CURATED COLLECTION

View all jewellery

Please take some time to read through all the information below before you fill in the Jewellery Commission form (link below), then we’ll talk about what you have in mind, and bounce around some designs. It helps if you already have an idea of what you would like me to create with and for you. However, I will also be ‘listening’ to the energies of your body and receiving information about what is most congruent for you.

Here are some questions for you to consider as you prepare:

• What styles of jewellery do you like? Can you show me some photos/examples?

• What metals do you prefer? Which ones do you wear most often?

• What gems do you prefer? Do you have any specific ones that you would like to be included in the design?

• Do you like texture? If so, what types of texture?

• What’s the purpose of the jewellery? For whom is it intended? Is it for an occasion? Is it a gift? What size would work for you? If you are asking for a pendant, necklace or bracelet I will ask you to take measurements so that I can make it to your body’s proportions.

• What budget do you have in mind?

I track the energies of you and your body: I can receive that and download it so that what I’m making and creating with and for you is something beyond what you’ve already found that allows you to expand and be greater. That expansion and greatness then allows a completely different expression of you together.

After you send the form, please go to the Arrange Your Sessions page and book the Bespoke Consultation to meet me online when we can discuss the design and ask more questions. I will sketch some designs and get back to you, with choice to amend twice. I will be able to give possible costs as I’m going along but they won’t be finalised until you have agreed the final design. Payment of 50% of the agreed cost is due and payable upon acceptance of the quote, and the balance is due and payable upon completion of the project.

Please see our Terms and Conditions for further clarification.

Here you will find some brief information about the different kinds of gems and metals on offer, as well as some background information about quality. I work mostly with beads, and I can also design pendants, earrings, cufflinks or other types of jewellery with set stones.

The photos here are purely for example purposes. The opals are hand mined and cut, each one unique, and therefore sizes and shapes will have some variance. The pearls mostly come via an ethical supplier who buys direct from the pearl farmers or others close to the pearl sources. Again, as with opals, the pearls may have minor imperfections and shape variances, each one unique and beautiful.

If you fancy something other than opals and pearls, ask me what else is possible. I have gem stock that is not listed and there may be something there that is calling you: Sapphire; Aquamarine; Morganite; Tanzanite; Iolite; Amethyst; Citrine; Tsavorite …

Below are some links to information and articles written by lapidiarists and geologists on the topic of Opals, and on Ethiopian Opals in particular. There are more sources of information becoming available as we get to know the ‘new’ opals that are being mined. Please browse here, and do your own research as well.

From Opal Auctions

Hydrophane Opal Information

Are Ethiopian Opals good quality?

Australian Opal vs Ethiopian

Can Opal Jewellery get wet?

Ethiopian Opal: How to spot a real from a fake

Are Ethiopian Opals ethical?

Ethiopian Opals: Grading and Patterns

Opal Information

This list is not exhaustive: there are other shapes, sizes and colours available. I can also make earrings and bracelets to match or contrast with a necklace, and include gold or silver findings. If you are asking for Opals to be set, such as in a ring, pendant or earring design, it may take a while to find the right ones.

Note: All these photos are taken with the gems under a halogen light. Opal’s appearance changes based on light conditions and angles and each stone is unique. They look different in the daylight than they do under artificial light. Also, remember that your computer, phone or other screen, will influence the colours of what you see.

Not all the colours are available in all the sizes all of the time - they are subject to availability from the mines and cutting department - and some colours in the smaller bead size are more expensive.

Here are some examples of the various sizes, shapes and facets:

• facetted rondel cut 3-5.5mm, 5-8mm

• facetted briolette cut 3-8mm or larger

• facetted round cut 3-5.5mm

• smooth round cut 3-5.5mm

• smooth rondel cut 3-5.5mm, 5-8mm

• smooth briolette cut 3-8mm or larger

• smooth ‘tumble’ cut 3-5.5mm, 5-8mm or larger

• cabochon cut (usually used for setting in rings/earrings)

Blue Fire

The blue fire beads are water clear, with a distinctive blue flash that is easier to see in artificial light. However, they are surprisingly vibrant and flash between blue and a green-goldy colour. They are at their best on a dark background.

RAinbow

These are water-clear, the fire is easily visible in them. They have a delicate, fresh appearance and look spectacular on any skin tone.

Milky

As the name suggests they have a slightly milky base colour that makes the fire more visible than with the water-clear stones. Some people might prefer this colour as they look like the more traditional, familiar, style of opals.

Brown

This base colour is somewhere between Honey and Black, and it is worth considering that it will also affect how the fire looks.

