Handmade jewellery gifts from UK makers: recycled silver necklaces, hand-forged stacking rings, Murano glass hearts and Welsh sea glass, plus a hallmark guide.
Jewellery with a maker behind it
A handmade ring is forged, filed, sanded and polished by one person at a bench. You can see it in the slightly uneven hammer marks and feel it in the weight.
This guide picks handmade jewellery gifts from named makers: a Dorset silversmith featured in Vogue, a Staffordshire ring maker who forges every band from wire, an Orkney workshop working in hot glass enamel and a Swansea silversmith who sets sea glass collected on Welsh beaches. We also explain hallmarks and birthstones.
- Our top handmade jewellery gifts
- Hallmarks, metals and sizing explained
- Necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets
- Murano glass, birthstones and jewellery for men
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Hallmarks, metals and sizing
A few minutes of checking makes the difference between a gift that gets worn every day and one that stays in its box.
Hallmarks. In the UK, any item sold as silver must be hallmarked if it weighs 7.78 g or more; for gold and palladium the limit is 1 g and for platinum 0.5 g. A hallmark has three compulsory marks, including a sponsor's mark identifying the maker or submitter and a fineness mark showing the purity of the metal. A date letter is optional (The Assay Office). Many handmade pendants and earrings weigh less than 7.78 g, so a missing hallmark on a small piece is normal.
Metals for sensitive skin. Allergy UK notes that nickel allergy often develops after ear piercing and from metal jewellery, and that 18 carat gold or more, solid silver and platinum are usually safe alternatives (Allergy UK). For earrings, sterling silver or solid gold hooks are the safe default.
Gold plated or solid. Gold plated means a thin layer of gold over another metal, and it wears off over time. Gold vermeil is a thicker layer of gold over sterling silver. Gold filled is a thicker layer bonded under heat, more common in the US. Solid gold, such as 9 carat, is gold all the way through.
Sizing. Necklaces avoid the sizing problem completely, and 18 inches (46 cm) is the standard pendant length. For rings, borrow one she wears on the same finger and have it measured at a jeweller, or choose an adjustable band.
Handmade necklaces and pendants
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Lesley H Phillips designs and makes her jewellery in Dorset, using recycled sterling silver, and her work has been featured in Vogue. This hammered circle hangs on an 18 inch silver box chain, arrives gift boxed with a satin bow, and can be sent straight to the recipient without a receipt.
More handmade necklaces
Handmade earrings
Earrings are a safe jewellery gift because they do not need sizing. Studs suit someone who wears little jewellery; drops and hoops suit someone who already wears statement pieces. Check whether she has pierced ears before you buy, and look for sterling silver or gold hooks if her ears are sensitive.
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Handmade earrings she will wear
Handmade rings
Stacking rings are an easy handmade ring gift, because a thin band is forgiving on size and she can wear them on any finger. Hand-forged bands start as silver or gold wire, which is cut, joined, hammered on a mandrel and polished. Recycled precious metal is the same quality as newly mined metal and avoids new mining.
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Handmade rings
Bracelets and brooches
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Bracelets and brooches
Murano and glass jewellery
Murano glass comes from the island of Murano in the Venetian lagoon. Because the name is so widely copied, the Veneto regional government protects an official Vetro Artistico Murano trademark, and only inspected makers may use it (Regione Veneto). Look for the mark or a certificate of authenticity, as with the Diana Ingram and Lesley H Phillips pieces here.
Dichroic glass is a different effect: a thin coating fused onto the glass makes it shift colour as the light moves. For more glass gifts, see our guide to handmade glass gifts for her.
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Glass jewellery
Birthstone jewellery
Birthstone jewellery makes a gift personal without engraving. Some months have more than one traditional stone. This is the list the Gemological Institute of America uses (GIA):
- January: garnet
- February: amethyst
- March: aquamarine or bloodstone
- April: diamond
- May: emerald
- June: pearl, moonstone or alexandrite
- July: ruby
- August: peridot or spinel
- September: sapphire
- October: opal or tourmaline
- November: topaz or citrine
- December: turquoise, tanzanite or zircon
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Birthstone gifts
Handmade jewellery for men
Cufflinks are the classic men's jewellery gift and a good place to look for hallmarks, since a pair often weighs over the 7.78 g limit. Men who do not wear shirts with double cuffs may prefer a ring or a bracelet. Our guide to handmade anniversary gifts for him has more ideas.
