On a recent trip to London I got a chance to visit the Fulham road boutique of Theo Fennell, a designer whose jewellery captivated my eyes like no body else. Every product has been designed around a story, crafted with great attention to detail and displayed with such love and pride.
Of all the jewellery he makes, Theo Fennell masters rings the most. And, these are not any ordinary rings, they are special, holding surprises inside. Each, a miniature masterpiece in itself, crafted in gold and studded with precious gemstones, holding a story and a scenery within. Today, I showcase three of his very unique masterworks.
The Chinese Secret garden ring is exquisitely handcrafted from 18ct Yellow and Rose Gold, with elegant and beautiful birds inhabiting it. The African Green Tourmaline top is surrounded by a row of diamonds. Delicately deep- engraved ornamental Cherry Blossom adorns the body of the ring, holding two miniature Chinese doors on either side. The doors open up to reveal two hand-painted enamel scenes of a sedge of cranes – an important motif in Chinese mythology as the crane is traditionally symbolic of longevity, purity and a serene passage through life.
Aquamarine’s beautiful watery reflections inspire this Theo Fennell’s unique Hermitage Ring. Handcrafted in the Fulham road workshop the eye catcher of the ring is the 64.53ct Cabochon Aquamarine, which opens to reveal a miniature 18ct Rose Gold Hermit Crab set with rubies who has made his home on the seabed… a real hermitage!
The Empty Quarter Ring is the result of a collaboration of Theo Fennell and Willard Wigan MBE, the world famous English micro-sculptor. As a surprise fantasy ring, ‘The Empty Quarter Ring’ is aptly name as it opens to reveal an apparently deserted, desert scene, but in reality, the sand dunes cradle three camels, which have been beautifully crafted by Willard on a microscopic scale.
The ring is set with diamonds and is intricately deep engraved with desert flowers and adorned with rose gold salamanders, which clamber across it. It is also accompanied by a fabulously crafted magnifying glass and chain so it can be worn around the neck, allowing the wearer to see clearly the three camels as they make their way elegantly across the desert.
The detail even continues to the presentation box, inspired by a Bedouin tent. It has been hand crafted to house the ring, its magnifying glass and its chain in spectacular style. It sits on a dune fabricated from sand imported from the Rub’ Al Khali or ‘Empty Quarter’- the largest sand desert in the world.
Tags: Britain, diamond jewellery, Fulham Road, Sculted rings, Theo Fennell
