Mix it up: create interesting looks with custom made mixed-metal jewellery

One of the best things about jewellery is the potential it has to create a whole new look. And one of the best things about an independent local jeweller is the fact that you can commission them to create an individual piece, specifically to suit your style or new look. When it comes to mixed metal jewellery, it’s worth asking your local jeweller about a custom made piece – particularly as this type of jewellery is quite unusual but also very striking – a great way, therefore, of bringing a new style to life. Here are some ideas on how mixed metal jewellery can work:

Layered metal necklaces

One of the most popular choices for mixed metal jewellery is the layered necklace, a piece which can be custom made by your local independent jeweller. This look can either be quite regimented, such as layering concentric circles or squares of different metals including copper, silver, brass and gold leafed metals, or can be used to create scenes and patterns. For example, flowers work very well due to the very nature of the petals being layered. If you’re looking for more unusually coloured metals, such as copper or brass, ask your local jeweller about commissioning a custom piece made in this way – your imagination really is the limit with this type of jewellery!

Rings of different gold

Wearing two (or more!) rings made from different types of gold is a great way of mixing metal colours. This also allows you to wear different coloured metals elsewhere within your look. Your local jewellery shop will be able to advise which types of gold will work well together. Similarly, one ring can be made from mixed gold – for example, a yellow gold ring could have an inlay of white or rose gold included, or a wider wedding ring could be made from two types of gold to give each half a different colour. A local jeweller will be able to make a unique ring especially for you using two different types of gold.

Drop earrings

Drop earrings by their very nature work well with mixed metals. Small discs on wire drops can be layered in the same way that mixed metal necklaces are layered, or long chains can be created using circles of different metals to give an interesting and colourful look. Ask your local jeweller about different ways of forming mixed metal earrings; custom mixed metal earrings from your local independent jeweller would complete the mixed metal look and help you to create a really unique style.

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!

The Mother of all Gifts: Mothers’ Day presents from your Local Independent Jeweller

As much as we love our Mums, they’re often taken for granted. It’s time, therefore, to show them how much we love them this Mothers’ Day: visit your local independent jeweller for a gift that’s unique, special, and above all, filled with love!

Kit Heath Jewellery
At the top of any mother’s gift wish list should be a piece of Kit Heath Jewellery. This British jewellery designer’s work has become one of the most recognised sterling silver jewellery brands in the UK, and with 25 years’ worth of experience, the range is versatile enough to offer gifts for young yummy mummies through to doting grandmothers. Ask your local independent jeweller for advice on Kit Heath Jewellery; we guarantee it will offer something for every female member of the family this Mothers’ Day.

Give the gift of time
A watch from your local jeweller is the perfect present for Mothers’ Day – practical enough to be a piece of jewellery worn every day by busy mums, yet feminine and pretty enough to satisfy every woman’s desire for gorgeous jewellery. Your local jewellery shop will be able to offer a range of watches, from gold and silver to stainless steel, metal plated, or even diamond set – and an array of straps to match too! If you’re bowled over by the amount of choice on offer, just pop down to your local jewellery shop; your local jeweller will be happy to advise on what would suit your Mum’s taste.

Bring an old piece of jewellery back to life
If you don’t want to buy your Mum something completely new, but rather fancy having one of her old pieces fixed instead, why not ask your local independent jeweller about their jewellery repair services? Maybe she’s stopped wearing a favourite bracelet because the clasp has broken, or perhaps she has an heirloom inherited from her own mother that just needs resetting or restoring; whatever the case, you can rest assured that if you surprise your Mum by bringing a treasured piece of jewellery back to life for her, by using the repair service in your local jewellery shop, the item will be repaired on site – and therefore there will be no risk to your Mum’s jewellery.

Giftware
And don’t forget that your local independent jeweller will also offer giftware too; from clocks to photo frames, and even collectable porcelain figures, your local jewellery shop really will offer something for every type of Mum this Mother’s Day!

