On Trend Holiday Glamour: Christmas Sparkle For 2013

With Christmas fast approaching, thoughts are turning to our holiday party outfits and the gifts we need to buy for loved ones.  It’s always nice to be ahead of the trend, whether in the gift giving stakes or for our own sakes, and a great place to start when it comes to contemporary Christmas jewellery is at your local jewellery shop.  Here’s a list of what’s hot as it gets cold this Christmas:

 

For the Party Girl

 

It won’t just be paper chains which are adorning Christmas looks in 2013: chain jewellery will be big business this year.  The look is reminiscent of an 80s’ handbag shoulder strap, with a leather strip running through the centre of the gold or silver chain. 

For Christmas, why not replace the leather look with a sliver of shimmering silver mesh through the centre?  This little touch takes this look from daytime to evening wear, making it the perfect finishing touch for any Christmas party outfit.  If you can’t find such a piece on the high street, why not ask your local independent jeweller to custom make a chain to your exact requirements?

 

For the Free Spirit

Christmas is all about love, joy and peace, and where better, therefore, to turn to for Christmas jewellery inspiration for our more whimsical friends than nature?  Leaf and feather motifs will feature heavily this Christmas, often in a delicate fashion, such as dainty filigree leaf worn as a pendant, or in a bolder statement piece: how about investing in a silver or gold grand feather cuff or collar piece to set off a plain Christmas outfit? 

 

Silver feathers fashioned into a large choker or collar shaped necklace, encrusted with precious stones, will be everywhere come Christmas – so why not get ahead of the trend, and take a visit to your local jewellery shop for free-spirit, feather-inspired jewellery?

For the Timeless

 

Watches will always be a timeless Christmas present, and this remains true of the 2013 festive season. This year’s watches have become slightly more eccentric than in previous years; watches that feature a string or two of attached charms are all the rage, as are those which incorporate fabrics such as vintage leather or denim straps, rose gold designs, and multi wrap around straps.  

Men’s watches are no exception to this: unusual straps will be seen on male watches this Christmas too, including brightly coloured bands, and gold elements will also feature heavily on men’s watches.  Your local jeweller will carry a large range of timepieces, both traditional and contemporary, so you won’t have to look far for this most timeless of Christmas gifts.

 

For the Little Ones

 

If you have a little Christmas angel to buy for, you should look no further than Kit Heath’s children’s collection, available at your local jewellery shop. You’ll find everything from bang on trend colourful friendship bracelets as part of the Best Friends range, through to girly pink accessories in the Cute as a Button range, and even gorgeous charms in the Pick N Mix range – which will allow the recipient to add to their collection over various Christmases and birthdays to come. 

 

And if you’re looking to buy for yourself, check out Kit’s adult ranges for wonderful Christmas style – all available, of course, from your local independent jeweller.

Baby Love: A Royal Jewellery Gift

You may have heard of the recent trend for ‘push presents’; it’s a new term, used to describe the gift given to new mothers on the birth of their little one for, well, pushing!  Of course, possibly the most famous baby of our time is the Royal baby, Prince George of Cambridge.   
 

We’re sure that Kate and William probably wouldn’t use a term as crass as ‘push present’, but there are rumours that Prince William will be bestowing his lovely wife with a little jewellery gift to congratulate her on the birth of their new son.  
 

If you’re looking to copy the duchess’ impeccable style, or whether you’d like to buy the mother of your child a little gift of jewellery to celebrate the birth of your little one, your local independent jeweller has the lowdown on this new trend.  
 

Pretty in Pink: Kate’s Royal Baby Gift 
 

So what exactly do you buy the mother of the future heir to the throne? Well, it’s been rumoured that Prince William is buying the Duchess of Cambridge a brooch with the inclusion of a pink diamond.  
 

Prince Charles gave Princess Diana a gold medallion with William’s name on it after the birth of Prince William, but it seems that the Duke of Cambridge is opting for something altogether more feminine.   
 

