Annoushka Ducas

Annoushka’s story has a strong Russian heritage; her mother was Russian and as a young girl she was cared for by a Russian nanny. Her strong sentimental attachment to Moscow and the Russian influence on her taste and style, have given her jewellery a very unique flavour, inspired by Russian fable and fairytale, tinged with Russian colours and opulence.

After studying at the Sorbonne in Paris in the 1980s, Annoushka embarked on the first of many extensive world travels, stopping to spend time in Hong Kong, where she first began to design jewellery. After returning to the UK, in 1990, together with her husband, John Ayton, Annoushka founded Links of London, one of the great success stories of the 90s and the new millennium, a pioneering venture that spearheaded the democratisation of luxury and design in jewellery and silver.

During the 1990s, Annoushka’s work was widely recognised and rewarded with various awards and accolades; amongst others she was winner of several prestigious jewellery industry awards, including Jewellery Designer of the Year, Gift Designer of the Year, Brand of the Year (twice), and she was short-listed for the Veuve Cliquot Businesswoman of the Year.

Annoushka has taken an active role in searching out and nurturing young creative talent, instigating and overseeing a very successful annual jewellery design project with students at Central St. Martin’s College of Art and Design. She is also actively involved in a mentoring program with the Royal College of Art. Known for her endless energy and enthusiasm, Annoushka is indefatigable in her pursuit of endless creativity, her exploration of new ideas, and in her mission for opening up and sharing a new world of gems and jewels.