Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming Peter Haynes of A Collection Of to our studio in Haggerston, East London, as part of his ongoing Spaces series, which explores the workshops, studios and working environments of contemporary makers.
The visit offered an opportunity to reflect on our journey as a partnership, the ideas that continue to inform our work, and the often unseen processes that sit behind the jewellery we make.
During our conversation with Peter, we spoke about how our earliest collections were inspired by geometrical forms, crystalline structures and naturally occurring patterns. Although our work has evolved considerably over the years, those influences continue to shape much of what we do today. We remain fascinated by the geometry found within the natural world; from the atomic arrangements that create mineral crystals to the structural patterns that emerge through growth, pressure and time.
Jewellery often occupies an unusual position between art, design and science. While the finished piece may appear simple, every object begins with a deep understanding of how materials behave. Much of our making process relies on observing transformation. Metals are heated, cooled, alloyed, drawn, soldered and refined. Surfaces react to chemicals, oxidise, clean and change. Even a process as commonplace in the workshop as pickling, the use of mild acids to remove oxides after soldering, reveals how dramatically a material can alter through chemical interaction.
These processes are not simply technical necessities; they inform our design decisions. Understanding how gold, platinum and silver respond to heat and stress allows us to create pieces that are both delicate and durable. Many of the rings we make are intended to be worn every day, often for decades. Designing for longevity within such small objects requires continual consideration of structure, proportion and wear.
These processes are not simply technical necessities; they inform our design decisions. Understanding how gold, platinum and silver respond to heat and stress allows us to create pieces that are both delicate and durable. Many of the rings we make are intended to be worn every day, often for decades. Designing for longevity within such small objects requires continual consideration of structure, proportion and wear.
Much of our work centres around personal stories. Alongside engagement and wedding rings, we are frequently entrusted with heirloom jewellery that clients wish to reimagine for a new generation. These projects are particularly rewarding because they allow existing materials and histories to continue their journey. A gemstone worn by a grandparent can find a new life in a contemporary design, carrying its past forward while becoming part of a new story.
Peter's visit also prompted us to think about the importance of the spaces in which objects are made. Our studio occupies a building with a distinctly familiar atmosphere; a place filled with the sounds of workshops, the scent of materials and the quiet concentration of people making things by hand. There is a certain nostalgia to these kinds of working environments, where tools, machinery and accumulated knowledge become part of the character of a place.
We are grateful to Peter for taking the time to visit, photograph the studio and document our conversation. His Spaces series provides a valuable record of contemporary makers and the environments that shape their work, and we are delighted to be included amongst them.
You can listen to the full interview and studio photos on A Collection Of, where we discuss our practice, our making processes and the ideas that continue to inspire our work.