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When future generations examine evidence of Britain's long economic boom in the late 20th and early 21st century, among the more revealing items they might inspect from this extraordinary period of conspicuous celebrity-driven consumption could be a piece of jewellery by Theo Fennell.
For the designer, whose oeuvre contains everything from a £125 ($312) solid-silver lid for a millionaire's Marmite pot to a bespoke £250,000 Paraiba tourmaline ring fit for an oligarch's finger, is a man whose work has struck a chord extraordinarily in tune with the times. His witty, garish creations are loved by the rich and the famous .
However, despite posting trend-buckingly buoyant Christmas sales figures following nearly half-a-dozen years of success, Fennell stunned his admirers by announcing that he was relinquishing his post as creative director of the company that he founded 26 years ago and was standing down from its board.
The charismatic Old Etonian said that he now hopes to involve himself with design projects beyond the luxury-goods market. "Design has always been the hub of my professional life, and so it will remain," he said.
His departure at the age of 56 follows the arrival two months ago of Pamela Harper, a former executive with Burberry, Hermes and Dunhill.
It could, shareholders hope, presage a period in which Fennell's could finally achieve its long-term ambition of becoming a truly global brand.
For the man himself, a long-time critic of the City's failure to support Britain's creative industrial base, the development marks a new chapter in a life that has been passionately devoted to jewellery design.
Among his first patrons was Elton John, who discovered him in the 1980s. Not only is the singer a "fantastically good patron of young designers" says Fennell, he is also now a "great friend".
David Beckham made headlines when he bought a £40,000 millennium cross from Fennell, while Victoria is rarely seen without some item of his work. Elizabeth Hurley is both a friend and a fan, Naomi Campbell loves him, as do Elle Macpherson, Heidi Klum and Sarah Ferguson.
Ozzy Osbourne bought Sharon a Fennell diamond necklace and ring as a make-up present, while the king of bling himself, P Diddy, has been photographed sporting his baubles.
A chance interview at London silversmith Edward Barnard lit up his world. Within six months he had started his own company, established his shop in the Fulham Road and married.
Fennell has built an international name - he has concessions in all the major centres of new wealth, Dubai, Moscow and Uzbekistan among them.
He also has one of the best-stocked address books in London, though his penchant for a party was to reach its limits and nine years ago he gave up alcohol.
Now he prefers to spend time with his grown-up daughters rather than on London's cocktail party circuit.
- THE INDEPENDENT
