David V. Thomas

David V. Thomas

David Vyvyan Thomas[1] (born 1942) was the Crown Jeweller for the British monarchy. He worked for the Royal Family from 1991 until his retirement in 2007 as an employee of Garrard & Co. He still retains three Royal Warrants.[2]

Biography

Thomas is the son of a Swansea chemist.[1] At the age of 17, he joined his first employer Collingwood of Conduit Street as a postboy and jewelry-cleaner.[1] He trained at the Royal College of Art[3] and is a certified gemologist.[4] In the 1960s, he opened his first shop in Chelsea.[3] Spear's says his early work, handmade, was "beautifully made, avant-garde and opulent pieces which brought him international recognition when he started in out in the Sixties. He and a few others defined a dramatic new style of gold jewellery, distinguished by asymmetrical contours, splintered surfaces, textured gold and unusual gemstones often left rough or in crystal form."[3]

Prince Charles "engineered" his move to Garrad & Co of Regent Street.[1] Thoams originally worked for a competitor of Garrard's, but the rival company took an interest in Thomas and in 1986 they headhunted him.[1][2] Prince Charles enjoyed his work so much that he recommended him to the Queen, and he eventually was appointed to take over from former Crown Jeweller Bill Summers.[1]

He designed the wedding rings for Diana Spencer and Prince Charles, and was Diana's personal jeweller until her death.[5] In 1992 he moved to Derry, where he set up his workshop in 1996.[6] When Thomas retired at the age of 65 in July 2007, Garrard was replaced as the Royal Jeweller, after having the role since 1843. Thomas had held the Monarch's personal Royal warrant for the position since 1991. Contrary to reports, Garrard noted that Thomas was not retiring to the company until 2010.[7]

In 2017, he worked for Cleave and Company. That year, he was commissioned through the company to make Meghan Markle's engagement ring. It sourced a diamond from Botswana and several smaller diamonds that had belonged to Princess Diana.[8] As of 2018, he continues to practice goldsmithing in London on Pimlico Road.[3]

Awards

He has been made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order for his services to the queen.[1]

Personal life

Since 1992, he has been based in Derry.[6]

His daughter, Jessie Thomas, is also a goldsmith and jeweller.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Middleton, Christopher (June 2, 2012). "How the Queen's man about crowns brought sparkle to her celebrations". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Kostner, Olivia (July 15, 2007). "Queen hires new Crown Jeweller - after 160 years of Garrard". Daily Mail. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 http://www.spearswms.com/chelseas-new-goldsmith-launches-first-collection/
  4. ↑ http://articles.latimes.com/1998/nov/10/news/cl-41065
  5. ↑ https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/227243
  6. 1 2 https://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/silver-thomas-keeps-an-old-craft-alive-1-2102839
  7. ↑ https://www.standard.co.uk/news/garrard-to-lose-royal-jeweller-role-7084953.html
  8. ↑ https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/jeweller-won-t-make-replicas-for-meghan-markle-s-ring-1.3709764
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