Jewellery and Diamonds are, and have always been an integral part of my life.  As a fourth generation jeweller, some of my earliest memories are of me spending time with my father in his Hatton Garden workshop, fascinated by gold and fine gems, confounded by the attention to detail and seemingly endless patience required of his craft.

My father, like many in his family, was a craftsman, a purveyor of beautiful jewellery. A tradition which began in the merchant city of Aden in Yemen, the biblical land of Sheba and noted throughout history for magnificent works in silver and gold.

There was never any doubt that I would follow in his footsteps and in 1989 I became the youngest member of the Diamond Bourse in London. For over 25 years I trained and worked solely in the international diamond industry, supplying loose diamonds to some of the worlds finest jewellers.

My love affair with coloured gemstones began a few years ago when I turned 50 and looking for adventure, went on solo trip to Mexico.

In a country famed for its murals and love of bright colours, I discovered and fell in love with the beauty of Mexican Fireopals. Having lived so many years in shades of white, It was a turning point and the beginning of my passion for colour gems.

My jewellery creations are the jigsaw pieces of my life. A moment, emotion, or memory that stems from somewhere on my journey. I reflect these in my designs, so there can never be a complete choreographed collection, just a spontaneous burst of energy.

For me, this is what modern jewellery is all about, an expression of self.

My designs are dedicated to my mother and father, who taught me from a young age that while life may not always work out as planned, one must confront challenges head on, try to stay kind and find plenty of time to laugh.

My jewellery can be found at our family store ‘Yosefi’ in Neve Tzedek Tel Aviv, Israel. www.yosefijewellery.com

Enjoy! Ayalla x