I was so excited to receive my MBE in the New Year Honours list for the services to the British Jewellery industry. I nearly fell off my chair when I got the letter and it was even more exciting that both John and I received one. After 21 years working as a jewellery designer it was fantastic to be recognized in this way, as I already think of myself as extremely privileged to have a job that I am passionate about and enjoy doing.
Throughout my time in the industry I’ve worked with so many fantastic characters and unsung heroes, with who I could not have done this without. From stone dealers who scour the world for unusual minerals in often inhospitable places, to metallurgists and assay markers who create and certify the alloys we work with, to the model makers and the stone setters and other talented craftsmen. I really have to thank them and my team at Annoushka and previously at Links of London for everything they’ve done to support me in my work.
Someone asked me the other day what jewellery one should wear to meet the Queen, which is clearly something I am going to have to give a lot of thought to in the coming weeks! Being awarded this MBE in the year of the Diamond Jubilee, I think it only fitting that whatever it is should be big, scattered with diamonds and colourful.
