Featured Artist – PreeApproved

The son of an artist and an inventor, William Llewellyn Griffiths the mastermind behind Metal Couture is a self-taught manipulator of precious metals.

Born in England and raised in a creative household in New Zealand, William developed a great appreciation for the arts, history and engineering from an early age.

Griffiths’ colourful career began in his late teens, in the heart of London’s jewellery district – Hatton Garden. Establishing himself both in Europe and Australasia, he has honed his skills across the globe, working in Auckland, London and Melbourne.

Following a serious car accident in his early 30s, William spent six months in hospital, gravely ill. During this dark time, he experienced morphine-induced lucid dreams, haunted by skulls, biomorphic machines and dead animals. Profoundly affected by the experience, darker themes emerged in his work, along with the Latin philosophy of ‘Memento Mori’—translated as ‘Remember That You Will Die’.

Griffiths’ prolific output reveals a rich tapestry of historical and cultural influences, inspired by his own life experience. From gothic architecture, tattoo art and baroque ornament to the biomechanical, his bespoke creations range from delicate whispers of diamonds, daggers and swallows to massive, opulent cathedral rings, both distinctive and breathtaking to behold.

Dedicated to creating unique pieces with soul, Griffiths seeks out rare and unusual stones and materials for his work. The resulting pieces have a unique effervescence and otherworldly intensity to them – not unlike the maker himself.

William Llewellyn Griffiths

Necklace: Secret Locking Chamber Necklace, 2012

18ct yellow and rose gold, sterling silver, diamonds, silk

15 x 4 cm on a 60 cm chain

William Llewellyn Griffiths

Earrings: Luxuriant Tassel, 2017

Sterling silver, 18ct yellow gold, black diamond, ruby, black pearl.

4 x 1.25 cm

William Llewellyn Griffiths

Ring: Irrevocable Obsession, 2017

18ct yellow gold, 18ct rose gold, morganite, diamonds.

Marquise morganite measures 28mm x 12.7mm x 13mm and weight approx 20ct, 2 x brilliant cut diamonds combined weight of 1.71ct VS clarity and J/K colour, sits 20.6mm above the finger and measures 29.5mm at it’s widest point, ring size R.

William Llewellyn Griffiths

Ring: Higher Divinity, 2017

18ct yellow gold, kunzite, diamonds.

Kunzite measures 10mm, rose cut diamonds measure 4mm, diamonds in split shank measure 1.5mm, sits 19mm above the finger and measures 11.3mm at it’s widest point, ring size N1/2.

William Llewellyn Griffiths

Ring: Effervescent Temptress, 2017

18ct yellow gold, morganite.

Morganite measures 14.85 x 9.6, ring sits 18mm above the finger and is 15mm at its widest point, size L.

William Llewellyn Griffiths

Ring: Alchemist Ring, 2017

9ct yellow gold, topaz.

Y 1/2

Central topaz measures 15mm x 15mm, topaz shoulders measure 6mm, ring sits 30mm above the finger and measures 20mm at its widest point, ring size Y1/2.

William Llewellyn Griffiths

Ring: Exuberant Delicacy, 2018

18ct yellow gold, sterling silver, morganite, kunzite, rubies, black diamonds.

S 1/2

Morganite measures 15mm x 10mm, kunzite pears measure 9mm x 6mm (total 2.63ct), rubies measure 2mm, black diamonds vary from 0.015ct – 0.3ct, sits 13mm above the finger and measures 30mm at its widest point, ring size S1/2.

William Llewellyn Griffiths

Ring: Higher Divinity, 2017

18ct yellow gold, kunzite, diamonds.

N 1/2

Front view.

Kunzite measures 10mm, rose cut diamonds measure 4mm, diamonds in split shank measure 1.5mm, sits 19mm above the finger and measures 11.3mm at its widest point, ring size N1/2.