Catherine Best
The Windmill, Les Chenolles, St Peter, Jersey, JE3 7DW
www.catherinebest.com/About
A PASSION FOR DESIGN
A childhood crafting wood in her father’s workshop fuelled a passion that would later see Catherine Best create her world renowned jewellery brand, designing pieces that are the epitome of elegance and the ultimate in craftsmanship. “I really enjoyed creating†says Catherine, “and would lose myself totally in the processâ€.
After her education, Catherine returned home to Guernsey where she began creating her first jewellery pieces. “I worked like crazy, struggling to build up stock. It made me very aware that I had to get it right first timeâ€. Catherine began trading at craft fairs, building up a devoted clientele and eventually moving into the beautiful Old Mill in Guernsey, whose studio now houses her most stunning creations, as well as being the family home. “We feel so lucky to live and work in such a historic and prominent landmark. The setting is magical,†says Catherine. Later on, Catherine and her husband Paul would buy a beautiful granite windmill in St Peter, Jersey, which as well as housing the workshop and showroom, is where bespoke designs are magically brought to life.
Catherine has come a long way since those early days at craft fairs, 22 years ago. In 2012 Catherine was accepted as a Fellow of the Institute of Professional Goldsmiths, a prestigious accolade reserved only for those who practice their craft to the highest standards of excellence.
OUTSIDE OF THE STUDIO
Catherine Best now regularly exhibits at Goldsmiths Fair and Goldsmiths Pavilion. Goldsmiths Fair is regarded as the most esteemed event of its kind in Europe and where bespoke, one off pieces showcase the pure skill and artistry of the world’s most talented and highly sought after jewellers. Her designs are often seen on the Red Carpet, and Catherine has also exhibited at the Concours D’Elegance, one of the world’s most exclusive garden parties where only unrivalled, luxury brands are given the honour of showcasing.
Over the years, Catherine has given back as much as she has gained, being an Ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust and regularly collaborating with the Born Free Foundation and Les Bourgs Hospice in Guernsey. You can read more about her outstanding and on-going work with charities here.
Today, Catherine splits her time between the Old Mill and the Windmill, both of which are perfect locations to spend hours browsing the latest designs, and where visitors can see the hub of a family business that has been driven from the heart for more than two decades.
Unrivalled talent in design and artistry sets Catherine Best far beyond her contemporaries. Each piece is born from a love of jewellery and decades of experience as a master craftswoman, and Catherine continues to push the boundaries of her art, creating pieces that are to be treasured for generations to come.