David Marshall Recaptures the Dragon:

October 15, 2014

By Katerina Perez

2 min read

David Marshall Dragon Pendant

David Marshall Dragon Pendant

I spotted an exquisite dragon pendant that looked totally unique to me: the dragon had a carved stone of real jade clutched in its paws. David spotted this lilac gem at a jewellery exhibition in Basel last March. The beauty of the hand carved Burmese stone instantly caught the designer’s attention; he had to get his hands on this “heavenly gem”. “The soft lilac colour of the jade is very unusual,” he says. “This combined with the intricate, subtle dragon carving gave the piece a unique and extraordinary beauty. I knew I could do something really special with it.”

Rather than carving on the jade, David Marshall decided to play up the theme of the mythical creature. Indeed, the pendant has an Asiatic design that noticeably contrasts with the jeweller’s other work. He explains this saying: “I have always created different styles and one of a kind pieces. But as a designer I need to showcase core collections at my boutique which represents David Marshall London. Over the years I have designed and made very creative jewels. Now that my boutique is established, I feel this is something I can work on again.” Incidentally, you shouldn’t be put off by the sharp claws and fangs of the dragon: by contrast with European tradition, dragons are worshipped in China and considered kind, wise and merciful to mortals.

When a jeweller holds a stone of unbelievable beauty in his hands, quite a lot of time, as you’d expect, is spent on creating the right piece. “We spent a fair amount of time on the design and around 8 weeks making the setting and finishing the piece,” says David Marshall. “The challenges we faced were during the final stages, the final fitting of the jade carving into the setting and the setting of certain parts of the design such as the dragon claws after the fitting. We had to be very precise and careful not to damage the jade.”

To understand how fragile this stone is and to get advice on how to look after it, I looked to jade specialist Sylvia Quispe at QAS Switzerland. This is how she answered my question: “Jade is 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs hardness scale, so some care should be taken to avoid scratches. The gemstone has exceptional toughness and is very resistant to breaking or chipping.” So how do you look after it? “The correct way to clean jade is with warm soapy water. A small, soft bristled toothbrush is best for cleaning the crevices of carvings.” It’s a real shame that I can’t show you the reverse side of the pendant where you can see how the body of the dragon is encrusted with transparent diamonds. David Marshall doesn’t miss out on a single detail when it comes to his creations. That’s precisely why his clients love him so much.KP

Kandinsky Kollektion: collector pieces by the great abstract artist

continue reading

Jewel of the Month: Taking Flight with The Gift of Love Necklace by Graff 

Let’s examine this feat of jewellery artisanship and celebrate its status as our ‘Jewel of the Month’ for February 2025

by Sarah Jordan

Nature’s Folio: The Boucheron Untamed Nature High Jewellery Collection

Be prepared to feel transported to the French countryside, somewhere in the 19th century, armed with only a graphite pencil and the very earliest monochrome camera…

by Sarah Jordan

Galentine Gifts: Jewels to Celebrate Female Friendships this Valentine’s Day

If you are searching for the perfect present to spoil the hero BFFs in your universe, start with this shopping guide by Rachael Taylor

by Rachael Taylor

Unique Proposals: Alternative Engagement Ring Designs for 2025

This year, it's all change, with some of the key alternative engagement ring trends for 2025 representing a very real evolution of this most classic of jewels

by Claire Roberts

Ready for Love: Heart-Shaped Jewels for the Perfect Valentine’s Day

Find the perfect heart for your lover with Rachael Taylor’s guide to the latest designs, from chubby diamonds to gold embroidery and magical opals

by Rachael Taylor

Chain Reaction: Shells Reinvented with the Melanie Georgacopoulos Katina Collection

I spoke to Melanie to discover more about her latest, innovative offering…

by Sarah Jordan

Proudly Indian: The Myriad Facets of Zoya from the House of TATA

Let me take you behind the scenes of my visit and highlight some of the wonders I discovered…

by Katerina Perez

Latest Stories

Add articles and images to your favourites. Just

Gem Focus:Brazil Gem Commerce

Discover a company specialising in the cutting and trading of Brazilian and African precious gems, including Paraiba, rubellite and morganite

by Katerina Perez

Continue Reading

Ask Katerina:Diamond Jewellery Styling Tips for Modern Dressing

Here are some of the answers I gave during the presentation to aid your jewellery dressing…

by Katerina Perez

Jewellery Insights straight to your inbox

Style Guide

By using this website, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.