JH Breakell and Company has been through a lot in over thirty years of business, but in the mid-1990s we came up against our biggest challenge--one that forced us to make some fundamental changes. My eyesight started to degenerate due to a genetic condition known simply as
PXE (short for pseudoxanthoma elasticum). Over time PXE causes your vision, especially close-up vision, to deteriorate to the point where you literally cannot see what is in front of you, only what is to the side or periphery!
Naturally I could no longer work directly at my craft, much less drive a car or read a book. But you know vision loss did have some funny benefits, despite the grief I felt. I spent more time organizing the way we ran the business end of JH Breakell. I ensured that our silversmiths learned as much as possible because I could no longer “do it all” anymore. Finally, my wife Joan, who was also my business partner, was able to (well, had to) jump into the creative end of things in ways she never dreamed (see Joan's previous blog post
“Put me in, Coach”).
So as my fine vision wound down, I gradually moved from chief designer, model maker and master craftsman to business manager and CEO of JH Breakell & Co. My time was no longer divided and I could focus on building the business. The last piece I designed and made from scratch--I took it from a pencil sketch to ready-to-wear jewelry--was the
Downwind Pin. It’s still in the line and going strong. While I'm not able to create sketches and models myself anymore, I still work closely with Joan and the rest of the team to come up with new design ideas. So we continue to create pieces in the distinctive style JH Breakell has been developing since 1972. And in my new role, I've been able to move the company forward with new tools like the website (and this blog).
Sometimes change can be cataclysmic and positive at the same time.
