Lucy’s experience
We asked Lucy to share her experience of the ring, she explains:
‘When I collected the ring from the studio I was so so thrilled. But what I’ve really loved is how my relationship with the ring has changed over the months. I’ve worn it with an evening dress and with jeans. Some weeks, I wear it often, other times hardly at all. But every time I wear it, I get a little thrilling jolt, I love it so much. It is honestly my favourite thing. And what I would run back for in a fire!’
Thank you very much for letting us be part of your story, Lucy - we are so very pleased that you love your ring!
To find out more about how to commission check out the Custom and Bespoke area of the website. The drop down also includes examples of custom and bespoke pieces Jo has created and Jo's repurposing jewellery gallery.
]]>
What is Collect?
Collect is the leading international fair for contemporary craft and design.
Presented by Crafts Council, it showcases work of artist-makers and galleries with disciplines including ceramics, glass, lacquer, textiles, paper, jewellery and metalwork.
2024 is Collect’s 20th year, taking place at Somerset House in March 2024.
Find out more about Collect here
How is Collect linked with The Goldsmiths’ Fair?
The Goldsmiths' Fair is one of many galleries exhibiting at Collect, exhibiting the work of six artists.
In addition to this, to celebrate Collect's 20th anniversary, Goldsmiths' Fair have arranged a special exhibit of 100 brooches by 100 Fair exhibitors from the last 5 years.
The parameters for these 100 brooches was simply that the piece was made in the last 20 years and the pieces did not have to include precious metals.
Read more about Goldsmiths' Fair at Collect here
How did you get involved with this year’s Collect?
Goldsmiths' Fair invited me (along with all Fair exhibitors from the past 5 years) to submit a proposal for one of those 100 brooches to be exhibited at Collect 2024. I was very excited to be selected!
I don't associate you with brooches, is this a first for you?
Not a first but I hadn’t made a brooch in a very long time! Early on in my jewellery career I loved creating brooches. They were limited editions or one of a kind pieces that took a lot of time to develop and create - I loved the process.
Over the years, due to commercial necessities and time restrictions (namely the arrival of my three children) I concentrated on other types of jewellery.
Some previous brooches: 60mm Convex Hex Brooch, Aluminium, 2011; Pattern 4 Brooch, Aluminium, 2010
What is so unique about designing a brooch?
The opportunities for creating beautiful sculptural pieces are vast, quite simply because you have a larger canvas to play with. You’re also less hindered by structural limitations that rings or earrings naturally pose. The ultimate wearable sculpture!
How did you go about designing this piece for Collect?
I wasn’t sure how to approach it at first because it’s been so long. Looking back at past work I came across my first ever brooch; a lace like pattern of shimmering cubes scattered across an undulating facade, made in oxidised silver.
Original Lace Brooch, Oxidised silver, 2006
I decided to use that as a starting point. My proposal to Goldsmiths' Fair was a piece similar in size and scale to the Lace brooch, made of cubes in my signature aesthetic, but with an updated, fresh take on that original design. To my delight, Goldsmiths' Fair said yes.
The Raw cast of the new brooch - two previous casts had failed with the gold not flowing into the middle of the brooch. After re-working the sprue, which feeds the molton metal into all the intricate nooks and crannies, this cast was perfect - but a big clean up job!
Why cubes?
Cubes have featured in my work since my days studying at the Royal College of Art twenty years ago, so it seemed only fitting to celebrate Collect’s 20th anniversary with a refreshed version of my cube centric brooch.
There are endless design possibilities with cubes. The structure of the new brooch is like a 2D drawing of a 3D cube, that is in turn formed of multiple delicate cubes: I’m toying with our perception of 3D objects with these cubes within a cube.
Tell us the idea behind your aesthetic
If you know my work you’ll know how I love to explore the possibilities of harnessing light across geometric elements and linear structures to dramatic effect. This brooch is no different.
For my Cube pieces, I position each delicate cube meticulously with each facet or corner facing the same direction, so that as the wearer moves (or the viewer moves around the brooch), light catches each group of cubes at the same time; collectively they appear to flash on and off.
To explore this idea further here, I’ve experimented with using multiple plains to see if the effect would be even more impactful. If you examine the finished piece, you’ll see that light is reflected across each of the three plains at a time, maximising the ‘flashing’ on and off effect.
Are you pleased with the result?
Very much so. I am grateful for the opportunity to revisit one of my original designs, push my design aesthetic further and rediscover my love of creating brooches. What an honour to be selected for this special exhibition, thank you Goldsmiths' Fair and thank you Collect!
I set about designing the piece in CAD. Once I was happy with the digital images, I presented my drawings and a video to Elizabeth and her husband. They were very happy and so we went ahead with the production.
The finished pendant
The finished pendant, made in 18ct high palladium white gold, approximately 20mm in diameter with a 16 inch chain.
As you can see from this image, we decided to set the diamond slightly off centre, with small white diamonds scattered across the pendant to balance out the composition. The setting for the diamond has six claws to mirror the surrounding hexagonal shapes.
Once I finished and delivered the piece I received this message from Elizabeth:
‘It’s fantastic! I love it, we all love it.
I enjoy wearing it immensely. It’s always noticed with second looks but not in the way that an obvious piece would be looked at. It’s looked at with interest and a certain puzzlement sometimes. I love that I can wear it any time. I particularly love wearing it with a jacket my son and daughter-in-law gave me, this is partly because they look good together and partly because they are both linked to our son. Thank you so much.'
Its a total pleasure Elizabeth! Thank you for entrusting me to make you such a special piece!
You can see more on this story in the video below:
]]>
Not going to lie, I was absolutely thrilled to bits when renowned costume designer Jenny Beavan’s team got in touch to ask whether they could feature my jewellery in the then upcoming feature film Cruella. She specifically wanted my large statement rings for Emma Thompson’s character Baroness Von Hellman to wear.
The Baroness is described as a 'narcissistic, authoritarian, egotistical head of prestigious London fashion house and a haute couture designer’ and obviously my answer was a great big YES.
