The Hinton Family of Adelaide Jewellers now spans five generations, being one of the oldest established jewellery names in Adelaide.
Shane Hinton is the fourth generation and is a specialist Manufacturing Jeweller and Hand Chisel Engraver. His legacy began, as he’s been told, in 1864 when his Great Grandmother (having been widowed with 5 children to feed) started buying and selling jewellery to make ends meet. The Hinton Family jewellery name continued through her sons, who traded as Retail Jewellers, Hinton Bros. in the early 1900s, then Hinton & Son, spanning two generations through to 1987.
Shane’s appreciation of fine jewellery craftsmanship began in the early 1970s, and he still remembers as a treat his father, Roy, allowing him to comb through the drawers of his father’s old John Tann safe in Hinton & Son’s shop in Gawler Place. Roy’s family had brought the safe out from England in the late 1800s and consequently, Shane had generations of jewellery at his fingertips to study, which fuelled his fascination and frustration of wondering how the beautiful ornate pieces were created.
Shane’s fascination soon became a passion and he practised for countless hours on end, gleaning what he could from more experienced hand engravers and manufacturing jewellers. Shane was the first in the Hinton Family of jewellers to venture from Retail Jewellery to become a Manufacturing Jeweller and Hand Chisel Engraver.
Being largely self-taught and perhaps a young jeweller for his 40+ years of experience, he has channelled his now vast experience into a contemporary form, capturing the old with the new in his exclusive range of hand chisel engraved jewellery – The Initially Collection. His trademarked name, “Initially” cleverly captures the century-old craft of hand engraving into a form that in itself can become multi-generational. The Initially Bangle for instance, can tell a whole life story depending on what is chosen to be symbolised on each disc.
Shane continues the Hinton Family name of Jewellers from Balhannah in the Adelaide Hills, trading as Hinton Jewellers. He now apprentices his son, Drew, who is the fifth generation of Hinton Family Jewellers.
Being established in Balhannah since 2003, and in the Adelaide Hills since 1991, he is pleased to present his Initially Collection exclusively from this location.
Surrounded by beautiful wineries and artisan businesses, it seems appropriate that the Hinton Family name leaves its footprint here.
Make an appointment to meet with Shane and have your own piece of The Initially Collection designed and made by him.
Or contact Shane for more information.