10 recommended independent jewellery designers to follow and support

It's been a few years since we last recommended jewellery designers here on Creative Boom. Our feature was one of the most popular of 2020, so we thought we'd revisit this specific craft to uncover more independent designers and makers specialising in jewellery.

As always, we like to give a little background to each business and then pick out a favourite product that we think you'll also like. Be warned: budgets will vary. And if we've missed someone you think deserves to be added to this list, tweet or email us, and we'll see what we can do.

1. LeSter

LeSter is a fine jewellery brand that combines the stories of art with traditional goldsmithing techniques to "remind women of their individuality and inner rebel".

Founder Aishleen Lester originally trained as an artist after finishing her master's at the Royal Academy. Among other projects, she made large-scale, fragile installations out of sugar resin for commercial spaces like Selfridges. "I must admit they did not travel well on freight ships, which forced me to rethink my career path," she says.

She later enrolled on a soldering cause that introduced her to fine jewellery. "At the time, I thought you could substitute one world with another, turn you back on the art world and substitute it with the jewellery world. But as I develop, I realise that the knowledge and outlook carved as an artist informs much of what I do now," Aishleen says. "The creative arc is much formed by failure than by success."

Launching her debut engagement collection, Meant To Be, Aishleen's LeSter is definitely one to add to your list of independent jewellery designers. We love the Dark Fire Necklace, priced at £590.

2. Kassandra Lauren Gordon

Based in London, Kassandra Lauren Gordon is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist who, through a journey of self-discovery, found inspiration to channel the experience, texture, and voice of herself and her community into her jewellery craft.

As a cultural and creative consultant working across visual arts, film, live events and audio, Kassandra has curated an impressive portfolio working in collaboration with organisations. She has been a visiting lecturer at the Royal College of the Arts, and her film Gemstones: Lessons in Unconditional Love was officially selected for the London Independent Film Festival in 2022.

"When I was 13, I noticed that jewellery transformed people," she says. "I saw when people wear jewellery; it brings their personality to life. There is a freedom to choose pieces that speak to you, that are about personal expression, and tap into your experiences.

"My pieces appeal to human beings who are bold, fearless and unapologetic about who they are. They have the courage to show themselves and allow them to continue on a journey of discovery about their own growth and the world around them."

Winner of the Jewel Award (2021), Kassandra's lightbulb moment came in 2020, she says, as she started to express her own voice in her work and used it to support other people in different mediums. We love her Roots & Reggae jewellery collection, inspired by the legacy of British-Jamaican culture and the juxtaposition of European and West-Indian tradition, and ranging from £35 to £3,750.

3. Good Daze

Rosie Greener is the founder and designer behind Good Daze, an independent jewellery brand based in London and founded in 2017. Previously she'd taken a Foundation Course in Art and Design at Central St Martins in order to experiment with different disciplines, and within the first week discovered jewellery design and completely fell in love with the discipline. "What could possibly be better than designing special and meaningful objects to be worn and adored?" she asks.

Going on to study a BA in Jewellery Design at Central St Martins enabled Rosie to further explore her ideas, work on her practice and learn more about the technical side of jewellery making. "It wasn't long before I realised a strong preference for designing over making and consciously aimed my career in that direction," she says.

She's since launched a successful business, with highlights including selling pieces in a Selfridges pop-up store and collaborating on a sell-out jewellery collection with Lazy Oaf. "My aim is to create jewellery that evokes happiness, and seeing people enjoying and wearing it in their own way is what inspires me," she says. Check out her intricate, dazzling You Are My Sunshine Necklace, from £195.

4. Adriana Chede

Born in São Paulo, Adriana Chede designs elegant, delicate pieces for the modern woman which can be worn every day and will last. She focuses on sustainability within her work, using recycled materials and responsibly sourced stones.

Having studied Jewellery Design at Parsons Paris and completed a master's at the European Institute of Design in Rome, Adriana has worked with jewellery design houses in Copenhagen, Milan, Rome and Paris. She moved to London to set up her eponymous fine jewellery brand in 2018.

