Connie Gibson’s Work Experience at Wylde.
A few weeks ago, we welcomed Connie Gibson from King Edward’s School into our Bath workshop for her work experience. We have been incredibly impressed by everything she achieved during her time with us.
We asked Connie why she chose Wylde Jewellers for her placement. She explained that she wanted an opportunity to use her creativity while making something meaningful and practical. Her parents and neighbours encouraged her to explore jewellery making, and they highly recommended Wylde Jewellers because of our reputation for supporting work experience students.
Connie worked alongside our resident goldsmith, Sam, throughout her placement. Together, they developed ideas from Connie’s original sketches before presenting them to Nicholas Wylde. Nicholas discussed which designs would be achievable within the available time and helped shape the final project plan.
Connie’s first creation was a beautiful sterling silver pendant inspired by the relationship between the sun and the moon. She learned new jewellery-making techniques, including hammering silver to create texture and depth. Remarkably, she completed the pendant in just three days.
After finishing her pendant, Connie moved on to her second project. Inspired by our Wylde Animals collection, she designed and created a striking hammerhead shark ring. The piece allowed her to develop her skills further while exploring more intricate shaping and forming techniques.
Interviewing Connie after she completed the work, I asked what her favourite part of the process had been for her. Two things really stood out to Connie. First the collaborative atmosphere of the workshop itself. Connie was encouraged to ask for any help she needed at every point which really grew her confidence. The Second thing was how easy it was to lose your sense of time working on something you really loved. Time really does pass quicker when you enjoy what your doing.
“I have been extremely fortunate to spend a week at Wylde Jewelers for my school’s work experience program. I chose Nicolas Wylde because the opportunity to work in such a creative environment and craft beautiful pieces appealed to me far more than my other options. During my time here, I designed, crafted, and completed three pieces of jewelry: two pendants and a ring. I spent most of the week in the workshop alongside Sam, a skilled goldsmith, who guided me through the making process and taught me a great deal about jewelry craftsmanship. One of my favorite aspects of the experience was gaining an insight into what a typical day behind the scenes of a luxury jewelry business looks like, from working in the workshop to learning about the financial side of the company.
Overall, I have had a fantastic and rewarding experience at Nicolas Wylde Jewelers, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with a passion for creativity, craftsmanship, and design.”
Finally, It has been a pleasure to watch Connie’s confidence and craftsmanship grow throughout her placement. Her enthusiasm for learning, willingness to try new techniques and positive attitude made her a valued member of the workshop team. We wish her every success in the future and look forward to seeing where her creativity takes her next.