I’m very excited to share these images with you! If you haven’t seen the film, go see it! It’s a fun watch, look out for the Naval college in Greenwich where lots of scenes are filmed, and lots and lots of footage of Emma wearing my rings.
I still have to pinch myself when I look at these photos. Thank you so much to Jenny Beavan for choosing my rings for the film and to Emma Thompson for wearing them so well!
The rings that were chosen for the film were:
Diamond and 18ct gold cube shield ring
Statement parquet ring stack in various shades of 18ct gold and baguette diamonds
Random Oval Ring in 18ct yellow gold
]]>You can find more gift ideas here. A word on timelines: Not everything on the website is currently in stock but most pieces can be made to order. Made to order pieces typically take 4-6 weeks to complete so please bare this in mind when gift planning!
All my ready to ship stock can be found here.
Side note: I love customising pieces! If you see something and would like to explore swapping stones or switching metals, do get in touch and let’s discuss bringing your vision to life.
Colourful earrings
These pretty studs are super versatile, they go with everything and you can opt to wear them everyday or for an occasion.
These drops add a little drama should the mood take you.
These timeless, colourful rings can be used as wedding or commitment rings, or simply a lovely new addition to bring you joy.
Eye catching necklaces
These colourful pendants will work hard for you and add pzazz to any outfit.
If this has whet your appetite for colourful pieces, take a look at my edit here for even more bright and cheerful gems.
Customising, bespoke commissions and repurposing
Did you know? There are several ways to bring a vision to life. We love working with our customers collaboratively to create jewellery that is wholly personal, and exactly right for you.
One option is to customise an existing design. This is perfect for those who might like one of my designs but would like to select a different coloured metal, an alternative stone, or perhaps include an engraving. Here is a gallery of tailored commitment rings to give you an idea.
Another route is to work with me to create a completely unique, one-of-a-kind piece in my aesthetic. Clients have found this a pleasantly creative and personal process, allowing them to put their own ideas into a piece of jewellery. These are some of the bespoke rings I’ve made for customers.
Thirdly, if you are lucky enough to have some heirloom jewellery at home that isn’t being worn, we are able to re-purpose stones or gold and create a brand new piece of jewellery that you will love to wear. Here are just some of the repurposed jewels I’ve created
If these options are of interest to you do get in touch and let’s have a conversation.
Read more about how to customise here with more FAQs answered here.
I created this bangle as part of my graduation collection from the Royal College of Art in 2006.
Selection of pieces from my fledgling graduation collection, made in silver, gold and stainless steel.
I designed the bangle in a CAD program called Rhino (which I still use to create my designs today). This piece, along with the rest of my RCA Collection, was too intricate to be cast in-house at the college and so I began to work with some precision jewellery casting companies. When I showed the design to the casting company they described the model as 'a caster's nightmare' due to the complexity of the piece. However, with careful consultation, I developed and designed a sprue structure that sufficiently allowed the molten gold to flow into the mould, without hindering the cast clean up.
The piece was large and in order to fabricate the bangle I first needed to 3D print the piece in wax - which took roughly 70 hours on the college’s Solidscape wax printer.
I was terrified that I would break it. So much so that when I needed to transport it to the casters who were located in Birmingham, I delivered it by hand myself. Just one week before the graduation show I ordered it to be cast in silver as I couldn’t afford gold.
Two days later, I had a frantic phone call from the casters, they had accidentally cast it in 18ct gold! Panic ensued. I couldn’t afford to pay for the gold. Fortunately for me, they suggested that they lend me the metal, and when I sold the bangle I could pay them back. I had six months to sell it. No pressure then.
A big benefit of having a large gold piece in my graduation collection was that it looked very serious and impressive for the show. Thanks to that collection I got some of my work into Electrum, a contemporary jewellery gallery on South Molton Street, co-founded by the renown jeweller Barbara Cartlidge. This was a huge deal for me, a real pinch me moment. Electrum featured a lot of eccentric pieces as well as the more traditional engagement rings and I was absolutely chuffed to bits to have my work displayed there.
However, months rolled by and the bangle hadn’t sold. I started to get phone calls from the casters asking when they could have their money - either that or I must return the gold. I was seriously panicking at this point. Then one day, a full 6 months after my graduation show, a buyer for The Goldsmiths’ Contemporary Jewellery Collection discovered the bangle at Electrum and decided they wanted to buy it for the Goldsmiths private collection. I was completely over the moon! The bangle was saved, just in the nic of time. I could pay the casters back, and use the remaining money to create more pieces for my burgeoning business.
Today the Three Edge Lace Bangle lives, amongst many other exquisite pieces pieces by various incredible jewellers and silversmiths, in The Goldsmiths Company’s Modern jewellery Collection. It has participated in various exhibitions at Goldsmiths Hall and is frequetly introduced to new audiences by the curator of the collection.
You can find out more about The Goldsmiths Company, what they do and their long history, in another blog post here. This includes details of the other pieces I have in their Modern Jewellery Collection.
]]>Stones, shapes and cuts
Are you after a ring with a central stone? If so, what about the shape and cut? Do you like traditional cuts, like this brilliant cut (round) diamond or baguette cut (rectangular) diamond?
Or something a bit different, like these?
Do you want a sparkly ring without going down the solitaire route? Smaller, scattered diamonds set into a band provide extra sparkle, like these:
Colours
What colours speak to you? I’m all for tearing up the rule book and going for whatever gem you love - as long as it’s hard wearing enough to withstand everyday wear. That rules out opals and emeralds sadly - unless you are very careful - but there are still a LOT of options for you to choose from.
Metals
Which colour metals do you wear? What suits your skin tone? This might be a no brainer but if you’re not sure do try different metals on and see which works for you.
All my jewellery is available in yellow, warm white or high palladium white, and rose gold. You can find out more about our materials here.
Another idea is to mix your metals like these pairings:
Stacking
Would you like this ring to stack? If you plan to wear an engagement and wedding ring together, it’s a good idea to think about how that will work early on. Plus you might want to add to your stack later down the line with an eternity band. Many of my rings are stackable, talk to me if this is important to you.
