What Makes A Master Craftsman

Jewellery through the ages has always been desired by both women and men and the preferred materials have been gold and precious stones. Many wonderful pieces of jewellery have survived from ages past and considering the primitive tools available in those times, the workmanship displayed can be astonishing. Craftsmanship was taken to a high level by Carl Faberge who was the doyen of the European jewellers and is remembered especially for the incredible jewellery that he fashioned for the Russian Czars and other royal personages.

Fortunately the skills and art of hand making jewellery has been passed on through the generations and there is still a passionate group of men and women who follow this trade although a fewer number who can be called Master Craftsmen. A Master Craftsman in the jewellery trade is one who has not only mastered the skill of working gold and other precious metals, but who can also set diamonds and other gems and also be skilled in chaising and ornamenting. Although repairing jewellery does not have the glamour of creating new rings, it calls for a high degree of skill to be able to successfully restore worn rings to make them almost indistinguishable from new. When starting his career, Kennedy Blair was apprenticed to a Master Craftsman and served five years learning the skills of fashioning gold, platinum and other precious metals, alloying and polishing and repairing worn jewellery. This however was only the beginning of the journey to becoming a Master Craftsman. Although diamond setting is generally accounted a separate trade he was fortunate to be introduced to the skills of all types of setting namely, claw setting, bead or grain setting, rub over or bezel setting, Gypsy or flush setting, tension setting and perhaps the most demanding of all channel setting.

Kennedy Blair is a registered member of the New Zealand Valuers Association which enables him to keep abreast of past and current values. Jewellery today is mostly produced in large numbers to accommodate the volume required by jewellery chain stores but there are always those persons who desire quality rings and other jewellery that are hand made and are of original design, a piece that is exclusive to them and which might one day be passed on to another generation.

Kennedy Blair says; “I am happy to sit down alongside someone who wishes to own a new diamond or precious stone ring or wedding ring and discuss what vision that person has of their dream ring.” There are a number of aspects to consider such as the particular stone ie: diamond, sapphire, ruby, emerald etc, the shape, cut, size, then the metal which might be platinum, white, yellow or rose gold and the carat quality. The type of setting, height and width of the band whether it is rounded, flat or tapered can all determine the finished appearance which builds “character” or “style” into the ring or piece of jewellery.

“I sometimes develop a ring to the stage where the stones are ready to be set and then allow the customer to view the piece when at that point small alterations may be made. Style is that indefinable ingredient which makes one ring stand out from another, creates individuality and adds the “wow” factor”, says Kennedy Blair.