Queen Of Diamonds: An Interview With Garrard’s Claire Scott, The Jewellery House Behind Princess Diana’s Engagement Ring
Skilfully breathing new life into the British brand while remaining true to the house’s illustrious heritage, Garrard’s Head of Design is determined to preserve the jeweller’s legacy for generations to come…
Since its inception in 1735, the house of Garrard has held the honour of working closely with the British royal family, as well as with royalty and high-profile clients across the globe. Irrefutably renowned for creating exquisite pieces, the luxury British jeweller is responsible for what is perhaps the most recognisable piece of jewellery in history – Princess Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, now famously worn by the Duchess of Cambridge.
Today, Garrard’s heritage continues to flourish through iconic designs brought to life by its exceptionally skilled creative team. Bazaar Bride’s Nina Catt spoke to Head of Design, Claire Scott to get an insight into the storied history of the brand, its exciting new partnerships, and the designer’s most-treasured pieces from her personal collection – a jewellery box we would most definitely like to explore…
In just a few words, how would you describe Garrard? Elegant, confident, contemporary and British.
What has been your biggest accomplishment during your time with the house? Since joining Garrard, I have had the opportunity to develop iconic collections and bespoke commissions. Working closely with Garrard’s Creative Director, Sara Prentice, we have built a strong design aesthetic drawn from a wealth of heritage. Each piece balances signature motifs from the house’s history with wearability and timeless design – which is a very rewarding accomplishment.
Pearshape and round white diamond necklace in 18 carat white gold, POA, Garrard White Rose collection
That sounds like the dream job. Any other notable highlights? An important part of Garrard’s design DNA has been created and developed by researching its heritage and exploring its archive. Discovering handwritten ledgers with royal commissions from around the globe and uncovering a visitor’s book from when Garrard displayed the Crown Jewels in the London boutique, which is still our home today, have been highlights. I continue to lead a project to catalogue Garrard’s archive, to help ensure the preservation of stories and the continuation of the brand’s legacy for generations to come.
How would you describe the Garrard customer? The Garrard customer is self-assured in her style. Effortlessly chic, she has a strong idea of what suits her and expresses her femininity through her jewels, which, as a successful woman she feels empowered to buy herself. She also loves the luxury of wearing diamonds every day and expresses her personality through her choice of jewels, from a delicate diamond pendant to an extravagant high jewellery piece for a special event.
Embrace aquamarine and diamond earrings in 18 carat white gold, POA, Garrard Wings collection
How has social media impacted the way that people shop for jewellery, especially in times of social distance restrictions? Social media has enabled Garrard to reach a new generation of global luxury consumer, who prefer the convenience of shopping online. This has impacted the ways in which both potential new and existing clients shop for jewellery and engagement rings – and certainly the current boom in luxury e-commerce has been expedited by the events of 2020.
Please tell us about Garrard’s recent partnerships with Ounass and Threads Styling? Partnering with Ounass and Threads Styling has been an exciting step for us. Both brands are trailblazers in their respective regions and opening up new sales channels in these markets will allow us to explore new ways of engagement with clients across the Middle East. Our main focus across both platforms has been the Wings collection, which has become a true Garrard icon. Beautiful and meaningful, the jewels chosen to appear on Ounass and Threads Styling range from classic diamond creations to jewellery pieces set with vibrant pink and yellow sapphires, colourful aquamarine and enamel.
What is your favourite piece from the Wings collection? It would have to be the Wings Embrace aquamarine and diamond earrings set in 18 carat white gold. The earrings feature sweeping lines, which evoke the feeling of being gently held within the wings of an angel – a powerful symbol of peace, purity and protection.
And your favourite piece from Garrard’s engagement collection? Since it was founded in 1735, Garrard has worked to ensure that every jewellery piece it creates perfectly showcases the natural beauty of each diamond and gemstone. The iconic cluster setting that defines the 1735 collection is one such design. The motif has been used to great effect in pieces throughout Garrard’s heritage, from the sapphire brooch gifted to Queen Victoria from Prince Albert, through to the Duchess of Cambridge’s engagement ring today. It is for those reasons that Garrard’s 1735 double cluster ring set with a central oval sapphire and round white diamonds is my most loved piece from our engagement ring collection.
1735 double cluster sapphire and round white diamonds ring in platinum, POA, Garrard
What is the biggest trend for engagement rings at the moment? Over the last year or so, we have recorded a notable increase in the demand for engagement rings featuring coloured stones, such as sapphires, rubies and emeralds. We have also worked closely with a number of clients to create bespoke commissions. Most recently we worked with a client whose family purchased an Art Deco-style jewellery piece from Garrard in the 1920s, featuring six round diamonds. One of these diamonds was then used by their son to create a bespoke engagement ring for his bride-to-be.
What advice do you have for brides when it comes to accessorising with jewellery on their wedding day? My advice to any bride would be to wear what makes her feel comfortable. I truly believe that on your wedding day you should aim to be the very best version of yourself, whether that means pairing your look with a simple diamond pendant or full suite of jewellery.
What is your most-treasured piece in your personal jewellery box? One of my most treasured pieces is the first Garrard piece I owned, a yellow gold and diamond ring from the house’s TwentyFour collection. It is also the first piece of my own design that I purchased for myself, so it holds special significance, I love it and wear it almost every day! I am also lucky enough to have inherited some much-loved pieces from my grandmother which have huge sentimental value. There is something so special in the thought that pieces chosen, cherished and worn by you can be passed down to the next generation to do the same. I hope my own collection will be as well loved by its next custodian.
TwentyFour diamond ring in yellow gold, POA, Garrard
We’re sure it will be! Lastly, what is your vision for the future of the jewellery house? For everyone at Garrard, our vision is to continue to be the ultimate definition of British luxury.
Claire Scott
Images courtesy of The House of Garrard
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Bride’s Autumn/Winter 2020 issue