It felt so special to enter the this trade with him by my side, and I admire his knowledge and skill so much that I couldn't think of anyone better to train under. I will forever remember walking into the ceremony room, where I was officiated into the Apprenticeship Scheme with Goldsmiths, and being asked "How long have you known your Master" to which I replied "23 years", as the room erupted!

Single Stone Court Ring and with Flush Set Diamonds

I was so incredibly pleased with the soldering, execution and setting of my first set of court single stone rings.

Sapphire, Amethyst and Topaz Drop Pendant

Other items on my bench over the past few months...

As first experiences of wax carving go, I quite enjoyed it! ​That’s not to say that I didn’t find it really difficult, especially when trying to create an equal thickness of metal around each stone for setting. ​This became trickier upon realising that the old cut diamonds were different shapes and depths, therefore allowing for each stone depth but also trying to make it look elegant whilst being organically shaped was an additional challenge. Fortunately, dad overcame this hurdle quicker than I and within the time frame he definitely won the contest, and rightly so as I thought his version of the ring was cleaner and looked more fluid and feminine in comparison.

Penguin Brooch

​Armed with a methylated sprit burner, wax and various carving tools, I built up the shape of the penguin by depositing molten wax instead of cutting back. This is the way dad prefers to create a casting pattern, but I think I might practice with the cutting back method for any upcoming projects to see which style suits me best.

The challenge for me was creating a 3-dimensional piece from a 2-dimensional image. In particular, imagining the penguin’s hollows and making his general shape realistic in terms of not making his high points too raised and alternatively his hollows too low.  ​Another difficulty was trying to create a black and white penguin have distinguishable markings in silver.

Just Married!

​A huge congratulations to Chris and Nicola, who marked their special day with the giving of a Wave Wedding Band which perfectly hugged their new Sea Glass Engagement Ring. A beautiful, dainty green piece of Whitstable sea glass was selected by the couple for their single stone ring as it wonderfully reflected his life on the sea and her paramedic career. For practical reasons a smooth rub over setting suspended in a very slight tapered shank was drawn up and fabricated alongside my first wedding band made to fit around an engagement ring.​​

Newly Engaged!

​Set into a 9ct Yellow Gold tapered ring skank sits a naturally pear-shaped green piece of sea glass collected from Whitstable Beach paired with two tube-set  round diamonds. The emotions were running high when he and his family arrived to take the ring home, and its moments that we share with our customers like these that make bespoke jewellery making so worthwhile.

A big thank you to those who have visited our shop 'Harbour Smiths' at the Harbour Market Whitstable over the last few weekends! If you did then you may have met our honoured assistant, hopefully his paws weren't an issue when fastening any bracelets or necklaces!

​Since opening our doors, we have had a few very busy weeks in the workshop and harbour, however we are grateful for the lovely response to reopening, particularly with regard to new collections such as our sea glass jewellery. Thank you to all who have placed bespoke orders for rings over the past few weeks – hopefully they shall reside on your hands very soon.

Snowdrop Earrings and Guitar Pick

On reflection, this guitar pick was the first time I had closely studied dad engraving. Even from this singular letter I learnt a great deal in how to transfer the image onto the silver without marking it, and what tools to begin with before using a scorper to deeply engrave the image. He advocates how lucky he was to get the opportunity to learn from a skilful engraver in his youth, who to this day we still use for our engraving of more challenging requests. I am aiming to practice engraving lines, letters and then images onto silver when a window of time opens up at the bench.

Miniature Silver Watering Can

This simple and elegant ring style allows all attention to be focused on this bright and perfect round cut diamond. ​The setting perches above the halo ring shank in order for other rings to rest beside it with ease.

Stacking Rings with Coloured Stones 

Having watched dad create the above Diamond Stacker Ring next to me at his bench, I thought it would be a good idea to make a few coloured stone stacker rings in silver.

First practice making a Knife Edge Ring Shank and Four-Claw Basket Setting

After having this ring staring at me on my bench for a week or so, I have finally got round to polishing my first attempt at a four claw set cubic zirconia (7mm) ring which is held in a knife-edge ring shank. ​There are a few things I'll be doing differently next time, such like making the profile of the setting not as square and intend to make the basket narrower and elegant. Following a conversation with a good friend and fellow trades man, I will also create the knife edge using an alternative and quicker method rather than hammering the shank to a knife edge as I did this time.  This will also stop any impressions from my misplaced hammer strokes into the shank, which made it difficult to clean up. On to the next one, and hopefully improve each time!

The first week of March will always be remembered as the first time I caught myself alight in the workshop!I leant over my French blow pipe flame to pinch a scriber from Dads bench and I didn’t notice until I could smell melting clothes. After a few choice words, I was standing in not a lot after throwing the clothes off me and onto the floor, with Dad chuckling away whilst passing me his sweatshirt. I’ll try to remember to not be so lazy and move from my seat to find something on his bench next time…

Things from my workbench this week

​In the week that I learnt not to wear well-loved clothes in the workshop, I have been making three coloured stone silver stacking rings in tandem with Dad making one in white gold. Additionally, for the first time I have been attempting to make a claw set ring and piercing out a ‘Perfect 10’ money clip to be included in a hall packet.

Jewellery from the Sea - Marbles and Two-toned sea glass

Sterling Silver Aquamarine Studs

This beautiful pair of 4mm Round Aquamarines were chosen to be set into a stacked sterling silver earring setting which compliment the style of our stacking rings. They have an off-centred earring post after deciding that a bar across the back would detract the colour away from the stones.

Twenty One Diamonds to celebrate Twenty One Years

Making these earrings was a prime example of realising that you never stop learning. Dad put his theory into practice after becoming concerned about distorting their shape with the downward pressure of setting. Of course wanting to avoid such a thing happening, a brain wave hit of melting setting cement into the inside of the hoops. Subsequently make a solid pellet with an equal width to the earring, which would allow him to hold each hoop in a ring clamp and set happily without the worry of collapsing their circular shape.

Sea Glass Jewellery and a Sterling Silver Pendant for a Harbour Trader