Dawn Gear Jewellery

Vendor Biography

Welcome to my earring shop on The British Craft House – a wonderful showcase for so many talented British makers.

This jewellery is created at my home studio in The New Forest, Hampshire, where I am inspired by my lovely garden and “assisted” by our two cats!

My background over the past 15 years is in silversmithing, using recycled silver and incorporating other metals and semi-precious stones.  I love to make contemporary and unusual earrings in particular, and to experiment with new techniques and materials.

I am now exploring the world of silver filigree, an ancient craft with artisans from many different cultures. I love the delicate lace-like nature they bring to my earrings and the design possibilities are endless, which is why I only make one pair of each design.  In that way every pair is an adventure for me and you are safe in the knowledge that the pair you own are unique.

I am indebted to Filipa Oliveira, author of Contemporary Filigree Jewellery, for being so inspirational in this field.

I also work with textile techniques in wire, originally inspired by Arline Fisch’s Textile Techniques in Metal, as well as New Wire Crochet by Yael Falk amongst others, resulting in my own unique designs and style.  I have also incorporated some ideas gleaned from studying lacemaking.

The resulting earrings in wire crochet use sterling silver combined with coloured enamelled copper wire.  Every pair is completely handcrafted by me, again individual and unique.  The wire creates contemporary, lightweight, fun earrings in a wonderful range of colours.  It also allows for more sculptural and dramatic three-dimensional shapes, and can be combined with silver accents and semi-precious gemstones.