Sophie Whitelaw has built a distinctive name in London’s fine jewellery world through gemmology, design and personal service. As the founder and creative director of her Hatton Garden brand, she creates bespoke engagement rings and fine jewellery with a modern character. Her work connects traditional craft with the way couples choose jewellery today. Behind the business is a career shaped by art history, fashion public relations, specialist training and a strong interest in stones with individual character.
Who Is Sophie Whitelaw?
Sophie Whitelaw is a British gemmologist, jewellery designer and entrepreneur based in London. She founded her business in 2022, first trading as Whitelaw Gold, before the brand developed under her own name. It focuses on made-to-order engagement rings, wedding bands and everyday fine jewellery. Each piece reflects the wearer’s taste, lifestyle and personal story.
Her studio is based in Hatton Garden, the historic centre of London’s jewellery trade. Working close to skilled workshops allows her to guide a piece from the first idea to the final polish. She helps clients choose a stone, shape, setting and metal through a personal, straightforward design experience.
Sophie Whitelaw’s Early Education
Before entering the jewellery trade, she attended Fettes College in Edinburgh from 2010 to 2014. She then studied Art History at the University of St Andrews from 2014 to 2018, graduating with an MA Hons and an Upper Second-Class degree. This gave her a strong grounding in visual culture, style and historical objects.
University Experience at St Andrews
Her time at St Andrews introduced her to event work and communications. She served as a Director’s Assistant for the St Andrews Charity Fashion Show before becoming its Head of PR. These roles developed her skills in organisation, promotion and creative presentation.
Gemmology Training and Early Career
Sophie Whitelaw’s move into jewellery was supported by specialist education. In 2018, she studied Basic Gemmology with Contemporary Diamond Jewellery Design at HRD Antwerp. She later completed the Graduate Gemmologist programme at the Gemological Institute of America in 2021. Her training in Antwerp and New York deepened her knowledge of diamonds and coloured stones.
Her early work history covered many sides of the luxury and creative industries. She completed an internship with Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh and gained experience with Annoushka in e-commerce, press and merchandising. She also worked in public relations at Michael Kors, communications at AccorHotels in Singapore and as an intern at Boodles. These placements taught her about product presentation, client service, brand identity and jewellery business.
Experience at Annoushka
Her most substantial early role was at Annoushka, where she worked as a PR Assistant and later as a PR Coordinator from 2019 to 2021. This gave her direct experience of launches, media relations, customer expectations and luxury communication. It also showed her how a jewellery house can balance creativity with commercial discipline.
The Creation of Whitelaw Gold
In May 2022, she became Founder and Creative Director of her own company. The business began as Whitelaw Gold after she returned from New York and started designing pieces for clients. Early commissions grew through recommendations from friends, family and couples seeking rings with a personal touch.
The company later adopted the name Sophie Whitelaw. Companies House records show that Sophie Whitelaw Ltd was incorporated on 10 April 2024 and remains active in jewellery manufacture. She is the company’s director and controlling owner. The business remains closely connected to her creative vision.
The Jewellery Brand Today
The brand creates bespoke engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and signet rings. Its collections include made-to-order pieces and ready-to-ship staples. The Coastal Collection draws on Scottish places and memories, with designs named after Ballater, Kildonan, Tobermory, St Monans, Aviemore and St Andrews.
Many designs use yellow gold or white gold, diamonds and coloured sapphires. The range includes simple everyday pieces as well as bold bracelets and necklaces. Prices reflect the stones, metal, setting and handcraft involved.
She also offers aftercare, repairs and cleaning guidance, helping clients protect their jewellery long after purchase. This lifetime-minded service strengthens the trust at the heart of her business today.
Sophie Whitelaw’s Design Style
Her design style is refined, wearable and quietly distinctive. She favours clean lines, balanced proportions and details that grow more noticeable over time. Rather than making jewellery for one occasion, she aims to create pieces that remain useful for many years.
Diamonds remain important to her work, but she also encourages clients to consider colour. She values green, yellow, pink and blue sapphires, along with softer shades that offer a different mood from the traditional deep blue stone. Unusual cuts and natural features can make a stone feel truly individual.
Favourite Cuts and Settings
Her own engagement ring helped shape one of the brand’s best-known designs. The Arran ring combines an emerald-cut diamond with baguette diamonds at the sides. She also favours Asscher-cut diamonds, with their strong geometric lines, and elongated cushion cuts, which feel romantic, slightly antique and less predictable than a standard oval.
Her approach to pavé settings is equally detailed. French pavé, sometimes called fishtail pavé, creates a fine pattern beside the stones and adds sparkle from different angles. This hand-finished detail shows how small choices can transform a piece.
Husband and Personal Life
Sophie Whitelaw is married to Mikkel Andreasen. The couple first knew each other at the University of St Andrews, but their relationship developed after they reconnected. During the Covid period, they became pen pals while living in different countries. Sophie was in New York studying gemmology, while Mikkel was in Oslo. They eventually met in Rome.
Mikkel proposed in September 2023 using a ring connected to Sophie’s own jewellery work. A friend had commissioned a placeholder ring without revealing the real plan. The couple held a civil ceremony in Oslo in May 2024, then celebrated with a larger Scottish wedding in Braemar, including the Mar Lodge Estate.
Sophie Whitelaw’s Age and Public Work
Companies House records give her birth month as April 1996, making her 30 years old in August 2026. The record does not provide a full day of birth. Her work has received attention from wedding, fashion and lifestyle platforms including The Lane, ALIGNE and SheerLuxe. She has also worked with Jimmy Choo, Chloé Fragrances, Nyetimber and ALIGNE through creative partnerships.
Beyond business, she shares ideas about diamonds, coloured stones, engagement traditions, wedding planning and personal style. Her public presence combines expert knowledge with a relaxed approach that makes luxury jewellery feel more accessible.
The Future of Sophie Whitelaw’s Brand
Sophie Whitelaw’s career shows how specialist training and creative confidence can support an independent luxury business. Art history shapes her visual judgement, gemmology supports her knowledge of stones and public relations taught her how to communicate a brand. Life as a designer also helps her understand what clients want to wear daily.
As the business grows, its central idea remains clear: jewellery should carry meaning without losing practicality. By combining London craftsmanship, personal design and gemmology, she has created a brand with its own identity. Thoughtful design remains at the centre of its engagement ring experience.
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