The Jewel in The Crown: Regal Bespoke Jewellery from your Local Jeweller

Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a set of jewels just like the Queen’s?  All of those glorious, sparkling stones and precious metals rolled into a set of luxurious objects! OK, so the Crown Jewels might be beyond the budget of, well, pretty much all of us, but did you know that the term Crown Jewels refers to the collection of regalia and vestments worn by the sovereign of the United Kingdom during the coronation ceremony?  And therefore, it’s not just about the crowns themselves?  There are actually quite a few objects which make up the entire collection, and if you fancy some Crown Jewels of your own, here’s the next best thing: bespoke jewellery made by your local independent jeweller.

The Crowns

The most obvious part of the Crown Jewels’ collection are the various crowns, some of which have been used by every Sovereign , and some of which have been made specifically for certain Kings and Queens over the years.  As a general rule, a crown of a King has a slightly pointed arched top, while that of a Queen has a bowed top.  You too can enjoy a stunning headpiece this Diamond Jubilee year: speak to your local jeweller about commissioning a tiara for a special occasion, such as a wedding or a prom. 

That way, you can choose not only the design but also what metals are used and which stones.  If you don’t have a special occasion, why not have a side tiara designed by your local jewellery shop instead?  Side tiaras are much easier to wear on an every-day basis, and are also bang on trend.

The Orbs

An orb of your very own is easy to emulate – through some beautifully designed bespoke earrings from your local jewellery shop!  Fancy some pearl orbs to adorn your ears?  Just ask your local independent jeweller regarding the colour and size!  Or some gold orbs encrusted with precious stones?  Just pop along to your local jewellery shop to pick the gems!

The Sceptres

There are two sceptres within the Crown Jewels: the Sceptre with the Cross and the Sceptre with the Dove, both of which date back to 1661.  A great present for a special man in your life this Diamond Jubilee year would be a bespoke tie pin designed by a local jeweller: for example, just imagine giving a tie pin, designed to imitate one of the Crown Jewels’ sceptres, as a 60^th birthday present as Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 60^th year on the thrown – there couldn’t be a more apt present!

The other objects: Swords, Rings and Spoons

Brilliant jewellery could be inspired by the other objects in the Crown Jewels’ collection.  How about asking your local independent jeweller to create a jewel encrusted spoon brooch for your friend the brilliant cook?  Or a Celtic sword pendant for someone with more dramatic tastes?  Your local jeweller could even put all of the items together in one brooch for an eclectic look.  There is also a ring within the Crown Jewels which was made for William IV’s coronation in 1831.  Why not ask your local jewellery shop to create you a bespoke ring?

Who needs the Crown Jewels when your local independent jeweller could create you a collection all of your own?!

Getting Patriotic: Red, White and Blue Jewellery

As the nation prepares to celebrate our Monarch’s Diamond Jubilee (not to mention the London Olympics just around the corner after that!), and the country gets swathed in red, white and blue, why should your jewellery miss out on all the fun?  If you’re proudly going to be waving your union jack and decking your house in bunting for the upcoming Diamond Jubilee weekend, your local independent jeweller can help you complete your celebration outfit with some red, white and blue jewellery.  Here’s how:

Ruby Red

Although commonly associated with a bright ‘ruby red’ colour, rubies can in fact be found in all shades of red, including pink, although in America a minimum colour saturation must be met for the stone to be called a ruby – pink stones would be classed as pink sapphires in the United States.  Rubies are commonly used in rings, but you could also ask your local jeweller to set a ruby in a pendant on a necklace, or even in earrings.  You won’t go unnoticed in a piece of ruby jewellery from your local independent jeweller, that’s for sure!

Sapphire Blue

A favourite of Princess Kate, and Princess Diana before her, the huge blue stone in the Princesses’ famous engagement ring is a 12-carat oval Ceylon Sapphire, surrounded by solitaire diamonds.  You too could feel like a princess in time for the royal celebrations with a replica of Kate Middleton’s ring; your local jewellery shop would be able to replicate the ring with stones of the same colour.  Alternatively, if you fancy something a bit different, but like the idea of these bold blue stones, how about having a brilliant sapphire brooch made by your local jeweller or elegant drop sapphire earrings?

Diamond White

Diamonds are so versatile that practically any type of jewellery can be made from them, from small diamond stud earrings through to hugely flamboyant diamond rings.  Their unique quality of being able to disperse white light into a spectral of colours also means that they work well with other coloured gemstones, so ask your local jeweller about mixed gemstone jewellery including diamonds.

Mix them up and you’ve got....patriotic jewellery!

What could compliment your diamond jubilee outfit more, or just give a hint of patriotism, than a red, white and blue piece of jewellery?  Why not ask your local independent jeweller about a ruby brooch or tie pin surrounded by small sapphires and diamonds?  Or add a twist to Kate Middleton’s engagement ring by including both diamonds and rubies in the oval of stones that surround the sapphire?  Small clusters of all three stones could also work well as a pendant or earrings. Ask your local independent jeweller to commission a patriotic piece for you today – you’ll be fit for a queen before you know it!

Diamonds fit for a Queen: Diamond Jubilee Jewellery

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, so the saying goes, and this has never been truer than in 2012 with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee coming up.  So why not snag a diamond of your very own from your local independent jeweller?  Here’s the important four ‘C’s’ of diamond buying, giving you everything you need to know about these super-sparkly stones:

Cut

In terms of bespoke pieces of jewellery, cut is one of the most important factors to consider. Your local independent jeweller will be able to advise on the various cuts of diamonds available, with the most popular shapes being round brilliant (circular), oval, pear shaped, emerald cut (rectangular) and the very-apt-for-a-Royal-Jubilee-celebration ‘princess’ cut (square).  But if you’re after something slightly more unusual, why not speak to a local jewellery shop about one of the more unique cuts?  These cuts include marquise cut (an elongated oval shape with pointed ends), heart shaped, trilliant (triangular) and cushion cut (rectangular but with rounded corners).

Clarity

The clarity of a diamond refers to the amount of internal defects within the stone, or inclusions as they’re called.  Only those with a higher clarity grading are fit for a princess, of course, but be warned that the less inclusions a diamond has, the rarer they become and the higher the price!  But fret not, your local independent jeweller will be able to advise on the clarity of your diamond, and find one to suit your price range.

Colour

The finest quality of diamonds when it comes to colour grading are those which are totally colourless.  Most diamonds, however, show a trace of some colour – mainly a hint of yellow, but some also show brown, green, grey or other colours.  There are also some intensely rare diamonds which have a stronger colour; these are called ‘fancies’ and come in a range of hues such as yellow, greens, brown, red, orange and blue.  Colourless diamonds are great if you’re looking to combine them with another stone, so why not ask your local jeweller to incorporate colourless diamonds as part of a bigger design?

Carat

The carat refers to the weight of diamond mass.  As you would expect, the larger the carat, the more expensive the diamond becomes.  Whether you’re after a real chunk of bling on your finger, or delicate, smaller diamonds set in pendants or earrings, your local independent jeweller will be able to fulfil all of your diamond needs.  You’ll be wearing diamonds fit for a queen before you know it!