Shape and style
It’s worth considering how delicate or bold you want to go.
For fans of statement jewellery, a standalone piece works brilliantly.
Opting for a high profile, large central stone or wide band also adds drama.
For others, petite rings suit their style more.
Now 17 years (!) later, I’ve revisited and refined pieces from that collection to bring you new Cube rings with the same design-led focus that don’t compromise on drama.
My aesthetic hasn’t faltered since those early days, but over time I have enjoyed exploring new possibilities of harnessing light and shadow in my practice.
The cubes on these clusters, buttons and tapered structural designs all face corner upwards, so that when light hits the facets and shadows form in unison, they appear to flash on and off in dramatic fashion - the rings come to life.
Beyond the aesthetic appeal, it is also extremely important to me that my jewellery works incredibly hard for you. With that in mind, you’ll find that these rings not only are super comfortable to wear thanks to their tapered edges and curved shanks but also incredibly versatile. Whatever your style, they go with everything. Dress them up or down, stack them, layer them, as long as you keep wearing them in many different ways, letting them work hard for you every day.
Made in 18ct solid gold, my jewellery doesn’t tarnish or discolour, these are made to be passed down as future heirlooms for your loved ones to enjoy in years to come.
If you would like to come and try on my new structural Cube rings, do get in touch to make an appointment.
All the New Cubes on the Block can now be found in the ube collection.
To see full details about each of the above featured pieces click on each image*.
*Not including the row of five archive structural rings. These are no longer available.
]]>
Pattern
The beauty of bringing multiple delicate elements of varying shapes together is the mesmerising patterns you can create within each curated collection. Style pieces from all the collections together for a heady mix of shape and pattern like this:
or choose to alternate two collections like this:
And of course have fun with changing the order to vary the patterns you create. Get creative with your styling!
Variegated edges
My Triangle, Parquet and Hex bands are all super stackers. Their variegated edges mean they interlock perfectly with their counterparts. Or perhaps you prefer to style your Parquet, Hex or Triangles next to a flat edge to create negative space.
Mixing metals
As the aesthetic centres around many delicate parts, mixing your metals is endlessly rewarding. All my jewellery is available in yellow, warm white, rose and palladium, choose your preferred metals and have fun combining your colours.
Stones
Another way to tie a stack together is through the curation of stones, such as this eye-catching diamond stack:
Whether you opt to unite your stacks by pattern, colour or stones make sure you have fun with your styling and get plenty of wear out of everything in your jewellery box.
Pieces featured in slides:
Contour rings; Delicate patterns reminiscent of the gentle lines on a map characterise this collection. Understated and extremely wearable, these bands pick up the light beautifully when worn. See more of the Contour collection here. |
Triangle; Geometry lovers, these new rings are for you! Tessellating triangles with undulating surfaces delicately catch the light and interlock like a dream when stacked. See more of the new and expanding Triangle collection here. |
Hex; These simple yet striking rows of hexes make beautiful commitment bands. Each hex slice is angled individually in order to catch the light. Architecturally charged with an organic feel, they work particularly well when stacked. See more of the Hex collection here. |
Domed Contour rings: This variation of the flat Contour design enjoys the delicate patterns that characterise the collection, with domed edges for a slightly softer feel. Understated and extremely wearable, these bands pick up the light beautifully when worn. See more of the Contour collection here. |
Parquet; For those who enjoy patterns and a playful edge. Inspired by Jo's love of tiling, the Parquet bands are striking and work beautifully by themselves, interlocked or as part of a stack. See more of the Parquet collection here. |
Square; |
We describe Jo’s designs as metamorphic because multiple delicate elements and textures combine to create each composition. The result? Architecturally charged jewellery with an organic feel, that hints at geological form. We did mention they’re out of the ordinary, didn’t we?
More examples of our wedding and commitment rings can be found here.
]]>I really enjoyed working with Brendan to make this piece for Lindsey. It's amazing how tweaking a design can make you see it in a new light. I love how the different coloured stones in the piece have come together - a diamond, emerald, peridot and sapphire.
Find the necklace which inspired this commission here.
]]>
History
Officially named the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, the Company was founded to regulate the craft or trade of the goldsmith, and received its first royal charter in 1327. It’s been responsible for testing the quality of gold and silver since the 1300s, platinum since 1975 and palladium since 2010.
Fair
Goldsmiths' Fair is an internationally renowned showcase the UK’s most extraordinary silversmiths and goldsmiths. It celebrates the best established and emerging goldsmithing and silversmithing talent, bringing exemplary creativity, innovation and craftsmanship to Goldsmiths’ Hall each year. The Fair is held in the last week of September and the first week of October and is open to members of the public to browse and buy directly from the participating designers and craftspeople. Originally an event known as ‘Loot’ was held in 1976 where 2000 exhibits by 300 makers were displayed, with every item being on sale for less than £50. The fair in its current form has been running since 1983 and celebrates its 40th anniversary this autumn.
I feel extraordinarily lucky to have exhibited at Goldsmiths’ Fair every year since 2007. Being part of such an illustrious community of designers at the Fair has undoubtedly been instrumental in finding new clients and growing my business. It’s an absolute pleasure to meet customers face to face. Some are new to the Fair, others are regulars and sometimes I get visits from old friends who’ve supported me and purchased pieces right from the start - it’s such a treat to see them all. They share a passion for goldsmithing, silversmithing and jewellery in general. So thank you Goldsmiths’ Fair - I am forever grateful that you provide such an exquisite event to showcase my work.
The Goldsmiths’ Company Collection
The Goldsmiths’ Company has one of the most impressive collections of around 8,000 pieces of gold and silver jewellery and art medals, dating back from 1350 to the present day. The Goldsmiths’ Company purchases and commissions pieces for their Modern Jewellery collection each year. The Curator and the Deputy Curator put forward pieces or potential commissions for approval by the specialist advisers on the Contemporary Craft Committee, working to ensure that the highest standards are maintained. They use a variety of networks to find pieces that demonstrate innovative design and excellence in precious metal, both from established jewellers and emerging talent.
