Independent jewellery business Bradley’s Jewellers York formally unveiled the Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Surprise Locket and Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Objet on 2 November at a recent VIP customer event at North Yorkshire-based stately home, Castle Howard.
The new Christmas Robin Egg Surprise Locket creation is crafted in 18ct gold with a deep red outer shell adorned with diamond-set snowflakes.
Inside, a hand-painted enamel robin is perched on a branch of holly, complete with miniature berries, and cast in a golden glow thanks to guilloché engraving – a signature of Fabergé craftsmanship.
Meanwhile, the Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Objet was created in close partnership with Fabergé head of Design, Liisa Tallgren, who has brought to life Kay Bradley’s design concept.
Whilst various pre-1917 Fabergé eggs feature birds, this is the first Fabergé piece showcasing a robin.
Bradley’s is the only independent female jeweller that Fabergé has partnered with on a contemporary egg and locket with a robin encased inside.
The Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Objet stands at 12.7 cm high, showcasing a variety of “precious” materials and techniques that reflect the skills of Fabergé workmasters.
The outer shell of the Egg features golden snowflakes, some dusted with diamonds, to capture the movement of “falling snow in the wintertime”.
The Egg is perched on a fluted golden stem that is set with pearls and diamonds. The stem is attached to a carved aventurine base in a “festive” shade of green.
Bradley’s Jewellers York began collaborating with the esteemed fine jewellery house Fabergé in 2022, commencing with the Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Yorkshire Rose Egg Surprise Locket.
Since then, the Yorkshire Rose collection has expanded to include the Yorkshire Rose Egg Charm, the Yorkshire Rose Brooch with Zambian emeralds, and two pairs of Yorkshire Rose Earrings. In 2023, Bradley also unveiled the Christmas Snowflake Egg Charm with brilliant-cut diamonds and enamel in 18ct gold.
Recent highlights include a Fabergé Egg ice sculpture with a robin ornament frozen inside at the York Ice Trail in February 2024, and a Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers York afternoon tea experience at York Minster Refectory in March 2024.
Bradley said: “I was really inspired by British heritage and traditions when conceptualising this special piece. The robin has always been my favourite bird, and one has often appeared at important moments in my life as a guide or a reminder of good times to come. This Christmas Robin Egg Surprise Locket is crafted in red and gold to celebrate the first ever Fabergé egg charm I received as a gift from my parents as a girl. All these personal touches make this extraordinary creation something I will never forget.
“Keeping this secret has been difficult, but it was so worth it to see the look on my guests’ faces when they saw this limited-edition piece from the Fabergé x 007 collection. This is a work of art and an incredible piece of storytelling that taps into perhaps the most-watched movie franchise of all time. To have this egg object at Castle Howard for the launch of the Fabergé x Bradley’s Jewellers Christmas Robin Egg Surprise Locket and Christmas Robin Egg object was the icing on the cake.”