It has been reported that he is looking for a piece which will be equally at home being worn upon a high street Zara dress as it will on a regal ball gown, and it seems that pink diamonds are popular throughout the Royal Family, as the Queen has one of the finest uncut pink diamonds in the world, given to her by the Canadian geologist John Williamson on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Philip.   
 

She had the diamond set into a brooch, and it is often worn and one of her favourite pieces of jewellery. Don’t forget that if you, too, would like to have a brooch or other piece of jewellery tailor-made for you, your local jewellery shop will be able to help.
 

If You’d Like a Custom-Made Piece ... 
 

Visit your local independent jeweller. One of the great aspects of a visit to your local jewellery shop is the fact that you can commission pieces to be custom made for you.  Natural pink diamonds are rare and very expensive, but they can be sourced and turned into beautiful pieces of jewellery, whether a brooch or earrings, necklaces, rings or bracelets, if you so wish. 
 

However, the beauty of custom making a piece, whether for yourself or someone else, is the fact that it can be made to your desires and tastes, so if you don’t fancy a pink diamond, but perhaps would like a different gemstone or a simple gold or silver piece created for you, you can have whatever your heart desires. Similarly, if you have an heirloom piece of jewellery which you’d like to give to a loved one but perhaps isn’t their style, a local jeweller will be able to remodel the piece to your specifications. 
 

Or if You’d Like To Buy a ‘Push Present’ For The Mother Of Your Child … 
 

You’ll find plenty of choice at your local jewellery shop. Whether you’re looking to custom make a piece or buy something ready-made, your local jeweller will be able to help.  Don’t be afraid to ask for advice, either; your local independent jeweller will be happy to offer their opinion on what will suit your wife or partner. Make your loved one feel like a princess: push presents to suit every taste are available at your local jewellery shop.
 

Adorn Yourself: A Christmas Bauble Jewellery Trend

You’d be forgiven for thinking that the only relevant place for a bauble is on the Christmas tree.  It’s certainly true that we’re in the festive season, but baubles are being seen in places other than just on a Norwegian Spruce this Christmas; spherical, sparkling orbs are adorning on-trend jewellery everywhere.  So why not add a bit of festive sparkle to your wardrobe this year, and adorn your ears, neckline and wrists with baubles from your local independent jeweller?

 

From humble origins...

Traditional Christmas baubles have been in production since 1847, when they were first produced in Lauscha, Germany, by Hans Greiner.  The original baubles were strings of glass bead garlands, similar to popcorn strands which were originally used to decorate Christmas trees. 

 

Similarly, spherical jewellery has been around since ancient times, from simple round glass beads, through to more intricate pin heads and brooches, often dating back for centuries.  Today’s trend for spherical jewellery can be seen to take its inspiration from the humble origins of times past; whether it’s traditional or modern that you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find a suitable piece of bauble inspired jewellery at your local jewellery shop.

... to modern day spherical jewellery trends ...

 

Orbs have always featured heavily in the Kit Heath collection, having often been inspired by nature.  The Mermaid’s Purse locket, for example, is the perfect Christmas jewellery bauble; what’s more, the jewel colours that they feature are the ideal colours for Christmas outfits – deep greens, festive reds and regal blues. 

 

If simple but stunning sterling silver is more your style, then the Urchin range, embedded with a little bit of twinkle courtesy of cubic zirconia, will be to your taste; long drop earrings with a bauble shaped pendent on the end, as well as a matching necklace and bracelets, are all part of this look.  Remember that the complete Kit Heath collection will be available from your local jeweller, so make sure you treat yourself to a bauble. 

... and added sparkle to boot!

Spherical jewellery is often found with additional sparkle attached – just the ticket for Christmas adornment!  Look out for the trend towards globes encrusted with stones – either completely clear stones, or an assortment of colours. 

 

Rings in particular have recently been spotted with spheres attached, both perched on top of the setting or dangling from the band, and make for great statement pieces, particularly against the little black dress this Christmas. 

 

Alternatively, crystallised round-bead bracelets and drop earrings are still bang on trend, and add that little bit of Christmas sparkle to any outfit.  Adorn yourself this festive season with the help of your local independent jeweller: baubles aren’t just for the Christmas tree.