From Setback to Sparkle: How Serious Illness Led Ruth Mary Chipperfield to Jewellery Design

Update: 2025-09-29

Description

Episode Summary:

I talk with Ruth Mary Chipperfield, a bespoke jewellery designer who turned to creativity after illness changed her plans at university. In the Edge news, I cover recent UK jewellery news, including Harriet Kelsall’s studio being nominated for Bespoke Jewellery Retailer of the Year. In Creative Adventures, I also share tips from my own creative journey and highlight advice from Andrew Szczeck about connecting with your audience and understanding the distinction between what we make and how we sell. Plus, I cover recent UK jewellery news, including Harriet Kelsall’s studio being nominated for Bespoke Jewellery Retailer of the Year. The episode is all about creative reinvention, ethical practice, and taking action on your ideas.

Guest Bio: Ruth Chipperfield is a goldsmith and jewellery designer, who specialises in remodelling sentimental heirloom jewellery into meaningful jewellery pieces for today. Ruth has a deep appreciation for the story behind each piece, which is retold in every design she creates while reflecting personal style at the same time as preserving family history through the jewellery she works on.

As a former scientist, Ruth has never been bound by tradition. As a child, her aspiration was to become an inventor which led Ruth to study Chemistry. However, during her studies, Ruth was diagnosed with narcolepsy, which meant her husband became her fulltime carer for three years. During this time Ruth was collapsing 30+ times a day and sleeping for 18 hours in a 24 hour cycle.

However, this was the making of her current path as it gave Ruth the opportunity to go in a whole new direction. Ruth’s early designs, which are still popular today, feature delicate lace designs in precious metal, giving a nod to simpler times and reinventing the dying art of lacemaking.

The scientist hasn’t been left behind though. Much of Ruth’s work involves creating future heirlooms such as engagement rings and she has a passion for reusing preloved gemstones. Using her chemistry background, each gemstone undergoes full laboratory testing so her customers can have confidence in her work and the gemstones they buy.

Episode Chapters with time stamps:

Introduction [00:00 ]

The Edge [01:58 ]

Ruth's Background [05:37 ]

Narcolepsy Diagnosis [06:51 ]

Creativity Defined [08:13 ]

Client Stories [08:55 ]

Creative Process [16:23 ]

Business Evolution [34:27 ]

Health Management [42:25 ]

Creative Adventures [48:32 ]

Four Creative Nuggets:

"I think that's the misconception people often have, is that creativity equals drawing. It doesn't... I personally believe that creativity is a way of thinking so you can be a creative person without making anything physical. I think it very much links to problem solving."
"I think creativity really is something that influences every aspect. It's bringing together multiple ideas."
"Sometimes you, as a creative person, just have to have the courage to break out of the narrative and go into a different direction and trust the process that all paths will lead to the right point."
"I think a lot of creative people are like this. You start something and you've got all these unfinished things and it's never linear."

Links:

Guest: Ruth Chipperfield

www.ruthmary.com/

www.facebook.com/ruthmaryjewellery/

www.instagram.com/ruthmaryjewellery/

www.linkedin.com/ruth-mary-chipperfield/

https://www.youtube.com/@ruthmaryjewellery/

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