Amie

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON

With a varied background that has taken her from gaining experience in luxury retail to working at Antipodean diamond mines, and supplemented by her extensive studies at the largest jewellery school in Europe, Amie undoubtedly has the credentials and passion to provide expert guidance on all aspects of gems and fine jewellery.

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I have been in the jewellery industry for 14 years: from working in luxury retail, to diamond mining in Australia, to five years of study at the Birmingham School of Jewellery, my experience covers many areas of the trade. Most recently I was Head of Sales for a national string of jewellers, specialising in loose diamonds. I have been at Pragnell for one year, and I am the Head of Fine Jewellery at Stratford.

Qualifications:
Professional Jewellers Jet 1 & 2 Courses.
NAG Professional Jewellers Diploma
DGA & FGA Diplomas
GIA Coloured Stones

Q & A

What is your earliest jewellery memory?
Playing in my grandmother’s jewellery box every time I visited her. To this day, she still calls me her little magpie!

What is your favourite gemstone?
A diamond: it's a clear stone, is so versatile and is classic. I find the brilliance of it fascinating.

What advice would you give someone looking for a bespoke piece?
Keep it simple unless you are sure. Try and draw from your partner’s style.

Describe your jewellery style in three words?
Classic and elegant, yet impressive!

My Favourite Piece

My favourite piece in our range is an exclusive cocktail ring from our Masterpiece collection. It features a floral marquise and pear diamond design, surrounding the most stunning cushion and pear shaped pink, blue and yellow diamonds. Coloured diamonds are incredibly rare, so to find a piece that combines three variations is phenomenal. The contrast between the colourless diamonds and the vibrant coloured centre stones really is out of this world. The pink diamond is set in rose gold, and the yellow diamond in yellow to further enhance their colour. This piece was handcrafted in our workshops based in the heart of England and holds the Pragnell seal. This means all of the stones are superior in quality and handpicked to suit the piece by a member of the Pragnell family. The setting is then designed specifically to suit the stones.

Bespoke Commission

My favourite bespoke commission is our Pragnell setting with six claws. This design features a stunning large round brilliant cut diamond, expertly set with six fine claws, each crafted to fit the stone perfectly and ensure security. We received a request from a customer who wanted to add a personal touch to this iconic design. His partner loved the idea of a pink diamond, but he also wanted the ring to be classic looking and feared she may tire of the colour in the future. To create a versatile, timeless look, we suggested that a small pink diamond be set inverted at the bottom of the setting. This could be seen from the side profile and also touched the skin when the ring was worn. At certain angles, it also gave the brilliant white diamond the most beautiful subtle pink tone. Truly a one-off!

Art Deco Design

My favourite period of jewellery design is Art Deco. Combining modern styles with fine craftsmanship, the Art Deco era represented luxury and glamour. Its geometric forms influenced all arts, creating some iconic architecture, including the Chrysler Building in New York! A reaction to the mystical aesthetic of the previous Art Nouveau style, Art Deco took inspiration from Cubism, with geometric shapes and bold colour combinations. This was a complete rejection of the soft, curvy forms that defined the previous era. Around this time, the technology for diamond cutting also improved, so a wider range of cuts could be achieved. My favourite part is how the Art Deco movement has stood the test of time - making the architectural silhouette of its pieces as contemporary today as when they were originally created.