Expert / 5 March, 2018 / Ellie Thompson
Rebus is a goldsmiths nestled amongst the hustle and bustle of world-famous Hatton Gardens EC1, in the busy street of Leather Lane.
Comprised of an award winning team of highly skilled engravers and goldsmiths, the craftsmen and women at Rebus are in the business of creating beautiful and intricate engravings of the highest calibre. They use traditional hand-engraving tools rarely seen in today’s digital age of lasers and computers.
I took a trip to Leather Lane to meet the team at Rebus and enjoy a quick a tour of the workshop where the magic happens. I clambered in off the street with my cumbersome buggy and 8-month old daughter Maddie in tow, finding ourselves in the middle of a rather elegant showroom. On arrival we were met by founder of Rebus, Emmet Smith, who welcomed us in and made us feel instantly at home.
Our only job was to take an ink finger print from Maddie, by pressing her finger into an ink pad, and on to a simple piece of card. We then, of course, chose the pendant shape and metal – you can opt for silver or gold. The 9ct Oval pendant 18″ chain is £400. The rest was up to the experts.
We ventured downstairs to the workshop where we were introduced to the team of specialist hand-engravers and goldsmiths, who were busy working on individual pieces at their workstations. I was blown away by the meticulous processes involved in using the traditional hand-engraving methods, from the initial drawings to the hand-engraving itself. The sheer intricacy and patience required to scrupulously carve crests, monograms and letterings onto very small pieces of metal was astonishing.
The team at Rebus are connoisseurs when it comes to personalised jewellery, specialising in bespoke design and heritage inspired signet rings. Be inspired by searching for your family’s crests on their website or in store, referencing books that date back to the 1800’s, or start with a blank canvas and let Rebus create something truly unique.
The experts at Rebus have won countless awards in their field, and the pride they take in their craftsmanship is evident from the moment you walk through the door. A hand-engraved fingerprint pendant is not only a beautifully thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day, it’s a piece of jewellery that will stand the test of time, being treasured and passed down through the generations.