SUFFOLK.- High jewellery has entered the 21st-century with a spring in its step. Design has been as diverse as it has been innovative. The technical advances of the 90s and the new materials being used by this exuberant group of independent jewellers have helped pave the way to breaking down pre-conceived ideas of high jewellery. Some enjoy the adventure of finding the rarest of gemstones, others seek to tell a tale. They are artists, engineers, adventurers and above all they are passionate about their world, using only the best workmanship wherever it is found.

21st-Century Jewellery Designers presents the stories and designs of leading contemporary jewellery designers working across the globe. Interviews with each designer reveal their inspirations and passions, their favourite materials, designing processes, and how their personalities influence their designs. Each entry is accompanied by beautiful colour photographs of the designer's pieces.

Designers include: Kaoru Kay Akihara (Japan); Walid Akkad (Lebanon/France); Lorenz Baumer (France); Bhagat (India); Sevan Bicakçi (Turkey); Luz Camino (Spain); Wallace Chan (China); Edmond Chin for Etcetera (China); Lydia Courteille (France); Michele della Valle (Italy/Switzerland); Patrice Fabre (France); James de Givenchy for Taffin (USA); Vincente Gracia (Spain); Hemmerle (Germany); Anna Hu (USA/Taiwan); Michelle Ong for Carnet (China); Suzanne Syz (Switzerland); Nicholas Varney (USA); Stephen Webster (UK) and Dickson Yewn for Yewn Heritage (China).

The book also includes a chapter on the new rising stars of the industry, such as Rammi Abboud ( Lebanon ); Tomasz Donocik ( UK ); LaMouche (China/France); and 10 Royale (France). Each of them represents a different approach to jewellery design and each is at the beginning of their own adventure.

A Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britian (Gem A), Juliet Weir-de La Rochefoucauld began her career at Sotheby's & Co., London . Based in France , she writes about jewellery and is working on her next book on the subject. Juliet's great-grandfather, Thomas Weir, founded the jewellers Weir & Sons in Dublin in 1869, a company that is still run by members of the family.