I first met Diana in 2015 when she came along to the Goldsmiths’ Fair, and I’m delighted that she’s been a loyal customer since. We recently worked to repurpose some of her unworn jewels. She tells her story;
‘I first met Jo at Goldsmiths Fair in 2015 when I purchased a 12 mm structural sphere in gold with a steel chain. I have always enjoyed quite geometric jewellery and was intrigued by how it had been made. I had an interesting chat with Jo and was hooked!
Over the years I’ve enjoyed following Jo on social media to keep up with the new pieces she’s making and her use of stones. I subsequently bought some earrings to complement the necklace.
When Covid struck, I had a bit more spare time on my hands and went through my jewellery that I no longer wore. I had traditionally set pieces that I’d bought in my late twenties before discovering exhibitions like the Chelsea Crafts Fair and the Goldsmiths Fair. Once I discovered modern designer makers, I felt that contemporary design was more my style.
3 of the 4 rings Diana repurposed
I identified four rings I no longer wore. They were either too small or not to my current taste. Plus my mother had left my grandmother’s engagement ring, a small diamond solitaire, for my younger daughter who was named after her.
As I’ve got two daughters, I thought it might be a great idea to split up all the rings, keep some of the stones to make pieces for their 30th birthdays as well as having a new stack made for myself.
Taking apart Diana's rings and extracting the stones.
Goldsmiths 2022 was the first fair I had been able to get to post Covid. I went along and had a lovely chat with Jo and took my two daughters along too. I got the thumbs up from the kids and arranged to meet up with Jo in January 2023.
I met with Jo in her studio in Deptford and spent a morning discussing which of my stones could be used and what could be made with my gold. I tried on various designs to firm up what I wanted. I eventually chose a variety of stacking rings in both 18ct yellow gold (repurposed from my existing rings) and 18ct high palladium white gold (which would be supplied by Jo), using some of the stones from my rings and leaving others to make rings for my daughters in due course.
Following our meeting, Jo drew up images of the rings I’d decided on and worked out the setting of the stones. The 3D images made it remarkably easy to visualise what the end results would be!
The raw casts of the new rings on Jo's bench.
In due course the finished rings arrived – beautiful and fitted perfectly. I have been enjoying wearing them – trying out all the various permutations (of which there are many) and am now working on a wish list of stacking rings I would like to add!’
It was so lovely working with Diana to transform her unworn jewels to new treasures that suited her contemporary style. I love how many combinations she can create with her new stacking rings!