"Gilian Elizabeth Packard was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The story goes that her father could not spell, so when he registered her birth, he spelt Gillian with one "l" rather than two. After she left school, Packard studied at the Kingston School of Art, the Central School of Arts and Crafts and the Royal College of Art. She won many awards and was one of the leading jewellery designers of the 1960s. Her pieces were sold and Richard Ogden in Burlington Arcade, Cameo Corner in Bloomsbury and many other leading retail outlets, including Hamilton & Inches in Edinburgh. Packard was also one of the little band of jewellers whom Graham Hughes escorted to trade shows all over Europe and the USA in the 1960s, waving the flag for Britain. "Packard tended to use rough crystals as the central stone in her necklaces and brooches, with small diamonds as a lean accompaniment. She was, perhaps, less of a jeweller in the sense that she rarely used fine jewels in her work, and more of a designer craftsperson. Indeed, she was known to wear very little jewellery herself. The exceptions were her wedding ring (she married in 1965) and her emerald engagement ring. In a British Pathé News film entitled "Jewel of the Year", made for an important jewellery exhibition and Christie's auction house in 1962, she is seen wearing - shock horror! - a brooch, albeit a very plain one!" - from Mary Ann Wingfield's excellent book, Modern British Jewellery Designers 1960-1980; A Collector's Guide (2021). This remarkable statement ring was made by Gilian Packard in 1970. It's unusually set with fine jewels, emeralds and diamonds, and crafted in 18 carat gold. Era: Post-War Modern, 1970 Stones: Emerald & Diamond Ring size: T 1/2 or 9.5 US. Resize for £55. Head: 2.4cm by 2.1cm Hallmarks: English, London, 18ct Gold, 1970. Signed GEP. Condition: Great vintage condition.