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Jewellery for him
Caring for handmade jewellery
Sterling silver tarnishes when it meets air and moisture, so store it in a pouch or box and polish it with a soft silver cloth. Take jewellery off before swimming or putting on perfume. Glass and pearls only need a wipe with a soft dry cloth; never soak pearls. Bring pieces with a clasp or stone setting to a jeweller if anything feels loose.
For more gift ideas, see our guides to handmade gifts for her, handmade personalised gifts, handmade glass gifts and handmade gifts for men.
How to spot genuine handmade jewellery
Genuine makers say who they are and where they work.
925 sterling silver, solid 9ct gold, platinum and gold vermeil are all clearly defined.
Hammer marks and hand-cut stones mean no two pieces match exactly.
Good jewellery makers know their pieces are usually gifts.
How we picked this jewellery
We searched Amazon Handmade and eBay for handmade jewellery and cut several hundred listings down to the picks on this page using four rules.
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Made by hand
Every piece is forged, cast, hammered or assembled by hand by a maker or small studio.
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Named makers
We favoured makers who say who they are and where they work, such as Lesley H Phillips in Dorset, Silver Hawker in Staffordshire, Diana Ingram and ORTAK in Scotland.
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Trusted eBay sellers only
On eBay we only included new, fixed-price listings from UK sellers with at least 98% positive feedback.
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Clear metals
We left out listings that did not state the metal, and favoured sterling silver, solid gold, natural gemstones and certified Murano glass.
Handmade stock sells out quickly. If a piece has gone, browse our full handmade jewellery gifts shop for alternatives.
Handmade jewellery questions
What is a good handmade jewellery gift?
A handmade silver necklace is the safest choice because it needs no sizing. For something more personal, a birthstone necklace or a hand-forged stacking ring both work well.
Does handmade silver jewellery have to be hallmarked?
In the UK, an item sold as silver must be hallmarked if it weighs 7.78 g or more. Gold and palladium must be hallmarked from 1 g and platinum from 0.5 g. Many small handmade pendants and earrings fall below the silver limit.
What does a UK hallmark show?
Three compulsory marks, including a sponsor’s mark identifying the maker and a fineness mark showing the purity of the metal. A date letter is optional.
Which jewellery is best for sensitive ears?
Allergy UK says 18 carat gold or more, solid silver and platinum are usually safe for people with nickel allergy. Choose earrings with sterling silver or solid gold hooks and posts.
What is the difference between gold plated and gold vermeil?
Gold plated is a thin layer of gold over another metal and can wear off. Gold vermeil is a thicker layer of gold over sterling silver. Solid gold is gold all the way through.
How can I tell if Murano glass is genuine?
Look for the official Vetro Artistico Murano trademark or a certificate of authenticity. The trademark is protected by the Veneto regional government and only inspected makers may use it.
What is the birthstone for each month?
Garnet for January, amethyst for February, aquamarine for March, diamond for April, emerald for May, pearl or moonstone for June, ruby for July, peridot for August, sapphire for September, opal for October, topaz or citrine for November and turquoise or tanzanite for December.
Our recommendation
- Best overall: Lesley H Phillips hammered circle necklace
- Best ring: Silver Hawker hand-forged stacking rings
- Most romantic: Diana Ingram Murano glass heart
- Best for him: hammered silver disc cufflinks
For most people, a hammered recycled silver necklace by Lesley H Phillips is the safest handmade jewellery gift: made in Dorset, easy to wear every day and gift boxed. For a ring, Silver Hawker’s hand-forged stacking bands are forgiving on size and beautifully made.
Still deciding? Our guides to handmade gifts for your girlfriend and handmade Christmas gifts include more jewellery ideas.