Fashion Jewelry by Christopher Wharton

Christopher Wharton is a fashion jewellery designer based in St Albans, London. The son of a well know St Alban’s watch maker, Wharton trained under a well known and prestigious London jewellery designer in a 5 year apprenticeship. Christopher Wharton’s forte in jewellery design comes in diamonds and he was recognised and has been awarded many times by the Diamond Trading Company (formerly known as De Beers). He likes to create tradition  pieces but now in these modern times, he and his son Sam, who has now joined the business, are venturing out into more modern and edgy designs.

Christopher Wharton makes many engagement rings, come solitaire rings, set with one, plain, simple diamond, to heavier rings made of platinum with lot of stones set into them. Even though his fashion jewellery is described as ‘traditional’ in his engagement ring collection he has some rings that make use of oval diamonds, not as traditional as square ones. One of the most eye catching engagement ring in this fashion jewellery collection is the ring with a marquise cut stone. Indeed this would be very difficult to wear with a wedding ring due to the place setting of the diamond and its shape. Christopher Wharton’s engagement rings are not just made from silver and platinum of course, his 18ct yellow gold ring is set with many diamonds around the ring band and a ‘brilliant cut’ diamond as the centre piece.

Christopher Wharton also offers an incredibly unique service when it comes to engagement rings.  The ‘Ring Proposal Service’ allows the customer to buy a ring, engraved with the words ‘marry me?’ and then come back to the shop with their fiancée to choose the perfect ring. This novel service means that the customer doesn’t have to worry and stress over whether or not they have chosen the perfect ring for their loved one. This service is one of a kind and in the world of fashion jewellery I don’t think there is any other service like it.

Christopher Wharton can only be found in select stores and showrooms, although Christopher and Sam Wharton are expanding the places that stock their fashion jewellery. They have also been based in St Albans but in 2007 they opened their second show room in Cambridge (their first having been opened in 2006). In 2006 Christopher Wharton also decided to rebrand his fashion jewellery range as simply ‘Wharton’, which includes his son and any grandchildren who may want to continue in the Wharton fashion jewellery empire.