Jonathan Weissbart & Sapir Rabinowitz

Vivian Watson - Author, Gemmologist, Jeweller

Vivian Watson is the author of How Did Our Garden Grow?  The History of Hatton Garden.  It is a fantastic read, rich with facts from the history of the street and human stories from the people that inhabited it.  Our conversation covered some highlights from the book, general reflections on the world of fine jewellery manufacturing and life in Hatton Garden. Instagram: @hattongardenpodcast

Jonathan Weissbart & Sapir Rabinowitz

S Weissbart is one of the longest running and best known diamond dealers on Hatton Garden.  I sat down with Jonathan and Sapir to talk.   We covered: How Jonathan got into the Trade. Stepping into the family business. Saul Weissbart. Diamond jokes and intro songs. The appro system and its vulnerabilities. Challenges facing the diamond industry. The Responsible Jewellery Council. How the trade has changed over the years. What diamonds still excite Jonathan. Diamonds essential to the story of Hatton Garden. Closing thoughts.

Harrison Beasant - Jewellery Designer

In this episode I most enjoyed the enthusiasm and drive that Harrison Beasant has for his work.  Harrison is an up and coming jewellery designer in Hatton Garden.  Originally a graduate of the Goldsmiths' Centre Foundation program, he then spent time as an apprentice in a traditional workshop.  His work carries the hallmarks of both approaches and I'm excited to see where he goes.   Enjoy!   We covered: How Harrison got into jewellery making. The Goldsmiths' Centre Foundation program. How Geoff got into the jewellery trade. Finding his own style as a maker. An ambitious engagement ring commission that he is working on. A pair of earrings that Geoff designed. The creative process. Collaboration with Lorenzo OG. Collaboration with the fashion designer Wisnel. Grillz. Experimental materials. Harrison's new mens' jewellery brand Monarch. Engagement rings. Designing with lab grown diamonds. Visions for the future of Hatton Garden.

Peter Hofer - Bespoke Jeweller

I enjoyed Peter's infectious enthusiasm for fine jewellery and hearing about his experiences with Bvulgari in Rome.  We spoke about:L   How Peter was encouraged into the trade by his mother and a family friend. The importance of experience in manufacturing. The joy and stress of working with high value gemstones. The art of designing bespoke pieces for clients. Timeless design. Rome, Bulgari, Cartier and the Duchess of Windsor. The London skyline. Hatton Garden and the West End. A culture of excellence. Hatton Garden village. The recent, darker side of Hatton Garden. The plight of diamond cutters in Surat. Historic diamond cutting centres. Some great characters of the trade.

Max Ullman - Antique Dealer

I was touched to hear about the love that Max and his family have for their business, the oldest shop in The Garden and how, in a time of soaring gold prices, they see themselves as custodians of antique jewellery, doing their bit to save old treasures from the melting pot.  We discussed: The 'jewelry' industry in New York The only general jewellery antique shop in Hatton Garden A little on shoplifting What would have happened to the jewels stolen from the Louvre The buzz of buying Working with family The threat to antique jewellery from the high gold price US vs the UK market for antique and 20th century jewellery Custodianship of old jewellery and the challenges of restoration A tale of two heists: Hatton Garden & The Louvre The obligatory chat about laboratory diamonds The joy of dealing in family jewels