Shaun Leane Launches Commission-Only Atelier 12, Creating 12 Pieces a Year

Jewellery designer Shaun Leane has launched a new commission-only atelier named 12, which will produce only twelve pieces annually. This marks a deliberate shift from his previous practice towards a slower, more considered approach to luxury. Leane began his career 44 years ago as an apprentice in Hatton Garden, alongside Lee Alexander McQueen, who was then a tailor on Savile Row. His bold creations for McQueen defined a career blending avant-garde aesthetics with craftsmanship. In 2019, Leane started spending more time in rural Ireland, and in 2024 he left his flagship boutique in Mayfair. The new atelier reflects his belief that luxury is about rarity—not just of materials but of time and attention. The first commission for 12 is a personal objet d'art: a stone headstone commemorating his late father, adorned with flora and fauna and accompanied by a bronze cat. Other works include a couture sterling silver collar commissioned by Daphne Guinness, uniting heritage techniques and rare materials. Leane emphasizes that 12 represents a return to his roots, creating works with the highest levels of craft and passion, intended to become future heirlooms.