Jeweller - May 2021

My Bench
David Hollanders
Wild Trout Designer Jewellers, Sydney, NSW
Age 53 • Years in Trade 37 • Training Diploma in Jewellery Manufacture from Bradford & Ilkley College, Yorkshire • First job Goldsmithing apprenticeship at
Roy’s Jewellers, Lancashire in 1983 • Other Qualifications City & Guilds Jewellery Manufacture certification, Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great
Britain, and Diamond Setting Diploma from Sir John Cass College, London
SIGNATURE PIECE
GOLD AND DIAMOND BANGLE
PRIVATE COMMISSION
This bangle was a labour of love for a special lady who had
recently been bereaved, losing the love of her life. The recycled
gold used was hers, and the diamonds came from a variety of
jewellery pieces that either belonged to her husband or were
bought for her by him. I separated the diamonds by colour and
pavé set them in sections. She wears it all day, every day and we
recently made something similar for her daughter.
4FAVOURITE GEMSTONE I can’t go past the
vibrancy of a beautiful ruby.
4FAVOURITE METAL 18-carat yellow gold. What’s
not to love about a simple alloy that is both a
pleasing colour and is very accommodating?
4FAVOURITE TOOL Burnishers – how pleasing
it is that two metals rubbed together can give a
beautiful reflective finish!
4BEST NEW TOOL DISCOVERY A few years ago,
I discovered computer-assisted design (CAD). To
start with it was difficult to learn, but over the
years I’ve adapted my traditional skills to this
modern medium.
4BEST PART OF THE JOB Pleasing people.
4WORST PART OF THE JOB Quoting.
4BEST TIP FROM A JEWELLER Do it once,
do it right.
4BEST TIP TO A JEWELLER Do it once, do it right!
4BIGGEST HEALTH CONCERN ON THE BENCH
Dust is the biggest concern.
4LOVE JEWELLERY BECAUSE It never stops
surprising me. I started my apprenticeship in
goldsmithing at the age of 16, but I wasn’t ready
for the discipline required for the role – and I
was given the boot after less than a year! After
trying a couple of other jobs, including a trainee
stonemason, I decided that I really wanted to
pursue my passion in jewellery making.
After graduating from college in 1986, I landed
a job at the Diamond Boutique in Maidenhead,
Berkshire as a jobbing jeweller, progressing to
mounter. Then, under the guidance of Anthony
Hilbourne, I gained qualifications in gemmology,
diamond grading and diamond setting.
Even today, there is always something new
to discover – even though in a busy modern
workshop, we rarely get time to step back
and reflect!
55 | May 2021