TELL ME ABOUT YOUR UNIQUE IDENTITY AS A DESIGNER?
FL: I am inspired by classic designs with a modern twist and enjoy adding unique details to each piece.
The Laings Journal
Our Laings Designers: Felicity Lynden
Professional Profile
MEET FELICITY LYNDEN
Often inspired by the stories and personal experience of her clients, Felicity Lynden is an expert designer and artistic visionary in the realm of bespoke jewellery creation. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh, Laings supported Felicity in broadening her knowledge through sending her on trips to the diamond capital of the world, Antwerp. Her love of feminine lines and elegant colours translate into the exceptional Meara collection.
WHAT ART MOVEMENTS/ARTISTS INSPIRE YOUR DESIGN CHOICES?
FL: When designing the details of the settings, I find inspiration from the furniture and paintings of the arts and crafts movement. I love designs from the art noveau movement, including those from the painter Alphonse Mucha. Old buildings such as churches often display such beautiful motifs – these often inspire the side profiles of my jewellery. In non-bespoke jewellery, these finer details are often overlooked, I believe this is something that sets bespoke design apart.
COULD YOU SHARE INSIGHTS INTO THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR THE HERO OF BESPOKE COLLECTION? WHAT WERE THE KEY DESIGN ELEMENTS AND PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDED YOUR CREATIVE DECISIONS?
FL: When I saw Sarah’s work on the Anu collection, I loved the trefoil motif in her piece. This was a starting point for my own collection, and I used it to inspire the asymmetric lines in my creations, showcasing the soft pink and green of the beautiful tourmalines.
SARAH MENTIONS THAT AS SOON AS SHE SET EYES ON THE SAPPHIRE GEMSTONE, SHE COULD ENVISION THE NECKLACE. ARE THERE CERTAIN GEMSTONES YOU SEE AND KNOW EXACTLY HOW THE DESIGN SHOULD PLAY OUT?
FL: I can often see a stone and think that it should be a ring or a pendant. After that, I explore lots of different possibilities in my sketch book before putting a final layout together. The design usually takes several forms before I land on the perfect design.
WHY DO YOU BELIEVE BESPOKE JEWELLERY HOLDS SUCH AN ALLURE? WHAT SETS IT APART FROM MORE CURATED JEWELLERY?
FL: Jewellery is often purchased to celebrate or mark a special occasion which is unique to the wearer. With a bespoke item you can incorporate gemstones and design features that are particularly poignant and every time you wear that item, you’re reminded of those cherished moments.
ARE THERE ANY UPCOMING TRENDS OR EMERGING DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES IN THE WORLD OF BESPOKE JEWELLERY THAT YOU ARE EXCITED TO EXPLORE IN YOUR WORK?
FL: I’ve always loved yellow gold jewellery, it’s timeless. After platinum having dominated the industry for the last few years, I’m very much enjoying the yellow gold revival. I’m enjoying seeing clients layering their jewellery, stacking rings on different fingers and mixing older pieces with new ones showcasing their unique collections. I am also seeing a lot of requests for thicker, more substantial pieces, featuring a mixture of setting styles and textured finishes. I always enjoy working on these projects.
HOW DO YOU WORK WITH CLIENTS TO HELP THEM REALISE THEIR VISION WHEN CREATING A BESPOKE PIECE? WHAT IS THE COLLABORATIVE PROCESS LIKE?
FL: Most clients have an idea of what they’re looking for and it’s our job to extract this information through conversations, our current collections in-store and drawings until we’re able to visualise their perfect piece. During this process, we often source a range of gemstones fpr our client to select from which informs the process and end design.
WHAT FEELINGS DO YOU WANT TO ENCAPSULATE IN YOUR DESIGNS?
FL: I’m passionate about creating personal pieces that are unique to every individual and designed to stand the test of time. I always want to leave an imprint of my design style in the piece as well as the client’s personality or memories.
Explore Bespoke Design with Laings.
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