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Extensive work goes into our many accessory pieces to make sure they are perfect for you. There is a long journey for each design from the very first seed of the idea right through to the finished production. Here is an insight into the full process.
Sarah and Alex tend to be designing all the time. Whether in their countryside design studio or working away when they carry sketchbooks on them, they’ll discuss new ideas and sketch down the basics of shape and texture before the image ebbs away. Inspiration can come from anywhere ; they can draw from colours and textures of landscapes and nature, through to cultural inspiration whilst travelling or designs can spring from a practical idea of how to design a better working clasp or finer chains to allow for more comfort. Ideas are sketched from basic concepts and developed through to a finished version that both designers are happy with including what finish the metal should have and how the stones should be cut.
Before a design can be put into production it has to go through a sampling process. This is where a prototype of the design is produced from a concept mould. This allows the team to see a finished piece to evaluate if the design works in terms of the look of the piece (do the shapes, crystals and precious metals compliment each other and look amazing) and on a practical level (to make sure the piece is comfortable and without issue – for example if a necklace lies flat against the skin without rolling etc…). Sometimes we make 3 or 4 versions of the same design so the team can compare similar pieces and select their favourite. Once a design has passed that stage it can be put into a full production. This means making actual items for customers, but not on mass production lines. Instead we make everything in small batches to ensure consistency and quality.
Over the years the team has travelled far and wide to connect with skilled craftsmen to create our gorgeous designs. We are lucky to work in partnership with such talented people.
All of the craftsmen we partner with have extensive skills and long experience working with precious metals and finishing to the highest standard. Pieces are forged in the traditional way using moulds and are worked on by hand. We still use traditional methods that were developed hundreds of years ago to make the crowns and jewels for royal households in Europe and Russia.
Stones are hand set and the pieces hand finished in an array of artisan styles depending on the design, for example a high shine finish or hand enamelling. The reason we make in small batches is this allows the same craftsmen to work on each quantity ensuring the same quality and finishing across the whole batch.
Quality of our whole range is so important to us. Every piece undergoes a double control process to make sure that it is of the highest quality. It is first checked after production by a quality assurance team. It is then checked again by an experienced team in a quality control studio at our design headquarters. It is here that each piece is carefully studied to make sure there are no stone blemishes and the piece is not defective in any way. Each clasp is checked, every chain is checked and only when we are completely happy with a piece is it packaged in our beautiful signature boxes and ready to send to customers or our stockists.
We put all of our passion and love into this journey so our designs are the best they can be. We hope you love the Ivory & co. collections as much as we do.