As a jewellery designer and maker, there's nothing quite as thrilling as bringing new creations to life. For the past few months, I've been hard at work behind the scenes, hand crafting a series of new pieces that I'm delighted to announce will be launching later this week. I'm excited to introduce five new styles in recycled silver and gold vermeil, that will join the current Arco range, seamlessly complementing the existing architecture-inspired pieces in the collection.
My design process always begins with a personal touch—I create pieces that I want to wear myself or styles that I feel are missing from my own jewellery box. With a focus on timeless elegance rather than fleeting trends, I aim to craft modern yet enduring designs. My goal is to make those pieces that you'll reach for time and time again, versatile enough to work with your existing jewellery collection rather than replace it.
Without further ado, let me introduce you to my five new pieces, starting with a personal favourite(!)…
Above: The Silver Gaia Chunky Hoop Earrings from Elin Horgan Jewellery
1) The Gaia Chunky Hoop Earrings
Can earrings be both chunky and lightweight? Absolutely! Meet the new Gaia Chunky Hoops. These small but mighty earrings measure approximately 1.8cm in diameter and offer a substantial feel despite weighing only 2g each. Their featherlight design ensures all-day comfort, making them perfect for everyday wear.
The inspiration for these hoops came from a gap in my personal jewellery collection. While I absolutely love hoops for their versatility, I found that anything over 2cm in diameter felt a bit too big for daily use. So, I set out to design a pair that was minimal and effortless—so comfortable that you'd hardly notice you're wearing them. I always like to road test my designs before launching them and have had pair of these hoops in almost non-stop since making them!
These Gaia Chunky Hoops reflect everything I love in jewellery: simplicity, comfort, and timeless style. They're the perfect addition to any jewellery lover's collection, offering a touch of laid back elegance to any outfit, any day.
Above: The Gold & Pearl Perla Drop Earrings from Elin Horgan Jewellery
2) The Perla Pearl Drop Earrings
I don’t know if it’s an age thing, but I’ve been getting more into wearing pearls of late. While I often opt for a simple strand of small, rice-shaped pearls, I felt inspired to create something that uses them in a fresh contemporary way without being too twee or cutesy. I wanted something more aligned with my aesthetic and which gave the pearls a modern edge that would still stand the test of time.
Enter the Perla Drop Earrings – a blend of sleek, architectural design and timeless elegance. These earrings feature a minimalist oval (or maybe squoval?!) shape which serves as a frame for a beautifully shaped ivory freshwater pearl teardrop. Although they’re great for everyday wear too, I think these earrings would work really well as finishing touch to a party outfit. I can totally imagine them paired with a simple black dress or masculine tux for an effortlessly elegant party look.
Above: The Gold Fortuna V Collar Necklace from Elin Horgan Jewellery
3) The Fortuna V Collar Necklace
A short necklace that sits on the collar bone is a design that I’ve been playing around with for a while. I wanted to create something a little chunkier than many of my other necklace designs and that would work as a statement piece on its own, but could also be layered up with other pieces for a more maximalist look.
The Fortuna V Collar Necklace features a heavyweight figaro style chain which adds a nice visual interest without overshadowing the central elements. At the centre are two recycled silver shapes with a stepped design that form a V, connected by a jump ring for flexibility and comfort.
Of course I’ve already made myself a gold vermeil version of this necklace (perks of the job, right?) and have been wearing it LOADS. It’s super versatile as its shorter length means you can wear it with jumpers and cardigans when the weather is cold as well with as a simple vest or strapless top in the summer. For effortless styling, I’d simply add hoop earrings or a big bold statement ring to complete the look.
Above: The Gold & Silver Asteria Mismatched Earrings from Elin Horgan Jewellery
4) The Asteria Mismatched Earrings
I’m a huge fan of mismatched, but harmonious earrings, so I knew that one of the new Arco pieces needed to be a mismatched pair. I love the visual intrigue with a mismatched style and I feel like there’s something really fun and playful about them.
Again drawing inspiration from classical architecture, the Asteria Mismatched Earrings combine those reoccurring circle and oval shapes that I so love. The overall effect is quite minimal and subtle, but the mismatching definitely gives them a bit of an edge. As with the other new pieces in the collection, the earrings will be available in recycled silver and gold vermeil (a thick gold plating over a silver base) and they feature an ear post and scroll back fastening.
Above: The Silver Phoebe Circle/Oval Necklace from Elin Horgan Jewellery
5) The Phoebe Circle/Oval Necklace
The final new piece in the collection is the Phoebe Circle/Oval Necklace. This simple, stylish necklace comes on a 45cm belcher chain which is threaded through a tube at the top and for a beautifully sleek look. The pendant’s surface has a very slightly textured surface which gives it a subtle, low key shimmer. This is the sort of piece you might well want to layer with other styles so just drop me a line if you’d like it on a different length chain so you don’t get in a tangle!
Whether you're dressing up for a special event, adding a touch of elegance to your workwear, or simply want an elevated everyday look, the Phoebe Necklace is designed to be your go-to piece. Its understated style and adaptable nature make it a versatile addition to any jewellery collection and it promises to be a favourite style for years to come.
I really hope you’ve enjoyed reading more about the ideas and inspiration behind these five new pieces. Developing new work always takes me a long time as I want to get each one ‘just right’ and ensure that the new designs reflect my passion for timeless, versatile jewellery. From the modern elegance of the Perla drops to the playful asymmetry of the Asteria earrings, I hope you find something that speaks to your personal style and that you can fall in love with too.
The new Arco designs will be available to buy online Sunday 13 October 2024.
Elin Horgan designs and creates handmade jewellery in her Bristol studio. Elin’s beautifully simple handmade jewellery is carefully crafted and designed to be worn every day. You can read more about Elin’s work and the ethos behind her understated jewellery brand on her About Elin Horgan Jewellery page.
If you’d like to enquire about a specific product or discuss a custom piece of jewellery, please have a look at the Bespoke Handmade Jewellery page or email info@elinhorgan.com