Kit Heath 2012

Kit Heath Jewellery always has been, and always will be, exciting, but this is never truer than when his new season pieces are launched. Well, guess what? It’s that time of year when your local independent jeweller will be stocking their display cases with all of Kit’s new goodies! Read on to find out what’s new when it comes to Kit Heath Jewellery in 2012:

The Beachcomber Range
The ever popular Beachcomber range continues to go from strength to strength in 2012. Inspired by nature, new additions to the charm bead range include the Celest Pebble Bead, which takes its inspiration from celestial summer skies, and the Vine Pebble Bead, which conjures up twisting vines reaching towards the Mediterranean sunshine. There are also sleek 18 carat gold additions to the range, such as the Gold Orbit Pebble Bead which is encrusted with an orbit of cubic zirconia, and many more besides. If the choice is leaving you a little overwhelmed, ask your local Kit Heath stockist for advice on which beads will work well together and which will suit the tastes of the wearer.

New Wrist Wear
Bracelets feature heavily in the new Kit Heath collection, and your local jewellery shop will be stocking a variety of different styles from the various ranges this year. We see some of Kit’s wrist wear turn quite fine and delicate this year, from the sterling silver Mini Honeycomb Cluster Bracelet (fine strands of silver creating different sized swirls), through to the Sterling Silver Gypsy Rose Bracelet (inspired by a bunch of English Roses to give a bohemian feel). However, if chunkier jewellery is more your thing, fear not, as your local independent jeweller will also be able to help with this request: the Kit Heath range also features the Sterling Silver English Rose Cord Bracelet and the Sterling Silver Honeycomb Cluster Cuff – both of which will have a substantial look and feel on your wrist.

Matching Pieces
Don’t forget that your local independent jeweller will also be able to find you matching necklaces and earrings from the Kit Heath range; how about the swirling Sterling Silver Honeycomb Cluster Necklace? Or the Sterling Silver English Rose and Pearl Circle Necklace? Both of these pieces have counterpart earrings and are designed to match both the wrist wear and ring ranges. And if you prefer gold jewellery, ask your local jeweller about the new matching gold pieces, such as the 18ct Gold Plated English Rose stud earrings and matching 18ct Gold Plated English Rose Ring.

Whatever you’re looking for in 2012, you can’t go wrong with a piece from the Kit Heath collection. Stunningly unique, beautifully feminine and wonderfully original, ask your local jeweller for their advice on what pieces will suit your look in 2012.

Spring is on the Horizon!

As we start to emerge from these long winter days, it’s time to spring into action and spruce up our wardrobe with fresh new accessories. There’s no better way of making ourselves feel like spring is on the horizon than by embracing the new jewellery trends for spring 2012; here’s a guide to the big jewellery trends, all available from your local independent jeweller, this spring:

Arm Candy
Jewellery this spring will be all about bangles, bracelets and cuffs – and moreover, the layering of wrist wear together will be a huge trend this year. Ask your local jeweller for advice on chunky cuffs, strings of fine bracelets worn as an ensemble and ethnic-inspired bangles, worn to jangle as you move! The charm bracelet continues to go from strength to strength, and your local independent jeweller will be able to talk you through the different ranges of charm bracelet on offer.

Vintage Glitz
Vintage inspired side tiaras and hairpieces continue to go from strength to strength in spring 2012. Whether you’re a blushing bride looking for a beautiful piece to sparkle in your hair on your big day, or you’re just after an interesting headpiece to jazz up an everyday outfit, don’t forget that your local independent jeweller will also be able to help with tiaras and hairpieces as well as traditional jewellery.

Statement Pieces
2012 is not for the shy and retiring on the jewellery front; your local jewellery shop will be stocking plenty of statement pieces this spring, including large, hammered metal necklaces and pieces using patterned beads. Jewellery will be channelling the theme of architecture and working with the ideas of line and form. Furthermore, layers of necklaces will also be important – why not ask your local jeweller for advice on which chains will work well together? Bold and beautiful, statement pieces will add excitement and vibrancy to even the plainest of outfits!

Ladylike Dressing
Feminine, traditional jewellery is also expected to make a comeback in the spring of 2012, proving that we are in for a year of sharp contrast as these pieces distinguish themselves from the statement pieces also on offer. Your local jewellery shop will be offering lots of retro pieces, including beads and pearls with a distinct vintage, 1950’s feel.

Whatever your taste, the jewellery trends of spring 2012 will be able to fulfil it, and what’s more, your local independent jeweller will be able to fulfil your spring 2012 jewellery trend needs! On the ball and bang on trend, take a trip to your local jewellery shop today to prepare your wardrobe – after all, spring is on the horizon!