'When I give my jewellery as a present, I feel like I'm giving protection to someone I care about...'
- Sofia Boutella
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...
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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.
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.
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!
Atelier Access All Areas: New Collections
We're working on some exciting new collections here.
Teaser Documentary Film
Ever wondered what a jeweller really does all day? Well, there are a lot of different, highly skilled processes involved. This film shows just a few of the different methods of jewellery making. More to come soon...
Six Year Anniversary
Six years ago we opened our boutique in Canterbury.
We were excited to launch the brand in the heart of the historic city and still today find it an adventure everyday working in this traditional, romantic trade.
Our regular customers have become friends meanwhile fresh faces come through the door everyday. We would like to thank all of you for your passion which propels us to make more exquisite pieces and bespoke commissions.
Atelier Access All Areas: Eye Candy #1
Luke is working on some exciting pieces for the summery sweet 'Eye Candy' collection. You never know what wonders you are going to stumble across in Luke's atelier or what's going to happen to the gemstones you find.
Watch this space...
Bespoke Wedding Ring
Bespoke Wedding Ring: Luke made this beautiful wedding ring for a customer last week.
What's amazing is that the ring can be worn several different ways, meaning it can be bright coloured gemstones (picked out by the couple's children) in the day and diamonds for an evening out.
It is truly a work of art.
Atelier Access All Areas: Bespoke Commissions: Rennie Mackintosh Style
Do you know who Charles Rennie Mackintosh was? We have an exciting commission we are working on which is inspired by the Scottish designer's distinctive and natural style.
Mackintosh respected craftsmanship and tradition, values which are at the core of Luke Goldsmith Jewellery. Here are some initial sketches.
What do you think?
Atelier Access All Areas: Gemstones
I spy a secret meeting going on regarding some specially cut precious stones which have just come in. They are drusy gemstones, exceptional because of how they've been cut. They definitely have a beautiful texture and sparkle.