For anyone familiar with the Shetland Jewellery team, you’ll know we’re huge fans of all things Up Helly Aa and Fire Festival related. Who wouldn’t love a bit of filskit fun to brighten up the darkest months of winter with literal fire?
If you’re new to Up Helly Aa, you can learn all about it on the Promote Shetland website here: https://www.shetland.org/visit/do/up-helly-aa-fire-festivals.
Over the years, we’ve been privileged to contribute to some very special Jarl squads by creating their unique squad jewellery. Our work has included not just the Lerwick squads but also many country squads.
The Role of Jewellery in Up Helly Aa
Jewellery for Up Helly Aa serves several special purposes. It can be worn as part of the suit on the day or kept as a lasting memento of the squad’s special occasion. At Shetland Jewellery, we ensure that these pieces remain exclusive to squad members, their friends, and families.
When you choose us to design your jewellery, the process begins with a discussion about your squad suits and overall designs. We’ll chat about how you envision the suits coming together, any themes running through them, and elements or colours that hold significance for your squad. From there, we use our expertise to visualise how these details can translate into your unique jewellery pieces.
The Design Process
As with all bespoke creations, we start by sketching designs on paper until we finalize ideas you love. Next, we create samples in silver for you to review. The designs can range from literal interpretations, like shields and axes, to more subtle, contemporary takes on details from your suits. Once the designs are approved, we create the jewellery using the lost wax process.
This entire process is completely free for the squad. Members and their families can then order as many or as few pieces as they like. We keep the process as smooth and straightforward as possible, knowing how much there is to organize for a Jarl squad. Your jewellery will be completed, inspected, and delivered in time for squad photos.
Flexible and Lasting Options
Even after your jewellery has been made, you can place additional orders at any time. We keep the moulds forever, so whether it’s for Up Helly Aa or later, the option is always available. We can cast jewellery in gold, silver, or platinum and even add precious stones or enamel to create truly unique pieces.
It’s an enjoyable and rewarding process to create heirloom-quality jewellery that represents such a special day for everyone in the squad.
Get in Touch
If you’re interested in squad jewellery or even a bespoke piece created in the same way, feel free to message us and get in touch; info@shetlandjewellery.co.uk
Jarl squad jewellery can be started at any time before your year—usually around the time of the bunker handover.
For other bespoke jewellery pieces, the process typically takes 3–4 weeks.
