Redefining the standard of British jewellery manufacture, Shaun Leane is quickly becoming one of the greatest designer jewellery brands in the world for their timeless and sophisticated sterling silver designs. These designs, whether it be a Shaun Leane necklace, ring, bangle or pair of earrings, take inspiration from nature and the sensual shapes and colours found there.
While founded in 1999, the Shaun Leane jewellery brand has a history even more extensive than this. The founder, Shaun Leane, took to the bench in London’s jewellery quarter, Hatton Garden, at the age of just 15 quickly discovering the art of careful craftsmanship and attention to detail. In 1992, a year after completing his apprenticeship, a mutual friend introduced Leane to Lee Alexander McQueen, who became amazed by some of the sterling silver designs he was working on. The legendary relationship between McQueen and Shaun Leane began right there and the British jeweller began creating several iconic pieces for the runway. Some of these included Victorian-style silver fob watches, coiled corsets and sharp crowns made of sterling silver thorns.
Shaun Leane and Alexander McQueen worked together for 17 years, right up until McQueen’s death in 2010. Their collaborations ultimately acted as a catalyst to Leane’s growing quest to blend technical perfection with creative freedom and the launch of the first public Shaun Leane jewellery collection in 1999. His designs took inspiration from the works of art he had created for the runways, evoking aggressive, sensual and daring aspects of nature. For example, the Shaun Leane Serpent’s Trace bracelets revive the meandering skeleton that lives beneath the coil of one of our world’s most fascinating creatures. The meticulously crafted chains act like gilded vertebrae and form an undulating silhouette emulating the elegant movement of the serpent’s spine.
One of the British Maison’s most popular collections is the Shaun Leane Hook jewellery line. Inspired by the sweeping curves and sculpted silhouettes in nature, the Hook earrings and rings are incredibly sophisticated and yet offer a hint of rebellion in their primal nature. Similarly, the Shaun Leane Talon earrings offer a similar, slender hook shape that curves past the lobe and down the neck evoking the look of bird claws. This collection in particular found fame when Meghan Markle was photographed wearing a pair of Talon earrings. Shaun Leane himself has since admitted he now keeps Meghan Markle in mind when designing new pieces as her royal seal of approval has led to a spike in sales.
If you’d like to learn more about Shaun Leane and shop the stunning collections of British designer jewellery for yourself, head over to the W Hamond website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01947 603330 or send us a message at info@whamond.com.
