Page 7 - issue03.05.2019
P. 7
Royal Air Force News Friday, May 3, 2019 P7
News
Cuff love
Iconic pink Gulf War
Tonka melted down to
make gent’s jewellery
Simon Mander “She commented how hard it “We struck on the idea of
was to buy gifts for a man,” Mr Lock producing our launch product GULF WAR WARRIOR: Tornado’s pink
ENTERPRISING ENGINEERS said. around the iconic Tornado jet, colour scheme was hard to spot in desert
are turning iconic RAF jets into “Outside of whisky and since it was being withdrawn from landscape, inset left, RAF man Mercer
gents’ jewellery. aftershave, it’s tricky to find service and I had family links to
And their latest offering marks something truly unique that appeals the Air Force – my brother was a
the withdrawal of the Tornado to men. I’d seen the concept of re- navigator on Tornados in the RAF
from service in March and uses casting items before but reasoned – as did John,” Lock said.
aluminium from the bomber to I could do something with a more The pair managed to source
make cufflinks. contemporary feel. enough aluminium from the
The limited edition bling is the “I wanted to blend the best of famous GR4 ZG750 Tornado to
brainchild of Sqn Ldr John Mercer high technology with the make a limited series of cufflinks.
and his blind business partner former skills of jewellers and The plane was nicknamed ‘Pinky’
Royal navy engineer Alan Lock. other craftsmen that by enthusiasts, due to her desert
Lock said: “Having been trained have been passed camouflage applied to mark the
as an engineer, it was so frustrating down the ages.” GR variant’s 25 years on operations
not to be able to practise my As Lock, whose beginning with Operation Desert
profession. military career was Storm in the 1991 Gulf War. with the necessary provenance, but launch in late November.
“However, starting this enterprise cut shot by a rare eye “It’s actually much harder and the nuances of moulding an end Lock added: “Although Icarus
has enabled me to recapture the condition, developed more expensive to work with product at a high quality can be Originals has started in the sphere
passion for engineering and design, his plan, he teamed reclaimed metals than it is to very challenging. of military aviation, it is our desire
albeit on a slightly smaller scale.” up with another produce in sterling silver,” “However, we are determined develop a range of premium cufflinks
It was a chat with his wife that engineer, Sqn says Alan. to develop products that were and other gifts that celebrate the best
sparked the idea for his business Ldr Mercer, “Not only are inherently special, so it is a challenge of design and engineering from the
of sourcing metal from iconic who eventually you faced with we were willing to undertake,” Mr UK and beyond.
machines and re-casting it into became his the challenge Lock said. “To that end, we have products
cufflinks and other precision- cofounder in of legitimately Sales of the Pink Link have in development for civil aviation,
designed gifts. Icarus Originals. sourcing material surpassed their hopes since their rail and motorsport.”
Power rangers weigh
in at Cosford l Sport
p27