lorna’s story

Lores is a sustainable and independent jewellery brand based in Bristol, UK. The designs featured across all social media platforms and website are created by the founder of Lores, Lorna. We have a small jewellery workshop in the Cotswolds, overlooking the English countryside, keeping us focussed while goldsmithing.

As a young person, Lorna found herself gripped by both the arts and sciences, and wanted to combine both of these passions in her work. She studied at the Birmingham School of Jewellery, allowing her to graduate with a first class BA (Hons) degree in Silversmithing and Jewellery Design. As an accredited gemmologist and diamond grader (FGA, DGA) and a fellow of the Gemmological Association, Lorna can dedicate herself to finding the best gemstones for her designs and bespoke work. Having a multi-award winning designer and goldsmith as the forefront of our brand allows us to keep the high standard of quality we are known for while seeing what’s possible in design.

“The natural world has fascinated me since my early years, when my Dad would take my sisters and me fossil collecting. These formative experiences made me curious about what else might be in the earth under our feet, and so the journey began into my study of gemmology and diamonds. An appreciation of our shared environment and the plants and animals inhabiting it has inspired much of my research, and subsequently my design work.”

Today’s jewellery industry is full of companies trying to undercut each other, making ever cheaper pieces, while trying to stay on top of trends. We see this in the fashion industry’s desire to shorten the lifespan of items, in turn increasing consumption. Lorna has spent her professional life finding ways of changing how trends are represented in the jewellery industry and trying to reframe this process, encouraging others to take slower and more considered approach. This is vital in returning us to the roots of how jewellery should be made, worn, and appreciated.

The designs you see are all carefully researched and meticulously planned and can be far reaching and diverse in their subject and inspiration; from the skin of a snake or the undulations of an ocean floor to ancient mythology and lore. We select ethically-mined, showstopper gemstones for our pieces and bespoke commissions. Alternatively, we encourage the recycling of your own gem-set jewellery to create timeless and artistic pieces that can become new heirlooms. Years of trial and error with casting houses across the UK has allowed us to find the perfect way to create new jewellery from recycled precious metals (or your family gold). Environmentally friendly packaging consisting of biodegradable ink, wildflower seeded thank you notes, recycled tissue paper and boxes accompany your truly considered and sustainable piece of jewellery.

Let’s go back to when jewellery was timeless, passed down through generations, and made with care. Let’s forever push the boundaries of ‘everyday’ jewellery.