More than just an extremely creative jewellery designer Gisèle Moore is fast gaining a reputation as a talented painter, with several exhibitions of her work being shown in London to date. Indeed it was her love of painting that influenced her decision to go it alone as a freelance designer after more than 20 years as head designer for the London based contemporary jeweller De Vroomen.

Moore is a graduate of London’s Central School of Art and Design with an honours degree in jewellery design. She believes her talents lie more in design than in goldsmithing. “Good design comes in part from the knowledge of how jewellery is or can be constructed. I had that grounding with De Vroomen”.

Gisèle believes she was fortunate to work in an environment where design was so important. “I learned a huge amount about the potential of precious metal and how to meld it with stones or pearls in a manner that enhances both materials – also ways of evolving ideas into designs for a wide spectrum of customers and projects.”

Captivated by the possibilities of combining precious metals and colour, her early work displays a strong use of form and a fascination with enamel. Her jewellery, always feminine and curvaceous, disdains fussiness, revel-ling instead in the use of bold shapes contrasted with subtle colours. Working with De Vroomen enabled her to learn a wide variety of jewellery techniques, especially the use of the ancient art of repoussé and also gave almost unlimited access to the most fabulous gemstones allowing Moore to develop her designs.

These designs are frequently organic in form, retaining a bold originality and displaying an unmistakeable pedigree. It was Gisèle’s fascination with bold colour that led her to introduce enamel into the De Vroomen repertoire, combining it with fabulous gemstones and diamonds to contrast with or accentuate the enamel’s brilliant hues.

After making the decision to become a freelance designer in January 2003, one of her first commissions was to design a pearl collection for Paspaley Pearls. “In terms of inspiration for individual designs, it is always difficult to be sure exactly what lies behind them. In this collection I have principally used curves and spirals often set with diamonds to compliment and show off the pearls. The use of different textures and a variety of jewellery techniques has resulted in soft-edged and delicate jewellery, yet without losing any form.”

Beautiful craftsmanship using sheet metal construction and wirework create open, three-dimensional forms. Fine threads and grain ribbons of diamond mounting add a precious delicacy to Moore’s jewellery creating a contemporary look.

Turning freelance has opened a number of lifestyle options for Gisèle. It allows the designer more time to paint: she is presently working on four commissioned paintings for a private customer. Her paintings, like her jewellery, reveal gem-bright colours, shimmering gold media, precision and elaborate detail in her work.

She is also designing small works and objets d’art for the Middle Eastern market. Among these are rose bowls, incense burners and swords, all in 18 carat gold and set with diamonds and precious stones. Gisèle has also designed bespoke one –off watches and more conventional jewellery designs for various other customers.

The result – stunning jewellery and a new lifestyle.

GISÈLE MOORE
15 Elvendon Road
London, N13 4SJ
UK
Tel: +44 20 8881 7536