We have a winner! 

Thank you to all those who took part in our Graduates in the Spotlight competition, from those who entered submissions, everyone who took the time to vote and our finalists, Sally-Anne Fenton and Jessica Nam.  Here's the interview that we carried out with Elise Goldin earlier this week.

Designer Interview  - Elise Goldin

What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

From a young age I enjoyed doing anything creative. I grew up watching Art Attack, Smart Art and Blue Peter, always trying to recreate what they made on the shows!

Although I studied Art & Design at university, I wasn’t sure which speciality I was going to choose upon graduation.

I was encouraged to show a concept jewellery collection at New Designers 2012, which gained a fair amount of attention. I realised that I had side-lined what came naturally to me, and what I got pure enjoyment out of, which was designing and making jewellery.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (Either made or purchased)

Whenever I make a new piece for the Facet collection, I always say, “Ooh, this is my favourite”! But overall, I would have to say it would be a pair of engraved feather earrings I made for my mum’s birthday. They were the first things I made when I moved into Flux studios, so they have sentimental value. I get real enjoyment out of seeing my friends and family wearing my jewellery. 

Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

Currently it’s Solange Knowles. She’s got a very unique and brave sense of style, that is cutting-edge and she never shies away from colour! 

I can envisage my ‘Facet’ collection enhancing almost any of her outfit choices.

Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try?

If I hadn’t chosen jewellery as a path, I would have probably have gone down the route of Set-Design. I love the idea of creating a world from your imagination and turning it into a reality.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I will be releasing some Facet sub-collections; limited edition, couture, and adding new earthy colours for an autumn/winter collection.

There is still time to vote in our graduates in the spotlight competition!  Head to our facebook poll or send us an email: info@nudejewellery.co.uk and tell us who you'd like to win.

Designer Interview Elise Goldin

What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

From a young age I enjoyed doing anything creative. I grew up watching Art Attack, Smart Art and Blue Peter, always trying to recreate what they made on the shows!

Although I studied Art & Design at university, I wasn’t sure which speciality I was going to choose upon graduation.

I was encouraged to show a concept jewellery collection at New Designers 2012, which gained a fair amount of attention. I realised that I had side-lined what came naturally to me, and what I got pure enjoyment out of, which was designing and making jewellery.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (Either made or purchased)

Whenever I make a new piece for the Facet collection, I always say, “Ooh, this is my favourite”! But overall, I would have to say it would be a pair of engraved feather earrings I made for my mum’s birthday. They were the first things I made when I moved into Flux studios, so they have sentimental value. I get real enjoyment out of seeing my friends and family wearing my jewellery. 

Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

Currently it’s Solange Knowles. She’s got a very unique and brave sense of style, that is cutting-edge and she never shies away from colour! 

I can envisage my ‘Facet’ collection enhancing almost any of her outfit choices.

Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try?

If I hadn’t chosen jewellery as a path, I would have probably have gone down the route of Set-Design. I love the idea of creating a world from your imagination and turning it into a reality.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I will be releasing some Facet sub-collections; limited edition, couture, and adding new earthy colours for an autumn/winter collection.

Designer Interview Sally-Anne Fenton

What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

As a child I was constantly drawing or making something and I always knew I wanted to do something creative. I went on to do the general art course at Duncan of Jordanstone and I found that I was more passionate about design. I realised that I wanted to create wearable 3D objects that people could enjoy, which then lead me into a career in jewellery design.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)

My favourite piece has to be the 3 dome stone set ring I made for my degree show. I made my collection in memory of my grandmother using fabrics from her clothes. That ring in particular holds such personal meaning and sentimental value.

I want to do this for my customers too and give them something totally unique and special in which to remember their loved one. I want to encourage them to come into the studio and actively take part in making their pieces, I think that process makes the end result even more special.

Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

I'd love to see Zooey Deschanel wearing my jewellery. I love her vintage inspired, quirky yet classy style and she is so beautiful.

Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try?

I'd love to do a gemmology course as I've always been fascinated by stones. If I hadn't gone into jewellery I think I would have gone down the fashion textiles route. I'd definitely want to be making something or doing something creative.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I'm currently working on my new collection Black Lace which will be on display at this years IJL and I'm working on a men's version too. I've always wanted to do a one off cocktail ring collection, I've accumulated so many lovely gemstones over the years it seems such a shame to leave them sitting in a box!

I've also got a few other ideas that I'm working on at the moment but I'm not giving anything away just yet - you'll need to wait and see!

