What is your current favourite restaurant?
Kyubi, the Japanese restaurant at The Arts Club in London. The food is exquisite and it is a stone’s throw away from our Mayfair boutique.
Where have you received the best customer service?
St James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, London. The staff always treat us like family and it also inspired a collection of jewellery, which is currently on display in the foyer of the hotel.
Where is your favourite holiday destination?
Alpbach, a small mountain village in Austria. It is a family run chalet in a remote destination with every single detail taken care of. For me it’s the ultimate relaxation.
What or whom is your biggest inspiration within the jewellery industry?
René Lalique, because he used colour in such a magnificent way, not just with gemstones but with enamel, too.
Where do you go to feel inspired?
I go to the valley, just below our mill in Guernsey. It has the most stunning surroundings and exudes the most amazing energy. I draw a lot of my inspiration from nature: my Wild and Free and Safari collections were inspired by trips on safari and scenery of the African savannah. A favourite for me is our very special Star Dreams suite. Set in 18k gold, it features some unique eyris pearls from New Zealand.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Believe in yourself.
Is beauty or function more important?
I am a true believer in both beauty and function and feel that one needs the other. One of the skills of being a master craftsman is knowing how to perfectly blend the two, creating something that is pleasing to the eye and also a pleasure to wear.
Do you collect anything or would like to?
I collect ducks for my duck pond, especially beautiful coloured ones with character.
Which one luxury item would you take to a desert island?
My music. Wherever I go I have background music, whether it’s in the stables, working or in my dressing room. It really helps drive my creativity.
What changes do you anticipate seeing within the fine-jewellery sector over the next five years?
I think the industry is going to evolve into more computer-aided design and less handmade jewellery due to companies trying to reach a lower-priced product. As a winner of the prestigious Goldsmiths Designer Award, Catherine Best is a brand that prides itself on making each piece by hand, using skilful art and the highest level of craftsmanship. We believe this will always be an important element of our design process.
If you could describe the Catherine Best brand in three words, what would they be?
High-quality, exciting and soulful.