There’s something about the sound of a Merlin engine that just stops people in their tracks. It’s not just a plane; it’s a piece of our collective soul. But let’s be honest – most of us will never even get to sit in a Spitfire cockpit.
That’s essentially why we started doing this. We wanted to take that incredible history and turn it into something you can actually wear. Whether it’s a pair of cufflinks for a wedding or a ring you wear every day, it’s about carrying a piece of 1940s grit with you.
Britain's Most Iconic Fighter
The Spitfire was designed by RJ Mitchell, an engineer from Staffordshire who had the Spitfire ready by 1936, knowing full well that Nazi Germany's air power was growing and Britain needed an answer to it. Mitchell died in 1937, never seeing his aircraft in combat. When the Battle of Britain came — that desperate summer of 1940, when the Luftwaffe launched wave after wave of attacks against Britain — the Spitfire was ready. The Hurricane flew more sorties and inflicted more losses on the enemy, but the Spitfire captured the public's imagination. It became the symbol of British resistance, and it has never really let go of that status.
Over the course of the war, more than 20,000 were built across dozens of variants. The Mk IX was developed at speed in 1942 specifically because the earlier Mk V was being outclassed by the new German Focke-Wulf 190. The Mk IX could reach 409mph at 28,000 feet, climb at 4,000 feet per minute, and push its service ceiling to 43,000 feet. It gave the RAF its answer, and it went on to become the most-produced Spitfire mark of the war.
It’s Not Just "Old Metal"
The specific aircraft whose metal we work with is Spitfire Mk IX MJ170, assigned to No. 132 (City of Bombay) Squadron — a mixed RAF unit whose pilots came from across the world, including the Caribbean, Poland, Canada and New Zealand. In early 1944, the squadron joined the 2nd Tactical Air Force, carrying out fighter-bomber operations against German targets in northern France in the build-up to D-Day. 132 Squadron was the first Spitfire squadron to carry a bomb load of 1,000lbs per aircraft.
On 29 April 1944 — just five weeks before the D-Day landings — Pilot Officer Roy Bernard Pullin took MJ170 on a Ranger operation to Deelen airfield in the Netherlands. The aircraft was hit by flak, crash-landed, struck trees and burst into flames. Pullin, who was 21, did not survive the crash. He is commemorated at Apeldoorn (Ugchelen-Heidehof) General Cemetery in the Netherlands.
Working with 80-year-old aircraft metal isn't exactly easy. This duralumin is an age-hardened aluminium alloy primarily composed of aluminium, copper, magnesium, and manganese, has "lived." It’s faced high-altitude pressures and decades of history, which gives it a unique patina you just can’t replicate in modern manufacture. We pair that rugged history with hallmarked 925 sterling silver to give the material the frame it deserves. It’s a bit of a balancing act – marrying the industrial, wartime metal with the refined elegance of silver – but when it hits the light, you’ll see exactly why we bother.
More Than a Gift
Whether you’re treated yourself or buying for a history buff who’s impossible to shop for, we try to make the whole experience feel a bit special. That’s why each piece of Spitfire jewellery comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, demonstrating where that metal came from. We also include a themed Spitfire greeting card and offer proper gift wrapping. We know these are often bought for big milestones – birthdays, retirements, or even "just because" – and we want the unboxing to feel as special as the metal inside.
At the end of the day, we’re just caretakers of this metal for a little while until it reaches you. It’s a legacy you can wear, a conversation starter, and – hopefully – a piece of history you'll pass down.