Flawless 2.05ct Diamond

Here' a short video of a recent commission I made for a client, celebrating 30 years marriage.  The design features a 2.05ct GIA certified flawless  emerald cut diamond, set in a halo style split shank  pave band. [playlist type="video" ids="745"]
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Sculptures For The Shakespeare Birth Place Trust

Over the last year  my other company Ursae Ltd has been working on two extremely prestigious sculptures for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Our expertise in bespoke high end luxury goods, landed us with the task to produce two of the sites most detailed and complex pieces. The sculptures are part of the 5.35million pound redevelopment of Shakespeare’s family home 1597 -1616, on Chapel Street in Stratford Upon Avon. The garden has been designed to commemorate the importance of the site and allows visitors to make their own personal connection with Shakespeare. When Shakespeare bought New Place he was an established playwright and it is believed that he wrote his later plays there, including The Tempest. One can follow in Shakespeare’s footsteps through a new entrance on the site of the original gatehouse and enjoy a contemporary landscape that reveals the footprint of the Shakespeare family home. The re-imagined site gives an impression of the scale of New Place and relationship to the surrounding buildings; such as the neighbouring King Edward VI School and Guild Chapel that were once attended by a young Shakespeare. The commissioned artworks and displays throughout the site will evoke a sense of family life and hint at Shakespeare’s major works that were written during the 19 years he owned New Place. Ursae’s role in this special project was to create a Terrestrial Globe depicting the knowledge of Elizabethan period, giving an insight to what Shakespeare and his peers believed the world to look like at that point in time. Showing the world as known by the court of Queen Elizabeth in 1600, and based upon the first English world map, it exhibits both the surprisingly expansive knowledge of the seas, and the focused provincial mindset of the Tudor elite. The unknown world is dark and disturbing, while the known is bright, shining and anglocentric. In addition an extremely detailed Sculpture of a Silver Ship is being created. The ship will suspend almost magically from fine wires supported by a bronze cradle. The perfect glimmering galleon harks back to the mystifying unscathed Ship from the Tempest play.
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Goldsmiths’ Fair 2015

After a busy week preparing for Goldsmiths' Fair 2015, and having had the pleasure of watching my brother Qualify for the Rio Paralymipics, by winning the Wheelchair Rugby European Chamionships - I am pleased to announce that my stand is set and open for business.
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Royal Commission For HRH Princess Anne

ROYAL COMMISSION FOR AWARD WINNING SILVERSMITH Award winning designer, jeweller and silversmith Ben Ryan recently received one of his most prestigious commissions yet – to design and produce The Perpetual Master’s Badge for HRH The Princess Royal on behalf of The Worshipful Company of Saddlers, one of the City of London’s oldest Livery companies.  Ben was recommended by the Goldsmiths’ Company, as a possible candidate to undertake the prestigious commission, and his design was chosen by committee from a number of entries submitted by various artists.  After months of work the badge was recently presented to Her Royal Highness where she was made The Perpetual Master of The Saddlers’ Company at the Installation Court ceremony held in its magnificent livery hall.  This title only ever goes to a member of the Royal family, and The Princess Royal will retain it for life. The unique badge is made from a mixture of materials including 18 carat white and yellow gold, enamel, sapphires and diamonds.  The settings that hold the stones have been designed in an open scallop set fashion, echoing the U-shaped form of a horseshoe, allowing maximum light to reach each and every stone. The design itself displays The Saddlers’ company crest sporting their motto ‘hold fast, sit sure’, whilst the open fretwork allows the piece to be substantial in size without being too heavy to wear.  Positioned above the badge is the solid blue royal cypher finished off in the style of the badge with sapphires and diamonds around its perimeter edge and this, in turn, is attached to a ribbon made by Eden Ravenscroft, London’s oldest tailor. HRH The Princess Royal’s affiliation with the equestrian world makes her the ideal person to be The Perpetual Master of The Saddlers’ Company, which supports, encourages and promotes the British saddlery industry, not least to ensure its equipment is made to the highest possible standards for the safety and comfort of both the horse and the rider.  The Saddlers’ Company has only ever had two previous Perpetual Masters – Frederick, Prince of Wales from 1737 to 1751 and Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, from 1906-1952. Nigel Lithgow, The Clerk to The Saddlers’ Company, said: “We are absolutely delighted with Ben’s work, which has gone down extremely well with our members.  The piece he produced is beautiful.  It is marvellously well crafted and a credit to him.  We were keen to help encourage a young, relatively up and coming silversmith.  He was recommended by The Goldsmiths’ Company and we hope Ben’s success will help boost his standing in the future.” Commenting on his commission, Ben says: “It was a real honour and privilege to have been selected to design and produce such a rare piece of work for one of the great Livery companies.  As this was only the third ever Perpetual Master’s Badge in the Saddlers’ Company’s extensive history, I felt a real sense of responsibility – and as it was being designed for HRH The Princess Royal it was very important that the piece was elegant and of the highest quality.  After all the weeks of careful planning and manufacture, I was personally very pleased with the outcome, and doubly so after the positive comments and praise I received from both The Saddlers’ Company and The Princess Royal herself.” Ben is currently working from his studio in the Goldsmiths’ Centre in Clerkenwell, London.  He has won a number of awards as well as commendations for design, craftsmanship, and technological innovation including the ‘Gil Packard Bursary’, and the ‘Young Designer Silversmith Of The Year Award’. Some of Ben’s other work is currently on display at Mappin & Webb in Regent Street, London, where they are exclusively previewing contemporary silver which will be on sale at the renowned Goldsmiths’ Fair which takes place from 22nd September to 4th October.  Ben will be exhibiting in week one of the Goldsmiths’ Fair (22nd to 27th September) where he will be showing statement pieces together with a selection of luxury homeware and gift items. For further information please visit www.BenjaminJamesRyan.com or contact Ben personally on +44 (0) 7970 22 77 15 or email [email protected]
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Craftsmanship & Design Awards 2015

I Just wanted to say a big thank you to all the judges who picked my design as the winner of the Computer Aided Design section at this years Craftsmanship & Design Awards ‪#‎JewelleryOscars‬ @GCADC Also I'm really pleased to announce that two products from my business URSAE Ltd. were also exhibited at the awards, one of which received a commendation in the 3D Finished Pieces - Smallworkers Section.‪#‎JewelleryOscars‬ @GCADC
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Goldsmiths’ Fair 2014

I would just like to say a big thank you to all those who came to Goldsmiths' Fair Week 1 last week. The fair was my was first and has been an amazing experience. I have met so many lovely people, talented designers and kind staff, and it has been a real pleasure taking part. For those of you who didn't make it last week there's still time to visit week 2. I won't be there unfortunately, but there is an array of talent and beautiful pieces to see and buy.
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‘Luxus’ Salt & Pepper Grinders

‘Luxus’ Salt & Pepper Grinders: Over the last couple of months I have been working on producing this very special pair of sterling silver, part gilt, and diamond set Salt & Pepper Grinders for the Christies ‘Special Dining Exhibition’. The pieces themselves are fitted with state of the art ceramic grinding mechanisms suitable for both salt and pepper and are produced using a mixture of traditional silversmithing techniques alongside cutting edge new technology. They are aptly named the ‘Luxus’ Salt & Pepper Grinders Latin for Luxury and Extravagance, due to the materials they are made from and the sheer amount of work poured into both their design and manufacture! They are without doubt one of the most challenging designs I have made to date, but now all the long hours of designing and making has passed… I’m really happy with the outcome. :) I hope you like them too…
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