Jewellery - Ideas for a 40th birthday please

Hi Alima, I just ordered some things made for my mother of groom outfit, along with some items for my opposite number MIL from Germany, and for my SIL who has a BD coming up. I am a firm believer in supporting women in business. If you do not find someone local, I can recommend Suzy Hannabuss.

I met her because I lay out the village magazine when she was featured as a local jewellery artist. She creates lovely lampwork glass bead items. I found she could match my dress and hair widget perfectly!

There's more on her Instagram, Etsy and FlickR than on her site, but check them all for ideas and prices. She mostly makes to order, so many will show as 'sold' on her sites.

Prices are very good. Some are simple, some are complicated like Troll beads.

If you contact her, mention I am the lady she just visited up in Clifton the other day about jewellery for my wedding party outfit.

www.moonlight-jewellery.com/html/about.htm
www.theclevedonsundaymarket.co.uk/blog/2017/2/6/stall-holder-interview-moonlight-jewellery
www.flickr.com/photos/moonlight-jewellery/
www.instagram.com/moonlight_jewellery/
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MoonlightJewellery

Have you looked at Sheila Fleet from Orkney. She makes beautiful jewellery.

Don't know where in the country you are, but here in Bristol we have a wonderful jewellery designer who will make a piece for you. She also sells ready made items and has made several pieces for me, including a beautiful bangle set with diamonds that was made from a broken bracelet, my first engagement ring, my first MIL's engagement ring and two rings with stones missing. As I provided all the 'ingredients' the only cost was her expertise and time in making. She has a lovely website (think my bangle is on there too). www.julieannepalmer.com.

Are there any local craft groups in your area? My group included several jewellery makers of all sorts who could design a piece specifically for her and probably use rubies in some way without going over the top on price.

Suggest you have a look at joannathompsonjewelley.co.uk. Neither friend nor relation of mine so.......absolutely no strings. Have seen her stuff. Both personalised and original.

Excellent Alima!

Good point Hilda! Yes, she does like bracelets and bangles. Not so keen on necklaces though!

Just a quick word, am sure you know her well, does she enjoy wearing bracelets? Its just that I can remember someone buying a special present for someone once without checking they actually wore that item of jewellery. Result slight embarrassment and it sat in the jewellery box for years.

Thank you everyone, there are some brilliant ideas on here. We are seeing DD1 tomorrow, will try a little covert digging then see what the Internet throws up!

I was going to suggest Clogau but Teetime got there first ! There are some lovely pieces, these days they are mainly silver with a small amount of gold set into the design - well worth a look.

My arty/designer DD is not into dainty silver/precious gems and in any case I leave that sort of thing to my SIL!
So for her birthday I went to www.onewemadeearlier.com and bought her this .
As her little boy was under a year at the time and very much into grabbing and chewing, it was practical as well as "statement"!!
I appreciate it would not be to everybody's taste, but fortunately she loves it.

John Greed Jewellery is a good online shop.

Try Stella and Dot, they do some lovely colourful jewellery.

Hi there, I create hand made jewellery and Ruby is the birthstone for July so you could source a hand made gift which would be treasured.

I'm not answering your question in order to make a sale, but thought it might be helpful.

If you want any more information please private message me. xx

go onto Amazon and put colourful banges in the search bar ,I've lots of jewellery gifts this way and never been disappointed.I got a Tianus Angus? not sure if this is how its spelled and it was beautiful and I bought a beautiful double sided pendant for mum in laws birthday set with coloured chrystals on one side and enamelled on the other .

I don't know which part of the country you are in but we have bought several beautiful pieces from a jeweller in Kings Langley in Hertfordshire. He is Simon Gorgin and makes designs to order plus he has a range of ready-made items too. He probably does a postal service for his ready-make stuff.

I have one or two pieces which have not dated in fifteen years or so,

Hope this helps.
PS
I have no connection with this company whatsoever! Am just an occasional customer.

Try the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter,where you will find some amazing items and true craftsmen.

DH buys me special bits like Clogau (Welsh gold)and Carrick (Scottish I think)but I also love anything that includes Blue John.

On the London jeweller front, we do have Cartier and Chaumet in New Bond Street, , but could you be talking about Les Néréides in Covent Garden? Their pieces are reasonably priced and colourful. I think they have a website.

Not at all gillybob, thank you for your suggestion, will have a look at their site. Don't know what I am looking for till we find it. (Really not thinking of a bespoke item, K is rather wonderful but right scatty with it!). We only have an H Samuel and possibly a Pandora shop in town. Saw some lovely colourful jewellery in London a while back but cannot remember what it was called. French I think. Cannot seem to pin anything down on Google.

Oh dear scrub my post please. I didn't realize you were looking at a specially made piece. Oooops.

I guess it depends on how much you want to pay Alima if you have a large budget , I am not in a position to offer any advice, however if your budget is reasonably small/medium then what about Nomination?

I bought my DD one for her 30th birthday together with 3 "tiles" reflecting things she likes and her personality. She has since added to it and it's lovely. Not heavy (like pandora can be) and wearable every day.

Have you looked on Etsy, there are lots of people who make jewellery on there. I have a friend who sells her handmade beads and pieces through it.

We get special jewellery from an independent designer in Nottingham. They are really helpful and will change an existing design till it is just right. It's not expensive. Are there any independent designers near you?