It's British Flower Week!

The annual celebration of locally-grown, seasonal flowers is here. And if anything says summer, it's flowers.

We are thinking back to May when we had a photo shoot with Katrine Solvaag falling into the arms of sweet-smelling flowers. There's a tranquility in plants, a simple glance at them and the day's troubles are always softer.

We love this quote by author and journalist Lynn Coady:

'Flowers are an easy, eloquent expression of love at a time when words can seem clumsy and inadequate.'

We think the same goes for jewellery, but the two go hand-in-hand together really, don't they?

Art Deco Facts & Our Inspired Earrings

Following from our last post, we thought we'd tell you a little more about Art Deco, which these earrings are inspired by.

1. Art deco is based on geometrical and mathematical shapes.

2. Art deco was originated in the 1920s which is why you could imagine earrings like these on a flapper dancing the night away.

3. Art deco originated in Paris by international expositions of modern industrial and decorative art.

4. Art deco was often shown through crystalline and faceted forms.

5. It was regarded as an electric form of elegant and stylish modernism.

Amethyst Art Deco Bespoke Piece

An elegant amethyst, diamond and white gold cocktail necklace made bespoke for a customer.

It has an Art Deco, vintage vibe going on with the triangular part at the top typical of the movement's geometric shape fascination. Meanwhile that bright amethyst follows the Art Deco trend of using vibrant colours. Isn't it hypnotising?

Sofia Boutella Jewellery Quote

'When I give my jewellery as a present, I feel like I'm giving protection to someone I care about...'

- Sofia Boutella

Chakara Wedding Ring: Bespoke Service

We make all kinds of weddings rings here, completely tailored to the individuals who are getting married.

This wedding ring has chakra gemstones running across the bottom and is made of palladium.

Did you know Chakra is said to be found at the center of the body and is believed to be psychic-energy in the esoteric traditions of Indian religions? They are believed to be part of the subtle body not the physical one.

Bespoke Citrine and Tsavorite pendant

We're going through the archive of previous bespoke designs and it is a treasure chest of innovation and unique design.

This piece is truly opulent. Citrine is said to control the physical body and give inner calm; it is found in Brazil, Russia, France, Madagascar, UK and the USA. Meanwhile tsavorite is said to be uplifting, a stone of vitality and benevolence.

Atelier Access All Areas: Gemstones Information: Crystal Chemistry

Happy World Environment Day everyone! 

To celebrate we've made a special post on crystal chemistry, because gemstones are a beautiful natural spectacle. 

You know which crystal you have according to their structure and mineral content. There are seven crystal systems, based on triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons, rhomboids, parallelograms, and trapeziums.

They are characterised by the length of the axis, angles between them, and the number of symmetry centers along with the amorphous noncrystalline form. And minerals bond differently to create the different types of crystals

Why are crystals different forms and colours?

Mineral variations are based on trace elements and where they are found. This all affects whether you have a deep purple amethyst or a muted green fluorite.

And what about energy?

The crystalline structure can absorb, focus and emit energy on the electromagnetic waveband. Once you know the chemistry of a stone you know its personality and the properties it holds. This is why stones are said to have different healing properties.

So that's crystal chemistry 101, next time will be crystal formations!

Atelier Access All Areas: Master Patterns

Luke's atelier is always scattered with complex tools, pieces-in-progress and a multitude of colours, different metals and textures. It is a wonderland of stories, with each piece holding a unique design history. 

The pieces here are master pattern designs, silver pieces which will be in a new collection we are working on. 

Watch this space... 

Atelier Access All Areas: Gemstone Insider Information

This stone is Heliodor (Beryl). It is a symbol of the sun because of its beautiful golden yellow colour. It is usually found in the form of a fine, slender tube. The best-quality stones are found in Urals in Russia, meanwhile Brazilian heliodor is a pale yellow and is step-cut to give it depth of colour. They can also be found in Madagascar, Ukraine, Namibia and the USA.

We think it is a unique and gentle stone, a little pocket of sunshine.

Atelier Access All Areas: Bespoke and Platinum History

We are currently polishing a platinum and diamond ring, a bespoke piece for a custommer.

