daze
When it comes to jewellery design, we’ve got you covered. We’ve scoured the creative industry to find some of the best independent jewellers out there, producing gorgeous handcrafted necklaces, bracelets, rings and much more. These are makers who either run a side venture or full-time gig, all creating beautiful products that we wanted to share.
It’s been a few years since we last
As always, we like to give a little background to each business and then pick out a favourite product that we think you’ll also like. Be warned: budgets will vary. And if we’ve missed someone you think deserves to be added to this list, tweet or email us, and we’ll see what we can do.
1. LeSter
Founder Aishleen Lester originally trained as an artist after finishing her master’s at the Royal Academy. Among other projects, she made large-scale, fragile installations out of sugar resin for commercial spaces like Selfridges. “I must admit they did not travel well on freight ships, which forced me to rethink my career path,” she says.
She later enrolled on a soldering cause that introduced her to fine jewellery. “At the time, I thought you could substitute one world with another, turn you back on the art world and substitute it with the jewellery world. But as I develop, I realise that the knowledge and outlook carved as an artist informs much of what I do now,” Aishleen says. “The creative arc is much formed by failure than by success.”
Launching her debut engagement collection,
LeSter
2. Kassandra Lauren Gordon
Based in London,
As a cultural and creative consultant working across visual arts, film, live events and audio, Kassandra has curated an impressive portfolio working in collaboration with organisations. She has been a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of the Arts, and her film Gemstones: Lessons in Unconditional Love was officially selected for the London Independent Film Festival in 2022.
“When I was 13, I noticed that jewellery transformed people,” she says. “I saw when people wear jewellery; it brings their personality to life. There is a freedom to choose pieces that speak to you, that are about personal expression, and tap into your experiences.
“My pieces appeal to human beings who are bold, fearless and unapologetic about who they are. They have the courage to show themselves and allow them to continue on a journey of discovery about their own growth and the world around them.”
Winner of the Jewel Award (2021), Kassandra’s lightbulb moment came in 2020, she says, as she started to express her own voice in her work and used it to support other people in different mediums. We love her
Roots & Reggae by Kassandra Lauren Gordon
3. Good Daze
Rosie Greener is the founder and designer behind
Going on to study a BA in Jewellery Design at Central St Martins enabled Rosie to further explore her ideas, work on her practice and learn more about the technical side of jewellery making. “It wasn’t long before I realised a strong preference for designing over making and consciously aimed my career in that direction,” she says.
She’s since launched a successful business, with highlights including selling pieces in a Selfridges pop-up store and collaborating on a sell-out jewellery collection with Lazy Oaf. “My aim is to create jewellery that evokes happiness, and seeing people enjoying and wearing it in their own way is what inspires me,” she says. Check out her intricate, dazzling
Good Daze Sunny Day Ring
4. Adriana Chede
Born in São Paulo,
Having studied Jewellery Design at Parsons Paris and completed a master’s at the European Institute of Design in Rome, Adriana has worked with jewellery design houses in Copenhagen, Milan, Rome and Paris. She moved to London to set up her eponymous fine jewellery brand in 2018.
For Adriana, jewellery has always represented a celebration of life. She discovered her passion for the craft in childhood when her father would give her mother a piece to celebrate the birth of each of their five children and special anniversaries. We love her
The
5. SLAB Jewellery
Her practice was founded on an ethos of original design, traditional craftsmanship and eco-friendly production, and each piece is made from recycled gold or silver, using antique tools and the traditional lost-wax casting technique. Intricate models are hand-carved in wax, resulting in a unique character and a beautifully textured finish. We especially love her
Sacred Heart Pendant by SLAB
6. Claire Hibon Jewellery
A French multidisciplinary artist living in South London,
Influenced by her background in textile design, Claire draws on her experiences travelling the world to capture beautiful aspects of nature in her jewellery. Having worked with top jewellery designers throughout her career, she’s spent the last few years developing her unique style and technique. Check out her beautiful
Claire Hibon Jewellery
7. Madeleine Holloway
A British jewellery designer and maker from the Cotswolds,
specialises in gold and silver jewellery with a rustic finish. She designs her own collections as well as specialising in bespoke upcycling services, repurposing vintage, family heirloom jewellery into new bold and modern designs while respecting their sentimental attachment.
To mark the year of the King’s coronation, she’s created a fabulous limited edition collection based around a special mark released by The Assay Office. These rings look fantastic and are a brilliant way to mark a special event in 2023, such as a christening, wedding or graduation. From her regular collections, meanwhile, we love her
Madeleine Holloway
8. Ara The Altar
Designer and creator Lauren translates this inspiration into the sourcing, creating and offering of beautiful, unique objects for Earth-aware individuals. Embracing the slow fashion movement, every piece is made to order in her workshop in North West England, using only 100% recycled solid silver and gold.
With ethics and sustainability influencing every decision, careful considerations are made at every step of the production process. We especially adore her
Sea of Vapour by Ara The Altar
9. SKEN Studios
Founded by
Just released is SKEN’s
Various rings by SKEN Studios
10. Zoe Sherwood
Inspired by her mother, a seamstress and her father’s interest in graphic design, Londoner
Produced ethically and finished by hand, her pieces are empowering, unusual and bursting with life. We particularly love her fun yet empowering
Hope ring by Zoe Sherwood