Gilian Packard Brutalist Ring
"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
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.
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This includes a valuation for insurance purposes, item specifics, date, and origins (where applicable)
Gemstones are tested by an accredited gemmologist (Cert GA, Gemmological Association of Great Britain)
Shipping
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Tracked and insured with signature on delivery
RM Special Delivery (UK domestic)
US Shipments
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[Last updated: September 2026]
Resizing
Ring sizing is available on most rings
£55 flat fee
Resizing takes 7-14 days
Leave a note at checkout with your desired size
Note: sizing may remove some of the patina (although we take every care to reduce this where possible)
Layaway
25% deposit taken to secure the item. The remaining balance will be settled in 90 days. You can pay installments weekly, monthly, or the full balance at the end - whatever works.
Condition
We offer detailed and accurate condition reports on each listing. These pieces are antique, vintage, or pre-loved and often over 100 years old so they're going to have lived a life. A healthy patina and the odd scuff or scrape is quite normal... it's part of their charm! Everything we present has been checked over by our jeweller and should be good for wear for many years to come (unless otherwise stated) but please remember to treat them with appropriate care and consideration for their age.
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An inscription can be added inside the band, where space allows. Add 3-6 weeks to shipping times Add a note in the cart* with your desired size and/or inscription
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