GLENN SPIRO

The London-based artisan’s work is beloved by the A-list. Here, we take a peek inside his private world.

- Paige Reddinger

A JEWELLER FOR over four decades, Londoner Glenn Spiro has long been the go-to for in-the-know collectors looking for something a little unusual. His G by Glenn Spiro boutiques can be found in many a stylish enclave, from his by-appointment atelier in a historic mansion in Mayfair to St Barts, SaintTropez and a space at The Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, one of his favourite stateside haunts. Having grown up poor in Bethnal Green in East London, Spiro got his entree into the realm of elite gems at age 15, when he was hired as an apprentice by English Art Works, a jewellery workshop owned by Cartier. By age 22, he had opened his own atelier with a business partner 10 years his senior in Farringdon, in London. Spiro is a colourful and charming character, and his pieces—often set with rare and important stones—are designed with a modernity that eludes many other houses. It’s why celebrities such as Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Gwyneth Paltrow and the Princess of Wales are fans, collectors and, in one case at least, lifelong friends.

But beneath his laid-back demeanour lies a self-confessed perfectionist who seldom unwinds. Here, a glimpse into the world he has built around himself and the people who rock it.

What apps do you use the most?

WhatsApp, definitely, and Spotify because I love music. The third I would say is the camera. I see a shape or a chair or something I like, and I’ll take a picture. It may just help me create something.

First thing you do in the morning?

I have a bad back, so I have to stretch. I lie down with my dogs—a beautiful Lab and an English bulldog—and give them a hug. And I always ring my father, who is sick now, and wake him up.