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Production & Quality

Production & Quality

FROM SKETCHBOOK TO SHOWROOM

PRODUCTION AND QUALITY

Extensive work goes into our many jewellery 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 finshed production. Here is an insight into the full process.

DESIGN OF A NEW IDEA

Sarah and Alexander 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, 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 when layering. They keep a collection of over 100 different gemstones in their design studio for reference so they can play with ideas of gemstone colours combined with different precious metal tones and finishes. 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.

PUTTING A DESIGN INTO PRODUCTION

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 finshed piece to evaluate if the design works both in terms of the look of the piece (do the shapes, stones and metal compliment and look amazing) and on a practical level (to make sure the piece is comfortable and witout any issue – for example if a necklace that it 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 in mass production lines.  Instead we make everything in small batches to ensure consistancy and quality.

PRODUCTION METHODS

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.

Whilst our gemstones are sourced the world over depending on where in the world each natural mineral is found, we choose to produce our gemstone jewellery in India as that is where the best work is done in terms of gemstone craft.  Skilled gemstone cutters select the best stones for clarity and colour tone.  They are then cut and poslished by hand which is incredibly skilled work.  Stones are then hand set and the pieces hand finished in an array of artisan styles depending on whether the design should be a high shine finish or matt surface or brushed finish etc…  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.

Our jewellery which is metal alone without any gemstones is produced in Thailand where there is a long history of quality silversmithing.  All of the craftsman we partner with have extensive skills and long experience working with precious metals and finishing to the highest standard. All pieces are forged in the traditional way using moulds and being worked by hand. This jewellery is also created in the same small batches for guaranteed consistency.

QUALITY GUARANTEE

Quality of our jewllery 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 assuarance team in either India or Thailand.  It is then checked again by an experienced team in a quality studio at our design headquarters in England.  It is here that each piece is carefully studied to make sure there are no stone factures and that the piece is not defective in any way.  As gemstones by nature have varitions in colour tone, pattern and opaqueness the team work to pair up the most complimentary earrings and sets so they are the best possible match.  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 jewllery designs are the best they can be.  We hope you love the SARAH ALEXANDER jewellery collection as much as we do.