About us
BKBLondon produces handmade, contemporary fine jewellery founded by Barbara Kentish Barnes, a qualified gemmologist and fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain. All of the jewellery is handcrafted employing both traditional and innovative techniques largely in sterling silver and gold in her London studio. Favouring an organic classic look, with a modern touch, Barbara draws her inspiration from gemstones, earthy textures and shapes found in nature, as well as antique jewellery and various other ancient objects of beauty. BKBLondon is committed to sourcing materials in an ethical and sustainable manner and using recycled materials wherever possible.
How it all started
Making all kinds of colourfull, beaded jewellery came naturally from an early childhood. As a desire to move on to more demanding designs grew, Barbara embarked on a series of courses in metalwork and silversmithing mainly at Morley College in London. There she gained a good understanding and knowledge of jewellery making and metal forming. Barbara believes that in this job you never stop learning and so she continues to hone her skills and challenge herself through frequent experimenting with different, techniques as well as attending variety of professional workshops whenever possible.
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Gemmology
Gemstones are at the very heart of everything Barbara does and her designs often start with a particular stone. Barbara's fascination with the wonderful world of gemstones led her to study gemmology and in 2020 she earned her diploma from the Gemmological Association of Great Britain in London.
