“Chic with lots of personality”: G by Glenn Spiro celebrates extraordinary gemstones
London designer Glenn Spiro presents his one-of-a-kind creations in a listed Mayfair showroom once occupied by Norman Hartnell, couturier to Britain’s Queen Elizabeth. Jewellery Outlook Editor David Brough recently visited the showroom to find out more.
LONDON, October 2017 – “Chic with lots of personality” is Glenn Spiro’s description of his distinctive style as a top drawer jewellery designer to the international glitterati.
In a listed Mayfair showroom a stone’s throw from Bond Street, Glenn presents his magnificent one-of-a-kind jewellery creations featuring extremely rare and beautiful gemstones, to an ultra-privileged elite.
The sumptuously decorated setting was once the showroom of Norman Hartnell, dressmaker to the Queen. The original chandeliers from that glamorous time in the 1950s and 1960s still light the scene today.
Customers can admire the unique creations of Glenn Spiro in a spacious ante room with high ceilings appointed with comfortable sofas like the living room of a stylish home.
Glenn is known for the extraordinary combinations of rare and beautiful colour gemstones which he and his design team have incorporated into the contemporary handcrafted pieces created in his London and Geneva ateliers.
Glenn says the cornerstone of his creations are: personality, fine gems and confidence; and well-executed pieces.
“Chic with lots of personality,” is how he sums up G by Glenn Spiro jewellery.
He adds, “Our jewellery, as diverse as it is, is very identifiable.”
G by Glenn Spiro is stocked at the Fine Jewellery Room in Harrods in London, and at Bergdorf Goodman in New York.
Glenn Spiro buys the gems from a network of high end dealers, and says that some of the world’s best stones have found their way to him, including the world’s second largest red diamond, weighing around 4.9 carats.
“We handle stones that we love and not stones that we need,” he said.
His design inspiration starts with his choice of gemstone.
“I design around the stone,” he said. “I am creating pieces that I like.”
He has spent years amassing a remarkable array of gemstones from around the world.
“You have to be patient. It can be years before you find the right marriage of stones.”
Glenn learned his craft as a young man in London making one-of-a-kind pieces for English Artworks, a supplier to Cartier.
His personal collection of Cartier objects, including a model car once owned by Henry Ford, is a reminder that his background was spent working on one-of-a-kind pieces destined for one of the greatest jewellery maisons in the world.
The G by Glenn Spiro jewellery on display in his showroom includes a pair of earrings resembling fish bones made from titanium coated with cognac diamonds.
The inclusion of titanium means that the earrings are lightweight and comfortable to wear.
“The idea of fish bones for the earrings’ design came to me when I was having lunch with my daughter at Scott’s restaurant (in Mayfair),” Glenn said.
“I lined up the fish bones on my plate and the design came to me immediately.”
Glenn was speaking in his sumptuous office, which is adorned with exquisite art and furnished with piles of red display cases where the designer keeps examples of his gem-set jewellery creations to show to visitors.
“My customers are very international – business or society people who often have an appreciation for art. They usually hear about my designs through word of mouth.”
Glenn had recently returned to London from the Biennale Paris, where he showed off his pieces for the first time, joining a prestigious group of jewellers including Moussaieff, Boghossian and Nirav Modi.
His appearance at the Biennale, and his planned participation at the TEFAF luxury fair in Maastricht next year, are raising his profile to connoisseur collectors.
He also has plans to introduce a jewel watch, made in Geneva.www.glennspiro.com
