All That Glitters

Precious pieces at pocket-friendly prices? Gerald Tan travels to Norfolk, England, to explore this oxymoron with jewellery designer, Monica Vinader

- Gerald Tan

Norfolk, a quiet English country some three hours east of London by train and car, is where I find myself chatting with Monica Vinader about lucky charms. “I love lucky charms,” Vinader admits, “If you go into any of my weekend jackets, there’s always a pebble or a stone inside the pockets. But I love them as objects and their tactile qualities. I’m not superstitious. I mean, 13 is my lucky number. I’m a bit contrary, so I like to do things a little differently.”

Different is an apt description for Vinader’s design studio, too. Converted from an old barn and situated within the expansive Holkham Estate (its star landmark, Holkham Hall, is currently the aristocratic home of the Earls of Leicester), its unusual location is not what you’d expect of a burgeoning jewellery brand that’s now stocked in 14 markets such as North America, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore. Far away from the riot that is London, a sense of calm and serenity fills the countryside. Here, the air is crisp and invigorating.

Vinader recalls she is here by “accident”. After spending some time in Argentina and Mexico, the 48-year-old, Spanish-born designer chose to follow her husband back to Norfolk and start a family. It was here that her namesake brand began to take root. “For me, this is an incredible space for creativity. I would never be able to work in a space like this in the middle of London,” she observes. The move, however, presented its own set of challenges: “Hiring good people three hours away from London is not easy. Building the team has been really difficult. But it also means that the team is very together and strong now. I think it gives me an edge in terms of creativity and creative space.”