Do you know how platinum was discovered?

Writings of platinum can be found in the writings of Italian physician, poet and scholar, Julius Caesar Scaliger (1484-1558). He supposedly saw platinum when visiting Central America in 1557. The metal was called 'platina' in Spanish, meaning 'little silver'.

News of the element naturally spread through Europe like wild fire and scientists became hypnotised by its physical properties and beauty. The 'Platinum Age in Spain' began...

#jeweller #jeweler #jewellery #diamond #platinum #canterburyjeweller #kentjeweller #bespoke #handmade #luxury #elegant #ring #exclusive

Atelier Access All Areas: Tools

Here's a picture of some bohemian flowers scattered across one of our work tops. There's definitely a charm to the trade of jewellery with its fascinating tools and hands-on work. While mostly a piece of jewellery is seen in its finished form, what's forgotten is the hours of processes which have produced it. 

Here we have a borax cone and a dish. Luke mixes the borax with water to make a flux which is used as a soldering aid to make the solder flow.

The metal slabs may be a simple tool used for placing piping hot pieces but they are highly valuable when you want to put a diamond down and find it again!

If you have any questions about making jewellery, we are happy to answer.

Atelier Access All Areas: Bespoke

Luke is polishing this beautiful piece, made of silver, amethyst and blue topaz for a customer. 

It is a bespoke piece based on the apprentice flower Luke made when beginning the jewellery journey years ago. 

It is lovely to see that the classic design is still in demand.

The beauty of this broach is that it will dress up any piece of clothing. It is a truly elegant statement that will draw attention from every eye that falls on it. It is the bewitching apprentice flower. 

 

Atelier Access All Areas: Gemstones.

We're really excited to use some new stones we have got into the atelier recently.

Can you guess what these ones are?

The stone on the left is Carnelian - Known as a stone of motivation and endurance, leadership and courage. Carnelian is an orange-coloured type of Chalcedony, which is a mineral from the Quartz family. Its name comes from a Latin word meaning 'flesh'. So, it's one to wear when you need a boost of bravery. 

In antiquity, as well as today, Carnelian is believed to help timid speakers become both eloquent and bold. It has a
hardness ratio of 7. 

And the stone on the right is druzy, which had little attention paid to it until about 10 years ago. Druzy gets its name from the word “druse,” which means a rock surface covered with small crystals. It has a hardness ratio of 6.

Luke loves druzy because, being a natural stone, each piece is unique and has its own character. 

Which one do you like best?

 

Paris 2017

We were just in magnificent Paris, the city of elegance, grandeur and nonchalant style. The sound of accordions by Notre Dame, the smell of crêpes and art in every corner left us alive with inspiration. Here's a film made by our resident filmmaker showing our favourite places, the ones we didn't want to forget. What's your favourite part of Paris?

National Endangered Species Day in the USA!

It was National Endangered Species Day in the USA yesterday!

Seeing as the US is such a vast, diverse source of beautiful nature and wildlife, we thought we'd celebrate the day too. And who better to be a mascot for nature than the humble bumble bee?

There has been an 87% decline in the rusty patched bumble bee population since the late 1990s, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Rusty patched bumble bees now remain in just 13 states, down from 28. And they're important little creatures, pollinating more than 90 commercial crops including nuts, fruits and vegetables!

This day is about focusing on the need to protect and save threatened and endangered animal and plant species.

Let's #savetogether

Exhibition Inspiration: Drawn from Life: People on Paper

Sketching is a key part of Luke's design process, so seeing this exhibition of talented artists was hugely inspiring. The sketches showcase various techniques, drawn in black chalk or coloured pencils. The exhibition is a must-see, especially if you are a creative.

Beaney Museum Inspiration

Luke's inspiration comes from many different places. Galleries and museums are a treasure chest of ideas. We went to The Beaney one morning before the city had woken up and saw beautiful works of art. We stood hypnotised by striking, life-like paintings and gazed at jewellery from Greek and Roman times. It was an incredible reminder that the same things fuel good design again and again: quality and fearless experimentation. The sheer range of colour and form in the museum is striking. 

