For Ming Lampson, 25 Is a Magic Number

By Amy Elliott | October 23, 2025

Jewelry designers and brands often celebrate milestone anniversaries with important collections. Some might highlight pieces that encapsulate the different eras of the jeweler’s creative output. Others may refer back to a signature motif, expanding it to new concepts, scales, and silhouettes.

But Ming Lampson, the U.K.-based founder and designer of Ming, took a unique approach to marking her 25th year in the business.

Lampson’s anniversary collection, titled 25, explores how jewelry and gemstones tie people and places together. The 25 pieces, all one-of-a-kind, showcase the designer’s perennial inspirations: her connections to Jaipur, India, where she started her career working with local gemstone dealers and trained as a goldsmith; the treasured relationships she has with gemstone dealers all over the globe; and the vibrant streets of London’s Notting Hill neighborhood.

April2025MingPortrait — *Designer Ming Lampson founded her bespoke jewelry business in 2000 and operates an atelier in London’s Notting Hill district.*

“What I love about where I live and work in West London are the different communities and how they connect to each other and the wider world,” Lampson said in a press release. “Jewelry brings people together. It also binds us to a particular time or place. 25 is about these ties.”

Looking back on her ascent to success, Lampson tells JCK that “a big moment” was being selected by jewelry historian Vivienne Becker for the 2021 selling exhibit Woman to Woman at Phillips auction house.

“The exhibition honored 20th-century [female] designers such as Suzanne Belperron and Angela Cummings. For Vivienne to exhibit me alongside such impressive and notable names put my work on the radar of some important collectors,” says Lampson.

Ming jewels are usually available for purchase only in Lampson’s Notting Hill atelier. However, this year as part of her silver-anniversary celebrations, Lampson will have a residency at London’s Harvey Nichols department store from Nov. 14 to Dec. 24.

Ming Dahlia ring Madagascan no heat purple sapphire diamonds Montana teal sapphire purple sapphires rose gold and plati — *Dahlia ring in 18k rose gold and platinum with lilac Madagascan sapphire (no heat) at center, teal Montana and purple sapphire accents, and brilliant-cut diamonds*

“It felt important to do something different to mark the milestone, and Harvey Nichols is exploring fashion in a very interesting way, focusing on design, quality, and unique pieces,” says Lampson.

Her 25 collection is grouped by three different themes: people, places, and the past. (All prices are on request.) The People series—comprising designs that feature knots, links, twists of metal, and chains—serves as an exploration of Lampson’s ties to her gem dealer colleagues, her clients, and her team. The look and feel of these jewels are also influenced by Portobello Road, a community that Lampson has been immersed in since she moved to the area in 1992.

Round brilliant cut custom cut diamond and platinum Diamond Dangle Earrings POA — *Cascading Knot earrings in platinum with 16.78 cts. t.w. round brilliant- and custom-cut diamonds*

Ming Handcut lapis lazuli with ceramic enamel in 18ct gold Ming Jewellery — *Custom-cut lapis necklace in 18k gold with turquoise-blue ceramic links*

The Places series salutes the gardens of Notting Hill and other neighborhood landmarks, as well as the world-famous Notting Hill Carnival, a Caribbean tradition that has become a mainstay of West London.

It includes Firethorn earrings, inspired by the berries on firethorn trees that are found in West London. The earrings also carry the spirit and joy of Carnival, through the vivid orange huge of their fire opals.

Ming Cabochon Mexican Fire Opals faceted Mexican Fire Opal and Yellow Gold Firethorn Earrings POA — *Firethorn earrings in 18k gold with Mexican fire opal cabochons*

Lampson pays homage to the costumes of Carnival in a ring with details that mimic the shapes of headdress feathers, along with and flower petal and masquerade-inspired earrings, which also celebrate the beauty of Australian opals and the rarity and challenge of finding a perfect pair.

Another Places piece is the aquamarine Bridge ring (pictured at top), nicknamed “the Westway” after the elevated motorway that cuts across West London. Though it was met with protests during its construction in the ’60s, the Westway has become a London landmark and cultural hub.

Ming petal ring — *Petal ring in 18k rose gold with 4.21 ct. pink pear-shape Madagascan sapphire and rubies*

Ming Masquerade Earrings featuring Australian Opals — *Masquerade earrings in 18k red and white gold with 17 cts. t.w. matching Australian opals and blue sapphires*

25’s Past series highlights the influence of Asia on Lampson’s work, with a particular emphasis on custom-cut jade. One particularly compelling ring draws inspiration from the snuff boxes treasured by the Kangxi emperor. Topped with imperial jade, it subtly echoes ancient Chinese coins that featured a square hole within a circular body. This juxtaposition of shapes represented the harmony between heaven (circle) and earth (square), symbolizing balance and unity.

Ming ring imperial jade cabochon and baguette cut diamonds in platinum and gold — *Snuff ring in platinum and 18k gold with with imperial jade cabochon and baguette-cut diamonds*

Ultimately, says Lampson, “I want to make a jewel look as if it’s come together by magic.” And with 25, she’s clearly 100% on the money.

Top: Bridge ring, aka “the Westway,” in 18k gold and platinum with 10.82 ct. aquamarine and pink sapphires, is from the Places series within Ming’s anniversary collection 25.

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