I feel extremely lucky and humbled that The Goldsmiths’ Company have selected four of my pieces for their collection over the years. I’ll tell you all about the stories behind the Three edge lace bangle and aluminium and gold brooch soon - they deserve their own write up!
I made the Chaos Parquet brooch and pendant in 2018 and it was bought by The Goldsmiths’ Company for their collection the same year at The Goldsmiths’ Fair. It is created in 18ct yellow gold and set with 15 white needle baguette diamonds. It has a double pronged pin and also a removable chain so can be worn either as a brooch or a pendant.
The most recent item that The Goldsmiths’ Company selected of mine was the Oval Lace ring. I was absolutely thrilled - it’s a ring very dear to my heart as it’s a refined version of the first gold ring I ever made when I launched my brand in 2006.
Made in my signature aesthetic, the Oval Lace ring is formed of hundreds of golden cubes positioned meticulously in a domed formation in order to catch the light. Delicate markings on each individual cube add depth and texture. Light hits the cubes and shadows form around the delicate structures when it’s worn, it comes to life dramatically - that’s the magic.
Dr Dora Thornton, The Goldsmiths’ Company Curator, said this about the Oval Lace ring:
‘This ring joins three of Jo’s pieces in the Collection—two brooches and a bangle—going back to her student days at the Royal College of Art, showing how the Company has long supported her work through purchases and a commission. All her jewellery has a completely contemporary aesthetic while sharing an affinity with the best textured gold from the 1960s, making this a particularly suitable acquisition in the year in which the Company celebrates 60 years since the founding of the Modern Jewellery Collection.’
Find your own shimmering Oval Lace ring to wear here
The London Assay Office
The London Assay Office is a key function of The Goldsmiths’ Company. All items sold within the UK with elements of gold, silver, platinum or palladium are legally required to be hallmarked. Hallmarking originated in the 15th century when London craftsmen were first required to bring their artefacts to Goldsmiths' Hall for assaying and marking.
The above image is the hallmark on one of my rings. It is a mark unique to my jewellery, indeed each jeweller has their own makers’ mark. The crown indicates that the piece is gold, the numbers the fineness of the gold. In this case, 750 stands for 18ct which is a gold alloy; the metal contains 75% pure gold and 25% other metals eg. silver. Fine gold is very soft so alloying it with other precious metals makes it more hardwearing. The panther head is the symbol for The London Assay Office, there are also Assay offices in Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh. Finally, the letter refers to the year the piece was hallmarked. The font, case, and shield shape all change to signal one specific year.
I love the tradition of the UK hallmark. It means that in years to come the jewellery I have made can not only be traced back to me but also tell you where and when the piece was made.
Goldsmiths’ Centre, The Goldsmiths’ Company Charity and The Goldsmiths’ Company Library
As part of The Goldsmiths’ Company’s commitment to supporting the industry, it funds apprenticeships and assists with training upcoming craftspeople through The Goldsmiths’ Centre.
The Goldsmiths’ Company also supports a diverse range of charities. From theatre projects, homeless charities, dance groups, the Museum of London, music projects and charities reducing poverty - there’s a clear focus on local and arts based charities.
Last but not least, The Goldsmiths’ Company library was established in the 1950s and is dedicated solely to silver and jewellery in the UK with over 8,000 books and 15,000 images, magazines, journals, films, research collections and files. The library includes The Goldsmiths’ Company’s archives, which date back to the 14th century.
I hope this has provided you with an insight into this extraordinary organisation. As I’ve mentioned, the next Goldsmiths’ Fair marks its 40th anniversary, and as such is set to be bigger and more exciting than ever. Please lock 27th September until 9th October in your diaries, I do hope to see you there, if not before.
Image credits:
Goldsmiths Fair - View of the ballroom and Jo at Goldsmiths fair.
Three Edge Lace bangle (Made in 2006, purchased in 2007) - Photograph by Jo Hayes Ward
Random Master Brooch (Commissioned in 2011) - Photograph by Jo Hayes Ward
Chaos Parquet brooch and pendant (2018) - Photograph by Jo Hayes Ward
Oval lace ring 2013 (purchased 2021) - Photograph by Jo Hayes Ward
]]>Hexagons, squares, rectangles, cubes and contour lines - I love to celebrate shape and texture, and design pieces that can be worn by everyone, no matter their style, age or gender.
My focus has always been to harness the way light catches the intricate shapes and textures that comprise my designs. I draw inspiration from architecture and geology, as you can see I'm fond of structural formations.
Personally I’m not what you’d describe as ‘girly’; I don’t wear makeup, I’m most comfortable wearing jeans and trainers and I’ve commandeered my husband’s coat - but never take off my gold rings, hoops and studs.
With all this in mind I've curated a collection of pieces that have broad appeal, into a new Unisex edit. Take a look here.
]]>
The lovely Patsy came to me with two rings - one I had previously made for her (given to her by an ex partner) plus another ring that no longer served her. Both rings resonated negatively.. She knew would never wear them again, so after some discussions she took the plunge and we melted them down until we were left with a blob of 18 ct gold and 3 stunning diamonds. What a cathartic experience!
We created three brand new rings, which represent a whole new chapter for Patsy. She claimed her jewellery back for herself - it’s the ultimate power move. I LOVE her story.
You can read Patsy’s full story here.
Varsha’s story
Jewellery lover Varsha was given a ruby ring as a child by her grandmother that was very precious to her but she found she never actually wore it. She turned 40 recently and had organised a big trip to South America until Covid scuppered plans. She decided to create a different memory by repurposing the ring, continue the family memory and enjoy a special gift to herself.
I’m so pleased Varsha is happy with the end result - she explains; ‘every time I look at the ring, I get a sense of time and place...the family heritage, the birthday momento and this strange time we are currently living in! What I love the most is that what Jo has created feels really timeless, elegant yet also contemporary, modern and seriously cool all in one....and is something I can wear every day as well as on special occasions.'
You can read Varsha’s full story here.
There are more remodelling stories on my website here.
