Garrard: Crafting Intricate Elegance For The Saudi Cup

It was no easy task by any measure, and the woman who embraced the company’s enduring commitment to artistry and innovation was put to the test. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of heritage, Claire Scott, Design and Development Director at Garrad played a pivotal role in breathing life into the prestigious Saudi Cup Trophy.

Beyond the final flourish of polish, the Saudi Cup Trophy represents a collaboration of minds, cultures, and skills, inspiring sporting excellence and leaving a lasting legacy. It stands as a testament to the power of design to capture tradition, evoke emotions, and celebrate achievement, solidifying its place not just in the hands of champions but within the pages of history.

In this exclusive interview with Ten Furlongs Magazine, Scott delves into the design process, sharing the inspiration behind the  trophy, the intricate techniques employed, and the challenges in crafting this symbol of racing excellence.

What was your initial inspiration for the design of the Saudi Cup Trophy? Garrad collaborated with His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, chairman of the Jockey Club of Saudi Arabia (JCSA), throughout the design process. We wanted to create an exquisite accolade that acknowledges the importance of this event in the global race calendar. How did you incorporate the rich heritage and culture of Saudi Arabia into the trophy’s design? I have been lucky enough to visit Saudi and experience the country’s beauty and rich heritage and culture for myself. We chose to evoke this by weaving in pattern and colour details into the trophy’s design. The overall feeling is of tradition and
elegance, which is trophy design at its best for me.

The trophy features intricate details and craftsmanship. Can you tell us about the specific techniques and materials used? The trophy required six months of dedicated workmanship from Garrad’s team of master silversmiths.

With an unprecedented level of meticulous detail and artisanal savoir-faire, the cup is a testament to Garrad’s rich heritage of crafting precious accolades for the world’s finest sporting occasions. The silver was first annealed – an intense heat-treating process designed to strengthen the precious metal – and then spun to form the sleek silhouette of the trophy before being hand-chased with ornate detailing. The trophy is formed of many separate components, including enamelled gems.

Each component was hand-filed, engraved and assembled before the trophy entered its polishing phase – the final flourish that brings every Garrad trophy to gleaming life. All Garrad pieces carry a Garrad logo and hallmark as proof of authenticity.

What were the biggest challenges you faced during the design and creation process? A trophy on this grand scale and with such intricate detail is always a challenge to design and create, but one that we relish as it allows us to use all our ingenuity and skill.

What emotions or message did you hope to convey through the final design of the trophy? It was essential that the trophy conveyed the heritage of both Saudi Arabia and Garrad. Most importantly, it had to capture the triumph and accomplishment of the race winners. Standing at over one metre tall, the grandeur of the cup reflects both the prestige of the competition and Garrad’s exceptional silverware legacy. The Saudi Cup joins an impressive repertoire of sporting accolades crafted by Garrad during its 300-year history, among them the America’s Cup, the Royal Ascot Gold Cup, the Bahrain International Trophy and the Dubai World Cup. Each trophy remains true to the creative vision of Garrad’s founder, the master silversmith George Wickes, which is to inspire sporting excellence.

As Design and Development Director at Garrad, how do you balance tradition and innovation in your work? The wonderful thing about jewellery craftsmanship and silversmithing at Garrad is that many of the techniques are rooted in traditional skills that have remained unchanged since our founding years. Today, they are married with the latest technology, creating the perfect hybrid of timehonoured expertise and cutting-edge craftsmanship. This seamless balancing of old and new techniques, informed by our long and distinguished heritage, is a signature of every Garrad creation.

What makes Garrad stand out in the world of luxury design?
Our unrivalled heritage and an incredible team of industry-leading designers, gemmologists and craftspeople.

What advice would you give to aspiring designers who want to create meaningful and impactful pieces?
Look around you and pay attention. Whether it’s the architecture you see when you are walking down the street, the different cultures you experience when you travel or the design details of objects that surround you daily, the more I see, the
more I feel inspired. I would also recommend learning your craft inside out. The more you know about different materials and techniques, the more possibilities there are to be creative.

Finally, listening to your clients is crucial — they will tell you why the piece is important to them. The more information you can gather from them, the better you will be at translating their vision into the piece.

What future design projects at Garrad are you most excited about?
The variety of pieces we create at Garrad is what keeps it exciting. From bespoke tiaras and new jewellery collections to trophies and medals to mark prestigious occasions, there is never a dull moment! Looking ahead, how do you envision the evolution of design within the equestrian world? Founded by the renowned silversmith George Wickes, our silversmithing legacy stretches all the way back to 1735. Since then, Garrad has pioneered the concept of silverware design as we know it. In the almost 11 years that I’ve spent at Garrad, I have been fortunate to design many prestigious equestrian trophies, with each one contributing to the continuing evolution of British silverware design. Whatever
the future holds for equestrian trophy design, Garrad will remain at the forefront.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience designing the Saudi Cup Trophy that hasn’t been mentioned yet? It is always a pleasure to be involved in the creation of a striking, new piece like the Saudi Cup Trophy. To know it will continue to be presented and treasured for many years to come is a real honour for me.