Stalwarts of the British jewellery industry, jewellery designer Annoushka Ducas and her husband, luxury entrepreneur John Ayton founded the fine jewellery company, Annoushka in 2009. Annoushka, is the Creative Director of this directional fine jeweller- which showcases her designs as well as those of a small number of carefully curated guest designers at the Annoushka boutique in Cadogan Gardens and concessions in Selfridges, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Liberty and Brown Thomas and online at www.annoushka.com. They are soon to be opening their second stand
alone boutique at No.1 South Molton Street in July 2012. Annoushka has celebrity fans that include Gwyneth Paltrow, Rihanna, Jennifer Lope z, and Joley Richardson.
Previously Annoushka and John were best known for having co-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, and a business they grew into a global luxury brand with sales of over £50m, before selling it to Follie Follie in 2006.They left the company the following year.
Both are tirelessly committed to nurturing talent and their work in the luxury industry goes far beyond Annoushka and Links of London. After leaving Links of London, John invested in a new-start up business, Bremont Watch Company alongside Nick & Giles English, later becoming Chairman of the company. In four years Bremont has become an&n bsp;established player in the luxury watch industry, recently expanding into the United States and Asia. John is also director of Walpole, the organization aimed at serving and promoting British luxury brands, and founder of Walpole Brands of Tomorrow, mentoring and supporting the best of emerging British talent in the luxury sector over the last five years. John and Annoushka were also seed investors in Boticca.com which offers a marketplace to young and upcoming jewellery and accessories designers. Likewise Annoushka has always taken an active role in searching out and nurturing creative talent, instigating and overseeing a very successful annual jewellery design project with students at Central St. Martin’ s College of Art and Design and more recently with her Art at Annoushka initiative which has seen Annoushka collaborate with creative forces at the forefront of the contemporary art scene, including artists such as Manuela Zervudachi, Bouke de Vries and Rosie Emerson.
Annoushka and John live with their four children, Marina, Oliver, Chloe and Oscar in West Sussex.
