Cece Fein Hughes creates a captivating world of lore, legend and fairy tales and is inspired by different moments in history –from the renaissance to the Victorian era. She also evokes the painstaking skill and symbolism of tattoos for her collection Cece Jewellery. Her signet rings and pendants are a small canvas for her enamel artwork –works of enchanting images that immediately catch your eye and resonate with you on a sentimental, romantic level. Her pieces delight and intrigue you will their motifs, sense of proportion and color and their charming approach to fine jewelry. An art history major in school, the London-based designer changed career paths and worked as an intern at both Christie’s and Sotheby’s before studying the craft of jewelry making and eventually launched her own collection. Here she talks about her first relationship with jewelry, her background, how the collection was born and how it has evolved.
What was the first piece of jewelry you ever owned?
“A beautiful 1920’s Art Deco platinum and emerald ring I inherited from my great grandmother! I still wear the ring mixed in with my own pieces. It’s timeless and of the period yet feels so modern today.”
When did you realize you had an interest in jewelry?
Jewelry became a growing obsession of mine when I first visited India as a child. I remember walking through busy markets and being transfixed by the stacks and stacks of glittering, multi coloured bangles and golden costume jewelry. It was so vibrant and so sparkly at the same time and like most young girls it brought out the desire to be a princess in me “
As a young girl what were your hobbies?
“I was a very sensitive little girl, so I spent my much of my childhood drawing and painting, spending hours creating miniature fairy worlds at my grandmother’s house in the country.”
Was working in jewelry your first career?
“No. I studied History of Art at Exeter University, having dreams of working in auction houses. I then went on to do multiple internships at Christie’s and Sotheby’s in London. However, I never felt close enough to the artwork and I soon realized I was in the wrong field. I craved creativity so decided to give it all up and enrolled in a short jewelry making course.”
Did you have more training after that and if so, what did you learn?
“I trained as a bench jeweler so I had to learn how to do everything one would from the first models to soldering to polishing and everything else in between. As someone who always drew and painted, I also honed my skills on paper. And today I split my time between being hands on at the bench and drawing out my designs at my kitchen table.”
What inspired you to work with enamel? Was there a motif or a time period that influenced your interest in this medium?
“A ring sparked my obsession with enamel. It was one I stumbled upon in the Victoria & Albert Museum’s permanent collection. This ring dates back to 1830 and is a band with hidden compartments painted all over with beautiful miniature pink enamel flowers. Inside the compartments it reads in French, ‘he loves me, he loves me a little, he loves me passionately, he loves me not at all.’ I am also fascinated with Memento Mori rings from this era; there is something mesmerizing about this period in jewelry whether it be French or English”. Although these designs inspired me, my collection is very different. There is a magical, almost mystical feeling to the motifs—where fantasy and soulfulness meet in miniature and wearable paintings on canvases of gold.”
What is your favorite piece in the collection and why?
“The Shark & Anchor Ring was inspired by my father who use to be a deep-sea diver and has some amazing old school sailor tattoos. When I wear the ring, it reminds me of all the stories he would tell us of the beautiful creatures he met beneath the waves. “
Are there some others you to which you are partial, and can you tell us about them?
“The Snake & Moon motif in the ring and the pendant. This was the first design from my collection, so it will always be close to my heart. I have a fascination with snakes, they are so beautiful the way their bodies move and intertwine yet so terrifying and dangerous. They also have multiple meanings which attracts me to them, from rebirth and renewal to eternal love.
The Dove & Rose Power Charm is another one that I have a deep fondness for. This was pure joy to create, nothing represents love more than a white dove and red rose. It’s the ultimate representation of inner beauty.”
Can you tell us what type of enamel you work with as there are different types?
“I have a fantastic master enameler who has trained in this specific field for his whole life. He uses the Champlevé technique, where the enamel is hand-painted in opaque colors and fired in a kiln after each differed color of paint is applied. There needs to be walls that are a bit higher around where the enamel will fill and once the piece is completed, then it all is at the same level and appear like miniature paintings.”
What are the pieces you most often wear and how do style them?
“I like to mix it up and wear my signet ring (The Shark & Anchor which I mentioned before) on my middle finger and layer it up with stacking rings and other golden treasures! I also love wearing The Clam & Pearl necklace on its own. It makes me feel like I have a tiny treasure chest close to my heart.”
Do you have a favorite designer or jewel that you would like to own and mix in and wear with your designs?
I’m a massive sucker for diamonds and I love the way Jessica McCormack works with them. I would love one of her rings and think that it would be a perfect complement to my pieces. One day I hope to own one. It will be a hard choice to decide which one though.”