Useful FAQ’s about repurposing, custom and bespoke can be found here.
]]>As you know, sustainability is very important to me. All my jewellery is created in 18ct recycled or Fair Trade gold and all gems are fully traceable. I don’t mass produce anything. My jewellery is made to order or created in tiny batches, which helps cut down waste. There are many processes involved in creating each piece of my jewellery: from the initial sketch, modelling in CAD, wax modelling, casting and at least two rounds of hand finishing. This means that nothing is created by chance, each minute detail, facet and angle has been considered. I believe if you’re trying to create something that will last a lifetime, it really does merit a lot of love and thought.
These stacking rings are always going to work hard for you. Mix and match, stack and play - there are no rules! Have fun with them. We love mixing our golds, just as we style our various collections beside each other: squares, parquet, hex and Contour all look fabulous together.
Studs
I’ve had a lot of fun lately creating these new everyday Square studs. From mini lines, to Inca style formations, bricks, zigzags and baby corners. Mix and match your favourite shapes. They are angular, thoughtfully designed and super wearable. You can see the full Square collection here
If you prefer your studs even more pared down, take a look at these sweet Glints. They look gorgeous mixed with other pieces or by themselves if you like a simple shape. Their textured surface adds to the understated appeal.
If you like a delicate aesthetic, take a look at these pretty Glint pieces. From pretty necklaces, to the sweetest of pendants and pretty drop earrings in varying lengths, Glint is easy to wear and perfect for layering: These pieces will become your go-to jewellery that you never want to take off.
These chandelier earrings will transport you from day to night in seconds.
You choose whether to add or remove the individual Glint pieces to style them however you fancy, simple and swishy with just a couple of Glints, or fully loaded up and dazzling with 7. They are the new versatile party earrings that you’ll keep coming back to. You can see the full Glint collection here
Lastly, all other pieces currently in stock that are available to post out now can be found HERE
That’s all from me, hope to see you soon. Happy shopping!
Warmest wishes,
Jo x
]]>I have known Mark and admired his work for many years, through exhibiting together at shows like Goldsmiths’ Fair and also as we are both based at Cockpit Arts Studios. Mark’s inspiration for jewellery came from early contact with gemstones in Australia, where his father mined sapphires. Mark learnt to cut and polish these stones spending several years as a gem cutter and later studying jewellery design and making in Sydney. Read more about Mark’s work here.
I was thrilled when Mark approached me about a potential collaboration; creating a piece of fine jewellery using one of his stunning gems, in my signature style.
On visiting Mark’s studio my eye was immediately drawn to this incredible bi-colour (or dichroic) tourmaline - you may know that I’ve always been a huge fan of tourmalines, but the colour of this gem in particular is seriously breathtaking! It’s pink with flashes of orange and red - hence being described as ‘Tropical sunset’. Utterly beautiful. I knew straight away that this stone would work perfectly nestled into one of my designs, so we went for it.
Here are some of Mark's beautifully cut gems that I was offered the opportunity to work with - the 'Tropical Sunset' tourmaline I chose is pictured in the centre.
Mark had cut the stone using Arya Akhavan’s ‘Equivalent Exchange’ facet design. It boasts a staggering 62 precision facets! Faceted gems tend to work extremely well with my designs, as the facets mirror the delicate slices of gold that pick up the light and shimmer: it’s a brilliant design fit.
I spent a couple of months considering the best design for the tourmaline. I love the square facets of the surface of the gem and was torn between either setting the gem in one of my simple double or triple square bands or creating something more structural and flamboyant. In the end I merged the two ideas: the ring top is an open cubic structure letting as much light as possible into the stone and the base is a double square band which mirrors the square faceting of the gem. There are two little princess cut diamonds either side of the tourmaline to add sparkle.
This is the unfinished ring back from the casters. It is always an exciting moment to see if the stone fits!
The finished piece - absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. Ready just in time for the wonderful Goldsmiths' Fair which is back in-person after a two year (COVID-19) break.
]]>Another step we've just taken is to join Ecologi, an organisation doing vital work to help us all contribute positively to the climate crisis.
Ecologi's work involves two main areas - Tree Planting and Carbon Reduction.
Tree planting
Now, you may not know this but I friggin’ LOVE trees so I’m very excited by this. Tree planting is one of the best ways we can make an impact in the climate crisis and stop temperatures rising above 1.5C. They are also crucial to preventing ecological collapse.
Ecologi’s tree planting partner The Eden Reforestation Projects plant millions of trees around the world each month.
Carbon Reduction
Ecologi invests our money into projects that remove more greenhouse gasses than our own carbon footprint puts in. Each month they fund a variety of carbon reduction projects that are certified at the very highest level by Gold Standard and equivalent.
Here are details of projects Ecologi have supported so far.
JHW and Ecologi
From now on, for every £100 of jewellery sold in my online shop, a tree will be planted.
So, if you buy these hoop earrings:
you will also be planting 13 trees in our forest!
Or its a whopping 55 trees if you went for something like this statement ring:
Take action
We heard about Ecologi from our friend and fellow jeweller Hannah Bedford, turns out it's easy to join and really makes sense for all businesses, whether you're a jeweller or not. If you sign up via this referral link we'll both get 30 trees planted as a thank you for joining, there's really nothing to lose.
You don’t have to be a business to join in - or even buy any jewellery.
If you'd like to to contribute to our forest directly that would also be great, you can do so via the 'Gift more impact' button on our Ecologi profile page.
Or if you like the idea of gifting a loved one a climate positive present Ecologi has some fantastic options (including a mini woodland!) for all budgets here.
We’re really excited to be part of Ecologi’s vital work, and knowing that as well as making jewellery for our dear customers, we are also doing our bit for the planet.
Read more about Ecologi here.
More information about the materials we use, and our values here.
]]>In 2017 I was invited by the cultural placemaking agency, Future City, to pitch to design a permanent piece of public art, for the exterior facade of Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. To my delight my design was chosen and the Artwork was completed and launched in 2019.