Honey

These are a slightly browny, goldy colour and the fire shows up differently than the way it does in the others. For example, where a yellow and blue flash in the above examples looks blue/green, with the honey base it looks lime/yellow green. The same applies with the other colours showing through the 'haze' or ‘filter’ of the honey body colour.

Black

Black opals are rarer than the other colours, and the fire looks different through the dark base. They appear more opaque. Some fire, such as red, green and blue is very vibrant, the yellow sometimes is less visible. It is not unusual for the darker bodied opals to be ‘colour enhanced’ - some suppliers use the term ‘smoked’. This is not likely to compromise the quality of the opals but it is necessary to be aware that the colour has been adjusted, in the same way that some rubies are heated to intensify the colour.

These metals are part of the earth, and when we engage with them in joy, delight, gentleness and other 'sparkly' or 'sweet' energies we generate so much more than we can cognitively realise. They somehow become more attractive and fun to wear. What does your body like to wear? Is there a preference for white or yellow metals, or even pink?

Yes, more choices ... do you prefer yellow gold or white gold? Or do you like rose gold? The higher the carat, or quantity of gold, the higher the price.

Or do you prefer silver? Most silver used in jewellery is Sterling Silver, which includes copper to strengthen it. However, some designs, especially those using precious metal clay, use pure silver and would be hallmarked accordingly.

It is illegal to sell items including precious metals in the UK that are over a certain weight, without them being hallmarked to confirm the quality of metal. It's a longstanding tradition that is well worth acknowledging for the skill of the people doing the testing, and for the assurance that it brings to the customer that you really are getting what you are paying for. It is also necessary if you wish to insure your jewellery.

Depending on the design and weight of precious metals included, it will be necessary to send the necklace to London to be tested and hallmarked. It usually takes a period of seven days, sometimes longer, for the item to be sent to London, tested, marked, returned and prepared by me for delivery. Please consider this if you have a time factor in mind.

There are several choices of metal clay products, including copper and different bronze colours, but for now I work primarily with pure silver. The finely ground, recycled, silver particles are mixed with organic material to form a clay, which is really fun to work with and creates more scupltural types of designs. The clay is then fired in a kiln and set with stones, polished and prepared for presentation. It would be Hallmarked as Fine Silver.

Metal clay can be a component of a design, or the entirety of a design. There are many possibilities here. If you enjoy texture, this may be a component worth considering.

Gold

Would you like yellow, white or rose/red gold? Would you like 9ct, 14ct, 18ct or 22ct? Would you like the clasp to be plain, decorated with gems or textured? What type of clasp would you like: a pearl clasp, toggle, S-link? If you are asking for a necklace with more than one strand, we will need to consider the selection of clasps for multi-strand designs. The clasp would likely be one of the highest costs, depending on what you choose. We would work out what combinations you like and I'll order them from there. Please ensure that you have read and understood the Terms & Conditions related to Bespoke Designs: the prices of bullion fluctuate all the time and whilst I do my best to accommodate this, there may be instances where the costs need to be adjusted based on the price of the metal when ordering.

Would you like to include metal beads within the strand, or a pearl or two ... or something else such as a few fabulous quality clear Emerald beads, Sapphires, Amethysts, Aquamarines, Morganites, Tanzanites ...

Silver

Sterling Silver findings of clasps, beads, etc, have a wider range, and is usually more accessible than gold findings. We can discuss this in more detail when we meet. Depending on the design you choose, a necklace or bracelet clasp can be one of the style challenges, and if you wish to include Sterling Silver beads, each one would be priced individually. If the design includes silver clay, the finished item will have a part-mark to include Fine Silver as well as Sterling Silver.

Add Pearls?

If you are choosing a necklace of opals, for example, you can include pearls in the strand, if you would like. I have a selection of AAA/AA+ grade fresh water and sea pearls to choose from in blue, golds, white/off white, pale pink to lilac colours and also ‘black’ or darkly dyed pearls, in sizes that are congruent with the opal bead sizes. Let me know if this combination interests you.

ADD OPALS?

If you are choosing a necklace of pearls, you can also add some opals, other gems or beads of precious metal. Ask me what’s possible.

Essence of Water

The foundation of the design is a chain in either Sterling Silver or gold, and then we add pearls, opals and other gems to reflect the movement, colours, intensity and essence of the different waters of this planet. The gems and metal are infused with the vibrations of those different waters and their inhabitants, creating an ongoing conversation between you, your body and them.

The current Streams are: Lakes; Rivers; Oceans; The Deeps and Ice. We can create something specific for you and your relationship with water if this calls to you.

Let me know if you would like to order a design from this range and I will have some sample gems available for when we meet.