Voting closes on Wednesday 15th May, cast your vote now in our facebook poll, or send us an email: info@nudejewellery.co.uk with the name of your winnner.

We want to help you get to know our graduate designers a bit better so each finalist has given us an exclusive interview.  Voting closes on Wednesday 15th May.  You can either cast your vote on our facebook poll or send us an email, info@nudejewellery.co.uk, with your chosen winner!  Get voting!

Designer Interview Jessica Nam

What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

I’ve grown up always preferring to make things I could use or wear and I get a lot of satisfaction from seeing a concept through from the very beginning to the hand finished piece. I’ve never felt fulfilled working in an office environment or in a routine and have always enjoyed being practically creative. I love the variety product design can bring as a jewellery designer, I can work with the opulence and colour of precious gem stones and then wear something precious that is beautifully made from quality materials. The feeling I get from seeing someone wear a piece I’ve designed and hand made myself is fabulous!!

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (Either made or purchased)

I’m tied between my diamond and tourmaline Crevice rings and my engagement ring! I think it would have to be my engagement and wedding rings as they mean so much to me. I had them commissioned by an amazing designer before I finished my training. They are bespoke and I loved the whole experience of designing them with my partner and one of my favourite designers Diana Porter! Every time I look at them on my hand I have some fabulous memories which I can treasure forever and I love that about certain pieces of jewellery.

Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

I don’t really follow too many celebrities, I’ve always designed and made jewellery for myself to suit what I like to wear and do every day. I like things that are easy to wear but different enough to leave subtle statements and stand out. I always admire women who aren’t afraid to be original and confident in their style without forgetting to be elegant and feminine at the same time.

Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try?

Working as a jewellery designer is the career I wanted to try as I used to work as a Graphic Designer. Having a previous design related degree as well as now having the technical skills in silversmithing means I can combine a lot of the creative aspects that are required when running your own business as well as the technical skill needed behind the bench. I need to do so many different tasks day to day meaning I never get bored of a routine and can use many previous skills I’ve acquired along my career path!

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

I’m really pleased to have been successful in gaining a place as an Artist in Residence at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham. It’s the largest School of its kind in Europe so I’ll be able to take advantage of the amazing facilities and equipment it has to offer to expand my collection and develop new concepts and exciting products. I start in September so can’t wait!

 Who's it going to be???

We have chosen our top 3 graduate designer/makers from the submissions that we received.  Those who had entered displayed some exceptional talent but we felt that these 3 ladies had the edge and we would welcome any of their collections in our window at Nude.  Now we need your help deciding who is going to be our graduate in the spotlight.

We have a poll open on facebook, so click here and cast your vote!  Alternatively send us an email: info@nudejewellery.co.uk and we will make sure your vote counts. Voting closes on Wednesday 15th May.

 Good luck to all 3 finalists!!!

...Cara Tonkin!

Featuring two strong collections at Nude, Vesper and Volute, it's clear to see the cultural and historical aspects prevalent throughout Cara's work.  Growing up in Brighton she visitied antique markets and the treasure trove boutiques that Brighton is famous for, cultivating a love for historical objects and design.  A graduate of Central St Martin's Art School, her work exudes decadence and mysticism.

What's your background and what inspired you to become a jewellery designer?

I grew up in a very arty environment, both my mum and my dad paint and I was always encouraged to be creative. When i was young my mum always liked to get involved and teach me how to make things, she was probably the biggest influence on my becoming a jewellery designer. I decieded on jewellery as i wanted to learn a craft. The challenge of working with metal was massively appealing to me. There's just so much you can do with it as a material. I love that jewellery is precious and everlasting, it is used to express emotion and identity and often carries a great amount of sentimentality. It is wonderful making pieces which you know will be treasured for years to come.

I studied at Central St Martins where I achieved a First Class Honours Degree. Strait after my degree I found myself working as the Designer/Creative Director of a High Fashion Jewellery Brand and then in 2010 I decided to go my own way and set up my own brand.

How would you describe your customers?

 I think my customers like jewellery which creates a statement but is also elegant and feminine. I design for women who are individual and confident in their own style and taste, who love fashion and appreciate craftsmanship, but don't feel a need to follow trends.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)

I have just added a new colourway to my Vesper range and it has to be the gold dipped and oxidised silver 'Full Swing' bracelet. I adore black and gold as a colour combination, it's so opulent and romantic and the piece is incredibly tactile and really comes to life when worn.

Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why?

