Designer We chatted to


Meet the


jewellery designer, Lauren Elizabeth


I really do get inspired by things. In fact, my business strapline is actually ‘Inspired by Gemstones’! I mainly get my inspiration from the beauty, structure, shape, cut, colour, feature inclusions, or optical phenomena of gems. I love everything about them really.


T


his month we’re very excited about meeting, and featuring, award-winning British jewellery designer


and renowned gemmologist Lauren Elizabeth Tidd, famous for her unique iconic modern jewellery, her innovative use of gemstones and as the brains, and the hands, behind the hot-as- Hades Lauren Elizabeth brand based in Birmingham’s jewellery quarter!


What’s special about the Lauren Elizabeth brand? I like to think my brand stands for style, elegance, sophistication and distinction. It aims to push the boundaries with gem set jewellery and objects d’art that are both iconic and very wearable. I’d describe myself as a designer, goldsmith and gemmologist.


Where did you learn your skills? I studied for 5 years, achieving a First Class BA Honours in Jewellery & Silversmithing, FGA and DGA accreditation from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, HND in Gemmology, HND in Jewellery and Silversmithing and a qualifi cation for Stone Setting and Valuation Appraisal of Jewellery. I work part-time for a retail jewellery business and set up my own business just over 12 months ago.


What things inspire you most? Well, you’ve hit the nail on the head.


How have the rising costs of precious metals aff ected your business? I’m always very cost-conscious and make a point to always CAD my work fi rst so that I can cost the materials accurately. With some designs I mix materials which allows me to create pieces that give my customers a range of prices to choose from, for example by mixing silver with 9ct or 18ct gold.


You’ve won a lot of awards. How have they helped you build your profi le? To be honest, they’ve really helped me raise my profi le. And, talking of precious metals, I was lucky enough to win a Precious Metal Bursary Award from The Goldsmiths’ Company in 2010 which allowed me to create a jewellery piece in 18ct gold without my work being compromised by the cost of the material.


You’re featured in both the trade and the consumer press. How did you get to be such a media star? I put it down to having a great website fi rst and foremost. In fact, I’d recommend this to anyone starting out because journalists usually get in touch after searching online and a good website is obviously their fi rst point of contact with you and your work. My work has appeared in Vogue and a prestigious hardback reference


book called ‘Best of Worldwide Jewellery Artists’.


What tips can you give to hobbyists looking to become full-time jewellery makers? My advice is not to copy what other people are doing but to develop your own style, research the market and use jewellery making techniques you feel comfortable with. Start simply. Make pieces for your family and friends and get them to be honest about what they like and don’t like.


A little bird tells me you use Cookson. Any particular reasons for that? I know Cookson very well as they’re just a fi ve-minute walk from my studio. But it’s not just because they’re local to me. I can place an order and collect at a specifi ed time to suit me. When I’m planning a new creation, Cookson’s website allows me to type in metal sizes and lengths and I can accurately work out my costing and pricing from there.


Well, many thanks, Lauren, for sharing your thoughts with us!


Thank you to Lauren for these beautiful examples of her work.


For a more in-depth interview with Lauren go online to www.cooksonmagazine.com If you would like your work to feature in the next issue of the Bench then send us an email with examples of your work and a little bit about yourself: benchmagazine@cooksongold.com


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