For Adriana, jewellery has always represented a celebration of life. She discovered her passion for the craft in childhood when her father would give her mother a piece to celebrate the birth of each of their five children and special anniversaries. We love her Under the Sea collection, inspired by a trip to the Maldives in early 2021. Handmade in her London studio, it uses solid recycled 9ct gold and tourmalines to beautifully encapsulate the spirit of the ocean; prices range from £305 to £1,575.

5. SLAB Jewellery

SLAB Jewellery is the home of handmade jewellery designer Hannah Royce-Greensill, who makes "Handmade gothic jewellery with attitude". These pieces are inspired by 16th-century Memento Mori treasures and designed for individuals who aren't afraid to express their individuality. Influenced by sub-cultures and reliquaries, they combine skulls, roses and sharp halo spikes. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and finished by hand in Hannah's Bristol workshop.

Her practice was founded on an ethos of original design, traditional craftsmanship and eco-friendly production, and each piece is made from recycled gold or silver, using antique tools and the traditional lost-wax casting technique. Intricate models are hand-carved in wax, resulting in a unique character and a beautifully textured finish. We especially love her Morano spiked halo earrings, £130.

6. Claire Hibon Jewellery

A French multidisciplinary artist living in South London, Claire Hibon crafts jewellery with nature as its core influence, organic shapes being represented throughout. While the pieces are beautiful and precious, they are also ethical and sustainable, with Claire considering the environmental impact at every stage of production.

Influenced by her background in textile design, Claire draws on her experiences travelling the world to capture beautiful aspects of nature in her jewellery. Having worked with top jewellery designers throughout her career, she's spent the last few years developing her unique style and technique. Check out her beautiful ripple ring (£130-£170), which is handcrafted in London from recycled silver, making each piece unique.

7. Madeleine Holloway

A British jewellery designer and maker from the Cotswolds, Madeleine Holloway specialises in gold and silver jewellery with a rustic finish. She designs her own collections as well as specialising in bespoke upcycling services, repurposing vintage, family heirloom jewellery into new bold and modern designs while respecting their sentimental attachment.

To mark the year of the King's coronation, she's created a fabulous limited edition collection based around a special mark released by The Assay Office. These rings look fantastic and are a brilliant way to mark a special event in 2023, such as a christening, wedding or graduation. From her regular collections, meanwhile, we love her diamond spinning ring, a gorgeous gold and silver design, with five brilliant white diamonds taking centre stage.

8. Ara The Altar

Ara The Altar is inspired by the Ancient World's perception of astronomy. Ara is a southern polar constellation which means 'The altar' in Latin and which was depicted in early illustrations as an altar with burning incense, rising smoke, or sacrificial offerings.

Designer and creator Lauren translates this inspiration into the sourcing, creating and offering of beautiful, unique objects for Earth-aware individuals. Embracing the slow fashion movement, every piece is made to order in her workshop in North West England, using only 100% recycled solid silver and gold.

With ethics and sustainability influencing every decision, careful considerations are made at every step of the production process. We especially adore her rose gold monolith pendants, which start at £105.

9. SKEN Studios

Founded by Sabira Silcock, SKEN Studios is a sustainable jewellery brand that makes playful, humourous pieces from its Manchester base with customers all over the world. Although there's a whole heap of fun injected into each product, the craftsmanship and environmental credentials are taken very seriously. All of its joyful designs are lovingly handmade in recycled silver and carefully packaged using recycled materials: "because they're not only here for a good time, but a long time too".

Just released is SKEN's Smiles All Round collection. We especially love the Mini Melty Smile Ring that's made by melting silver off-cuts to create a molten surface "topped off with a cheeky grin".

10. Zoe Sherwood

Inspired by her mother, a seamstress and her father's interest in graphic design, Londoner Zoe Sherwood is an artist who empowers and tells stories through her designs. For the past 13 years, Zoe has worked across the creative industry, creating bespoke pieces, from Hollywood films to advertising campaigns for companies such as Puma Black Label.

Produced ethically and finished by hand, her pieces are empowering, unusual and bursting with life. We particularly love her fun yet empowering 'Me' collection, which takes inspiration from storytelling, finding and believing in yourself; priced from £25 to £660.