Smaggle on buying handmade jewellery

Posted by in accessories, smaggle

You may or may not know that I’m a qualified jeweller and when I’m not writing, shopping or watching Gilmore Girls, I’m at the bench with my tools making pretty things from metal.

Being a jeweller has made me the biggest accessories snob on the planet. I refuse to buy anything that’s mass produced or sold in a chain store. I need to see skilled workmanship, good design and careful creation before I buy and as such I’ve been scouring the web for the cream of the crop in jewellers and designers.

William Griffiths’ gothic and intricate work is exceptional. He has an etsy store where you can buy most of his pieces. I love his Cathedral rings and I’m a heart beat away from getting myself fitted for his signature Ship ring.

I also love the Drown collection by Alicia at Sea of Ghosts. I have her Prism earrings on my wish list. You can buy her pieces from her boutique Alegorie. She’s also having a wee little sale at the moment just FYI.

I’m fond of Vanderglas who sets teeth in solid silver rings. If you ask her nicely, and have teeth available she’ll happily use you own chompers to make her fabulous rings.

The gorgeous Tae Schmeisser is not only a very dear friend of mine but also one my favourite designers. I purchased her Porus earrings a week ago from her site, they arrived the next day and that evening Mama Smaggle spied them and immediately ordered her own pair. I’m an absolute FIEND for a good hoop earring and these are perfect matte silver with bolts of 18kt gold. They cost $230 (for stirling silver and gold!), I paid through PayPal and they were shipped cheaply ($8.00) and promptly.

And guess what? Tae is offering all Lustable readers 30% off everything in her store. All you have to do is enter the code ‘smaggle’ when you’re paying at the register. She’s mental. I have bought her propeller earrings, matchstick earrings, light post brooch and wheelie bin necklace in the past and they are timeless pieces that are on constant rotation in my wardrobe. What can I say? I know when I’m on to a good thing.

Seriously though. Buy her stuff. You won’t regret it, and that discount is out of this world.

What about you? Know of any self made designers? Do you really love handmade pieces? Are you a chain store snob?

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