Appena is a relatively new venture for my husband and myself - but building on over 50 years' combined business and retail experience.

We were inspired to create this jewellery range after numerous trips to Europe where we discovered unusual and superior pieces that were not available at all in the UK.

We have taken the opportunity of personally visiting the studios and factories in Florence and Venice / Murano. All our suppliers are small family concerns, run by the founders or the families of the founders, and responsible for the designs right the way through from concept to production and final polishing.

The pieces are lovingly hand made by master craftsmen, which gives them unique colours and shapes so that no two pieces will ever be quite the same. I love this originality of design and uniqueness of each piece. You will never see anyone wearing the same thing: similar, perhaps, but never identical and never mass-produced.

The craftsmen use age-old techniques. Many work in the same studio as their fathers and grandfathers did before them - creating a palpable sense of tradition, skill and vocation to what they do. Yet none of our designers are stuck in the past and every piece has a fresh, modern feel to it despite the very traditional approach to quality and to the finest materials.

Our particular love of European jewellery design, particularly that of Italy, made the choice of this jewellery range easy and fabulous fun. My husband and I sincerely hope you can take as much pleasure in these small works of art as we do.

Enjoy.



Kim Blake