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Bristol jewellery shop marks 25 years with revival of ‘Bristol necklace’
The story of Diana Porter reads like a Catherine Cookson novel, only if it were set in the sunny South rather than beneath the grey skies of Newcastle.
Fiercely independent and with a strong artistic flair shaped by a background in theatre, Diana Porter began making bespoke jewellery from her living room in 1993.
Before launching her jewellery career, she was a teacher, theatre maker and campaigner for nuclear disarmament and disability rights.
She joined the women’s peace camp at Greenham Common in 1978 and remained a passionate advocate for women’s rights.
The late Diana Porter, founder of Diana Porter Contemporary Jewellery, fashioning a “Bristol necklace”
In 1999, she was named UK Jewellery Designer of the Year, helping put Bristol firmly on the map as a centre for jewellery making alongside cities such as Birmingham.
Although Diana sadly passed away after a short illness in 2021, her legacy lives on through the shop she founded: Diana Porter Contemporary Jewellery.
The Park Street shop remains independent and employee-owned, continuing the traditions established more than a quarter of a century ago.
Among the firm’s many creations, the Bristol Sibyl pendant holds a special place.
The Park Street shop remains independent and employee-owned, continuing the traditions established more than a quarter of a century ago
To mark the jewellery shop’s 25th anniversary, the team has revived the Bristol Sibyl pendant as a tribute to its heritage.
Instantly recognisable for its distinctive design and engraved inscriptions, the pendant was inspired by Classical Greek depictions of wise women and Diana’s own commitment to feminism and equality.
Each pendant features a stylised female figure engraved with words such as “Courage”, “Love” and “Vision”.
The team said: “The Sibyl was designed with intention: to be personal and meaningful.
“Many in Bristol mark milestones and birthdays, or celebrate graduations, with the gift of a Sibyl.
“Over time, it has become a quiet badge of identity, instantly recognisable to those who know it, with customers saying they often identify a fellow Bristolian by their Sibyl necklace.”
Diana Porter Contemporary Jewellery has marked its 25th anniversary with the revival of “Bristol necklace”
Diana was a pioneer not only in jewellery making but also in sustainability, insisting on responsibly sourced precious metals long before sustainability became a corporate buzzword.
Today, the team on Park Street continues the tradition, handcrafting every design in its Bristol workshop using recycled silver and Fairtrade gold.
All designs are handcrafted at the jeweller’s base on Park Street
All photos: Diana Porter Contemporary Jewellers
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