This summer, British designer Hannah Martin takes centre stage at Sotheby’s Salon in Mayfair, where her work will be showcased until 5 September. Known for her sculptural forms, rebellious character and pieces that seem to carry their own pulse, Martin brings a vivid, unapologetic energy to one of London’s most distinguished cultural spaces.
Her jewellery is not made to quietly decorate. It is designed to command attention, to spark conversation, and to be worn as a statement of self. Influences come from all directions; the clean, balanced lines of Constantin Brâncuși, the playful surrealism of Man Ray, and the bold, erotic imagery of Tom of Finland. These references are not simply aesthetic choices but part of a deeper narrative of emotion, self-expression and transformation.
Martin’s path to this moment was anything but conventional. At Central Saint Martins, she immersed herself in the creative pulse of the college, exploring its wealth of artistic and musical influences. After graduating, she moved to Paris to apprentice in Cartier’s ateliers on Place Vendôme. This was a formative period, not only refining her technical skill but also shaping her understanding of high jewellery traditions. Winning the Cartier Award opened doors to commissions for Louis Vuitton and Chaumet, where she worked on complete high jewellery collections for legacy brands with global recognition.
In 2006, Martin returned to London to found her own brand. It was a decisive step that allowed her to push boundaries in design, in storytelling, and in the very concept of what luxury jewellery could mean.
Rethinking Luxury
From her debut collection in 2005, Martin’s work has challenged the traditional divisions of the jewellery world. She questioned why jewellery should be so sharply divided along gender lines, and instead created pieces that are bold, androgynous and sculptural, designed for anyone to wear. This approach places her firmly within a growing movement that prizes individuality and self-expression over convention.
Her philosophy is underpinned by a belief in the importance of creativity as a human necessity. “Although luxury jewellery isn’t about to save the world,” she explains, “creative output in any form is essential to our survival as humans.” She describes her designs as “oozing with life… real, human, messy and beautiful and full of life.”
The Summer Showcase
The Sotheby’s Salon display offers a rare opportunity to see a cross-section of Martin’s most striking work in one place.
Among the highlights is A Vanitas, her collaboration with Guy Berryman, bassist of Coldplay and founder of the fashion label Applied Art Forms. Inspired by 17th-century Dutch Vanitas paintings, the collection takes symbols of mortality and transience and reimagines them for the present day. Razorblade motifs and hand-carved pearl skulls speak to fragility and impermanence, but with a sense of strength in their design.
Also featured is The Perfect Drug, Martin’s tenth collection, created as a direct response to the overstimulation of the digital era. These pieces revel in physical presence and emotional honesty, embracing both pleasure and pain. They are not jewels for decoration alone – they are tactile, intimate objects that invite the wearer to connect with their own story.
The showcase also includes the Ring of Fire from White Heat, rich emerald-set designs from Delirium, and pieces from Somebody’s Sins, Aguila Dorada and It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll. Each collection has its own distinct voice, yet all carry Martin’s unmistakable touch. The golden shackle bangle from Aguila Dorada, for example, hints at restraint but is, in Martin’s words, “a bid for freedom.”
The Artist’s Voice
What makes Martin’s work resonate is the way it bridges craftsmanship with narrative. Every curve, cut and setting is executed with the precision of high jewellery, but the intention goes far beyond technical mastery. These are pieces created to evoke emotion, to challenge the wearer, and to spark reflection.
Her collections often read like chapters in a book, each one exploring a theme or mood in depth. From the intoxicating charge of It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll to the dreamlike tension of Delirium, her designs invite the wearer to step into a distinct creative world.
Martin’s celebrity following includes figures as varied as Cara Delevingne, Erin O’Connor, Zaha Hadid, Madonna and Rihanna. Their embrace of her work speaks to its versatility. These are jewels that work as comfortably on a stage or red carpet as they do in the private moments of everyday life.
Beyond Jewellery
Martin’s creativity does not stop at her own collections. She has collaborated across disciplines, designing medals for the London Design Festival, creating cocktail sets for Grey Goose Vodka and working with Hendrick’s Gin on hand-blown glass hip flasks. These projects highlight her instinct for storytelling through objects, whether worn on the body or used in the rituals of daily life.
She approaches each collaboration with the same principles that guide her jewellery: individuality, integrity and a refusal to compromise on authenticity. The result is work that always feels personal and distinctive, no matter the medium.
Why She Belongs at Sotheby’s
The pairing of Hannah Martin with Sotheby’s Salon feels natural. Both are rooted in tradition yet willing to explore new ground. Both value artistry, detail and the power of the object to inspire connection. By presenting Martin’s work in this setting, Sotheby’s is offering visitors not just the chance to view and acquire her pieces, but to experience them within the broader context of art, design and cultural history.
Her jewellery, when seen alongside Sotheby’s own heritage of exceptional craftsmanship and storytelling, takes on another dimension. It becomes part of a larger dialogue about value, meaning and the enduring human urge to create.
The Experience
For those visiting Mayfair this summer, the Hannah Martin showcase at Sotheby’s Salon is an opportunity to engage with jewellery in a way that feels personal and alive. These are not static display pieces, they are meant to be worn, touched and experienced. Each carries the mark of its maker, a story etched into metal and stone, waiting to be continued by its next custodian.
In a world where perfection is often prized above all else, Martin’s work offers something richer: an embrace of imperfection, individuality and emotional truth. It is jewellery that does not just sit on the surface, but works its way in, becoming part of the wearer’s own narrative.
