08/03/2023
Collection: The Goldsmiths’ Company
Cheadle describes her ‘Yellow Gold and Diamond Bridge’ brooch as ‘a real crowd pleaser’. Restrained in design yet rich in luxury and sparkle, the brooch embodies the controlled, sophisticated indulgence which characterises her jewellery. When worn, the thin circular wire pin twists into the wearer’s clothes, leaving just the glittering diamond bar on show. The satisfying simplicity of the fixing was the result of much experimentation, followed by a ‘lightbulb moment’ of realisation; if a circular brooch fixed with a straight pin, perhaps the reverse could also work.
The colour combination also represents a design development. Cheadle’s original ‘Bridge’ brooch was made from white gold set with white diamonds. A walk home from the station on a dark, wet night brought inspiration for a new direction; ‘the glistening tarmac was wearing a freshly painted set of double yellow lines… of course… It’s got to be yellow!!!!’. The combination of yellow gold with yellow diamonds is dazzling; the stones merge with their settings heightening the overall visual effect of the brooch. Combined with the pleasing ingenuity of the fitting, this gives the brooch an attractive playfulness and places it within the long history of both puzzle jewels and jewels designed to encourage a sense of interaction and play.
Thank you