If i were picking a celebrity from the past it would have to be the iconic femme fatale, Marchesa Luisa Casati. She was Europe’s most notorious celebrity for the first three decades of the twentieth century, she wore live snakes as jewellery and was infamous for her evening strolls, naked beneath her furs whilest parading cheetas on diamond-studded leashes. Everywhere she went, she set trends and inspired. She adorned her self with the jewels of Lalique who is one of my most admired artists and directly inspired the famed ‘Panther’ design for Cartier. I also love Florence Welch's style, it's darkly romantic which i love, it would be fantastic to create a bespoke piece for her to wear on stage.

If you hadnt been successful as a designer what would your plan B have been?

I would have trained to be a chef and opened up a rustic style
cafe/restauraunt. I really enjoy cooking for people and it's also a
great way of expressing creativity. I also love the idea of sourcing
all sorts of mis-matched furniture and tableware from markets and
antique shops.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?


I plan to bring out a bridal collection later in the year which will
launch alongside a new collection, I'm very excited to be working on
new designs so watch this space!

View Vesper

View Volute

Jacqui has been attending jewellery class for almost 5 years, in that time she has developed as a jewellery designer/maker and has become an improtant member of the Nude Jewellery family!  Here she gives us an account of a challenging piece that she made in class...

"I've been attending the evening jewellery class for around 5 years now and I'm always on the lookout for ideas and inspiration. I cant remember exactly where I found it, I think it was on a stall in a shopping centre, but as soon as I saw the large geode my first thought was that it would make an amazing centrepiece for a necklace. The following week while doing my weekly browsing in my favourite bead shop I came across small geodes that were already strung! It seemed like a marriage made in heaven as the colours were complementary to the main stone, it was fate that they should all go together in one necklace, my next project.

One thing that I've learned from the class is that it's never as easy as you first think. Having an idea is great but putting together the structure of the necklace would prove to be a challenge. When I spoke to Nikki about the design it became apparent that the pre-strung geodes would not be sufficient to create the chain that the larger geode would suspend from, on their own they wouldn't be able to hold it. One of the strung geodes really stood out to me and we decided to have it cast in silver to see the effect. The next week when it came back from casting it looked better than I had imagined and it was then that the idea for a mixed material chain was born, mixing the small geode stones and the silver ones. I placed an order for 20 to be cast in silver with the view to making a bracelet as well.

It was then that the hard work really began! In order to attach the main geode to the chain section we would need a hole in the top of the stone, but drilling a hole into a stone of that material would cause it to shatter. Nikki suggested making a silver setting for the geode to rest in, something that would look organic and almost as if it was a natural part of the stone. I had made settings before but not for such an elaborate piece. Designing, sawing and soldering the silver setting took a very long time! Not least because I had some time off from the project to have a baby.

Once I returned to class I had some difficult sections to tackle. I had to complete the chain part of the necklace and this wasnt easy. Most of the silver geodes could link together with the strung geodes but not all could follow the same format and I had to spend time linking them together by hand. Once the chain was completed it was a case of linking the two sections together; chain and set geode. We decided to use one of the cast silver geodes as the link and I then had to spend more time sawing, sandpapering and polishing.

And then I was finished. I laboured on the piece for months and at times I felt like it would never come together but it has and I'm proud of my achievement

and no one can believe that I made it! Now I'm own the lookout for my next project..."

If you are interested in attending jewellery classes at Nude Jewellery please contact us on 0207 629 8999 or view our website for further information

Saturday Jewellery Class!

We held a one day intensive silver class in our central London workshop.  Thank you to all those who attended!  What a great way to spend a Saturday! 

The next Saturday class takes place on the 13th April.  We also have a weekday class, next one is on Tuesday 2nd April.

View the class schedule here

Win a £250 voucher for your mum to spend at Nude Jewellery!

Is your mum the greatest, the best, the bee's knee's an absolute superstar? 

If yes then she deserves an equally as amazing treat for this year's Mother's day and we have that!

All you have to do is click on the entry below and tell us what's soo great about your mum.....we'll kick start,

"My mum rules because not only has she looked out for me, protected me and put up with me for 30 years, she's also completely daft and makes me laugh and smile with some of the antics she gets up to." Elaine

And there's a lovely photo of me and my mum!

Easy!  The competition runs from the 25th February until the 10th March and we will announce the winner on the 11th March.  You don't have to send photo's but if you can we'll pop them on our twitter and facebook pages and share the love for mums around the world!

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All the Single Ladies! 

We don't need someone to buy us gifts this Valentine's day when we can self gift and celebrate being our fabulous selves!