Atelier Access All Areas

Insider Information: here Luke is inspecting the enamel and micro-welding - which
uses argon gas, another way of soldering without havng to apply heat.
 

Katrine Solvaag and Skinny Kitchen Collaboration

Featurng Eye Candy ring made with an amazonite gemstone and set in silver.

Collaboration

Here at Luke Goldsmith Jewellers, we love teaming up with talented, hardworking individuals or businesses. Being next door to The Skinny Kitchen, we thought it was about time we popped in and tried one of their famous juices. And who better to take then esteemed Canterbury poet, Katrine Lynn Solvaag. From chilly Bergen in Norway, Katrine has just finished a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Kent. Often found performing at spoken word events in venues spanning from a yurt in the Greyfriars Garden to the plush bar Bramleys, Katrine is the typical hard-working artist who needed to kick back in The Skinny Kitchen's relaxing ambiance. We asked Katrine six questions to delve into the life of a creative a little more...

Featurng Eye Candy ring made with an agate gemstone and set in silver.

What's your creative style?

'I rarely tend to stick to any one style because I'm constantly trying out new things. However, I do take a lot of inspiration from things I read - both poetry and novels. One of my favourite techniques to play around with is black-out poetry, found poetry, collage and centos, because you can create so many weird and amazing things by adapting material found elsewhere and manipulating it.'

Featurng Eye Candy earrings made in agate and set in silver.

Inspiration: A poem and a Strawbazzle juice

Katrine picked The Skinny Kitchen's Strawbazzle juice, which like her poetry is sweet but with a spicy twist. Here's an excerpt from her poem, 'Herbarium of Past Lovers': 

will you press me like a flower? keep me
hidden within your holy scripture:
a complete collection of Shakespeare’s work.
caught between the thumb worn pages of A Midsummer Night’s Dream
while the Fairies declare: And I!           for I was never a part
of your colour-coded life plan, will never understand
why you would push me away and still keep every single petal

See more on JMArt Space.

Featurng Eye Candy ring made in amazonite and set in silver. 

What's your favourite piece of jewellery?

'My favourite piece of jewellery is a moonstone crystal necklace I've had for almost two years now. I can hardly go a day without wearing it.' What's our favourite juice from The Skinny Kitchen?
The 'Strawbazzle' juice is top of our list at The Skinny Kitchen. It is so summery and fresh-feeling! 

Featuring the Eye Candy ring made with an amethyst gemstone and set in silver.

What inspires you?

'The beautiful thing about inspiration is that you can find it absolutely everywhere. In the lines of skyscrapers spiralling upwards, in seagulls silently circling beneath a starry night, and in kind smiles exchanged between strangers.'

Featurng Eye Candy rings made with amethyst and blue lace agate, set in silver.

What makes a good artist?

'This is a difficult one, because a lot of people create in different ways. I find that several get into creative hobbies because it either allows them to cope with difficult situations, express themselves or simply relax. I think the most important quality would have to be dedication. It's easy to say one will write a novel for example, but it truly takes a lot of time and willpower to go through with it.'

Featuring the Eye Candy ring made with an amethyst gemstone and set in silver.

Who inspires you?

'I'm a giant fan of Caroline Bergvall's "Drift." I love the way she works with sounds from multiple languages to create a performance which brings attention to a horrendous situation. I'm also a big fan of Hollie McNish, and I'm looking forward to reading through her book "Nobody Told Me".

Featuring the Eye Candy ring made with an amethyst and pink quartz gemstone respectively and set in silver.llection.

What is your dream as an artist?

'I honestly don't know what to expect from the future. My hope is to be able to continue creating and getting it published, but as the past has shown: things rarely turn out the way we anticipate.'

How was the photoshoot for you?

'I enjoyed the photoshot! It was a lot of fun and I adore the jewellery. Who wouldn't like being a model for a day?'

Wearing the Eye Candy collection.

We hope you enjoyed this collaboration extravaganza with poet Katrine Lynn Solvaag and The Skinny Kitchen. Keep your eyes peeled for more exciting collaborations!