Alex Monroe & Rachael Taylor In Conversation

We are thrilled to that the jeweller Alex Monroe & journalist Rachael Taylor are our guests for the next FORGE LOUNGE Inspire in-conversation! Please join us for an insightful evening as Alex shares his inspiration, creative process, ethos and life as a jeweller! Wine and non alcoholic refreshments provided.

Jeweller Alex Monroe grew up in the 1970’s Suffolk countryside in an old, crumbling house surrounded by wild, tangled nature. He enjoyed a childhood rich with freedom and imagination - roaming through fields, forests and rivers and constantly crafting all sorts of interesting (and sometimes mildly dangerous) tools and inventions to accompany him on his adventures

Training at the School of Art, Architecture and Design in London, Alex unexpectedly turned his hand to the craft of jewellery - and released his first collection in 1987 to critical acclaim. His intention was to produce excellent quality pieces, originally designed, made by hand and well priced. This was jewellery made to be worn, made to be loved and made to be treasured - values which remain unchanged to this day!

“Alex Monroe Jewellery is synonymous with a very British sense of style – slightly quirky, but intended to be worn and loved for a lifetime. Inspired by the natural world, our pieces are delicate, detailed, and always handmade in England.” - Alex Monroe

Rachael Taylor is a freelance jewellery journalist and regular contributor to a wealth of titles across the globe, including The Financial Times, The Telegraph, Independent, Condé Nast publications, Retail Jeweller and Rapaport. She was the founding editor of Professional Jeweller and WatchPro magazines, launching the titles on behalf of a global publisher in 2010, and was the co-founder of The Jewellery Cut, a platform that showcased independent jewellery designers at a bi-annual jewellery showcase in London.

She is also the author of two books on jewellery, The Story Behind the Style: Cartier and The Story Behind the Style: Tiffany & Co. Both were published by Bonnier UK in 2022.

Respected for her in-depth knowledge of the jewellery world, Rachael is a judge for many competitions, including the prestigious UK Jewellery Awards and The Goldsmiths’ Craft & Design Council Awards. The latter of which, she hosted from 2020 to 2022, following in the footsteps of jewellery luminaries including Stephen Webster and Theo Fennell, and in 2022 became the Council’s first female ambassador.