Bespoke Design - when necessity meets creativity
Author’s Bio - Angela Benjamin of Ange B Designs, is a sustainable jewellery designer and maker based in West London. Alongside her jewellery design business, she teaches one-day jewellery making workshops for beginners and also works part-time as physiotherapist.
I’m often asked how I started making jewellery and when I get to the part about being a physiotherapist, I’m sure a lot of people find the leap quite random, but my day job definitely brings it’s benefits.
For starters, I have pretty strong hands: after years of pummelling and manoeuvring hundreds of humans back into shape, I find my thumbs cope pretty well with manipulating metal! Another advantage is that my knowledge of anatomy gives me great insight into how things should fit against the body and although this is always a consideration in my design process, I had to think a little more laterally for a recent unique commission.
Whilst on my jewellery stall at a craft fair, I noticed a woman was picking up my rings, turning them around and then putting them down. She looked a bit disappointed so I explained that I could make rings in different sizes, if that was a concern. It was then that she mentioned that she’d always wanted a ring for her middle finger but since rupturing the tendon, she could no longer straighten her finger enough to get a ring on.
‘Physio’ Ange immediately perked up, asked a few details about her injury and before I knew it I had offered to design her a ring that she’d be able to comfortably get onto her injured finger. We arranged to meet up for a more detailed consultation, where we discussed the size and style of ring she wanted.
Over the next couple of weeks, I made few sketches and samples which I shared with the client. When the final piece was ready, I must confess to having a few nerves about how the ring would be received. There’s always the worry that it might not fit or the client just won’t like it, but this piece was a great success - the client could get it on and off easily and it looked great on her finger - she had a unique handmade silver ring which was eye-catching AND comfortable.
The uniqueness of handmade jewellery is one of the things I love about what I do - the ability to make bespoke jewellery that suits the wearer. In a world where we can be overwhelmed with mass-production, it’s great to have one thing that’s been made specially for you!
Bespoke Silver Ring with Pink Gemstone