Refining the Alba Pendant

Creating a jewellery piece involves more than finalising a sketch or digital mock-up. The design needs to be tested in metal to understand how it works as a finished object.

During the latter part of last year, following the highly successful auction sale of our limited edition pure Welsh gold coins, we started work on a limited edition pendant, a collector’s piece to be produced in 18ct Welsh gold extracted from our Clogau mine and hallmarked for authenticity.

As we have developed the Alba pendant, we have worked through several silver and gold prototypes to refine the final design. This included testing different finishes, from soft brushed and polished gold to sandblasted textures, each of which gave the pendant a different character. We also reviewed different ways of attaching the bail, as even small changes affect how the pendant sits, hangs and feels when worn.

Another important detail has been the engraved line within the design. While it appeared clean in the original artwork, in practice a laser cut line can look too deep or too harsh. To achieve the right result, the final line on each pendant will require careful hand-finishing.

These details may be subtle, but they make a real difference. They are what elevate an initial concept into a piece that feels refined, balanced and high quality. We have therefore taken a careful, collaborative approach with the jewellery maker over recent months to ensure the pendant has the luxurious, unisex and high-end feel we want, rather than rushing the process before the design was fully resolved.

We are pleased with the progress and will share the final version once these last refinements are complete.

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