» Listings for 2014

1. Designer Interview - Susanna Hanl

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 15th May 2014

   What inspired you to become a jewellery designer?   Funnily enough, when I was a kid I was told that jewellery designing would be the best job for me. I tried to get an apprenticeship at a renowned jewellers, but after generations it had to close down as there was no heir to take over the business. My professional life took a completely different direction due to circumstances (my father died out of the blue and I felt I had to get a “proper” job). In 2001 I moved to Britain to start a new life and somehow it all fell into place. I worked and in my spare time I taught myself how to make jewellery – and I haven’t looked back. It’s what I truly love, it allows me to be creative and show all the different sides to me.   What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased) There are a few pieces that are very dear to me, but my favourite piece is one of my RIVDA rings set with a green pear shaped sapphire. I fell in love with the stone when I bought it and just had to make a piece of jewellery for myself.

   Which celebrity would you love to wear your jewellery and why? In my dream fabulous women like Emma Thompson, Emeli Sande, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman, Sofia Helin, Claudia Winkleman and Kate Blanchet would wear my pieces. They have class, individuality and their own sense of style with a touch of quirkiness. Basically all the women like Shakespeare’s Beatrice and Austen’s Elizabeth Bennet – headstrong, intelligent, strong women with a soft centre. And I would love to see Benedict Cumberbatch and Javier Bardem wear my pieces too!   Out-with jewellery is there any other career that you would love to try? I always wanted to be a painter, I would love to have the time to paint again, having had several exhibitions in my native country Austria. I also worked together with theatre companies and made costumes for a few productions, which was a great experience. It would certainly have to be something creative, maybe even writing, but being a jewellery designer/maker is what makes me happy, so I would actually not want to change that.   What can we expect to see from you in the future? My head is constantly buzzing with new ideas, new designs and collections, so there will aways be developments, improvements, changes and additions. I don’t want to stop learning, improving and be inspired.   View the full beautiful handmade and unique jewellery collection....

    

2. Graduate in the Spotlight Winner Announced

   Posted on 11:45am Thursday 8th May 2014

   'Graduates in the Spotlight at Nude Jewellery' Nude Jewellery are proud to announce the winner of their Graduate in the Spotlight competition, 2014. Dovile Bertulyte impressed both Nude Jewellery and their facebook and twitter followers to come out on top and win the competition.
   Dovile Bertulyte, a Lithuanian born jewellery designer based in London graduated from Middlesex University Ba (Hons), Jewellery and Accessories course in 2013. Her newly launched collection ‘Phobia of darkness’ demonstrates commitment to creating exceptional, unique designs and luxurious wearable jewellery to be treasured for ever. “There is always a narrative in the jewellery I create - every piece, every collection has a story to tell. At the current stage of my creative work I am analysing human phobias and bringing their emotion to my pieces of jewellery, the collection portrays the imaginary horror and fear that can be attractive too. I would like these stories to be heard by a bigger audience. After all, art needs to be shared and appreciated. I believe that with Nude Jewellery's help my dream could become reality. Thank you for giving me the chance to introduce myself and participate in this contest.” Commenting on winning the competition Dovile said, “I feel really happy and excited about winning! Thank you so much for this opportunity.” Nikki Galloway, owner of Nude Jewellery, said of the competition, “Dovile is such a deserved winner, her work is unusual and unique and fit's in perfectly with the Nude ethos, it's different enough to stand out and beautifully quirky, something we love here at Nude Jewellery” Speaking about the future of the competition Nikki added, “It's been a really successful year with 1,444 votes in total and the response we've had just proves that there is a need for a competition like this for graduates. We are committed to promote new designers and alongside our Graduates in the Spotlight have launched our Featured Designer, a monthly event promoting both new and established jewellery designers” Dovile Bertulyte 'Phobia of darkness' will be Nude Jewellery's Featured Designer during June and will be available in-store until the end of August. Contemporary Jewellery London, Designer Jewellery

    

3. The History of the May Fair

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 1st May 2014

   Mayfair used to be woods, open space and fields, with not much development until the May Fair was to be moved from Haymarket in St James around 1686. The May Fair would last up-to 16 days and what started as mostly cattle trading became a party for the rich and poor and increasingly chaotic and disorderly, people would wear animal masks, costumes and go around shouting, chanting and singing.

   There was a popular puppet show that was held in an old coal shed where one puppet would be forced to lay down and another puppet would cut his head of with an axe.

   During the first half of the eighteenth century major development happened in the area due to Sir Thomas Grosvenor's marriage to the heiress Mary Davies in 1677, they built new streets and were the cause of Mayfair changing in to a real estate hot spot.

   It also meant that the new well-to-do residents of Mayfair protested that the may fair lowered the tone of the neighbourhood which led to its ban in 1764.

   Walking around Mayfair today when away from the main streets it is lined with cobbled walkways that at first seem out of place, but they actually follow London's famous lost waterways called the Tyburn. Avery Row, still following the Tyburn, takes its name from the bricklayer who cleverly paved over the waterway to make the streets. Avery row is a cute cobbled lane full of bespoke shops, cafés and a pub or two.

   Hidden away off a side street in shepherd market is a secret, ruby red entrance to a time capsule beneath the pavement, Dover street station now known as 'green park' is said have been used during the blitz in world war 11 by Winston Churchill and his war cabinet. They used to hold secret meetings on the bomb-proof platforms until their war cabinet rooms were finished being built in Whitehall.

   Mayfair has a vibrant history and has attracted some prestigious icons like George Handel, a famous composer from the 1700's. A few doors down lived Jimmy Hendrix who lived in Mayfair in the 60's. The Beatles performed live for the last time in 1969 at a surprise gig on the roof of their Saville Row Apple headquarters in Mayfair. The gig was cut short by police but the Beatles still managed to thrill Londoners on the streets below.

   Mayfair still manages to hold its charm today, the area Shepherd Market still has cobbled streets lined with restaurants that create a Mediterranean feel with smartly dressed people sat outside wining and dining.

   There are traditional gentleman barbers that have a 50's retro feel and boutique shops which offer unique products you wont find anywhere else in London.