Thursday 9th October 2014
 An award-winning designer was at a Chesterfield jewellery store on Saturday - showcasing his range of statement pieces and unveiling his Cannele twist engagement ring (left).
Andrew Geoghegan was recently voted the BJA's Designer Of The Year and it's not hard to see why - with eye catchingly beautiful rings and necklaces made of sumptuous stones and precious metal on show at Green+Benz on Glumangate.
With over 16 years of jewellery design behind him, Andrew is clearly passionate about what he does - and, speaking to The Chesterfield Post, makes no bones about what force drives those designs, "I focus on two sectors of jewellery - cocktail rings and bridal - that's engagement and wedding rings, earrings and pendants.
Jewellery Designer Andrew Geoghegan with Green + Benz's Abi Hutchinson
"What's unique about my jewellery is that it has a classic feel but there's an 'AG' contemporary twist to it too! Sometimes a design may take a year to refine and get absolutely perfect but, at the heart of everything I do, is love. I have fallen in love with my craft so that people can express their love to their partners - what's my jewellery about? Love!
"Inspiration hits in funny places - in the shower believe it or not, or on the train. Not usually when I'm thinking about designing! It comes when I'm at my most relaxed and disconnected from work. The more relaxed I am the more available the designs are. If I remember it. I sketch the design and resolve that into a semi refined version.
"I go into a computer design programme to refine it further and then using some high technology rapid prototyping, I see a resin model of the ring and I check all the proportions.
"Only when I am totally happy with it will it go to my workshops, to my team of craftsmen and they will polish and set the stone, then it will go to the Assay office and they hallmark it. It will come back to me for checking, and if it's perfect, it goes to market.
"I contemplate every aspect of the design to make sure it's completely perfect, it's not just about how they look. We're not just visual creatures, we're kinesthetic, we're obsessed with touch, so when you put it on the finger, it's an 'aaah'. They are beautiful to wear as well as to look at."
They certainly are - and looking at some of the rings, you could almost dive into them. The colour and facets of the stones are so rich and deep, a fact which Andrew readily acknowledges, "One of my jobs is to be unique, so not only do we do diamonds, but I try to source stones which are unique, in colour, shade and hue. This beautiful Madeira Citrine (below) has an autumnal feel - a deep rich brown and your eyes are drawn into the stone.
"In my collection there are also Peridots, Yellow Diamonds, Tanzanites, Chocolate Diamonds and Pink Diamonds too!"
A proud Yorkshireman, Andrew says that jewellery designing, for him, is not just a passion, it's part of his character, "Ask my missus about me and after a long list of expletives, she will say I'm a control freak! With metal, I can do what I want with it - drill it, fold it, set stones in it and own it - she's mine!
"As a child I was always found in my dad's garage, bent over his Black and Decker, so art has always been in my blood. At school, to start working with metal, to work with gemstones was great. The design element suits my character!"
Producing a high end, high class product which is made to last a lifetime has, Andrew says, been as hard for him as anyone during the recent financially constrained times but feels they have come through it, "Initially, when the recession hit, I was a bit complacent, I didn't feel it at first - the luxury market didn't feel as if it had hit - but as it went on, we did feel it.
"The average spends on engagement rings dropped. People are more cautious in what they spend but we have stuck to our guns - we haven't dropped quality, as we're not greedy, it has to come at a price. What is the significance of an engagement ring? It represents an engagement - the joining of two people. It's about love and how can you put a price on that?"
|
OTHER STORIES
CHESTERFIELD TOWN TAKES PRIDE IN REMEMBERING -
They came to remember, Chesterfield's veterans shared their private memories of war on the most public of occasions - Remembrance Sunday More, Audio & Video...
LOCAL CHESTERFIELD VETERAN TO MARCH AT THE CENOTAPH IN LONDON -
A registered blind ex-soldier from Derbyshire will be remembering friends and family killed in action when he takes part in the Remembrance Sunday march to the Cenotaph with Blind Veterans UK. More...
CHESTERFIELD REMEMBERS THE DEAD -
Chesterfield residents will come together to remember those who have died in conflicts since 1914. More...
CHESTERFIELD CHURCH AND ROTARY CLUB JOIN FORCES TO SELL POPPIES -
Chesterfield's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints along with members of the Rotary Club, have joined forces to sell poppies for the poppy appeal. More...
NEW ROC CAFE IN CHESTERFIELD HELPS YOUNG PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS -
A local drop-in centre, at Grace Chapel, has recently been made a ROC Cafe for the work it does within the community. More...
'COMPUTER SAYS YES' IN CHESTERFIELD JOBCENTRE -
Old-fashioned 'signing-on', job cards in windows, and Full Monty-style dole queues have been consigned to the past as Chesterfield Jobcentre is among those to undergo a digital revolution. More...
THE LARGEST FALL
IN UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES SINCE RECORDS BEGAN -
Unemployment has seen the largest annual fall since records began over 40 years ago. More...
CHESTERFIELD APPRENTICE SCOOPS FOUR NATIONAL AWARDS -
An auto-electrician apprentice from Chesterfield has been recognised as one of the best in the country after scooping four awards at a national ceremony. More...
FUNERAL PLANS FOR DOWAGER DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE ARE ANNOUNCED -
It's been announced that the funeral service for Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire will be held at 12 noon, at St Peter's Church, Edensor on Thursday 2nd October 2014. More...
POSSIBLE STRIKE ACTION MAY HIT
TRAIN SERVICES
THIS WEEKEND -
Chesterfield train commuters may face a week of disruption to services as East Midlands Trains' engineering and maintenance staff will strike unless an agreement can be reached More...
