The Laings Journal
The beauty of jewellery often lies in the sentiment that it holds, and each sparkling piece can mark a memory or a special occasion. Here we talk to the Laings team about the pieces that they hold close to their heart, exploring what their jewellery means to them.
Jewellery is a lot more than aesthetic decoration. Precious pieces tell the story of our lives, marking the different chapters with the moments that they represent. Whether they’re given as a gift, acting as an important marker of love, or they are bought for yourself to celebrate a personal achievement, jewellery can capture a thought, emotion or memory.
The Laings team have shared their precious pieces and the stories behind the sparkle.
“I have a beautiful brooch that I will inherit from my Mum. It belonged to my Granny Laing and was designed, winning an award. I love that precious pieces can be handed down the generations, carrying their sentiment and the importance of family with them.” – Wendy Laing
“To celebrate 25 years of friendship myself and two friends had matching pendants and cufflinks made by Laings goldsmith Stuart Thomson. Every time we wear them we’re reminded of the importance of friendship, which is a lovely sentiment.” – Lindsay Gray, Accounts Clerk
“My husband gave me a bespoke ring designed by one of my tutors from Art School. We call it my ‘Mum Medal’ for making it through those crazy baby years! It was important to me that I could wear it every day so the ring has hard-wearing sapphires (blue for boys). Sometimes the connections to people, places and times can be just as important as the actual piece. As a designer in the Bespoke Department, I love incorporating heirloom stones into new designs, carrying on their sentiment, whilst starting the next chapter.” – Megan Louden, Bespoke Designer
“My favourite item has to be my right-hand ring which I bought myself almost 10 years ago at Laings as a well done for all of my achievements. At that time it was a three-stone ring set in white gold. Eight years later I re-designed that ring with our fabulous design department, creating a five-stone ring set in platinum, marking how far I’d come.” – Claire Ross, General Manager Glasgow
“I have a ring that once belonged to my mum, she always used to wear it and so it’s an incredibly special piece. I don’t believe it’s overly expensive, but it means everything to me. When I wear it I feel she is with me.” – Ibrahim Kouyate, Watch Consultant
“For my birthday I sourced a special stone for a pendant, creating a one-off piece. The stone is ametrine and I used leftover diamonds from a bracelet I had to frame either side of the stone. I love how it’s a piece that’s completely unique to me.” – Lynsay Third, Service Consultant
“I have a solid gold torque bangle that I haven’t taken off since I was 15. I designed this bangle when I was a teenager, as I loved to dress up in my late grandmother’s vintage jewellery and wanted a piece to wear of my own. My father took this design with him one day and had it made for me into a solid gold and diamond bangle. It means the world to me and I never take it off.” – Katie Keefe, Cardiff Store Manager
“I have a right-hand ring which I got for my 40th, a year which also marked 20 years in the business. I had long admired the ring and when I received my long service award, along with a little saved money, I bought it for myself. It’s so special to me – and women should treat themselves too!” – Vivienne Shaw, Store Manager Glasgow
“I have a gorgeous little yellow gold plain band that was given to me by my mum for Christmas some 30 years ago. It was a total surprise, completely unexpected and I probably didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now. I never take it off and even though I have a few newer sparklier pieces my little gold band is my favourite piece that I wear daily and would not be without it.”– Carol Gargan, Head of E-Commerce
“On the morning of my wedding, my two sisters gave me a gorgeous rose gold locket. It has a tiny glittering diamond on one side and on the other my initial ‘K’. The inside it is decorated with Buchanan tartan (my maiden name) to mark our special relationship as sisters, and to show that I would always be one of the three Buchanan sisters – despite a name change!” – Kirsten Woods, Senior Marketing Executive
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