In the Trade - Part 2: An interview with Andrew Berry - At The Bench
This is the 2nd part of our double interview with the Berry's, following our In The Trade spotlight on Louise last month. For this edition, we meet Andrew Berry, the other half of this dynamic duo & a much respected professional goldsmith, bench jeweller, influencer and soon to be author.
Andrew Berry is the founder of Andrew Berry Jewellery - the independent jewellery business based in South Wales, and a well-known face on the popular website At The Bench, where along with wife Louise, he presents workshops for members of the online jewellery training platform.
Who, what, where, how long?
I am a goldsmith and influencer, based in the South Wales Valleys and have been practicing my trade for the past 39 years. Along with my lovely wife Louise, we run a retail store and workshop, as well as our online jewellery training website, At The Bench. My latest accomplishment is being commissioned to write a book on Jewellery Repairs, which has been a labour of love over the past year and is due for release in March 2026.
How you started, your route into the trade
I always knew that I wanted to be creative from a very young age, but never knew what I wanted to be. Whilst at university, I was influenced by the lecturers, one of which was a silversmith and jeweller. When I left university with a degree in Three Dimensional Design, I started my business in my parents' garage, borrowing my mother's car to take a trip to Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter to buy a rolling mill and polishing motor with a £1000 overdraft.
A few months later, through a colleague whom I met at university, I moved into a room over an estate agents in a South Wales valleys town, followed by a move into an empty shop a few months later. The business grew from there, organically over the years.
I have experience in most aspects of the trade, from carrying out trade repairs, designing and casting my own couple of ranges of jewellery with agents selling around the country, repairs and also commissions, to name a few. Throughout this time, I have enjoyed collecting tools and have always had an interest in tools and jewellery making techniques.
Any qualifications?
I have my degree in Three Dimensional design and really that’s all. I feel that my experience in the trade and knowledge are my qualifications.
What does your work entail?
My work is varied and changes every single day. Managing our retail shop and workshop takes up a large part of my time, as well as running At The Bench. I undertake the repairs and commissions for the shop, but I do try to stay out of ordering stock for the shop, as my taste is rarely what the customer wants!
Last year we launched our new jewellery online diploma, Jewellery Fundamentals. We only take on a set number of students because we want to give them the best online training experience possible. This year we have taken on a couple of students who are apprentices on our diploma. We are hearing, in the trade, that bench jewellers want to take on apprentices but do not have the time to train them. This is where our diploma works so well with structured video lessons, handouts and Zoom calls.
Over the years I have even made jewellery for celebrities including, back in 2001, a ring for Jamie Oliver. It said 'Pukka' because that is what he often used to say at the time!
Favourite task
Getting a new tool to play with and through that understanding its uses and limitations. Another favourite is filming videos on the tools to let other jewellers know all about it.
Least favourite task
Paperwork. Right from the very beginning I have always invested in an accountant. They have all our paperwork and carry out the accounts for us, dealing with pay roll and taxes. If I had to undertake all of that I would have no time to be creative.
Thoughts for dream client
As Louise mentioned in her interview last month it has to be our students and members of At The Bench. Attending trade shows means we get out of the workshop and meet people. We hear such wonderful stories about how At The Bench has helped them in so many ways. If we didn’t get out and travel to these shows around the world, we would never know the impact we have made.
Favourite Walsh Product
Definitely the Menzerna range of polish.
Much of my time is taken over by polishing. I always used to use the standard Tripoli and Radio Rouge, but since trying out the Menzerna range, I now almost always use this brand, as I feel it gives a better finish in a shorter time.
Andrew & Louise are fresh from a successful 2 days at the Jewellery Show (London Olympia), where they, along with other industry expects, joined HS Walsh at our stand to meet with visitors and put on excellent demonstrations. They are also exhibiting at the 'Get Stoned' gem fair in Bristol tomorrow.
Many thanks to Andrew for being this month's 'In the Trade' and all the very best for your upcoming book launch early in Spring. To find out more as well as keep up to date on Andrew's work, click below:
Meet the hs team
September's news features Rob...
Name, function, time with company
Rob Swale
Import/Export Manager
26 years
Favourite food
Chinese - Roast duck & smoked shredded chicken
Interests & hobbies
Watching football, cricket & Formula 1 racing.
Favourite Walsh product
Selvyt polishing cloths: Cloth Selvyt SR Size "B" 355mm x 355mm - HP1222
Stock it, Sell it, Selvyt, Profit.
Words to live by
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you".
