Handmade in the heart of Penzance

A quarter of a century making jewellery that has led to a workshop in the heart of Penzance.

The bustling seaside town of Penzance is home to many independent shops and creative businesses. Among them, hidden in plain sight, behind a double-breasted green door marked with a modest copper plaque, you’ll find Justin Duance Jewellery. Once a solicitor’s firm, the beautiful Victorian building is now a busy workshop, handmaking contemporary fine jewellery for customers around the world. New to the local high street, but by no means new to making jewellery, this year Justin and the team mark their 25th anniversary and have some exciting plans to celebrate.

Justin started straight out of university, making wood inlay rings from his bedroom. He soon returned to Cornwall and has gradually built his team and jewellery collection, now best known for their sandcast jewellery – where molten precious metal is cast into beach sand, creating organic textural pieces with a sentimental connection to place. As a unique way of personalising your jewellery, the team invite you to choose the beach sand your piece is cast in. It’s that personal touch that makes Justin’s jewellery stand out from the crowd. There is so much scope to make your piece unique to you, from a simple band cast in sand from your favourite beach to a remodelled heirloom designed especially for you.

Visiting the new workshop in Penzance is the perfect way to choose your jewellery, and is an enjoyable and laid-back experience. You book an appointment through their website or over the phone and are welcomed into their little showroom from where you can see the jewellers at work.

It’s a place for ideas to blossom and inspiration to grow. Their core jewellery collections are laid out for you, and that really is the best place to start. Trying different pieces on and getting a sense of what makes your heart sing.

Choose a design from their collection to be made especially for you or find a treasure to take home on the day from the exciting ‘Off the Bench Peg’ box; an ever-evolving collection where Justin has given the team free-rein to explore new ideas, resulting in one-of-a-kind jewellery, often showcasing unusual gemstones and new techniques.

You may feel inspired to commission a piece of your own, and you couldn’t be in better hands. The team can take you through the process of designing a piece of jewellery, expertly pulling together the elements you are most drawn to. There are boxes of gemstones to choose from, and a myriad number of personal touches can be brought into your design.

They have remodelled family heirlooms, cast gold in loved ones’ ashes, added secret engravings and gemstones. The meaning that jewellery holds to the wearer is the most amazing thing and the team at Justin Duance work out little ways of making it even more so.

This June is not only their 25th anniversary, but it also marks their first year on Alverton Street. To celebrate the team will be hosting an Open Day on Saturday 6th June welcoming the community and customers, old and new, to look around their newly renovated building as well as to see the jewellery collections in a more informal setting.

While some of their celebration plans are still under wraps, we do know that there will be a short film touching on 25 years of Justin Duance Jewellery and a limited-edition pendant, with all profits donated to Surfers Against Sewage. Do sign up to their newsletter to get the latest details and any surprise announcements.

JUSTIN DUANCE
3a Alverton Street, Penzance TR18 2QW
01736 367254
www.justind.co.uk