I knew that the artwork needed to respond to its location; a vibrant urban environment, close to the banks of the River Thames and the new home to a creative hub of innovation and ideas. I wanted the artwork to celebrate all these elements.
I drew inspiration from aerial photographs and maps of London – in particular Hammersmith’s topography and the curve of the Thames in this spot. With all this in mind, I based the composition for the artwork very loosely on a bird’s eye view of the local area.
As you can see, I created the sculpture in my signature metamorphic style; formed of multiple elements coming together to form a vibrant whole, which hints at geological form.
The many elements and textures within the sculpture reflect the sprawl of the city, the ebb and flow of the river, the diverse cultures of the people, the coming together of ideas and creativity at Riverside Studios. The observer may find themselves studying the artwork and recognising what it represents, or it may remain simple and beautifully abstract.
Reflecting light
You may know that I’m fascinated by light. I love to create a dazzling effect by harnessing the way light is reflected through each of my designs and this sculpture was no exception.
The sculpture is built from five groups of elements; each group’s facets point in the same direction thus reflecting light in the same way at the same time from the same point. The overall effect is for the five different groups glow at different times as the viewer moves around the artwork – or as the light changes around it.
Due to their orientation, the elements create dramatic shadows that will change as the light changes throughout the day – the shadows will at times give the illusion that the textured sheet elements are more solid than they really are.
From jewellery to public art
The scale and scope of the project demanded working with an array of different parties: from the client, developers Mount Anvil and Future City, who facilitated and managed the project, to the council, town planners, structural engineers, and the amazing fabrication company Millimetre who worked with us to create and install the sculpture.
This was a venture of collaboration. I have always shared creative projects with my Husband, fellow designer Laszlo Beckett, and he was a key team member in both the design and production stages of the Artwork.
Making the leap from designing fine jewellery to this large scale, public sculpture was a joy - my jewellery is very sculptural and architectural, indeed it’s often described as ‘wearable sculpture’, so scaling up my designs to create a sculpture for a building was a wonderful fit for me - jewellery for buildings!
As a born and bred Londoner it was a huge honour to create a piece of public art for Londoners to enjoy, that celebrates an iconic London institution and the creativity that stems from it. London is rightly proud of its cultural heritage, I hope that in a small way my sculpture serves to enhance that.
]]>What is the Art Ring all about?
Art Ring is an annual exhibition first launched by Tomfoolery back in 2018. Jewellery designers are invited to come up with fabulous one of a kind cocktail rings for the show, which celebrates creativity and craftsmanship. I’ve been lucky enough to be involved from the start.
Tell us about this year’s design
I had the opportunity to use this amazing geo-cut Montana Sapphire and decided to nestle it among my signature hex blocks. I love a mixture of chaos and precision in my compositions – the face of each element points in different directions creating a dappled gold effect, it picks up the light and comes alive when you wear it.
Where do you draw inspiration? You might be able to tell - geology and geometry inspire me hugely. I love to create patterns and texture in my work and I’m more than a little obsessed with how to harness light to create a magical effect.
What’s your design process?
My brain works really well in 3D, I use CAD to play around with ideas until I’m happy with the finished design. There’s a lengthy process to create each and every piece of my jewellery - it’s made as a wax model first, hand finished, then cast in 18 ct gold before being hand finished again. I see my designs as wearable sculptures, there’s a lot of time, effort and love that goes into creating each one.
How would you usually come up with one of a kind designs?
It depends - often a client will approach me with a particular stone or the seed of an idea for a new piece and I take it from there. It can be a collaborative process if they wish to be involved. Other times I’ll see a stone and immediately know how I want to use it. Every story is different - it’s part of why i love my job!
The video below documents Jo creating this Art Ring.
The piece is currently for sale at Tomfoolery London.
Head here to view other special bespoke statement rings I've had the joy of making.
]]>You might have noticed that I use real people rather than models, in my photoshoots.
The odd grey hair, the odd wrinkle, unphotoshopped; beautiful! So far I've used women in my photos (I do plan on photographing men too), and all of them are in their 30s and 40s and beyond, we may not be what you usually see in magazines but we are very real and that’s who I want to see wearing my jewellery.
Things are definitely improving, with some brands and magazines using models of all ages, shapes and sizes, but it’s not mainstream enough yet. I’m bored of seeing so-called perfect models and it alarms me that this is what we, and our children, are constantly fed, where are the ordinary people??
The way I see it, growing older is a privilege! I can’t bear the beauty industry telling us (particularly women) that we must not have wrinkles, grey hairs, and that the very natural process of ageing is something to be ashamed of, a dirty word. The women (I mention women because it's older women who are underrepresented in the media, we are not 'allowed' to age) I know are warriors, we are hard working, we encourage each other, and our bodies have enabled us to do all of that. Yes we all like to look good but let's not demonise any signs of real life and ageing, that is madness.
So here’s to us all, whatever age, shape, size - you are brilliant, gorgeous and perfect just as you are - let's celebrate growing older together.
]]>Here's the full interview:
Jo Hayes Ward is a fine jeweller who lives and works in South East London whose work is celebrated across the world. Jo describes her unique aesthetic as metamorphic, calling to our minds both the geological term and the 18th century technical furniture. Jo is a master at capturing the light and creating versatile, transformative and unique jewellery, with her jewellery possessing an architectural and organic feel with the many elements coming together to form a whole composition.
How did you come to be a jeweller?
It all started with a fascination with sculpture while I was at Camberwell Art college. I’m dyslexic and, frustratingly for me, not great at drawing, but it turns out that my brain works brilliantly in three dimensions. So naturally I was drawn to experimenting with shapes, structures and 3D patterns. It was the intricate 3D shapes I was particularly drawn to, I had this moment when I realised - making jewellery really was an amazing fit for me. After this I went on to study a BA and MA, learning metalwork skills and gained a tacit knowledge of materials and developing my signature metamorphic aesthetic. It hasn't faltered since.
Your jewellery is so unique. Can you tell us about your aesthetic?
