London Oak Collection
Sink into British history with our exclusive London Oak Collection. This unique material is part of the only wooden Roman docks built in London when the Romans first arrived in 63 AD. It has been preserved in the iconic river Thames for thousands of years before being excavated at the turn of the millennium. It is tactile, lustrous and rare. This oak is now as precious as the diamonds and gemstones we use. Through cutting-edge technology combined with traditional craft and skill, we have transformed this ancient oak into our exclusive London Oak Collection.
2000 Years in the making
For 2000 years, as the importance of Kings, Queens, and Empires faded into distant memory, the ever changing waters of the Thames washed over the timbers, sealing and preserving them. The wood remained in remarkable condition, just waiting. This beautiful material is now in our workshops, waiting to be turned into luxurious pieces of tactile, wearable, historic jewellery.
186 BC - 63 AD
The Oak's Chronology
186 BC The oak trees used for the port start to grow.
89 BC Rebuilding of the Great Temple at Jerusalem.
54 BC Caesar invades for the second time, crossing Kent to arrive at the point where London is to grow and evolve.
1 AD The Christian era begins.
60 AD Boudicca’s rising. London is burnt to the ground.
63 AD
The Oak's Chronology
63 AD Legend that Joseph of Arimethea comes to Britain. Possible beginning of the spread of Christianity in secret.
63 AD Dock facilities rebuilt using the oak that is now about 200 years old. The trees were felled in the spring or winter of this year, then squared into baulks by a technique known as “notch and chop”. The roughly squared faces were then dressed with adzes. This work was carried out before the baulks arrived on site. All that remained to be done was to measure and cut the lap joints during assembly.
407 AD - 1996
The Oak's Chronology
407 AD Romans withdraw from Britain. London becomes deserted, the Roman buildings fall into ruin, with evidence of people camping in the rubble.
The Roman port facilities become buried until their discovery in 1994-1996.
1996-Present Day
The Oak's Chronology
The ancient Roman oak was raised from its resting place in the Thames and dried. Stephen Einhorn, always curious and watchful for new materials and unique opportunities, acquired it and set about turning it into the luxury jewellery available to you today.
New London Oak River Signet Collection
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