Stage 1 | Making miniature photos
Ollie begins by creating a miniature version of your photo, measuring just 2mm square, on specially sourced photographic film. To ensure the very best results, Ollie takes the precaution of making several copies of every photo. These are then sent to a specialist lab for processing.
Stage 2 | Assembling the Stanhopes
When the miniature photos are returned from the lab, Ollie selects the 4 best ones for each order. Each of these is attached to the base of a lens to create a batch of 4 Stanhopes. This requires absolute precision. Lenses and photos must be meticulously cleaned before assembly – even the tiniest particle of dust could obscure the photo when magnified.
The special adhesives used now need to be left to dry or ‘cure’. Newly assembled Stanhopes are stored at a constant low temperature for up to 12 days. Each must be fully cured before it can be mounted inside a piece of jewellery.
Stage 3 | Mounting the Stanhope
The final step unites Stanhope with jewellery. Ollie carefully selects the best Stanhope from the batch before mounting it inside the customer’s chosen pendant and fitting the chain. The jewellery is now ready for delivery.
To see how our jewellery is made, click here.
Preparing the miniature photos for attaching
Attaching a miniature photo to a lens
Fitting a Stanhope into one of our Original pendants
Making our Stanhopes
A Stanhope is an optical lens with a transparent miniature photo attached. They are made in our Cambridge workshop by our maker, Ollie. Here’s an overview of the processes involved.
Ollie at work preparing a batch of Stanhopes
Stage 1 | Making miniature photos
Ollie begins by creating a miniature version of your photo, measuring just 2mm square, on specially sourced photographic film. To ensure the very best results, Ollie takes the precaution of making several copies of every photo. These are then sent to a specialist lab for processing.
Preparing the miniature photos for attaching
Stage 2 | Assembling the Stanhopes
When the miniature photos are returned from the lab, Ollie selects the 4 best ones for each order. Each of these is attached to the base of a lens to create a batch of 4 Stanhopes. This requires absolute precision. Lenses and photos must be meticulously cleaned before assembly – even the tiniest particle of dust could obscure the photo when magnified.
Attaching a miniature photo to a lens
The special adhesives used now need to be left to dry or ‘cure’. Newly assembled Stanhopes are stored at a constant low temperature for up to 12 days. Each must be fully cured before it can be mounted inside a piece of jewellery.
Stage 3 | Mounting the Stanhope
The final step unites Stanhope with jewellery. Ollie carefully selects the best Stanhope from the batch before mounting it inside the customer’s chosen pendant and fitting the chain. The jewellery is now ready for delivery.
Fitting s Stanhope into one of our Original pendants
To see how our jewellery is made, click here.
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