Delilah Dust: An interview with jewellery designer Antonia Mackenzie

Delilah Dust was set up towards the end of 2011, with the idea of offering delicate and unique jewellery with a strong focus on gemstones and crystals. They felt that there was a gap in the market for jewellery made from semi-precious stones, which are also affordable at the same time. They wanted to ensure they used a variety of different stones so there was something for everyone, and they now source directly from the mines in South America and Australia to ensure the highest quality. 

How did you get into jewellery design?

Antonia Mackenzie: I’ve always had a love of crystals and gemstones, but I found it was tricky to find pieces that were affordable and in a variety of different stones. I began researching jewellery design and crystal properties so I could make myself some items, and before I knew it I was selling online to customers around the world!

When did you start the company?

We began selling items in December 2011, where our designs were mainly based on simple necklaces. Within a year, we had expanded to include crystals and gemstones, and they’re now the main focus of our website.

Why did you choose the name Delilah Dust?

I loved the name Delilah, as it felt so feminine and delicate, and I liked how “dust” was a contrast to this. I didn’t want to limit us to a certain style of jewellery, so this name became the perfect choice.

What materials do you use when making your jewellery?

The majority of our jewellery is silver or gold plated, to ensure the main collection stays affordable, but we also use sterling silver and 24ct gold in some pieces. As gemstones are our main focus, we use a variety of different crystals and minerals such as amethyst, agate druzies and quartz to give a delicate and understated look that still brings an edge to any outfit.

What inspires you and what inspired your latest collection?

My main inspiration comes from travelling – our jewellery is based on natural items, so I’m constantly taking images of the world around me. The ocean was a big inspiration for one of our collections. I sourced some beautiful turquoise crystal druzies that remind me of the bright blue sparkling seas around Greece and made them into necklaces, which were a hit! Many customers picked up on our inspiration behind the collection, which was great to see.

What can we expect to see from you in the future?

Lots more crystals and gemstones! We’re beginning to experiment with some new stones, to see what sort of pieces they can be made into. We’re also going to focus on some semi-precious stone rings, made from sterling silver – these will be one-off, unique pieces featuring some of our favourite stones that we’ve been saving until we decided what to make them into!

Jenny Rodgers

Clearly Delilah Dust has big plans for the future. If you want to find out more about them, head over to the website now.