BOROUGH COUNCIL SCHEME TO HELP FIRST TIME BUYERS
IS EXTENDED -
A scheme to get house buyers in Chesterfield on the first step of the property ladder is being extended so applicants can buy homes costing up to £150,000. More...
POUNDLAND DOUBLES IT'S VALUE AS NEW STORE OPENS IN CHESTERFIELD -
Poundland, Europe's biggest single price discount retailer, will be opening a second store in Chesterfield on Ravenside Retail Park on 27th September - creating 30 jobs for the local community. More...
DEBORAH, DOWAGER DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE DIES, AGED 94 -
Chatsworth has announced that Deborah, Dowager Duchess of Devonshire passed away this morning, Wednesday, September 24th. More...
STAGECOACH BUS DRIVERS BIDDING FOR PASSENGERS VOTES TO WIN STAR TITLE -
Bus passengers in Chesterfield are being encouraged to vote for their favourite driver and be in with a chance of winning a top prize. More...
TV STAR VISITS THE PROACT STADIUM
AND TALKS UNKNOWN QUANTITIES -
Jesse McClure, star of Storage Hunters - currently airing on satellite channel Dave - was in town on Friday visiting the PROACT stadium More & Audio...
CASA ADDS UNIQUE WEDDING SPLENDOUR AT WALTON LODGE AND WEDDING FAYRE-
Casa Hotel is adding a further string to its wedding bow by offering weddings at the captivating Walton Lodge as well as staging their own Autumn Wedding Fayre on Sunday 21st September. More...
HIGHWAYS AGENCY WANT YOUR VIEWS
ON PLANNED M1 IMPROVEMENTS -
The Highways Agency has said it is planning to undertake improvements to the M1 through delivering a smart motorway between junctions 28 to 31 and between junctions 32 to 35a. More...
CLARENCE HOUSE ANNOUNCE A NEW ROYAL BABY IS ON THE WAY! -
It's been announced this morning that HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their second baby. More...
JEWELLERY DESIGNER PAYS HOMAGE TO HER DERBYSHIRE ROOTS -
One local designer, who says the hills and landscapes of her home county - Derbyshire - provides inspiration for her unique creations, is now showcasing her wares in Chesterfield More...
INQUEST RESPONSE TO INSPECTION REPORT ON HMYOI HINDLEY -
The Chief Inspector of Prisons has today published an inspection report on HMYOI Hindley that notes, despite 'significant improvements', Hindley was 'still struggling to keep some of the boys it held safe'. More...
CHESTERFIELD ARMY CADET PASSES OUT FROM SANDHURST MILITARY ACADEMY -
A young cadet from Chesterfield has joined around 200 fellow graduates in a prestigious ceremony as she passed out from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst More...
'FARM TO FORK' ROADSHOW HITS CHESTERFIELD'S TESCO EXTRA -
Tesco customers are being invited TODAY (Friday, 125th August) to the Chesterfield Tesco Extra store at Lockoford Lane, for a 'Farm to Fork' roadshow. More...
THE SHORTLIST FOR THE 2014 FOOD AND DRINK AWARDS IS ANNOUNCED -
24 food and drink businesses have been shortlisted across nine categories in the 2014 Chesterfield Food and Drink Awards, organised in association with Chesterfield College - headline sponsor of the awards for the second year running. More...
FLOODING AND ROAD COLLAPSE CHAOS FOLLOWING HEAVY DOWNPOURS -
Chesterfield was once again left struggling with flooding at major junctions into the town tonight following heavy rain in the early evening. More...
NEW MARKHAM DEVELOPMENT BRINGS FURTHER JOBS BOOST -
A new family pub and restaurant development is to open on Derbyshire County Council's flagship regeneration site bringing 40 jobs to the area. More...
LOCAL MCDONALD'S VOLUNTEERS CLEAN UP CHESTERFIELD SKATE PARK -
Local McDonald's franchisee, Walter Wright and crew from the two restaurants in Chesterfield joined forces to tackle litter in the local skate park situated in-between the two restaurants. More...
DERBYSHIRE COMPANIES URGED TO EXPLORE OMAN AND QATAR -
Forward-thinking local companies are being urged to make the most of business opportunities in some of the fastest growing areas in the world, as export body UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) launch a high profile market visit to Oman and Qatar. More...
HAVE WE GOT A HANDLE ON ONLINE GAMBLING? (GUEST ARTICLE) -
With the World Cup finally ended, sports betting and online gambling in general has been making the headlines for more than a few reasons recently. More...
COUNCILLORS CAMPAIGN FOR
SAFER EXIT FROM WHITTINGTON STORE -
Cllrs David and Paul Stone have been campaigning on behalf of local residents for a clearer and improved view of passing vehicles when cars are exiting the Tescos Store on the High Street at Whittington. More...
NEXT STOP, AWARD WINNING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMME -
Three talented young people are being given the opportunity to join one of the transport industry’s leading engineering apprenticeship programmes. More...
CHESTERFIELD TURNS OUT TO WELCOME HOME THE LANCERS -
The 9/12th Lancers, marched through Chesterfield this morning as part of their homecoming parade after returning from an eight month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
More, Pics & Audio...
CHESTERFIELD SOLDIER READY TO PARADE THROUGH HER HOME TOWN -
Soldiers from the 9/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales') are looking forward to marching through the streets of Chesterfield tomorrow - Thursday, 3rd July More...
NEW FOOTBRIDGE IS OPENED AT CHESTERFIELD CANAL FESTIVAL -
The new Constitution Hill Footbridge, built over Chesterfield Canal in Staveley has been officially opened More...
|
