Five jewellery designers who actually make you smile

There are some who believe jewellery should be timeless. That if you're going to invest in something made of silver or gold, then it should look as good as the day you bought it. That might mean playing it safe. OK, so that's a sensible approach if you're looking to invest. But what about those of us who prefer something a little more fun?

I've spent far too much time being practical. In my forties, I want someone to tap me on the shoulder and ask where I got my necklace from. I want to be able to make them smile. But I also want to say it was made by an independent artist and has its own cool backstory.

I'm not alone. In this ongoing series featuring makers, we've picked out five jewellery designers who have embraced joy through their happy rings, necklaces and bracelets.

1. Kitschen

For the person who has always felt fine jewellery was missing a fried egg. Kitty Konsta grew up loving food and miniatures. She trained as a jeweller, and eventually combined those two obsessions into a handmade fine jewellery brand built around the Full English breakfast. We're talking sausage rings, a tomato ring set with emeralds, and a beans ring studded with carnelians. Each piece is made to order in sterling silver and 9ct gold, finished with Hatton Garden's help.

2. Liz Harry

For the person who wants their jewellery to say what they're thinking. Liz Harry spent over a decade designing for the music industry. She did album artwork for Arctic Monkeys, Jessie J, and The Zutons. But a change in direction led her to jewellery design, and today she makes enamel pins, keyrings and other items, all inspired by the theme of self care. She launched on Instagram and now has a community of tens of thousands. She also regularly visits markets across the country, and sells hundreds of pieces that have real meaning behind them.

3. Plump Charms

For the person who knows exactly what they want and just needs someone to make it. Caitlin had 83 pairs of earrings and absolutely nothing to match them, so she started making charm necklaces for herself and her friends in 2024. People kept stopping her to ask where they were from. Strangers in restaurants. Shop assistants. Drunk girls in club toilets. Eventually, made redundant in July 2025, she moved into a studio in Salford and went full-time. She now oversees monthly drops of unique jewellery items, and even has a pick-and-mix charm builder on her website.

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4. Polly Collins

For the person who wants their jewellery to have a personality of its own. Polly trained as a shoemaker on Dartmoor before moving to Bristol to focus on jewellery full-time – and something of that handmade, unhurried spirit runs through everything she makes.

Each piece is hand-cut from recycled silver or gold using a tiny saw blade. No two are identical. They're small, joyful objects that sit on your finger or around your neck and will undoubtedly get comments. She'll deliver your order by bike if you're in Bristol. In her own words, it's "jewellery to be friends with", and she's absolutely right.

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5. Sour Cherry

For the person who backs originators, not imitators. In 2009, Kayleigh started making resin jewellery in her parents' garage in Sheffield. No investors or blueprint. Just a recession, a ton of ideas, and a need to make something. Fifteen-plus years later, Sour Cherry has shops inside two of the north's most beloved independent spaces – Manchester's Afflecks and the Leeds Corn Exchange. It also has a team of 14 people, plus a Vogue feature, and at least one devoted customer with a Sour Cherry tattoo. The jewellery itself is made of colourful perspex, crafted in their Manchester studio.