Today, the word 'jeweller' means a salesman. It is someone who trades in gold products. Jeweller is a word associated with a showroom in a shopping mall filled with manufactured jewellery and watches. Few people hearing the word can link it to its German origin. The word 'Juwelier' has its roots in the word 'Juwel' meaning jewel. Etymologically speaking, a jeweller works with jewels, which captures the nature of the job and focuses on designing, creating, and selling jewellery.
On the other hand, 'goldsmith' refers to an artisan who specialises in working with and on gold. A goldsmith works not only with gold but also with other precious metals such as silver and platinum. His work involves forging, soldering, finishing, and shaping these metals into different shapes to create jewellery products such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, or other ornaments.
"Jewellery has become a synonym for all of the values that I recognise in art."
My work combines the old meaning of the word jeweller with the profession of a goldsmith. However, that is not all. The craft has its limitations, mainly conceptual. Therefore, my initial relationship with the client is not a conversation about technique. Nor is it a conversation about precious stones. First of all, I listen carefully. I listen to the other person's expression to understand their point of view. I recognise the taste and notice nuances. Using questions, I bring out what moves, uplifts, and delights the client.
