The Story Of Love

What does jewellery mean to you? Why do people wear jewellery?

These are questions that I constantly think about. Whenever I do a bespoke commission for a client I always ask them who is the piece for? What do they look like and what is their style of jewellery? Is there a story or a special occasion? Is it a sentimental piece?

Jewellery reflects the love of a person as well as sparks emotions and memories. It’s more than just a one off gift or a piece of art, it lasts a lifetime. Jewellery can have a story before it goes to a jeweller and the piece(s) can be revamped to make more memories. I love to find out more about my clients and want to tell you their stories.

Here is the story of Ron and Alison. These are his words,

“Back to 1964 and I enlisted in the Royal Marines in March of that year and off I went to Deal in Kent as a trainee.

As a momento of my leaving my Mum and Dad gave me the signet ring for Christmas 1964 age 17.

Alison and I had already been boy and girlfriend at school for 3/4 years.

On completion of Commando training I was off to the Far East on active service in Borneo for 18 months.

On my return to UK Alison and I took up where we had left although we communicated continually during the time we had been apart and remained boy and girlfriend.

In August of 1967 we married and as I travelled throughout the World Alison would be stationed in whichever part of England my unit was based and continued to nurse.

We are now married 48 years but two years ago the signet ring became too tight on my finger and I had to reluctantly have it removed.

After discussion with Jenny we decided to commission Genna to incorporate my signet ring, which is gold, along with a silver band for Alison’s 70th birthday.

Unfortunately, due to serious illness on my part, this commission has taken on a meaning of mega proportion and means that Alison will continue to wear the ring with both our sentiments, not to mention my parents who died many years ago.

I am grateful to Genna for the marvellous job she has done on completing commission and to Jenny, my lovely daughter who’s inspired idea it was to have this done. Ron XXX”

 

When I first started revamping these pieces I wasn’t sure if I would use both rings, but they both had stories and memories. Jenny told me her mum wore silver and gold so I decided to revamp the chunky ring into a new ring adding silver and made the thinner sovereign into a pendant. As it has Ron’s initials I thought that would be nice keep sake for Alison to wear. She was thrilled with the pieces and it was a complete surprise. She had no idea that Ron and Jenny had arranged this. Isn’t love wonderful!

Here is some feedback from Jenny about writing this story and what the commission means to her, in her own words,

“Genna, this is wonderful. I am touched by your words and delighted you kept my Dad’s words too. Thanks for commissioning you?? The thanks is all from us as a family. The piece has tied together a part of them and it has not been off my mum’s finger since. The ring and dad, are very much part of her and it will be the remaining physical part that will stay with mum throughout her years. I am so touched by what you have done in such an amazingly creative way and with such skill and passion. This will be the first of many commissions from us I expect, but maybe the most sentimental. The pendant is worn regularly and looks amazing. A nice way to bring around conversation about dad under difficult circumstances when it is noticed by friends. All too often people don’t know what to say during and after a serious illness so this way it can offer a nice way in. The jewellery becomes part of you. Never so much as in this commission x Thank you Jenny”

 

Tell me your stories. What does jewellery mean to you? Why do you wear your jewellery? What’s your favourite piece?