The birth of a creation

I have a real passion for creating pieces that are different!  Not like the things you would see in a run-of-the-mill high-street jewellery shop.  What you see in those shops is mass-produced by the thousand and is a very long way from my pieces, which are individual and unique to me.

You might think that all I do is sit down at my jeweller’s workbench and start creating a new piece – that would be far from the truth on most occasions.  I spend a long time thinking about how a piece should be made before I get anywhere near my jeweller’s bench.  Sometimes there is more than one way to make a ring, for example, and I have to work out the best way to do it.

The thing that let me down a bit at University was that I am rubbish at drawing.  I can make the piece quicker than I can do a good drawing of it!  But I do have the ability to see the finished piece in my mind’s eye on something like a transparent turntable; I can look into it, from underneath, above and around it, to see how it is put together, even if I have never seen the piece before.  Very handy for a jewellery designer and maker like me!

Sometimes there is great intention behind what I am doing.  And sometimes I just let my creativity flow!  I follow it and let it take me (and the design) where it wants to go.  Some of my best pieces come out of the freedom I have, when I hand it over to my inner creativity.  There are tangible benefits to both ways of working; a structured plan to do this, then that, and so on, or just letting my creativity flow!

What many people don’t know or understand about how I make a piece is that all my pieces, whether in silver, gold or platinum, are worked COLD (not like a blacksmith works) – precious metals are never worked hot.

Also, the difference between a jewellery maker and an engineer is that an engineer uses a lot of measuring tools – vernier gauge, micrometers, etc; a true jewellery maker who has been trained correctly does not use anything to measure with, except their hands and eyes, and maybe a simple ruler – holding things up to the next piece, filing if necessary, cutting maybe, bending perhaps – a lot of filing, and seeing if it looks right and fits, goes on during my creation of a piece.

My total attention is on every stage of every piece I create, to make it as perfect as it can be.  Everything is done with precision, skill, and accuracy, so as to make the final item as beautiful as possible.

I am always creating new pieces for my clients in a wide range of prices, helping to keep things fresh and new all the time.

Every single piece I make is Hand-crafted by me.  I do not cast things or make a wax mould and produce hundreds of the same piece.  I fabricate everything myself, blending traditional expertise with the latest jewellery-making technology available.

None of my work is copied. Each piece is handmade, by me, at my jeweller’s bench. (I do of course make matching wedding rings, for example.)  I do, however, sometimes have ‘themes’ when it comes to my work: for instance, I might think of a theme for a ring, or set of rings, where I will make several pieces along the same or similar themes.

I have over 45 years’ experience making and designing all sorts of one-of-a-kind Handmade jewellery.  I have made pieces for many celebrities, including our King (when he was a Prince), Brian Trubshaw the Concorde test pilot, TV personalities, famous people from the rock and music world, and local dignitaries such as the past Mayor of Stroud.

A large part of my work is commission-based – bespoke pieces, specially designed and made for you or somebody you care for.

Maybe it doesn’t matter to some people that they have a piece of jewellery that no-one else in the world has: a piece of jewellery that was created in my head and then painstakingly crafted at my jeweller’s workbench, whilst paying attention to every single part of that piece, and only being totally happy with the end result when everything has fallen into place and an exquisite piece of jewellery has been born.

When you come to me at philongold, you will be assured of a personal, friendly service, whether you come to me with a late partner’s wedding ring, or something that your mother or Grandma left you, and you would like that melting down and, between us, creating something fresh and beautiful, that will hold the memories of that person in a new delightful way.  Or, you may want a hand-made exclusive engagement ring, or something for a loved one.

There are very few traditionally trained jewellery makers alive these days.  I am one of those very few people.  I also combine modern jewellery making techniques to give me that ‘edge’. 

Because there are very few of us skilled jewellery makers around anymore, it would be a shame if my 40 years-plus of knowledge and skills died with me.  What would be great is if somebody came to me on a sponsored scheme where I could take them under my wing and teach them everything they would need to know to at least get them started.  This is a dying art.

If you remember, going back a few years, everyone was selling their old gold and silver, because the price of scrap went through the roof.  Nowadays, there is far more old gold and silver in circulation, and we may never need to drill, dig or mine any more for the precious metals we need for making jewellery.  These days, I choose to buy all of my precious metals, whether gold, silver or platinum, from bullion dealers who recycle their own materials, mainly bought from people or companies who sell their precious metal back to these dealers.  I believe this is far better for the planet now and in the future.

Me looking through my high powered jeweller’s microscope, polishing the setting for a genstone

If you would like to talk to me about a special piece for you, please email me at philongold@gmail.com , or contact me through one of my Social Media apps, Facebook – philongold, Instagram – philongoldjewellery, Pinterest – philongold, or telephone me on 07895 890273, to discuss a commission or to get a price for a non-listed piece.