I describe my designs as metamorphic: the aesthetic hints at geological form, with multiple delicate elements and textures combining to create each composition. This lends my work an architectural, but also organic, feel.You can see that my designs are made from many delicate, building blocks that come together to form each composition. I angle every golden block and facet very precisely so that when the piece is worn, light bounces off all those facets and blocks, creating a shimmering effect. It comes alive when worn, that, I hope, is the magic.
Who do you design for?
I make jewellery to make you feel good! I want my jewellery to work hard for you. I believe jewellery should be endlessly versatile. Metamorphic also means my jewellery can be worn in multiple ways, worn and adored both night and day. Designs are transformative. Rings can be stacked for impact, necklaces delicately layered, and earrings worn in multiple ways. While some of my work feels feminine, other pieces reflect a more gender neutral aesthetic.
Tell us a little about the materials you use
All my jewellery is made using 18 ct yellow, warm white or high palladium recycled or fairtrade gold. Sustainability is hugely important to me: I need to know that everything is produced in a socially responsible, environmentally sound manner. All gems are sourced from non conflict areas and, as much as possible, fully traced to source and mined and processed under fair trade principles. I’ll always keep scrutinising my supply chain and working practices to make sure I’m doing everything I can to be sustainable.
Who or what inspires you?
Nature never fails to inspire. I love patterns and texture found in nature, and in geological formations, they don’t look real do they? Then of course there's architecture... and the work of many artists and sculptors that has and continues to blow my mind along the way!
What do you find is the most effective way of communicating your brand and USP?
I've realised that using moving image is a really powerful tool for my work in particular as it shows off the way each piece catches the light when it's worn. Much more straightforward than explaining in words! It's also very important for my work to be photographed being worn, as it demonstrates how delicate the pieces are, it can look much larger and more 'clunky' in close up images.
What aspect of being a jeweller do you most enjoy?
I feel very lucky to be stocked in boutiques around the world but I do love working directly with customers. I often get asked to create bespoke pieces - I design wedding and engagement rings - how special is that? And I can also create new pieces from heirloom gems and gold, it’s amazing to breathe new life into people’s treasures. I absolutely love meeting my customers, designing pieces with a particular person in mind is so much fun. Being a jeweller is very special because you’re part of someone’s story, it’s a huge privilege and responsibility.
You created a piece of public art recently. Can you tell us about the process and the work?
I adored designing a magnificent piece of public art for the facade of Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, it was a huge honour and such fun to see my work at such an enormous scale for a change! I designed it in collaboration with my husband - furniture designer Laszlo Beckett. It’s created in my signature aesthetic; light is reflected off the cube, facets and elements, forming dramatic shadows within the sculpture throughout the day as the sun moves or the viewer moves around it. We loved the process and hope to take on more public art in future. Read more about this project here.
How have you coped with the ever changing landscape of 2020?
It's been a really tricky year hasn't it. Having three young kids and a business to run was certainly challenging during the first lockdown when schools were shut! I'm grateful that my husband and I share childcare so I could carry on working albeit at a much slower pace. I decided to use the time to build a new website, something I'd been planning but hadn't got around to doing. I'm holding my breath now that schools remain open so I can carry on working.
What's next for you?
I've just launched a brand new capsule range of little stud earrings - Glint. They're a celebration of shape in its purest form. Each of the eight designs is a different shape and boasts a gorgeous textured finish, I've created them in relief to give them a 3D sculptural feel. They're created in solid 18ct yellow gold and available as singles, they're pared down and super easy to wear, and perfect for mixing, matching, and collecting!
Browse my Glint studs here, and read about Studio Luxmore here.
Wow what a year. I hope you’re holding up okay out there and coping with this second lockdown so far. Last week was tense with The Count wasn’t it!? Thank goodness for the Biden/Harris win!
So Christmas is feeling very different this year isn’t it? What is making me feel a lot more warm and fuzzy is all the love and support for small, independent businesses who - like me - would usually be looking forward to all the usual Christmas markets and fairs. Judging by the way people are coming together and embracing online shopping, particularly choosing makers and micro businesses that may be struggling at the moment - I’m sure we can still help each other and make this one fun and special. As many of you know I am based at the wonderful Cockpit Arts Studios in Deptford. Sadly our lovely Christmas open studios will not be in the flesh this year but you can still check out all the amazing work of Cockpit Arts designers on the Cockpit Arts Website - Check it out!
During the last lockdown I was busy building this new website (it was long overdue!), I hope you like it! So far during this lockdown I’ve been busy designing a new capsule range: GLINT studs. They’re super wearable, pared-down studs in playful shapes, available as singles - perfect for mixing and matching. They’ll be exclusively available on my website very soon. They’re all 18ct yellow gold so they’ll look great and last, but I’m going to try to keep the costs right down for now so hopefully you can gift some to a friend (or yourself!) this Christmas. Watch this space…
Also, I’ve got a big surprise for you up my sleeve, more news on that next week.
Love, Jo x
]]>I’d first met Sarah at Cockpit Arts open studios back in 2014 when she bought one of my structural rings. Her beloved wedding ring was stunning, with 21 rose cut diamonds of different shapes and sizes. It was set on a wide band that sadly couldn’t withstand her continuous wear and had split twice. She decided it was time to repurpose the diamonds and create a completely new ring.
Sarah explains ‘Jo and I discussed the design of this sentimental piece - I wanted it to retain the antique glamour of the old ring, but to appear lighter and also to sit on a much narrower band which would suit me and be more comfortable than the original. Most importantly I wanted to draw in elements of Jo’s brilliant stacked, chaotic, almost architectural designs.’
I was super excited by this idea, it’s a dream to work with so many exquisite rosecut diamonds and Sarah gave me a great steer about the look and feel she was after. My Chaos Cube design was the starting point, but then I considered her requirements and overall vision for this piece and got to work shaping something that would be perfect for her. |
Sarah adds ‘Jo developed ideas using the 3D modeling programme and as soon as I’d seen her first visualisations I knew we were treading the same path; she incorporated and tweaked my thoughts and her suggestions into a fabulous finished piece. I hugely enjoyed the design process and being able to visit the studio watching ideas formulate into a tangible object. It was an enormous pleasure to work with Jo, she is empathetic, perceptive and just a lovely person!’
