Festive finery

With only one shopping weekend left, and the high streets rapidly descending into surreal theatres of war, chaos and Soviet-era queueing (not to mention crimes against music), any shopping that hasn’t yet been procured on Amazon ought to be directed to the safer havens of independent gallery shops. Take the Lesley Craze Gallery, which represents some of the most respected contemporary jewellery designers today, alongside an impressive collection of textiles spanning an international sphere. Nestled in the shadow of Hatton Garden, in London’s ancient jewellery quarter, the gallery’s Christmas selling exhibition is a treasure trove of material experimentation to make even the most jewellery-phobic HABs (husbands and boyfriends) go weak at the Carhartt-clad knees. For example, Jacqueline Cullen’s ring of Whitby jet will single-handedly reinvent any perceptions of Swarovski crystal being something that’s naff and worn by rich aunties only, while a twisted bangle of beech and silver by Danish (extra brownie points) designer Mette Jensen somehow resembles a sinuous, snaking coil of celluloid. An oxidised silver and bright red cotton necklace by Joanna Haywood is a plainly outrageous fashion statement, while Yoko Izawa’s rings made of stretched nylon are cheerful and clever. This is fine craft to be very impressed by – as will be your friends and family when you hand it over. And with your design sensibility, they will be expecting nothing less.

Lesley Craze Gallery’s Christmas exhibition is at 33-35a Clerkenwell Green, London EC1 until 24 December