Askew London is an English jewelry manufactory that was opened in one of the suburbs of London in 1979. The company was founded as a small family business – a jewelry workshop specializing in the production of necklaces. The company was led by Sue Askew. Askew’s family was not particularly wealthy, so Sue decided not to start with clothes and jewelry, but with historical costume jewelry. So, by the way, many family productions began – Trifari, Jomaz / Mazer, Lea Stein, Coppola e Toppo, Emmons.
When a creative person becomes the head of the company, which, of course, was Sue Askew, then one cannot do without design searches and the search for one’s own special path. It is impossible not to pay attention to the fact that Askew London jewelry has undergone a certain creative evolution – from a simple, one might even say, deliberately simplified design at the beginning, to an exquisitely sensual, luxuriously Byzantine, somewhat subtly reminiscent of the work of Joseff of Hollywood.
Jewelry for the film industry
Eugene Joseph, or, as he is also called, Joseph from Hollywood, is a legend in the world of jewelry. He made jewelry for almost all the films of the golden period of American cinema – “Gone with the Wind”, “Casablanca”, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”, “My Fair Lady”, “Cleopatra” and many others.
The Askew London necklace, bracelets and brooches were not used in the film. But their artistic form, as well as outstanding workmanship, make these jewelry brands stylistically close, as if complementing each other. I noticed a long time ago that people who like Joseff of Hollywood like Askew London. And vice versa!
The Askew London manufactory lasted only a few years.
The absence of a strategic investor who could see its market potential, as well as a very specific style of the 80s, when jewelry of this type was considered an extra luxury, did their job. The company has ceased to exist. Unfortunately, Askew London was at the wrong time, and perhaps in the wrong place. If its founders had immediately started selling their jewelry in luxury stores or moved to America, then everything could have turned out differently and Askew London would now take its rightful place between Cartier and Asprey.
In open sale (including in England itself), the early, original Askew London is almost never found. These are really exclusive vintage jewelry – there are very few of them, literally a few! And even those can be purchased only if you are lucky enough to be personally acquainted with the owners of a couple of antique boutiques in London, through which they occasionally sell family property. There is, however, another way to buy Askew London, you just need to take part in semi-closed vintage jewelry auctions, which are sometimes held by famous European antique dealers…
Askew London now
At present, an attempt has been made to revive the brand – a new, “rejuvenated” version of Askew London jewelry has appeared on the market, which differs from the native Askew in the same way as original CHANEL jewelry from Chinese stamped fakes.
All those first real Askew London products were really made by hand. It was, without exaggeration, hand-made jewelry! The master jeweler soldered the jewelry from many individual elements, such a technology was typical for the jewelry workshops of MAISON GRIPOIX. The base metals were brass- and copper-containing alloys. For the opaque composition, 22 carat gold plating with a matte finish was used. I would especially like to note the very high-quality patination of some Askew London products. Such processing not only decorates these things, giving them exquisite decorativeness and antiquity, but also increases security, which is a guarantee of many years of impeccable appearance of products.
It’s safe to say that like collectible wine, the original Askew London vintage jewelry will only get better year by year. I would also like to note products with cabochon inserts of colored marble glass, artificial turquoise and jade, an absolutely wonderful shade.
Authentic Askew London vintage jewelry is a big hit in Britain’s artistic scene – spoiled London bohemians are used to choosing the very best! Actresses Helena Bonham Carter, Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, and singer Victoria Beckham bought them for their jewelry box.