The ring
We decided the new ring would have a ‘top’ to show off the diamonds, with an easy-to-wear shank underneath. This meant we would not reuse all the stones, some could be held back to be used to create yet more new pieces later on.
Sarah's diamonds are all slightly different pear and oval shapes so we decided it would be really striking for the settings that held her diamonds to be extruded faceted versions of these shapes, which would be arranged in an irregular ‘Chaos’ top to form the focal point of this ring. The design evolved to include a hex patterned shank which complements the ‘Chaos’ arrangement beautifully.
A surprise pendant
Once we’d finished creating the ring, Sarah was left with several diamonds and some scraps of gold from the original ring. When Sarah came to collect these, I suggested that we melt the scraps down into a single piece that could potentially be turned into something new. I got to work blasting the gold scraps with my torch.
Sarah explains ‘The resulting beautiful molten gold blob wobbled, slipped and then embedded itself into the ceramic honeycomb brick beneath. After our initial shock, Jo managed to prise it out and it presented its new form as an irregular oval with miniature stacks of varying heights - just as if Jo had designed it herself. Its making was a spontaneous mistake and for that I love it even more.’ I fashioned the surprise creation into a pendant - another relic from the much loved wedding ring.
Sarah tells me she wears these pieces each day, and that makes me very happy.
And what of the remaining diamonds? Sarah still has a little store of these treasures. We used two to create a very special pair of earrings for her daughter’s 30th birthday and I am sure the rest will go on to be repurposed beautifully again in the future.
Jo x
]]>
Charlie Giles talks about how she wears hers
‘‘Personally I find that I’ll settle on a combination that I adore and wear it solidly for a few weeks until I’m ready for a change, then have a play and arrive at a new look. It’s so satisfying to get as much wear out of your jewellery box as possible.
Jo’s rings work particularly well as stacks because they’re created from many delicate shapes, patterns and textures, which look totally mesmerising styled together - shimmering and dancing in the light. The parquet and hex rings even more so as the edges interlock. That said I also love mixing up my JHW stacking rings with planer bands, or a diamond eternity, as a contrast to the delicate building blocks. Each JHW ring is so exquisitely beautiful I love that I can wear them alone as well as in stacks - as someone who loves versatility, stacking rings really do bring me a lot of happiness every day. I find these quiet joys have been especially important during lockdown.’’
Here's my advice on how to stack your rings stylishly:
The JHW team and I would love to see how you stack yours - post an image with #JHWstacks to show us! We hope you love playing with your jewellery box as much as we do! Build your own beautiful stack here
With love, Jo and team x
Once a customer has found THE RING, one of the first things I need to know is what finger size it needs to be.
The best way to find this out is to get that finger measured by a professional jeweller. This rather gives the game away though if you're hoping to surprise your loved one with a special ring! Here are some tips and tricks to help:
If there's an existing ring that you know fits your partner’s finger you can sneakily bring it to us or take it to a local jeweller to measure the size. But it is also possible to use some sizing tools to help work out the approximate size yourself.
If there is no existing ring to measure from, or you are worried you cannot work out an accurate finger size, don’t panic! Why not buy a ring we have in stock that you think your partner will love. This is still a world away from buying a high street brand off-the-shelf diamond solitaire. It also minimises your risk. If the ring ends up not fitting we may be able to resize it, or if it's wildly to big or small a new ring can be made post proposal/gifting. Also, if it's not quite right, you can exchange it and then have the option of creating a beautiful new ring together with your partner.
View a beautiful selection of unique JHW engagement rings here or be a part of the process by choosing your own stone to create a truly a one-of-a-kind piece.
We believe removing the constraints of a 9-5 office setting allows more space for creativity. For me, ideas pop into my head when I’m happiest, often outside in nature, and feeling inspired. Having the freedom of working around our families motivates me and the team hugely, which makes us very productive, and work really efficiently.
Jo explains 'At the beginning I ran the business in the evenings and weekends while working for other jewellers and metalworkers. I also taught CAD (Computer Aided Design) to MA students at the Royal College - (yes I’m a CAD geek and proud, I still use it to design every single one of my pieces). I grafted to get the business off the ground and get it to the stage where I could give up my other jobs, then later adding 3 kids into the mix took a WHOLE lot more juggling, head scratching and creative thinking to work out how to balance work and family life. I took on help with administrative side of the business because I realised that I couldn’t do it all. Today my husband (a furniture designer who’s also self employed) and I share childcare which means we both work a mixture of day times, evenings and weekends. I’m so grateful that we don’t have to compromise family over work. I also expanded my team so that I now have a team of experts working part time to manage the office, the marketing & PR side of things and help with production, which enables me to stick to designing and chatting to customers as much as possible. Thankfully this works brilliantly for us all, it works for the business and it makes it really fun!'
Jo and team x
]]>
If you’re familiar with Jo’s work you’ll know that her designs are really very intricate but rather than being fussy they’re delicate, bold and powerful, which feels wonderful to wear! Each piece is made from many tiny golden blocks, slices and facets all with unique textures, which lends the aesthetic an architectural but also organic feel. Sounds like a contradiction doesn’t it? Once you’ve tried on a piece and marveled at the beauty of the detail you’ll see.
So what makes Jo’s designs so special? Harnessing the way light is reflected off each miniscule block and facet is the magic of her jewellery; pieces come alive when worn, shimmering like dappled light on water. Gems work beautifully alongside glistening cubes and patterned formations. Scattered diamonds sparkle in many pieces, enhancing the metal structures with their cuts and colours, while unique precious gems and rose cut diamonds render her one-of-a-kind pieces utterly spell binding.
Personally I find JHW jewellery more wearable than anything else in my jewellery box and I think it’s because the designs are so original they are completely timeless. Their understated beauty means you really can wear them with anything, and Jo’s fastidious attention to detail makes each piece utterly mesmerizing; essential qualities in jewellery you’ll wear and adore forever.
Browse Jo's beautiful selection of commitment rings here
]]>