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stablished in 866AD, The Royal Mint has struck coins of British monarchs for every 1,000 years, beginning with Alfred the Great and continuing through His Majesty King Charles III. In addition to creating the most visually secure bullion coin in the world, The Royal Mint has created commemorative coins celebrating anniversaries, achievements and people and has produced coins for several countries across the globe. Overseen by luminaries such as Sir Isaac Newton, who served as Master of the Mint from 1699-1727, it has long been considered a trusted place to store value.
The fine jewelry brand, 866 by The Royal Mint, is a natural expansion of the evolution of this storied institution.
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
The fine jewelry brand, 866 by The Royal Mint, is a natural expansion of the evolution of this storied institution. Under the purview of Creative Director, Dominic Jones, since 2022, the brand is leveraging the technology and know-how of generations of artisans, while also contributing to the ongoing employment of future generations.
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
By melding proprietary numismatic techniques with advanced skills necessary for the production of fine jewelry, as well as new innovations and techniques in recovering and repurposing precious metals, 866 by The Royal Mint is ensuring a circular economy both environmentally and socially.
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
Prior to taking on the role of Creative Director for 866 by The Royal Mint, Dominic Jones had built a reputation for creating jewelry that encapsulated the voice and energy of an era. The initial launch of his eponymous collection in 2009 was followed by an immediate cult following among celebrities and tastemakers.
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
He was the first jewelry designer to win the British Fashion Council’s NEWGEN award, an honor he received 5 times between 2010 and 2014. He later went on to consult with Thierry Mugler and Fabergé, before taking on the role of Creative Director of Astley Clarke and then Links of London.
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
Citing Alan Turing as one of his sources of inspiration, his work at 866 by The Royal Mint allows Dominic to embrace and elevate the intrinsic properties of precious metals. The brand’s Caustics, which were inspired by Sir Isaac Newton’s theories on the reflection of light, borrow from the coin-making security technique known as “caustics” that manipulates light to project a shadow of a design cast in noble metal.
Image courtesy of 866 by The Royal Mint
Struck, forged and pulled, the pieces take on an increased density, ensuring they maintain The Royal Mint’s legacy as a trusted place to store value in jewelry that is intended to be worn for a lifetime and passed down through generations.
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
The brand’s latest collection and Dominic’s third, Orrery, is named after a mechanical model of the solar system commissioned in the early 18th century and is a celebration of the marriage of art and science. The first in the collection to incorporate enamel, the Night Sky concept of Orrery features cobalt blue enamel representing the cosmos and is illustrative of the extension of the engineering techniques being utilized and honed among the brand’s artisans,
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
Image courtesy of 886 by The Royal Mint
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