Most brides (or indeed grooms) to-be will have pinned one of fine jeweller Julia Lloyd George’s bespoke designs to a clandestine curation board without possibly realising it. So beautiful and intricate are her bespoke pieces, so confident in their contemporary classicism and elegance, that it’s hard not to be seduced – particularly given Lloyd George’s generous use of coloured stones, at a time when brides are ripping up the rule book and stepping away from the traditional diamond solitaire for something more singular and special.
Whether captivated by deep, watery sapphires, delicious Paraiba tourmalines, fiery rubies, or, perhaps, a family diamond or precious stone in need of some embellishment and an expert eye, Julia Lloyd George has decades of experience guiding clients through the engagement ring process.
Beyond her eminently wearable styles and coloured stone expertise, Julia is highly qualified in the traditional sense, having honed her skills at Sir John Cass School of Art in London, completed a traditional apprenticeship in Hatton Garden and, later, designed for Garrard & Co. It’s this high level of craftsmanship that elevates Julia above jewellers who simply commission designers or curate. She has a deep understanding of every stage of the process, offering clients an intimate, reassuringly detailed partnership when designing their bespoke piece – one that feels more meaningful and, ultimately, more conducive to a finished engagement ring they’ll completely adore.
We stepped inside Julia Lloyd George’s studio, in the verdant garden of her charming central London home, to learn more.
Why Julia Lloyd George?
Whether planning to pop the question, or already engaged, choosing a jeweller isn’t always straightforward. Narrowing down the right person to craft your dream ring, or turn a vague vision into a real piece, can feel daunting. Engagements no longer follow one traditional path, and Julia is well used to it all: the early brainstorms with someone preparing to propose, the open-minded exploring of options, and the joint consultations with couples designing a ring together.
Julia has a gift for putting nervous prospective clients at ease – her welcome is always warm, her steer, if needed, gentle. Unlike many fine jewellers, Julia puts the individual or couple’s vision for their engagement ring above her own signature design and preferences: “it is their ring, and while I have my style, I can be completely flexible.” Indeed, with her craftsmanship pedigree, once designing for Garrard & Co., Julia is one of the few jewellery designers who can take couples through the entire process. This level of creative control ensures couples are not confronted with surprises.
Moreover, with decades of engagement ring experience, Julia can quickly discern whether couples need inspiration from her beguiling portfolio, gentle guidance, or are confident enough in their vision to press on and discuss stones, settings and style. More than anyone, Julia understands how emotionally loaded these conversations are, in the process as much as the finished piece, taking care to ensure clients feel entirely in control and exhilarated by designing a bespoke ring.
Why bespoke?
Julia has committed decades to sourcing the most beautiful, high-quality stones and finding dealers she trusts to deliver on this front. As such, her bespoke offering is all the more alluring: couples can be confident that their precious stones will be sourced by a bona fide expert who, above all, optimises their budget.
Whether a cornflower-blue Ceylon sapphire, a rare, iridescent Paraiba tourmaline, a peachy hessonite, an ethereal green tsavorite or a brilliant diamond – or indeed a combination of stones – Julia’s zest for coloured stones and diamonds, alongside her profound knowledge of their provenance, really gives her an industry edge. She is often asked by clients to source specific stones on her twice-yearly stone-buying trips abroad, drawing on her encyclopaedic knowledge of these stones, and the meaning behind them, to guide their decision.
The composition of the stones, whether spotlighting one standout diamond, a rare pink-hued ruby, or mixing stones such as diamonds, sapphires and emeralds (one of Julia’s favourite combinations), is where couples can begin to get creative. The resulting, unique pieces – whether that’s through the manner in which a diamond or precious stone is framed, the particular combination of stones, or the style of the metal setting – feel worlds away from a conventional engagement ring purchase. It’s truly something special.
How it works
Choosing the stone
This stage depends entirely on the client. Julia has had grooms arrive clutching a stone they’ve already sourced, others with a clear view of what they’d like Julia to find, and some who come with a completely blank canvas. Julia will show them a few rings or pictures from her bespoke collection, which typically helps set them in the right direction. If clients don’t already fall in love with a stone in her studio, Julia will source the best one feasible within the budget provided, or begin lining up different stones alongside one already sourced or inherited, if so desired.
It’s important to emphasise the quality of the stones sourced by Julia – quality that only an industry expert with an eagle eye for a stone’s properties, and the right industry contacts, can achieve. Julia has worked with the full sweep of precious stones, from the rarest alexandrites, which shift from bluish-green in daylight to raspberry in warm, incandescent light, to Paraiba tourmalines (a real favourite), yellow sapphires, and vivid emeralds. Her familiarity with these precious stones, when designing them into an overall engagement ring and combining them with other stones, makes clients immediately feel as though they’re in safe hands.
Design process
Following the initial consultation, where stones are often laid out in plasticine or gently stuck to the top of another stone in a similarly shaped ring to the style desired, “I’ll create at least three (sometimes as many as six) different designs for clients to mull over.” Julia’s instinct for what style clients want rarely fails her, though she stresses her flexibility and willingness to adjust to the client’s desired piece, stepping beyond her own design parameters if required, as “it’s their engagement ring.” Every detail is scrutinised, from the finish of the desired metal for the band and claw (typically gold, though Julia has also used white gold, rose gold and platinum for engagement rings) to the setting and the way the ring sits on the skin. Everything is completely bespoke to the client’s preferences. “I had one client,” says Julia, “for whom I spent over a year sourcing the stone and designing the ring. He then waited a further six months before he proposed.”
Reaching the final piece
Typically, Julia will meet with clients two or three times before they collect the finished engagement ring, ensuring they are thrilled with every detail. This intimate design process sets Julia Lloyd George apart from other designers. It is Julia’s stones, Julia who shapes the metals into the client’s chosen forms and settings, and Julia who is able to tweak any desired aspect right up to the finished piece. Julia’s expertise in guiding clients on stone and metal longevity is particularly valuable at this final stage, as she teaches couples how to care for their engagement rings. “I always say that engagement rings are my favourite type of commission – it’s such a special time for the couple, and a privilege for me to be involved in this personal journey.”
For more information or to book an appointment, visit julialloydgeorge.com.
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