The Story Behind My Gemstones

Before I ever pick up a saw or light my torch, a piece of jewellery has already begun its story.

Natural gemstones have spent millions of years forming beneath the earth's surface. Pressure, heat and time create the colours, textures and inclusions that make every stone completely unique. It's this individuality that first draws me in.

I never expect two gemstones to be identical, and I wouldn't want them to be. A flash of blue in a labradorite, the delicate inclusions within a quartz or the rich depth of a sapphire all become part of the design. Rather than trying to make a gemstone fit an idea, I prefer to let the stone guide me.

Finding those gemstones is a process I enjoy just as much as making the jewellery itself.

Over the years, I've developed relationships with trusted gemstone dealers both in the UK and overseas. They understand the quality I'm looking for and share my respect for the materials they source. Whenever I buy gemstones, I want to know that they have come from reputable suppliers who are committed to responsible and ethical trading practices.

Ethical sourcing is important to me because every gemstone has travelled a long way before arriving on my workbench. While it's not always possible to trace every stone back to its exact origin, I believe it's important to work with suppliers who value transparency and care about the people and places involved in that journey.

I'm incredibly fortunate to have built a long-standing relationship with Marcus McCallum in Hatton Garden, whose expertise and eye for exceptional gemstones has helped me source some truly extraordinary stones. Many of the pieces I create today begin with a gemstone that Marcus has carefully selected for me.

The tiny inclusions, unusual colour variations and organic shapes that some people see as imperfections are often the very details that make me fall in love with a stone. They remind us that this is something created by nature, not manufactured in a factory.

Many of my pieces begin with a tray of gemstones spread across my bench.

I'll spend time turning them in the light, looking at them from every angle and waiting for one to stand out. Sometimes I know immediately how I'd like to use it. Other times, a gemstone may sit in my collection for months before the right design reveals itself.

That slower, thoughtful approach is one of the joys of creating handmade jewellery.

It means every piece has been designed around the character of the gemstone itself, rather than treating the stone as simply another component.

When you choose one of my pieces, you're not just choosing silver, gold and a beautiful gemstone. You're choosing a stone that has taken millions of years to form, has been carefully selected for its individuality and has been handcrafted into jewellery that is entirely unique.

For me, that's what makes handmade jewellery so special.

Every gemstone has a story to tell. If you have a stone that's been waiting for a new beginning, I'd love to help bring it to life through my commission work. And if one of my one-of-a-kind pieces has caught your eye, you're very welcome to visit my studio and see it for yourself before making a decision.