Patrick McMurray asked:
Founder of Veritas Precious Metals Mark Platt studied at Oxford University before joining classic brand Alfred Dunhill where he worked on developing menswear accessories and fragrance products.
He moved to iconic jeweller Tiffany and Co., where he worked for 6 years and furthered a passion for Sterling Silver accessories and jewellery. Tiffany offered a fascinating insight, with its great archives and history, into the silversmith’s and jeweller’s art over the course of a century and a half.
Mark launched Veritas Gifts (from the Latin meaning “Truth”) in Sept 2003. The first collection was launched at the New York Collective in July 2004, with the object of creating unique and distinctive cufflinks in Sterling Silver and Rhodium Plate. The second Veritas collection debuted in New York 2005, featuring new enamel designs, which built on the strong theme of Swarovski Crystal from the previous year. It featured the unique African Animal Collection, exquisitely carved heads of Lion, Rhino, Leopard and Oryx with safari coloured enamel fittings.
Mark Platt is primarily interested in design innovation, combining unusual precious materials and offering change and stimulus with each new season.
A little history
Jewellers like Cartier and Tiffany crafted work of art designer cufflinks in mother of pearl, crystal; precious stones…These famous fashion names establish silver cufflinks the essential accessory for men
Some anecdotes
For many centuries vitreous enamel has been widely used to adorn jewellery of the highest quality- from Parisian gold snuffboxes of the 18th century to Carl Faberge’s Imperial Eggs in the early 20th century. Archaeological evidence suggests that enamelling may date back to 3000BC. The Byzantine Empire, Chinese, French and Russian cultures have all influenced the development of enamelware. Cloisonné, which is a design distinguished by using flattened wire to separate the enamel, is most suited to jewellery. And combined with mother of pearl, Swarovski Crystals and semi precious stones bring together ancient and contemporary materials used to create work of art cufflinks. The design possibilities are add infinitum.
Now
In the wake of Alfred Dunhill and Tiffany Mark has taken Veritas to new heights with the release of a range of sterling silver cufflinks of superior elegance. Just a brief handle will satisfy your senses. And in the tradition of great jewellers, gleaning Mother of Pearl, crystals and precious stones to slender elegant stems, engineered to give many years good linkage.
And the future
The resurgent popularity of cufflinks in recent years has inspired many young designers. New materials like resins are at hand and they’re being combined with crystals, cat’s eye and semi precious stones, creating a new framework of styles, but without loosing classicism. The use of CAD and CAM for design and modelling are used extensively and laser welding and cutting technology employed to refine the edges. Combined they give another dimension to the finished product and greatly assist the modern designer cope with the pressures of commercialism. Seasonal styles are turned around in short time as demand is met.
And, what of tradition? It remains intact. Designer brands like Veritas Lbb London, Ian Flaherty and many more carry it forward.
URBANIK
