Treasure

Karl Karter

Karl is exhibiting as part of the Seek & Adore Boutique Space

For details about Seek and Adore click here

Karl Karter is a renowned Jewellery designer/maker Working out of his studio in Londons Hatton Garden. Karl is an accomplished Diamond mounter, working for some of the biggest names in jewellery industry. Karl has a growing client base interested in his trade mark futuristic art deco style.

Describe your jewellery design in three words.

Futuristic, Ethnic, Art deco

Which other brands do you admire?

I really admire Ingo Henn right now

Which of your designs are your favourites?

I love making adventurous pieces so I'd have to say my collar necklace or I have a mechanical locket pendant I'm working on.

How long does each design take from inception to finished piece?

It can take any length of time .Sometimes I dream up a design in my sleep and have to make it the very next day. I have one piece I have been working on for 8 months.

Describe the space where you design.

I'd say the space where I design is in my head .Sometimes I'll sit down at home and sometimes in the workshop but that's not very often as I'm always at the bench.

What is your favourite film?

The most recent film that blew me away was The Skin I Live In.

Where does your inspiration come from, describe the process?

I'm a very curious person. Something grabs my attention and I'll look into it research it .I must have half a dozen collections designed on paper .anything that interests me and inspires a design gets drawn down. At the moment i have skipped 2 collections to do the one I'm working on now. It's all about the connection between the universe and the quantum world.

Who would be your dream person to design for?

**You know what this will sound quite dry but I'm really loving this guy Vince Kidd from The Voice Uk .He has a really amazing talent and he is quite unique with his style I like that.

Favourite book and what are you reading right now?

Idon't read a lot I wish I did as I could teach myself a hell of a lot. I'm a very visual person and find it difficult reading. Unless a book grabs me straight away my mind will wonder and I just keep reading the same bit over and over.

When did you design your first piece?

I've been making Jewellery since i was 15 and i think designed my first piece in my first year of working .I'm not going to say what it was but it was for myself and it was bad.

How would you spend your perfect day off?

Day off what's that?

What led you into jewellery design?

I have worked as a diamond mounter since school so for me it was a natural way forward as soon as I had a collection together my clients where asking me to design unique pieces for them.

How do you want the wearer to feel when wearing your jewellery?

My Jewellery is all about making a statement so I want the wearer to feel confident.

If you could own any piece of jewellery what would it be and by whom?

I don't wear much Jewellery myself .but if i could own anything it would be Elizabeth Taylors Emerald necklace .I'm really intrigued by the history behind jewellery and stones they all have a story.

Who is your typical customer?

I deal with a lot of couple getting engaged.

What advice would you give to other people who are keen to start up their own business?

Master your trade first.

If you look back in ten years' time, what do you hope to have achieved?

I hope that Karl Karter is the number one Jewellery designer in the UK .I also hold very close the traditional values of handmade jewellery .I'm teaching an apprentice and passing on the knowledge ,the first of many I hope it would be nice if my apprentices could one day be the number one designers but only after me.

Who, so far, has been the best client to design for?

Well that depends, obviously the more wealthy clients can be more adventurous with what they have made. For me though it's more about people's stories and the sentimental meanings behind their jewellery.

Did ever think when you started that you would be where you are now?

No I thought I would be well ahead of where I am. I have so many ideas and designs I thought that would carry me through but putting new collections together is expensive and unfortunately marketing is everything these days.

What are your most popular pieces in your collection?

People always love the collar and larger pieces first put the smaller pieces always sell better.

What do you consider to be the on-going trend in jewellery design for 2012?

As a jeweller that makes a lot of jewellery for other designers i would have to say Rose Gold and I'm using it a lot more myself. I love it

If you've worked on previous high-profile projects, do you have any planned for 2012/13?

Not much really I'm doing the Harlingham club, handmade in Chelsea and Treasure with seek and adore.

How do you promote your brand?

Social Media

How do you plan to expand your business?

Thats top secret!

What materials are you designing with?

I'm working in Platinum and 18ct Gold most days but I make my collection pieces in silver. It allows me to be more adventurous and flamboyant with my designs.

Do you work closely with ethical jewellery organisations and projects

I am trying to do more its a very important subject.

What is the biggest challenge facing ethical jewellery?

The laws need to be clearer for people and there are to many loop holes.

What is the best and worst thing about being a jeweller?

The best thing is being able to create a piece for someone that will wear it for the rest of their lives and hopefully it will be past on to there children long after im dead and gone.The worst thing is the pressure when your dealing with deadlines for people weddings.

Favourite piece of art?

Gates of hell by Rodin

You have £50 to spend on jewellery, what do you buy from whom?

If i had £50 i would by some flowers for my girlfriend

You have £500 to spend on jewellery, what do you buy from whom?

if i had £500 i would take her to a fancy dinner

You have £5000 to spend on jewellery, what do you buy from whom?

if i had £5000 i would make her an engagement ring.

If you weren't a jeweller what would you be?

I would have said personal trainer 2 years ago but im really getting into film production.

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