Category: Designer Jewellery

1. Interview with....Katie Rowland

   Posted on 1:43pm Monday 1st Aug 2011

   This month we interviewed Katie Rowland, winner of the New Designer of the Year at this year's UK Jewellery Awards.  This prestigious and coveted award reflects the best in British jewellery design and Katie Rowland is a well deserved winner!!!    

   

   What's your background and what inspired you to become a jewellery designer?
   I inherited my Aunt Bee's jewellery box of treasure when I was very little, which set off my love for all things sparkly. I think I must have been the only five year old girl who would climb trees in a diamonte necklace, on my street.
   
   My background is in graphic design, before I moved into jewellery at St. Martins. It is what influences the clean lines and shapes in my work.
   
   How would you describe your customers?
   Strong, powerful women who know what they want and know how to get it.
   
   What is your favourite piece of jewellery? (either made or purchased)
   My favourite piece is the St. Tropez knuckle ring in smoky quartz. I launch a new type of knuckle ring each season. It is so elegant as a piece, yet is has a strength to it which I love. Other than that, it is my Grandmother's engagement ring which I inherited. The diamonds have such fire and life about them and whenever I wear it, it reminds me of what a great women she was - full of laughter with a wicked sense of humour.
   
   If you hadnt been successful as a designer what would your plan B have been?
   I think I would have been an artist. I've always been creative and so I have strong desire to make.
   
   What can we expect to see from you in the future?
   I am hugely influenced by female characters in history and myth and I love the femme fatale. Expect to see statement necklaces with an elegant edge and warm rose gold, flesh like tones. Deeply seductive and sensual.

   View some of Katie Rowland's work online now

   

    

    

2. Nude Jewellery selected for Retail Jewellers inspiring independent's top 50 award!

   Posted on 5:15pm Monday 25th Jul 2011

   

   Thank you to everyone who voted for us! We are pleased to announce that thanks to all the votes from customers and friends of Nude we have made it into the top 50 inspiring independent jewellers in the UK.

    Being an inspiring independent means constantly striving to offer the best customer service, offering an outstanding array of product and most importantly valuing our relationships with customers and designers alike. We are passionate about offering the best handmade contemporary jewellery from the UK and sourcing international talent to showcase a great range of diverse and unique jewellery to be worn and cherished.

    Retailers who have made the shortlist will now peer-vote for each other to determine their place in the Top 50. This award is a great achievment as it is voted for by customers and retailers alike, the results will be announced at this year's International Jewellery London show in September.....we will keep you updated!

    Thank you for voting!!!

3. Interview with....Babette Wasserman

   Posted on 9:23am Wednesday 13th Jul 2011

   This months designer interview is with Babette Wasserman. Babette is the designer of the Electra, Amazon and Bamboo collections stocked in store. Each collection is unique and handcrafted to the highest standard. Her status as a designer continues to rise and she was recently shortlisted for the prestigious award of 'Brand of the Year' at this year's UK Jewellery Awards. The awards take place in London this Thursday – goodluck Babette!

   
   

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

   BW: I was at Chelsea College of Art and fell in love with sculpture and product design and always had a keen interest in fashion. One of my tutors suggested doing my degree in jewellery which was a logical mix of all the things I loved, so I applied and got a place at Central St Martins School of Art where I did a BA in Jewellery Design.

   How would you describe your customers?

   BW: Our customers range from designer boutiques to large department stores. From a chic jewellery concession on the fourth floor of Harrods’ Way In, to our large cufflinks offering at Selfridges, passing by Isetan Japan to Bloomingdales in the US and of course our lovely designer jewelers UK-wide such as Nude Jewellery in London’s Mayfair, we are proud to have a wonderfully varied and international client base.

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

   BW: It is difficult to choose one particular piece of jewellery. Each season I launch around 40 pieces of new jewellery and the same in cufflinks. One of my longstanding favourites is the Scarf Lariat. I have recently launch its little sister, Ficelle, a thinner elegant version of the knitted sterling silver Scarf that wraps around the neck just like a scarf. This range is available in silver, rose gold vermeil and yellow gold vermeil with matching bracelets.

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

   BW: I would love Angelina Jolie to wear my jewellery – probably the Scarf lariat or multiple Amazon Attraction bracelets stacked in rose gold and yellow gold. I find she has excellent taste, she oozes elegance and glamour effortlessly!

   If you hadn’t been successful as a designer what would your plan B have been?

   BW: I think I would have gone into sculpture. I have always fancied doing a Masters at the Royal College of Art and I love the idea of creating huge public sculptures made from metal.

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

   BW: this year we have been nominated as ‘Brand of the Year’ at the UK Jewellery Awards 2011, this is the second year in a row that we have been shortlisted which is very exciting! We are expanding our sales distribution further and have just started working with some US Agents. We have an Olympic cufflink collection that will be launched in July and am designing the ring for the new ‘Princess Catherine’ (Kate Middleton) wedding doll which will be launched in Harrods and Hamleys in the next couple of months!