This once-in-a-lifetime commission began when my client, Jan, decided she wanted to create an heirloom using her son's gold. Jan knew she wanted something she could wear, but she had not yet decided what it should be, or who she could trust to make it. The internet can be an excellent tool for finding a specialist. In Jan's case, it led her to my website. After seeing my previous bespoke jewellery commissions and learning about my experience, she immediately felt she had found the right goldsmith for the job.
Jan booked an appointment and brought a large collection of jewellery with her. Some pieces had greater sentimental importance than others, but they all offered possibilities.
Jan booked an appointment and sat down with me to discuss the options. My bespoke jewellery process starts by learning as much as possible about the client, the jewellery they have brought and what they hope to create.
Sometimes, the first stage is simply a process of elimination:
Before beginning any commission, I must also be confident that my client trusts me to deliver what they are hoping for.
At our first meeting, Jan arrived with several ideas. She loved bees and the sun, and she wanted an everyday piece rather than something that would remain unworn for special occasions.
Together, those ideas developed into a handmade gold bangle featuring a bee and honeycomb design. Every detail allowed us to preserve part of the story held within Jan's original jewellery.
I fashioned the clasp to resemble a small book. Within it, I incorporated two central links from a bracelet Jan's son had bought for her - precious memories placed at the heart of the new design.
Jan also had an old "MUM" ring, a style that was particularly popular during the 1980s. Rather than losing this meaningful feature, I carefully turned it inside out and reshaped it so that it fitted beneath the curve of the bangle.
Diamonds removed from Jan's sentimental rings were then set into the honeycomb pattern, adding both sparkle and further personal meaning.
All the 22ct gold from Jan's collection was used to make the bee. The main body of the bangle was created in 9ct gold, so the bee has a naturally richer and slightly different colour.
Rather than trying to disguise that difference, it became an important part of the design. It allows the bee to stand out while also revealing how jewellery made in different gold purities can be thoughtfully combined within a bespoke jewellery creation.
The full video of the commission shows how these individual elements came together. The full video is on our YouTube Channel.
I've made many videos for clients, but I knew this would be a fantastic opportunity to showcase some of the processes involved. It took countless hours of work to get to the finish line, including designing and making samples. It was impossible to film and show everything, but I wanted Jan to see the chains and rings melted in the crucible and get an overview of the work involved.
Everything was handmade from her scrap gold. Jan trusted me and the process and never put any time pressure on me.
Jan's finished bangle is more than a piece of jewellery. It carries her son's gold, links from a bracelet he gave her, a treasured "MUM" ring and diamonds from jewellery that already formed part of her family's history.
Instead of remaining unworn in a box, those memories now exist together in an individual piece of bespoke jewellery that Jan can wear every day - and one that can eventually be passed to another generation.
That is the real value of bespoke jewellery remodelling: not simply reusing precious materials, but preserving their meaning while giving them a new life.
Although my workshop is based in Hartlepool, I can work with clients across the UK and internationally using email, telephone and video consultations. It is a very different world from the one in which I opened my first shop, but it now allows my traditional goldsmithing services to reach people almost anywhere.
I'm thrilled to be a FINALIST for the 2023 for Bespoke Jeweller of the Year, gaining national recognition for a goldsmith in a small town in North East England.
Hartlepool has always been a proud town with a rich heritage and was once one of the most affluent towns in the country before the decline of the shipbuilding industry. It's my hometown, and I have been supported not only by my customers since opening but also by the local council, winning Hartlepool Retailer of the Year twice, in 2005 and 2013.
I'm also honoured to be recognised in the industry by the IPG, the best organisation goldsmiths can be involved in. It has three levels; the top level is Fellow, and they can use the letters FIPG; they are masters in the trade.
If you have a collection of sentimental jewellery, inherited gold, or a special idea you would like to bring to life, I would love to help you create something truly unique. Every bespoke jewellery commission begins with a conversation, where we explore your ideas, the stories behind your existing pieces, and how they can be transformed into a handmade design that reflects your personal journey.
Based in Hartlepool and working with clients across the UK and internationally, I offer personal consultations to guide you through every stage of the process. Email me sales@marklloydjewellery.co.uk to discuss your ideas or book an appointment to begin creating your own one-of-a-kind piece of bespoke jewellery.
