Meet an equine jeweller
Two things run in the veins of Kaye Glendenning-Jones -
jewellery craftsmanship and horses.
Luckily, earlier this year she found a way to combine both.
"I was with (equestrian rider) Samantha Bartlett trying
to put on her stock pin and it kept breaking or bending," Kaye
says.
So she went back to her family's century-old jewellery manufacturing
business, Gilbert and Jones, in Hallam, on Melbourne's outskirts,
and made new pins.
"People liked them and I thought I could make a huge
range out of this because there's nothing out there," she
says.
And so the Equestrian Jewellery Company (EJ & Co)
was born.
It seems something Kaye was born to do.
Her grandfather began crafting jewellery in 1902, and her
father was a pioneer of casting jewellery in Australia.
"He was the successful one. They called him the marcasite
(gemstone) King," Kaye says.
The 62-year-old, who worked her whole life as a designer
and sales executive in Gilbert and Jones, now brings these
skills to her new company.
Her handmade collection includes bracelets, cufflinks, earrings
and stock pins.
All are embellished with stirrups, horseshoes, whips and,
of course, horses made in either stirling silver, rose, white
or yellow gold, and can be made to order.
A nine-carat gold horse ring costs about $220, a dressage
horse brooch about $180 and bracelets more than $1000.
While she designs the pieces, she has her son, Michael -
a jeweller, valuer and diamond grader - and a team of five
master craftsman create them.
"I see something that triggers an idea. We draw it
by hand and then the jeweller makes a master pattern from
it," Kaye says.
The piece is then replicated in a process known as investment
casting.
A rubber mould is made of the master pattern, which is then
compressed and filled with wax.
This is placed on a "tree or wax sprue" - the
passage the liquid metal will pass through.
The tree is covered in plaster and placed in a furnace,
during which time the wax drops out and liquid metal can
be poured through it.
Kaye says it has been difficult to find the right people
for the job.
"There's plenty of people who can make jewellery, but
they don't know the sequence of a horse cantering or galloping,
or two horses racing together," she says.
"You've got to know both jobs to create something authentic."
The authenticity of the equine images is important for the
former equestrian competitor, who has been riding since she
was eight.
Kaye was taught by her uncle to ride and loved it so much
she joined a pony club. Competition has taken her to state
championships and repeated wins at the Royal Melbourne Show.
She now supports dressage riders and still rides occasionally.
It is this combined equine and jewellery passion that has
seen other horse-lovers appreciate the attention to detail.
Kaye has even received endorsement from Princess Nathalie
of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg - a cousin of Danish royal
Prince Frederik - who wears her jewellery in equestrian competition.
(pictured right)
"She comes out (to Australia) and teaches horse riding.
A friend of mine brought her out and introduced us," Kaye
says.
EJ & Co
also sponsors equestrian coach and competitor Samantha Bartlett. (pictured left)
Despite the high-profile clientele, there are no plans to
expand beyond the Hallam showroom.
"We handmake it, so you can't make thousands. We wouldn't
go overseas either. We just want to keep everyone buying
Australian goods and getting the quality they deserve," Kaye
says.
But with EJ & Co off to a flying start, she might not
be able to stay small for long.
"I did a series for the races and I'm going to do one
for the polo," she says.
"Whether you want it for the racegoers, equestrian
riders, pony club people ... there's something there for
everyone."
Visit the EJ & Co
website or phone (03) 8786 3391
.
