Today's #DesignerSeries installment is going to be on a favorite of mine, Stephen Webster. #JewelWatch
He was a wunderkind when he was younger, now more of an elder statesman.
I've actually watched some interviews with him, and he's chill, articulate, and talented.
He also got a knighthood.
Born in the UK in 1959, he knocked around a little, studying, then returned to the UK and founded a shop in London in 1989.
During all that he won a couple design awards from DeBeers. Can't find that particular piece, so have a couple others.
He plays around with 'doublets' a lot, that's a term for two gemstones layered one over the other.
In his case it's usually carved quartz over something else, often opals. Sometimes agate (upper L) or something rare like sugelite (lower L).
He also likes angular pieces, for lack of a better term.
He also does things that make a goth's heart sing.
The Victoria and Albert museum acquired one of his pieces, which pleased him a lot. That was one of the interviews he did, explaining that titanium is a bitch to work with. LOL It was something like these.
Some day I'm going to figure out the fish thing.
Anyway, he also did bats and butterflies. He does manufactured collections that he designs, and then occasionally one-off pieces. Usual jeweler business model these days.
Men's rings and cuff links.
He seems to like jewelry, which would lead naturally into men's jewelry. And making stuff men like, being one and all. It's much more interesting than the usual.
A while back he got in a shipment of zultanite? So he went a little crazy with it.
Really distinctive, and impressive.
Enough for two suites, and a men's ring. You can tell a lot about a jeweler by how they handle a pile of really distinctive rocks.
That bracelet, upper R. The stones, and how they're positioned. Impressive.
And the men's ring.
He did a series of rings based on the seven deadly sins. I think this is 'pride' and love the peacock implications.
His one-offs and customs are so pretty.
Everything is, but he really knows how to make something attractive.
Lobster claw holding turquoise with quartz overlay.
Opal and quartz, gimmie gimmie gimmie.
Garnet ring.
Another thing I appreciate about him, is that he really can work with anything and make it beautiful.
So, Stephen Webster, another designer to add to your list. He doesn't seem to have any plans for retirement, and hooray for that.
The end! Tune in tomorrow. Can't decide whether to do some problematic people or just keep on with the good stuff. Let me know if you have thoughts.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.