Women Who Launch: Meet Jeweller Rachel Boston

Can you tell us more about your career path and how this led to the launch of your own brand?

I did my BA in Jewellery Design at Central Saint Martins and later completed a Diamond Grading diploma at GIA. After graduating, I set up a workbench in my living room and began developing a silver collection that evolved from my university work. I built my first website, approached shops to stock the pieces, and juggled freelance design consultancy while slowly building my brand.

At the time, I didn’t have a long-term business plan, I was just excited to create, to world-build, and to explore what a brand could become. In the early years, the focus was on silver and wholesale, but over time I shifted towards bespoke commissions and fine jewellery. The change in materials felt more aligned with the permanence and meaning I wanted my pieces to carry.

13 years on, the business has grown from working alone in my living room to a team of 15 in our three-storey showroom and studio in the heart of Shoreditch. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come.

How would you describe your brand’s ethos and can you tell us more about your signature design style?

Rachel Boston Jewellery is rooted in thoughtful design, carefully-curated stones, and British craftsmanship. Our ethos is about creating pieces that are both bold and timeless, that will be worn and loved for generations. My signature style leans towards clean architectural lines, modern Art Deco influence, paired with antique or unusual diamonds that bring their own character to the design.

What’s your earliest memory of jewellery? Was there a moment when you knew you wanted to work with gems?

My earliest memories are of rummaging through my mother’s jewellery box. I was always fascinated by the tiny stories each piece carried. By the time I was about 14, I knew I wanted to pursue jewellery design and I would make sure that every school project in Design & Technology somehow found its way back to jewellery.

Before gemstones, it was the metal that captivated me. I still remember cuttlefish casting in class, watching molten metal pour into the mould, completely mesmerised by the way it moved and solidified. My love of gemstones came later, during my studies at GIA (Gemological Institute of America), where I discovered how science and art combine to create these extraordinary faceted objects created deep within the earth.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to overcome since launching your brand?

In the early days, the biggest challenge was lack of funds. Many stores wanted pieces on consignment, which became unsustainable once I moved into solid gold. It also meant that I couldn’t outsource so I did everything by myself, from product photography and building the website, to social media, and running around Hatton Garden or delivering press loans. It meant the brand didn’t scale as quickly as I might have liked, but it also gave me a deep understanding of every role in the business which has taught me invaluable skills in the long term.

Every obstacle has demanded patience and resourcefulness. Looking back, I see those challenges as the building blocks that shaped both me and the brand.

What does a typical day look like for you?

No two days are ever the same. In the morning I might be in the showroom with couples discussing their engagement ring. The afternoon might be spent overseeing production or meeting with different members of my team, and the evening might involve working on new designs once the quiet sets in. Running a business means constantly juggling roles, from creative director to problem solver to designer, so I’m grateful for the constant variety it brings.

How has your brand evolved since its launch?

When I first launched, it was just me at my workbench creating collections inspired by beetles and scorpions! It had a very different aesthetic and price point to where we are now, but with the same ethos of storytelling through design. Over the years we’ve grown into a dedicated team of 15 with a flagship shop & showroom in East London. Today we specialise in engagement and wedding jewellery alongside a wide collection of everyday pieces. Our bespoke work remains at the heart of what we do - offering clients both an incredible experience and timeless design. At its core, though, the brand still feels deeply personal, and I remain closely involved with every piece that leaves the studio.

Where do you seek inspiration for your collections?

I’m endlessly inspired by art, architecture, and design, from the clean lines of modernist furniture to the bold geometry of Art Deco. For our most recent collection ‘Lineage’ I looked to Ancient Egyptian jewellery, looking at small design details and reimagining them in a contemporary way. I love the dialogue between past and present, honouring historical craftsmanship while creating pieces that feel modern and timeless.

How do you balance your work life with your personal life?

It’s an ongoing practice. Running my business has really consumed all my time the past 10+ years, but becoming a mother recently has meant I've had to shift my perspective. Now, I try to be fully present at work and fully present at home, even if the balance isn’t always perfect. It's become about setting boundaries for myself, and knowing that creativity relies on rest as much as it needs discipline.

What’s the most rewarding part of running your own business?

Without a doubt, it’s the people. To meet with a couple as we discuss a ring that could represent their story, or to see someone wear one of my pieces years later and know it has become part of their life is such a joy. To me jewellery is all about connection, so being trusted to create something so personal has never lost its meaning to me.

Do you have anything exciting in the pipeline for the remainder of 2025?

This November we’re launching ‘In Motion’, a 15-piece engagement ring collection exploring the idea of movement through form. Each piece is crafted in recycled 18ct yellow gold here in the UK, and set with natural diamonds in tones of champagne, pale yellow, and white. The collection celebrates individuality: I’ve chosen diamonds for their unusual colour or cut: lozenges, shields, hexagons - each stone full of its own character and story.