Red Carpet Trends: taking jewellery inspiration from the Oscars 2012

The Oscars are all about glitz and glamour – oh and the films too, of course! But no female red carpet attendee’s outfit is complete without some jewels to accessorise her gown. And you don’t need to be a celebrity to recreate the look: your local independent jeweller will be able to recreate any A-list look to make you a star in your own right! Here’s a red carpet rundown of what looks were hot at this year’s Oscars:

Necklaces: Short and sparkling!
The 2012 Oscars saw necklace styles becoming shorter, sitting just below the throat and looking more like a collar. But there was no shortage of sparkles! Natalie Portman wore a v-shaped platinum and diamond cluster, and Michelle Williams wore a simple string of diamonds. If you’re hankering after some gems of your own, your local jeweller will be able to help – why not ask your local jewellery shop about a diamond encrusted watch, or even commission them to make you your very own sparkling collar necklace?

Statement earrings
Having mentioned necklaces, you’ll be forgiven for wondering if your eyes deceived you: necklaces were hard to find on many of the red carpet stars at this year’s Oscars, and necks were left bare in favour of statement earrings. This style is set to be a big trend this year, and your local independent jeweller will be able to help you to achieve this look, but with a British twist: stockists of Kit Heath jewellery, your local jewellery shop will be able to offer you a huge array of statement earrings. How about Kit’s Sterling Silver Honeycomb Gem Cluster Earrings to give your ears little droplets of bling? Or the Sterling Silver Pebble Trickle Earrings for a long line of tiny dangling hoops hanging from your earlobes? Who needs a necklace when your local jeweller can beautify your ears so nicely?!


The hands have it: cuffs and rings
Oversized cuffs and rings made a big statement on this year’s red carpet. Cameron Diaz was seen sporting large platinum and diamond rings, and Gwyneth Paltrow sported a large diamond-studded cuff. Your local independent jeweller will be able to create a statement piece for you to make you feel like an A-lister – so whether you fancy a chunky cuff or a gorgeous statement ring, ask your local jeweller for their advice on commissioning a custom piece. No one else will have a piece like it – even the celebs!

With so many different looks on the red carpet in 2012, there’s an Oscars-inspired piece to suit every girl’s desire. Bring out the star in you this year: get your very own red carpet look by visiting your local independent jeweller!

Wedding and Christening season is coming – don’t forget the gifts!

That time of year is fast approaching when our weekends will be spent celebrating the union of a newly married couple and attending the Christening or naming days of our younger friends and family. But where to go to find the perfect gift to commemorate these occasions? Your local jewellery shop of course!

Photo frames

These special occasions make for great photo opportunities – so what better gift to give the happy couple or the proud parents than a beautiful photo frame to preserve those special memories? Your local independent jeweller will stock a range of giftware items, including a variety of photo frames to suit every taste. Let your friends and family show off the momentous occasion with a special photo frame from your local jewellers!

Clocks

Whether buying for a couple who are setting up home together, or for a newly married pair who perhaps already live together but would like to add to their furnishings, a clock is a great gift to give in celebration of a special event. Stocking a variety of clock styles, a clock from your local jewellery shop is a gift which will suit any home and be treasured for years to come.

Porcelain figurines

If you’re after a gift which can be added to as the years go on, porcelain is a great option. Your local independent jeweller will stock varying porcelain ranges, with options of gifts either for a newlywed couple or to grace a nursery shelf. And what’s more, if you chose a piece from a collectable range, the collection can be added to over the years – giving you the option to purchase more pieces for the collection from your local jewellery shop on future special occasions.

Jewellery

It may sound obvious, but jewellery is a great gift for weddings and Christenings. By visiting a local independent jeweller, you’ll be giving yourself access to a great range of children’s jewellery for Christenings and naming days, such as sterling silver bracelets. Similarly, if you’re the mother or father of the bride, why not buy her a stunning piece from your local jewellery shop to wear on her wedding day?

Strings of pearls are still popular choices for brides on their wedding day, particularly as vintage looks continue to be on trend (and pearls are also said to symbolise tears of happiness!), or you could even ask your local jeweller to custom make a piece for you to give the blushing bride. For brides looking for a gift for their groom, why not think about choosing a watch from the range at your local jewellery shop?

Gifts for every occasion – that’s what’s on offer at your local jewellery shop! As we enter wedding and Christening season, don’t forget the gifts; visit your local independent jeweller for a great selection of perfect presents!

Ring the changes – interesting diamond cuts for engagement rings, and wedding rings to fit!

When it comes to engagement rings, diamonds really are a girl’s best friend. But that doesn’t mean that they have to be sporting a traditionally shaped diamond, such as the round brilliant cut or a princess cut. If you’d like an engagement ring with an interestingly shaped diamond, your local independent jeweller will be able to help, by making a unique custom piece just for you – and a wedding ring to fit too!

Rectangular cut

If you’re after an engagement ring with an interesting, but also sleek and simple look, a rectangular cut diamond could be just the shape you’re looking for. This kind of cut does mean that the diamond doesn’t have as many facets, and therefore would not give as much sparkle, but it may suit someone that would rather have an interesting design on their ring finger rather than lots of bling – the cut is designed to bring out the colour and clarity of the stone instead. Ask your local jewellery shop about this unusual cut and the subtle but elegant look it would give.

Marquise cut

Among the most unique of diamond cuts, a marquise cut diamond offers a look different from any other diamond shape, yet it still has a classic feel. As your local jeweller will explain, the cut is also known as ‘Navette cut’ and looks a bit like an elongated oval shape with pointed ends. This shaped diamond is quite unusual within an engagement ring setting, but if this cut takes your fancy, your local jewellery shop will be able to create a custom piece for you using a marquise cut diamond.

Kite cut

A Kite shaped diamond looks great when set on a thicker band, either with the whole stone set in the metal or with the stone’s points protruding from the band. The look offers an almost Art Deco inspired piece, so if you’re after an engagement ring with a vintage twist, speak to your local independent jeweller about this cut.

Heart cut

For true romantics, what could be more symbolic of your everlasting love than a heart shaped diamond for an engagement ring? With a heart shaped diamond, it’s important to ask your local jeweller about its length-to-width ratio. If you want a traditional heart-shaped diamond, and not a stone which will look like either a squat or elongated heart when viewed from the top, ask your local independent jeweller for a stone with a length-to-width ratio of between 0.90 and 1.10.

Wedding rings to fit

If you do decide to go for an engagement ring with an interestingly shaped diamond, it’s important to consider the type of wedding band which will fit against it. Another service which your local independent jeweller will be able to offer you is the design of a custom wedding band. This means that your local jeweller will design either a band with a cut-out to fit around the stone on the engagement ring, or a plain band which will sit next to the engagement ring but underneath the protruding edges of the stone – therefore banning unsightly gaps between the two rings.

When it comes to interesting and unique wedding and engagement rings, your local independent jeweller will be in a league of their own, offering custom rings in a shape and fit to suit you!