Objects Of Desire

My objects of desire: Nigel O’Reilly, the Mayo-based goldsmith, on gemstones and Magon watches

O’Reilly’s handcrafted high jewellery has been worn by Saoirse Ronan and featured in Sotheby’s Important Jewels auction in New York.

Nigel O’Reilly: ‘You’ve got to push yourself, and collaborating is one way of exploring new materials.’ Picture: Nathalie Márquez-Courtney

It might sound cheesy, but the best gift I’ve ever received is people’s time. Erwin Springbrunn, the late master goldsmith and gemstone cutter, had never taken on an apprentice, but he gave up his Saturdays for me. Without people like him to mentor me, I would never be here, doing what I want to do.

My pieces always start with the stone, and then you work around it. Picture: Nathalie Márquez-Courtney

I collect gemstones – the vast majority of the ones in this box, above, came from Erwin’s collection. They’re all different. My pieces always start with the stone, and then you work around it. When I look at a piece, I need something vibrant that jumps off the finger.

You don’t have to be in London or Paris or even Dublin. Erwin’s philosophy on things was: “If you are good enough at your job, people will come to you. Just concentrate on your skills.” That’s what gave my wife Tracy and I the confidence to set up in Castlebar.

The coating on the Magon watch inspired me to work on a pair of earrings. Picture: Nathalie Márquez-Courtney

I’ve been a fan of McGonigle watches for years, and this piece, above, is from the Irish company’s new brand, Magon. We collaborated on the Solas watch, another piece in the collection, which involved me setting over 700 green diamonds into grade five titanium. It took me three weeks of solid work.

You’ve got to push yourself, and collaborating is one way of exploring new materials. The coating on the Magon watch inspired me to work on a pair of earrings – they could go either way, they might not work out, but if I hadn’t worked on the watch it wouldn’t have opened that side of my mind at all.

My glasses are from Optica in Dublin. Picture: Nathalie Márquez-Courtney

I only recently started wearing glasses, and these, above, are my favourite. They’re from Optica in Dublin. I’ve known owners Deirdre and Donal McNally for years, and they’re big supporters of my work. We’ve even messed around and collaborated on some pieces as well.

My tattoos are are drawings of characters invented by my sons, Tadgh, 10, and David, 7. Picture: Nathalie Márquez-Courtney

I always loved tattoos, but I wanted something that really was personal, and I could never think of anything that was personal enough before this. Mine are drawings of characters invented by my sons, Tadgh, 10, and David, 7.

I love watching my sons doing their drawings. The kids’ characters appear in these comics they made. Like me, Tadgh is dyslexic, so school’s not easy for him. When I found jewellery, it gave me this extra layer of confidence – sure, I couldn’t spell, read or write well, but I could make this. That’s what we’re trying to push for. Being true to your craft, to what you can do.

This piece by my wife Tracy hangs in my studio. Picture: Nathalie Márquez-Courtney

My wife Tracy is an artist and I have a piece of hers hanging in my studio. I had no formal art training when we met, and she opened up a whole new world of possibilities about what could be done. I started making jewellery to impress her, and I still do, to this day.

What I’m listening to will shape the way I draw and design. I don’t really look at other jewellery at all – only the likes of art, fashion and music.

You have to learn how to make before you can design. Jewellery has creativity and it’s got discipline. There are a lot of quite famous jewellers who have never touched a piece of gold in their life. That, to me, is a lack of respect for the craftspeople who have come ahead of them. To be truly creative, you have to learn the craft.