Press Enquires & Press Kit

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Natalia Cassel natalia@casselconsultancy.com

INTRODUCING THE ROCK HOUND

The Rock Hound are a mission-based ethical gemmologist jeweller committed to the responsible sourcing of metals and gemstones. Holding these principles at the core of the brand, they became Fairtrade Licensees in 2015 and launched their first, fully Fair-trade Gold collection, GoldRush, later that year in October. Following this in 2016, they launched their second collection, RockStars, which unites natural science and beauty. Each stone used is celebrated in all of its unpolished crystal form glory. Susi Smither, FGA, GIA, JDT is the founder and designer of The Rock Hound. Using her in depth knowledge of and passion for gemmology, she personally selects these stones whilst out on field trips, making RockStars a limited and exclusive collection.

Their third collection, Chromanteq, is their first fine jewellery collection. Using state of the art systems, hand-drawn designs are transformed into 3D wax prints and unique cut gemstones are 3D scanned meaning each setting is made for only to fit that stone. These prints are then cast in recycled precious metals and coated in a kaleidoscopic array of their signature coatings.

Responsibly sourced gemstones, in equally colourful hues, are then set and mounted, creating unconventional and exclusive pieces. No two compositions will ever be the same. Their most recent collection, HotRocks, was unveiled at International Jewellery London in 2017. Crystal forms and slices are cast in recycled metals and drenched in a multitude of their colour-pop coatings to create their edgiest collection yet. 

The Rock Hound are committed to the responsible and ethical sourcing of metals and gemstones and are always seeking new ways in which they can bring a greater transparency to their business. Faceting their own gemstones is a new venture meaning that, along with procuring rough gemstones from source, The Rock Hound will be able to profoundly shorten their supply chain making it easier to control.

In 2023 The Rock Hound began using recycled AgAIN silver which is guaranteed to have been recycled from medical X-rays in the UK. As well as becoming a Fairmined Gold licensee. Fairmined Gold is an initiative which certifies gold of responsible origin from empowered artisanal and small-scale mining organisations. It guarantees that it is traceable gold, extracted with the best mining practices aimed at preserving the environment, and supports the development of the mining communities who meet world leading standards for responsible practices.

Print Publications

Online Features

Collections

  • CHROMANTEQ

    Using state of the art systems, hand-drawn designs are transformed into 3D wax prints and unique cut gemstones are 3D scanned meaning each setting is made to only ever fit that stone. These prints are then cast in recycled precious metals and coated in a kaleidoscopic array of signature colour. Responsibly sourced gemstones, in equally colourful hues, are then set and mounted, creating unconventional and exclusive pieces. No two compositions will ever be the same.

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  • HOTROCKS

    HotRocks is The Rock Hound’s diffusion line crafted from 100% recycled silver – and coated with a flash of the brand’s trademark nano-ceramic colour – providing an accessible entry price-point for those wanting to invest in the brand with prices starting from £130

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  • ROCKSTARS

    The Rock Hound are self confessed gem geeks and their RockStars Collection takes the structural form of natural crystals, playfully replicating them in Fairtrade Gold allowing the wearer to harness the beauty and making this collection perfect ethical everyday wear. The RockStars Trigonal Edits are an homage to the crystal system of their favourite gemstone, Tourmaline.

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  • MOLTEN MUZO

    The Rock Hound are one of 33 select jewellers from around the world chosen to work with Muzo Emerald Colombia. Launching in NY in December 2018, each the pieces in this capsule collection.

    "Muzo Emerald crystals have been tumbled and polished allowing their encapsulated beauty to be bathed in light which the inner jardin reflects back to the eye with a cool luminosity. Being the Gemmologist Jeweller we always do our upmost to preserve, reinforce and complement each gemstone’s unique attributes letting the Rocks be the Star of the Show. When thinking about the setting we were inspired to create an organic feel complementing the smooth polished surface of the Emerald with the rich golden hues of 18 Carat Yellow gold. We designed this collection consciously using Fairtrade Gold, a gold which aligns perfectly with Muzo’s core beliefs. Nothing is quite as luxurious as Emeralds literally dripping with molten gold; introducing our newest collection, Molten MUZO.” Susi Smither FGA GIA JDT, Designer & Founder.

    Visit the Muzo Emerald Colombia website for more information.

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  • ROCKSTARS RAW

    Crystal RockStars is a collection designed around personally selected gemstones, each celebrated in the glory of its unpolished crystal form. Shapes are intentionally organic so to exhibit and enhance the stone's natural beauty, preserving crystal faces, growth marks and striations. Pairings are asymmetrical and structures unrefined. Size, texture and colour of the stones vary from each finding, meaning no two pieces will ever be the same.

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  • GOLDRUSH

    GoldRush is a fully Fairtrade collection. Each ‘nugget’ is painstakingly formed by hand in The Rock Hound's East London studio, making each step of the supply chain fully traceable. By creating ‘nuggets’, they take the gold back to its original, organic form, enabling them to present the gold similar to how it is found by the miners. This has a truly powerful impact and forms a deeper understanding and connection between mine and market.

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AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

SUSI SMITHER

FGA, GIA JDT

FOUNDER | GOLDSMITH | DESIGNER

Despite growing up surrounded by her parents' mineral collection, it wasn't until Susi studied for the Diploma in Gemmology at The Gemmologicial Association of Great Britain that she discovered her true passion. 

After completing her gemmological training, intoxicated by the mixture of geeky science and aesthetically beautiful natural wonders the passion for gemstones and crystals was ignited. In order to delve deeper Susi embarked on two life-changing field trips to Sri Lanka and Tanzania with the Scottish Gemmological Association to gain a deeper understanding of sourcing gems. Having always been a conscious consumer it wasn’t until scrabbling around in a pile of tailings in Sri Lanka and spending days in the Umba Valley in Tanzania with a team of miners that Susi fully grasped the disparity between mine and market and the dark secrets of our industry. “Our lives and livelihoods, whilst worlds apart, are inextricably linked with the miners through gold and gemstones – and I for one, want that link to be a positive one. So when it came to creating a jewellery brand having this duty of care was at the very heart of all my decisions.” 

With over twelve years hands-on experience in the jewellery trade Susi has honed her skills over the years. Starting with a short course in jewellery making at Central Saint Martins this has led her through 4 years training in Hatton Garden to becoming a Fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain and studying jewellery design at The Gemmological Institute of America. After working at Holts in Hatton Garden as Stock Controller for three years, Susi felt all the building blocks were in place and in 2015 she launched her jewellery brand - The Rock Hound.

The Rock Hound are The Gemmologist Jewellers known for taking responsibly-sourced, raw materials to create bold, design-led pieces and are proud Fairtrade licensees. Since launching the brand Susi has received multiple industry accolades in the US and UK: New Designer of the Year 2017 at the UK Jewellery Awards; International Jewellery London 2017, Editors’ Choice Award for Technical Trailblazer; Top Three among the Rising Stars in the Design Center at JCK Las Vegas 2018 and shortlisted for Professional Jeweller’s Ethical Collection of the Year in 2017 and 2019.

In 2019 Susi was invited to join the team at Fair Luxury, a collaboration of jewellery industry changemakers with a vision for a responsible and sustainable future. To find our more about their ethos visit their website here.