About

Clare has experience of working in jewellery for an international auction house, within high end jewellery retail, and also for an international gemstone dealer.

Most recently, she spent ten years as the Head of Jewellery for Bonhams, Scotland. This role involved sourcing pieces for auction to be sold throughout the world as well as in Scotland, and advising sellers, collectors and buyers around the globe. In this role, she has spent time in Asia, the USA, South Africa, and various European countries. This exposure to the international jewellery market, coupled with her previous experience, ensures Clare is in a unique position in Scotland, and can offer clients a service that is as much professional, as it is personal.

Clare started her jewellery career in London, where she worked for several years for an international gemstone dealer in the heart of the UK’s diamond and gemstone industry in Hatton Garden. During this period, she serviced the gemstone needs of a wide range of manufacturers and designers in London and the rest of the country. She handled an enormous variety of gemstones and developed an understanding of rarity, value and desirability as well as the importance of the cut of a gemstone. This time also allowed Clare the opportunity to see, in action,  the workshops of some of the most internationally renowned jewellers, spending time with cutters, designers, mounters, setters and retailers, giving Clare a real insight into the importance and wonder of truly fine crafstmanship and a real understanding of how jewellery is made and traded.

Whilst working in London, Clare completed her FGA – the Gemmology Diploma at The Gemmological Association of Great Britain (now known as Gem-A) which provided a technical understanding of gemstones, their imitations and treatments. Learn more about this prestigious two-part qualification here and here.

But the lure of Scotland was great. Having previously graduated with an honours degree in Art History and Modern History from the University of St Andrews, Clare was keen to return and so made the decision to leave Hatton Garden and head north of the border. Upon her return, she worked for eight years for one of Scotland’s most prestigious retailers of antique jewellery, becoming manager and gaining enormous experience in helping clients looking for the finest pieces of jewellery.

During this period, she completed her DGA – the Diamond Diploma at The Gemmological Association of Great Britain. You can learn more about this prestigious qualification here.

From there, she went on to work for a world renowned Royal Warrant holding retail jeweller, based in Edinburgh. They offered Clare another perspective in dealing with clients who seek the finest goods, principally in modern or bespoke pieces, and also understanding the importance of emotion when it comes to jewellery and what it means to an individual at that moment in their life.

Clare has frequently been asked to give talks to private and jewellery trade groups on jewellery and its history, both in this country and overseas. In 2019, Clare became a member of The National Association of Jewellers, as well as Deputy Chair of the Scottish Gemmological Association.