Coming from a family of artists, Cece Fein-Hughes grew up on Dartmoor, surrounded by natural beauty that allowed her rich imagination to thrive. During a visit to the V&A with her mother, she was captivated by a Renaissance gold band, crafted in France, enamelled with pink-and-white flowers and engraved with declarations of love. The fusion of beauty and meaning took her breath away, so much so that she changed direction from art history and set her course towards goldsmithing and the world of fine jewellery.
Cece studied design at the British Academy of Jewellery, where she fell in love with the ancient art of enamelling; a technique that her work rediscovers in all its endless possibilities. Today, Cece’s original watercolour paintings are transformed into jewellery by a master enameller, using the historic art of champlevé enamel, which combines engraving and carving with painting.
Each exquisite piece starts its journey in Cece’s London workshop, forged from beautifully deep, recycled 18-carat yellow gold. It is then passed on to one of London’s most renowned enamellers, where every design is hand-engraved and hand-painted using fire and crushed glass to create each design. The piece is finally embellished with pearls and star-set diamonds to complete the miniature work of art, which is individual to the wearer; a precious heirloom to be treasured for generations.
As well as a ready-to-wear line, with new collections released twice a year, Cece also offers a bespoke service for clients who want to create their own one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery. An intimate process begins with a personal consultation. Listening to the customers dreams and stories, Cece will propose a choice of designs, sketching out her ideas to help visualise the piece.
Drawing on a client’s inspiration, Cece translates their story into a miniature painting on gold. With hand-painted and engraved motifs, their personal mythology is transformed into beautiful jewellery. Perfecting this collaborative process is the choice of finishing touches for the piece — from coloured precious stones to glittering diamonds, there is beauty and symbolism in the smallest of details.
In her charming fine jewellery, Cece draws on motifs from Nature and imagination, shifting between earthly and ethereal at will. Crafting a design language both tangible and otherworldly, Cece’s hand-enamelled jewellery moves the eye and heart.
Visit www.cecejewellery.com for further information, or follow @cecejewelleryofficial on Instagram.
-
Renault 4: Retro, rewired, and ridiculously likeableMatthew MacConnell falls in love with a reimagined French classic.
-
Five of our favourite dog-friendly hotels — and they've all been approved by Geoffrey the dachshundWe sent Jennifer George and her canine companion Geoffrey on a quest to find five of the best dog-friendly hotels in the south.
-
Couture’s best-kept secretBased in the heart of London’s Belgravia, Stewart Parvin’s timeless womenswear guarantees the wearer will make an impression, whatever the social occasion.
-
Jewels of the Mediterranean: Luxury multi-generational villa holidaysThe Thinking Traveller have some of the finest villas in the Mediterranean on their books for multi-generational holidays. Here are just a few of the highlights.
-
Code8: Beauty on Burlington ArcadeCome along Burlington Arcade with Hetty Lintell to visit beauty gurus Code8, and try their new Day To Night Foundation.
-
Diamonds are a man’s best friendMale interest in jewellery is on the rise, with gypsy and signet rings proving especially popular, according to renowned jeweller Hancocks.
-
The beauty of bespoke: A journey with Julia Lloyd GeorgeGoing bespoke with Julia Lloyd George means getting not just a piece of jewellery, but a lifelong treasure.
-
Hancocks: Sparkle of geniusHistoric jewellery firm Hancocks, now in its new St James’s home, specialises in old-cut diamonds pieces that gleam and turn heads even in low light.
-
The glittering new home of Hancocks London, the jeweller that makes the Victoria CrossThe new home of Hancocks London celebrates the historic brand’s history of making exquisite jewellery and providing the bespoke service that befits them.
-
High in the saddleCece Fein Hughes crafts exquisite jewellery inspired by the natural beauty of her native Dartmoor and the grace and elegance of horses.
