Rachel Balfour

Rachel Balfour established her fine-jewellery brand with the belief that jewellery is much more than an accessory. She believes that the individual pieces we choose to wear have meaning and significance and are often an expression of love, loyalty and inner strength. Designed to last many lifetimes, her jewellery has a beautiful refined edge, as timeless as it is contemporary. Having trained in Silversmithing and Jewellery Design at Kensington and Chelsea College, London, she was selected in the top ten new designers in 'E.C. One’s Unsigned Awards' and has recently completed ‘Setting Out; the Goldsmiths’ Centre’s prestigious mentoring course.

What is your idea of perfect happiness? A mug of Earl Grey tea and a view.

Which living person do you most admire?Jacinda Ardern is very impressive.

What is your greatest extravagance? Sleeping! And Walking. When I can take the time, I walk everywhere across the city.

What is your current state of mind? Trying to make sense of the past to be happier and present in the future.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse? I am trying to wean myself off 'Literally'.

Which talent would you most like to have?To be able to sing. I would love to be able to sing and also to dance in time to the music!!

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? That in the past I hadn't been so controlled by fear.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Setting up my jewellery brand whilst my children were young.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?A Holy Cow in India.

Where would you most like to live? Where I currently live - Shepherd's Bush. I spent three years living out of London and I missed it every day.

What is your most treasured possession? My mother's art work.

Who are your favorite writers? Gabriel García Márquez, Sally Rooney, Milan Kundera and Irvin D Yalom.

Which historical figure do you most identify with? History is so subjective so I think I would find it difficult to say that I relate to anyone that I haven't met.

Who is your hero of fiction? Roald Dahl's Matilda.

What is your greatest regret? No regrets, we are the sum of our experiences.

What is your most marked characteristic? Neuroticism.

What do you most value in your friends? Laughter and just being there in the good times and bad.

What is it that you most dislike? Snobbery and superiority.

What is your motto? To understand everything, is to forgive everything.