Behind the scenes with the royal jewellers

Harry Collins has the illustrious title of 'Her Majesty The Queen's Jeweller', with his family-run jewellery firm G Collins and Sons holding the Royal Warrant for nearly twenty years They carry out everything from repairs to re-design of antique or inherited jewellery, even re-using the exact same gold in the process to keep the piece as authentic to its original as possible There are also in-house designs that are genuinely remarkable, and bespoke design commissions.

Advertisement Commissioning pieces is an incredible journey from conception, to original design sketches, to viewing hand painted pictures of your piece before it's made Harry and his son, Josh, source the finest gems from around the world and together with Harry's daughter, Zoë, design some of the most truly beautiful jewellery I have ever had the joy of seeing, as well as buying in some of the most wonderful and original antique pieces Advertisement At the end of my visit Josh brought me what can only be described as the tray of dreams: there was a spectacular aquamarine cocktail ring; an Art Deco diamond bracelet; a breathtakingly huge, gull's egg-sized emerald ring; stunning diamond and emerald drop earrings and a delicate flower design pink diamond ring.

For me the piece de resistance though was a ravishing yellow diamond and diamond engagement ring - one that it would most definitely be worth getting married again for. . Source