The Jewellery Brand To Know

The Brand 

British jewellery designer Elizabeth Gage’s namesake brand offers avantgarde pieces that are as luxurious as they are unique. Born out of a “love for beautiful pieces and being able to create something from start to finish”, her jewellery fuses modernity and colour with heritage and craftsmanship. Established in 1964, the brand has been enjoying success for nearly 60 years. 

The Story 

“I knew I wanted to pursue a career in jewellery when a boyfriend wanted to buy me something and what I really wanted hadn’t been made,” she tells us. After training as a goldsmith for six years, she scored her first major commission for Cartier in 1968. Since then, she has won countless high-profile awards, as well as an MBE which she describes as a “tremendous honour”. Obviously, I was a bit nervous but once I had received my honour from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, I was able to relax,” she says. “I wore a fabulous outfit by Mashiah and my hat was by milliner Rachel Trevor Morgan.” Elizabeth’s unwavering enthusiasm for creating beautiful jewellery has ensured the brand has gone from strength to strength. “There is no secret as to my success; I just do what I love and am surrounded by a great team who help me keep up to date,” she adds humbly.

The Style 

Every piece is handmade in Great Britain at the hands of expert goldsmiths, although she still designs every piece that bears her name. “I get tremendous pleasure from creating my jewels and seeing the enjoyment they give to clients, and I want women to feel happy when wearing my pieces. There is no ideal Elizabeth Gage jewellery woman, it is for anybody and everybody, even my dog Bertie has worn a piece,” she adds. Once you’ve seen Elizabeth Gage’s pieces, they’ll become instantly recognisable. The style is bold, with historical references, bright coloured gemstones and plenty of gold being morphed into distinctive pieces of jewellery. “I wanted the first piece I ever made to have rubies and diamonds, but I didn’t have the money and so instead it’s made from gold, amethyst and peridot. I love it and still wear it today,” she tells us. Currently, and despite selling on the likes of Net-A-Porter, Elizabeth favours a more personal experience. “Everything is more accessible with travel and the internet, and there are more women buying jewellery for themselves today than ever before. But I really like to meet the person and find out what it is they want – that’s the way I like to design for the individual.” 

The Inspiration 

Elizbeth cites The Queen as her style icon, and her collections are laden with historical and natural references – anything from shells to the Knights Templar serve as inspiration. “I am fascinated by history and the natural world. I am an avid reader and am always learning and hearing new stories. I’m like a sponge and soak up as much as I can, from which I design and create my wonderful pieces,” she confides.