~~~~~~~~~ David Morris ~~~~~~~~~ Masterpieces~~~~~~~~~~~~
The legendary career of David Morris began in 1951 when, as a young man, he mastered the craft of diamond mounting by apprenticing a leading jeweller. After a stint at London’s Central School of Arts and Crafts, he qualified as a goldsmith in 1959. Establishing his own jewellery firm in 1962, David Morris became internationally known a year later as he and his design partner claimed the 9th and 10th De Beers Diamonds International Awards, bestowed annually in New York to promote innovative design. A striking brooch comprising a circular spray of marquise and brilliant-cut diamonds proved the prize-winning piece in 1963, while a year later, a lavish tapered bracelet of flexible diamond ribbons embellished with large diamond ‘snowflakes’ and marquise diamond ‘stars’ was the winning creation. Soon thereafter, he received his first royal commission when he created a sapphire and diamond tiara which was presented to Countess Marie Kinski and Crown Prince Hans Adam of Liechtenstein on their July 1967 wedding day. An astute businessman, as Morris opened his Mayfair, London showroom in 1969, the world’s finest jewellery collectors became his clients, including Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran, Queen Noor of Jordan and ‘Queen’ of Hollywood; Elizabeth Taylor. Princess Margaret, Princess Ann and the Prince of Wales also became clients while the Eighth Earl Spencer bestowed his daughter Diana, Princess of Wales, with David Morris diamond jewellery. Sarah Ferguson chose a David Morris Burmese ruby surrounded by ten pear-shaped diamonds as her engagement ring from Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in March 1986 and that same year, David Morris also collaborated with film star Catherine Deneuve to conceive a collection of fine jewels. David Morris’ friendships with his client Roger Moore and Maurice Binder, the famous title designer who worked on 14 James Bond films, resulted in the tradition of David Morris jewels featuring in Bond films including 1971’s Diamonds are Forever, 1974’s The Man With the Golden Gun, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, in which Teri Hatcher appears in the “James Bond Necklace” of platinum-set white diamonds, as well as 1999’s The World is Not Enough. In 1996, Jeremy Morris and his father moved the flagship from Conduit Street to its current 180 New Bond Street headquarters and in 2003 Jeremy was appointed managing director and principal designer. The 20-artisan workshop which operates under his guidance now forges the dazzling creations which can be found in David Morris boutiques on the luxury thoroughfares of Hong Kong, Dubai, Moscow, Doha and Riyadh.
The legendary career of David Morris began in 1951 when, as a young man, he mastered the craft of diamond mounting by apprenticing a leading jeweller. After a stint at London’s Central School of Arts and Crafts, he qualified as a goldsmith in 1959. Establishing his own jewellery firm in 1962, David Morris became internationally known a year later as he and his design partner claimed the 9th and 10th De Beers Diamonds International Awards, bestowed annually in New York to promote innovative design. A striking brooch comprising a circular spray of marquise and brilliant-cut diamonds proved the prize-winning piece in 1963, while a year later, a lavish tapered bracelet of flexible diamond ribbons embellished with large diamond ‘snowflakes’ and marquise diamond ‘stars’ was the winning creation. Soon thereafter, he received his first royal commission when he created a sapphire and diamond tiara which was presented to Countess Marie Kinski and Crown Prince Hans Adam of Liechtenstein on their July 1967 wedding day. An astute businessman, as Morris opened his Mayfair, London showroom in 1969, the world’s finest jewellery collectors became his clients, including Empress Farah Pahlavi of Iran, Queen Noor of Jordan and ‘Queen’ of Hollywood; Elizabeth Taylor. Princess Margaret, Princess Ann and the Prince of Wales also became clients while the Eighth Earl Spencer bestowed his daughter Diana, Princess of Wales, with David Morris diamond jewellery. Sarah Ferguson chose a David Morris Burmese ruby surrounded by ten pear-shaped diamonds as her engagement ring from Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in March 1986 and that same year, David Morris also collaborated with film star Catherine Deneuve to conceive a collection of fine jewels. David Morris’ friendships with his client Roger Moore and Maurice Binder, the famous title designer who worked on 14 James Bond films, resulted in the tradition of David Morris jewels featuring in Bond films including 1971’s Diamonds are Forever, 1974’s The Man With the Golden Gun, 1997’s Tomorrow Never Dies, in which Teri Hatcher appears in the “James Bond Necklace” of platinum-set white diamonds, as well as 1999’s The World is Not Enough. In 1996, Jeremy Morris and his father moved the flagship from Conduit Street to its current 180 New Bond Street headquarters and in 2003 Jeremy was appointed managing director and principal designer. The 20-artisan workshop which operates under his guidance now forges the dazzling creations which can be found in David Morris boutiques on the luxury thoroughfares of Hong Kong, Dubai, Moscow, Doha and Riyadh.
