Shimmer and Sparkle for the Christmas 2012 Festive Season

Christmas is the perfect time to shine, and jewellery is one of the best ways of jazzing up an every-day-of-the-year-outfit and making it something truly magical for the festive season. 

If you want to be bang on trend this Christmas, a trip to your local jewellery shop should be your first port of call: your local independent jeweller will be the person in the know when it comes to Christmas looks for the 2012 festive season.

Big and Bold is Best

One of the most important things to consider when visiting your local jewellery shop for this year’s yuletide jewellery is that there is no place for the shrinking violet: and who wants to be a wallflower at Christmas parties anyway?  Big and bold is certainly beautiful this year, and works really well with the plain sixties-style shift dresses that are in fashion this season. 

If you’re wearing a dress with decorative cuffs, balance it with a long necklace with a large pendant on the end, and, vice versa, if your dress has a decorative collar, why not ask your local jeweller about their range of bold, chunky metal cuffs?  Alternatively, you could accessorise purely with a fabulous pair of statement earrings.  Don’t overdo it; wear what you feel comfortable in and what doesn’t overpower your outfit.

Passion for Colour

The traditional little black dress is being accessorised with colour this season.  Gemstones are in, so ask your local independent jeweller about jewel-coloured rings and pendants in bright pinks, purples and blues.  Many pieces will use gold this season, rather than the silver which has been popular in recent years, giving a warm feel to Christmas 2012 jewellery.  Similarly, if wearing coloured jewellery to accessorise the aforementioned dress with decorative cuff or collar, there are a great range of both pearl and boldly coloured stones available to match the colours found on this season’s dresses.

Sparkle the Night Away

A diamond is a girl’s best friend, and therefore sparkle is good at any time of year, but never is this truer than at Christmas.  If you’re not brave enough to wear this season’s sequin encrusted dresses, why not add a touch of magic to your Christmas outfit with stunning drop diamond earrings or a bold choker style diamond necklace?  Your local jeweller will even be able to custom make a piece for you, should you not find exactly what you’re after in your local jewellery shop.

Sentimental Value

Costume jewellery will incorporate lots of little symbolic motifs this season and will often take on a vintage twist.  Check your local jewellery shop for pieces using keys, cameos and lockets, as well as brooches covered in sparkle, as these will also be on trend.   Remember that if you have a vintage piece of your own which perhaps needs smartening up or fixing, your local independent jeweller will be able to restore this piece to its former glory to enable it to sparkle once more this Christmas.



New Kit Heath Pieces, in Time for Christmas 2012!

The brilliant range of Kit Heath jewellery, available at your local jewellery shop, has expanded – just in time for Christmas 2012!  With everything from sharp geometric shapes inspired by nature, through to the new Culture collection, there’s plenty of choice if you’re looking to give the gift of Kit Heath this Christmas.

Shapes of Nature

Kit Heath jewellery has always been known to have been inspired by nature, and the new sharp lines of the new collection are no exception.  Almost geometric in style, the new pieces still take their lead from shapes occurring in the wild.  Take the Fauna necklace and drop earrings set, for example.  The pendant has strong, vivid lines but takes its cue from shapes found in the wilderness, making the pieces truly unusual and, therefore, different to pieces found in high street chain jewellers – just ask your local independent jeweller for their advice on inspiring natural pieces within the Kit Heath collection. 

Lockets to Fall in Love With

If you’re a lover of lockets, or know someone that is, ask your local jeweller about the new Kit Heath ranges available featuring beautiful lockets.  From the fabulous Mermaid’s Purse range, available in a variety of colours from classic black to pillar box red, through to the more angular Prism Locket, there is sure to be something stocked by your local jeweller within the Kit Heath range which will tickle your fancy.

Reach for the Stars

Star motifs feature heavily within the new Kit Heath ranges.  These are great for adding a touch of Christmas sparkle to any outfit for the festive season.  If you’re after a more casual look, ask your local independent jeweller about either the Starfish Bead Bracelet, or the Starfish Crystal Ball Bracelet, as these beaded and leather bracelets have more of an every-day feel about them.  Alternatively, for a dressier look, check your local jewellery shop for the stunning Kit Heath Starfish cocktail rings – these statement pieces really will add a touch of glamour to any outfit.

Culture Bracelets

If you’re still looking for a Christmas gift for younger family members, ask your local jeweller about Kit Heath’s new range of ‘Culture’ bracelets.  Both the Identity and Respect ranges will be perfect for younger wrists; just like traditional friendship bracelets, available in a range of funky colours, but with the twist of being sealed with a sterling silver toggle – certainly something to make them feel more than a little grown up and a top fashionista to boot.

Going for Gold: How to Make Gold jewellery Work for You

In recent years, silver and white gold have been the metal colours of choice for most women.  Silver coloured jewellery is versatile and easy to wear with most colours and skin tones, after all.  However, yellow gold has been making a comeback in the last few months, especially as it’s a lovely, rich tone to warm the winter months. 

If you’re a veteran silver wearer, it can be a little daunting to make the switch to gold, but fear not: your local independent jeweller will be on hand to help pick gold pieces to suit your look.

Fun Gold Statement Pieces

A great way to start your gold collection is to embrace the current trend for long, gold-hued necklaces with fun, statement pendants on the end.  For example, there are many pieces around with motifs including birds and fob-watches.  Alternatively, how about a chunky gold cuff or choker to brighten up a plain outfit?  These pieces may seem scary but actually the fun in them means that they can be worn without the seriousness which gold often evokes and are therefore a great way of introducing gold to your wardrobe. 

Pop into your local jewellery shop to see for yourself the extensive range of frivolous gold jewellery pieces available.

Pairing Gold and Silver Together

Wearing gold and silver jewellery together can be seen as a brave move.  However, if you’re more used to wearing silver jewellery than gold, wearing them together can be a great introduction to gold.  Layering is key: wear gold and silver chain necklaces and bracelets together, more than one of each of course, and maybe top it all off with a large gold cocktail ring.  Your local jeweller will be able to advise on which pieces work well together.  Wearing gold and silver together also means that you can wear your favourite existing silver pieces with brand new gold pieces – the perfect excuse to buy more jewellery!

Graduate Towards the Serious

Once you’ve got the feel for wearing gold jewellery, you may want to consider yellow gold for the more serious pieces in your collection: special occasion rings, watches, necklaces and bracelets to mark special birthdays etc.  If you have a love of vintage, then gold is likely to be the colour of choice for any investment pieces you may buy.

Warm skin tones in particular tend to favour gold jewellery, so if you are warm skinned don’t rule it out for any special pieces you may be looking to acquire.  Your local independent jeweller will, of course, have a great range of yellow gold pieces for special occasions, so if you’ve decided you’re going for gold, why not pop along to your local jewellery shop to buy a prized piece of gold today?