Ariane Ernst : Cooperation with Hagerty

Ariane Ernst, a german jewellery designer, has already led a very interesting life. After a two-year training as a goldsmith at the Vienna Gold- and Silversmiths Academy and a bachelor's and master's degree in Applied Art & Design at the Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences, she first moved to New York and then to Sweden for the well-known fashion label H&M. Her own label is celebrating seven years of existence this year and her beautiful minimalist designs have become an indispensable part of the jewellery industry.

Like no other jewellery designer, she meets the zeitgeist of her generation and her jewellery reflects social issues and minimalism, which is very important to her. Ariane sets trends with her designs and has a keen sense of what will inspire the market in the next two to three years. This is probably why her customers keep coming back to her to purchase her jewellery.

As part of a cooperation with Hagerty, Ariane Ernst now also offers jewellery cleaning products for her customers. We met her for a chat and asked her a few questions.

Ariane, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us. How did the cooperation with Hagerty come about?

AE: I think the cooperation is great and I'm glad that it worked out. I contacted Hagerty. In our workshop, we use the Hagerty polishing cloths and occasionally the cleaning bath. I really wanted to bring out my own care kit for jewellery. Hagerty obviously has years of expertise. I contacted the Hagerty management and after a few meetings, the cooperation came about.

Do you have a favourite piece of jewellery that you rarely take off?

AE: I always wear jewellery. Without it, I would feel naked. I have pieces of jewellery that I wear all the time, others I take off when I get home. One thing is certain though: it doesn't work without jewellery. For the birth of my son, I created a necklace, which I wear almost always. Basically, you never see me without jewellery and I am always adding something new.

How important is it to clean jewellery regularly?

AE: We offer many customers a jewellery cleaning service in which we clean and prepare their jewellery. Ideally, I would like my jewellery to accompany my customers for a lifetime. I think that's very important and that's why we always give our customers one of our polishing cloths. Actually, I want to educate my customers to look after their jewellery. Because jewellery is something that you have to take care of so that you can enjoy it for a long time. The jewellery can be tainted by external influences such as sun cream, seawater or the like. Care is very important - because if properly looked after, the jewellery looks like new.

The pH of your own skin also plays a role. For some people, for example, a silver chain oxidizes after just one day, for others it takes years or even never. So you can't generalise how often the jewellery should be cleaned, that is as individual as the jewellery and its wearer.

How should you store your jewellery?

It is important to keep the jewellery dry. If it is exposed to high humidity, you will be able to notice it straight away.

Dear Ariane, thank you for this interesting conversation and look forward to working with you!