a n n i e    c o o m b s

contemporary handmade jewellery in solid silver

All the work on this site is hand made in my Cardigan workshop from Sterling and Fine Silver sheet and wire*.  The silver is cut and manipulated by hand and may be hammered, textured or formed using traditional metalsmithing techniques.  Some pieces are set with precious (ruby, emerald, etc.) or semi-precious gemstones such as Amethyst, Citrine or Garnet.   
Piercing
The limitation on how many items one person can make by hand means that you will be unlikely ever to meet someone wearing the same design.  Even if you do,  there will be subtle differences inherent in the manual creation process.  None of my work is 'cast', the mass-production method used in most high street jewellery, that is used to  produce thousands of identical pieces.  If you purchase a gift from this site, you know it will be truly unique.
 

How to Buy

You can purchase on-line with complete security ( credit card details are handled by PayPal's secure site, we never see the number).  In line with the  'EU Distance Selling Directive' ,  I will refund your  on-line payment if you return your purchase (unworn and in original packing) within 7 days.   Simply click the 'add to cart' button for the relevant piece and follow the on-screen instructions.    Delivery is free.  In the Cardigan area delivery by hand may be arranged.

You can also see a list of craft exhibitions and  galleries where you can view and purchase my work here.  Please  be aware that not every item will be on show, so before making a special trip please Contact  me first. I produce each piece  in ones and twos, so when they sell it is sometimes a while before they get replaced. 

Unfortunately my workshop is currently not open to the public. To give you a flavour of what my craft involves, here is a short slideshow showing some of the steps involved in making a ring.

Making a Ring

My Inspiration

With experimentation my work has developed along contemporary lines that allow these beautiful materials to exude the subtle luxury they represent.  The natural beauty of the earth's gems are enhanced by the clean, uncluttered lines inherent in my designs which are stylish and wearable, yet unlike anything to be found in the mass produced market.

For inspiration I look for bold and distinctive forms which can often be found both in the built environment and in the rugged natural coastline of West Wales where I live and work.  




*The only silver components that are not hand-made are the neck chains that are supplied free with pendants, and occasionally some  small parts that have little effect on the artistic impact of the overall design, e.g.  brooch catches, ear posts and some ear wires (although many of my earrings incorporate hand-made ear wires as part of the design).
I also sell a small number of pieces in fine(99.8% pure) silver  that I make using  Precious Metal Clay.  This is a new product consisting of silver powder with a bonding agent (that burns away when fired at 900C), and while each item is still hand-made and unique, their creation involves a completely new technique  more akin to ceramics than traditional siversmithing.    The end result is a piece in fine silver, that is indistinguishable from a traditionaly made one.

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