Former RU player tackles goldsmith venture

Chris Hallam, former scrum half for Doncaster Knights, Rotherham Titans and Worcester Warriors, launched CH Jewellery in his final playing years.

Hallam is now designing and hand-crafted jewellery full time following his retirement. The business has quickly grown, reaching £50,000 turnover in its first year.

After learning the trade for three years, Hallam is now producing custom designed items, from wedding rings to reworked antique jewellery. Much of the growth of the business has been thanks to the support of former colleagues, Hallam said.

He said: “Your first customers who then pass the name on are so key.

“[Rugby] is a close-knit network, everybody knows everybody, no matter what league.

“I’ve got friends who are playing at the highest level and they’re big supporters of it, I’m making pieces for these high-profile players. Now It’s spilled over, I’m getting emails from everybody.”

Hallam made the decision to train as a goldsmith after a discussion with his uncle, Andrew Robinson, who is also a goldsmith. After agreeing to train as an apprentice, Hallam found a passion for the work.

He said: “There was a lot of observing my uncle. He showed me technique after technique, repeating and repeating and repeating.

“You repeat a technique in a different way, then the more techniques you learn the more my design came along.”

Despite the added commitment of learning his craft around playing rugby, Hallam said the decision to become a goldsmith not only provided him with a career after he hung up his boots, but allowed him to throw himself into his last years in the game.

He said: “[Rugby] is a horrible business in terms of longevity. You could wake up in the morning, go training and have a horrendous injury, and you’re done.

“When I was training to be a goldsmith and realised I was making money out of it, I really enjoyed my rugby because I didn’t worry about what would happen if I was out. It helped as a player.”

Hallam shares a workshop, traveling to meet clients to discuss projects, with social media a key part of the business.

“My business is all online, by appointment. It keeps the overheads down, so I can pass that on to customers,” he said.

“People think, ‘bespoke, it’s going to be really expensive.’ But its really competitive to the high street and you’re getting handmade quality and your input.”

Hallam uses all precious metals and previous work ranges from simple wedding bands to a suite of jewellery incorporating realistic daffodil designs. He also repairs items and reworks jewellery into new designs.

Hallam said: “People who come to me with family heirlooms that aren’t necessarily that tasteful, that they won’t wear, it’s sat in a box, but they won’t sell, because it’s got that personal touch. That’s quite a unique service.”

Hallam plans to expand CH Jewellery but plans to also keep the personal element of his work. “It is a bespoke business, I never want to lose that,” he said.