His hands are decorated with silver, gleaming in the light as they move back and forth guiding the old blade of the small saw through a piece of cuttlefish. It’s a traditional silver casting technique, he explains, that his father and his grandfather passed down to him. His family emigrated from China as fishermen many years ago.

Now his family’s connection to the sea has evolved, using remnants of sea life to support the unique casting techniques he teaches students in his workshops.
After studying metal design at university, Best started his own business in jewellery making. He named it Chey, a modern twist on a Thai word which means ancient or old. It’s a fitting name for the designs he creates which are robust and elegant, forged using techniques which celebrate his family’s cultural heritage. The designs have a weight and solidity to them that remind you of their presence on your hand.
Once Best has cut the cuttlefish in half to create the mould, he pushes the template piece into the soft shell leaving a perfect imprint. He cuts a small channel to pour the smelted silver into and then ties the two halves of the shell together with silver wire, incorporating the material into the whole process. In a concrete cylinder bowl he heats a random assortment of silver to molten until it is liquid enough to pour into the mould. It smells like barbequed seafood as it burns its way through the shell, releasing a cloud of smoke and inspiring appetites. Just as quickly as Best has poured it into the mould he is opening it up, the silver already cooled to form a solid ring.
