The jewellery designer commissioned to make jewels for the main characters for the acclaimed series and film Downton Abbey will be guest speaker at The Arts Society Isle of Man’s next lecture.

Andrew Prince will deliver his lecture, Downton to Gatsby, about the period of 1830 to 1929 at the Manx Museum, Douglas, on Tuesday, December 13.

Jewellery and fashion are often seen as two entirely separate and distinct fields of design, but this is very far from the case.

Andrew guides you through the extraordinary decades and events between 1890 to 1929, where the great couturiers collaborated with the finest of jewellers to produce jewels and clothes of outstanding quality and glittering opulence.

Andrew’s passion for jewellery began when he was a small child.

His enthusiasm can be traced back to the time when, at the age of three, he swallowed one of his mother’s pearl earrings having found her jewel box hidden from him in a cupboard.

The very first piece of jewellery he created was a ring made of copper wire pulled from the back of a television.

He presented it to his grandmother and it turned her finger green and gave her a rash.

He then created a necklace for his mother using beads taken off her wedding dress. She was not at all happy.

When he was nine, Andrew’s mother took him to the Princely Magnificence exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, in London, exhibiting Renaissance jewels dating from 1500 to 1630. It proved a revelation.

Dazzled by the splendour and opulence of the jewels on show, Andrew decided then and there that creating jewellery was what he wanted to devote his life to.

Andrew started work aged 16 in London’s Bond Street, working for The Antiques Roadshow expert Ian Harris.

He then joined the renowned and contemporary designer Elizabeth Gage and worked with her on the design and production side.

In 2002, the V&A commissioned a collection of jewels to accompany the resplendent Tiaras, Past and Present exhibition.

The exposure gained by the show led to Andrew’s jewellery appearing in film.

In 2005, he was asked to make tiaras and jewellery for Mrs Henderson Presents starring Judi Dench and in 2009 pieces were commissioned for The Young Victoria starring Emily Blunt and Miranda Richardson.

In 2012, he was chosen by the creators of Downton Abbey to supply a large collection of jewellery for the third series. The characters played by Maggie Smith, Shirley Maclaine, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery were all adorned with elegant tiaras, combs, earrings and necklaces that he designed and created.

The lecture on December 13 starts at 11.30am and audience members are asked to check in and take their seats at 11.15am.

Drinks and cakes will be served at the end of the lecture to celebrate Christmas.

Non-members wishing to attend the lecture must email Sue Creer at [email protected] before the event. They will pay a £10 entry fee, payable online or on the door.

The lecture will also be broadcast live on Zoom. Non-members can pay £5 to listen to the lecture online.

The Arts Society Isle of Man holds monthly lectures at the Manx Museum for members. Guests are welcome at any of the lectures for a £10 entry fee.

The programme can be viewed at theartssociety.org/isle-man