Christopher and his team of goldsmiths undertake all kinds of bespoke work, and while engagement rings and wedding bands have a special, romantic charm of their own, the opportunity to re-work unworn pieces can be equally pleasurable.
A case in point is Amanda’s story. Way back in 1989 Amanda celebrated her 21st birthday:
“My birthday falls in October, so my birthstone is the opal. My father gave me a really pretty opal ring, made with nine carat white gold and set with two little diamonds. As I was a student at the time, I never wore it. A year later I set off on the traditional ‘year out’, and travelled around the world. While in Australia I visited the heart of Australian opal mining, Coober Pedy, and bought myself an opal, this one on a gold chain.
“By the time I was back home, and working in a ‘grown up’ job, the opal ring seemed very dated, plus, annoyingly, the high set stones kept catching on my clothes. As a result it stayed at the back of a drawer, alongside my Australian purchase, as I had decided I really disliked the colour of the chain on that!
“Twenty-three years passed and then I came across Christopher Evans. I had read in a local magazine that he has a bit of a passion for opals, so I took my little collection in and asked if he could make me a ring that wouldn’t date, and could be worn from day to evening.”
Christopher came up with a design that brought together the two different sized opals from Amanda’s unworn jewellery, and the two diamonds. As nine carat gold is very soft, and easily worn away, he recommended that Amanda opt for 18 carat white gold this time.
“I can’t tell you how delighted I am,” says Amanda. “The ring is so elegant, I’ve had so many compliments – and the fact that it’s unique, made just for me, adds to the thrill I get when I look at it. And, of course, I am at last able to wear the opals I’ve had for over 20 years, and that feels great too!”
The opportunity to recycle and wear treasured pieces bequeathed by relatives who have passed on or unworn, dated yet valuable pieces is not one to be missed and, as Amanda found out can be an exciting and rewarding experience.
“I thought going bespoke would be expensive and complicated. With Christopher Evans I couldn’t have been more wrong,” says Amanda. ‘I’ve told all my friends to search through their jewellery boxes too!”