The Hancocks Journal: April
Hello and welcome to our April edition of The Hancocks Journal.
This month we’ve got some exciting news to share with you all – we haven’t announced this anywhere else yet as we wanted you, our newsletter subscribers, to be the first to know.
We’re moving!
After 26 years in the Burlington Arcade we will be waving goodbye at the end of the year and moving into a stunning Georgian townhouse around the corner that we have just started to renovate. It’s going to be a multi-floor gallery and retail space that will allow us to welcome clients in a more luxurious, spacious and comfortable environment. Stay tuned for developments as we’ll be sharing more details as the renovations progress but for now, think period features aplenty, comfy sofas and champagne permanently on ice. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to the new House of Hancocks.
But back to the jewels. This month our headline jewel is this stunning pair of cameo earrings by Hemmerle. Their distinctive and innovative style is evident here in the juxtaposition of hardstones and diamonds, white gold and copper, click on the image for all the details. We also have a stylish Tiffany & Co. bangle designed by Paloma Picasso, a knockout pair of Art Deco earrings and, in a nod to the upcoming Coronation, our Maker of the Month is Carrington and Co. Whilst you might not have heard of the name, this firm was one of the most important London jewellers of the 19th and early 20th centuries. They held multiple Royal Warrants and made many jewels for the Royal Family, one of the most famous being ‘Granny’s Chips’. If you haven’t heard about this jewel before, all is explained below.
We hope you enjoy this edition of our newsletter and if you know someone who you think would find it interesting, do please forward it on. As ever, our full jewellery collection is available to view in our Burlington Arcade boutique and on our website whilst our Instagram page is regularly updated, all links are at the end of this newsletter.
TIFFANY & CO.
Gold and Diamond Bangle
This gold and diamond bangle was designed by Paloma Picasso for Tiffany & Co. c.1980. This is around the time she began working with them, meaning this is one of her earliest Tiffany designs. She went on to create numerous different collections becoming renowned for jewels with an identifiable style and personality which she has described as “bold, with a certain simplicity and strength, a strong point of view”. Made in 18ct gold with a hinged opening and wider area to the centre front, this bangle is topped by a platinum sphere pavé set throughout with round brilliant cut diamonds.
ART DECO
Diamond Drop Earrings
This stunning pair of Art Deco diamond and platinum drop earrings dates to around 1935. They are set with three graduated old European brilliant cut diamonds weighing a combined total of 7.67cts which have been interspersed with baguette diamonds to form a geometric step formation. These earrings recall the glamour and decadence of the 1930s and are beautifully articulated to give them movement. The juxtaposition of softly rounded shapes against hard geometric lines is typical of the style of this period and is particularly effective in these wonderful statement drops.
Jewel of the Month
A Diamond and Platinum Bombe Ring by Hancocks
Our jewel of the month for April is this fabulous diamond bombe ring which combines everything we hold dear when it comes to jewellery. Beautiful gems, creative design and the finest craftsmanship.
The diamonds we select at Hancocks for use in our ring collection and bespoke jewellery were cut during the 19th and early 20th centuries. At this time, all stone cutting was done by hand and eye, unlike today when the majority are cut using computer technology and lasers.
It would take years for a cutter to become skilled and experienced enough to cut the finest stones, to be able to ‘see’ into a rough crystal and know just how to facet it to realise the full potential beauty of the gem. Like Michelangelo releasing David from the marble, these cutters worked to remove the unwanted parts of the rough material to reveal the inherent beauty of mother nature’s diamonds in all their glory.
Guy Burton comments “The stones we select are the best of the best and diamonds as lovely as these can only be the result of exceptional human skill coupled with the earth’s finest creations.”
Maker Spotlight
CARRINGTON & CO.
The firm of Carrington was named after its founder John Bodman Carrington who established his manufacturing business at 130 Regent Street.
By the early 1890s Carrington were advertising themselves as jewellers, diamond merchants, dealers in precious stones and manufacturing silversmiths. They were awarded the Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria and would go on to gain the warrants of Prince Albert, Edward VII and George V, as well as Nicholas I and II and Queen Alexandra of Russia.
In 1893 they created the beautiful Dorset bow brooch for Queen Mary and in 1911 they set the famous Cullinan diamonds numbers III and IV into a brooch/ pendant for her, a jewel famously owned by our late Queen who affectionately referred to them as ‘Granny’s chips’.
Click below to read more of the story.