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.

Old Rings, New Tricks

Rings are one of the most personal pieces of jewellery that anyone can own.  But how many times do old rings languish in drawers, unworn and unloved?  Precisely because they are such personal items, it’s very difficult to buy a ring for someone else or to inherit a ring from someone and find it to be exactly your taste.  Not to mention, of course, that people often find that their rings either become too big or too small over time!   

But this jewellery story doesn’t have to have a sad ending: a local independent jeweller can bring a ring back to life by creating a whole new piece tailored to your taste. Old rings really can perform new tricks! 

Special memories 

Rings are one of the most popular items of jewellery to be passed down from generation to generation, most likely due to the fact that they hold such sentimental value.  But often what suits one generation doesn’t suit the next, as fashions and styles move on.  It can be difficult to let go of a dearly departed loved one’s special pieces, but equally, jewellery shouldn’t be left unworn.   

By taking the piece to a local jeweller, it can be remodelled into something the new owner will cherish without losing the memories.  Similarly, when dividing up an estate, if there are an unequal number of rings to be divided up between beneficiaries, or if the rings’ stones are of differing values, these rings can be remodelled into new rings of equal value for the recipients.

New beginnings

You never want to think that your potential fiancé or husband doesn’t know you well enough to pick the perfect ring to propose with, but let’s face it, sometimes it just doesn’t happen. Many men have the best of intentions, and will look to satisfy criteria such as clarity or colour, but might not realise that you might find a less perfect stone in a different cut or style more beautiful.  

If you’re unlucky fiancé-to-be doesn’t pick the perfect ring for you, fear not: your local independent jeweller can recreate something more to your taste.  Why not work together with your fiancé to pick a style you both like?  Your local jeweller will be able to add stones and change the look of the overall ring until you find something that suits.

Pooling resources 

A new trend in wedding jewellery design is for friends and relatives to chip in with the cost of the wedding rings.  This doesn’t mean contributing financially – or at least not in the conventional monetary sense – but rather by asking friends and family to pool any unwanted gold jewellery, be it unworn jewellery, broken pieces or even solitary earring halves, to be melted down to form the new wedding rings; a bridal shower is a great time to collate the pieces together, and this trend also means that your family’s special memories are incorporated as you start you on the right track to married life.

If this is something that interests you, why not check with your local jewellery shop if they can melt the gold down and make new wedding rings for you? So you see, old rings don’t have to have an unhappy ending: your local independent jeweller can help your rings to live happily ever after.

Helpful Jewellery Storage Tips from your Local Essex Jewellers

Once you’ve treated yourself to those special jewellery pieces, it’s important that you look after them correctly, and storage is an integral part of the upkeep of jewellery.  Your local independent jeweller will stock various jewellery storage solutions as part of their giftware range, so there’s no excuse for poor storage.  Here are some tips on how to keep your pieces looking their best: 

Jewellery storage tip 1: sturdy but soft 

The best type of jewellery storage is that which is a sturdy jewellery box with a soft interior, to protect your pieces from external damage, whilst preventing scratches and snags through the soft lining. 

This type of traditional jewellery box will be available in a range of formats in your local jewellery shop, and also makes for an ideal gift, as there’s usually a style to suit all tastes.  You may also want to think about investing in a jewellery box with different drawers to store necklaces, rings, charms and brooches, and bracelets separately, with an additional compartment for earrings. 

Jewellery storage tip 2: perfect pouches 

If you don’t have the room for a large jewellery box, ask your local jeweller whether they have any soft pouches or jewellery rolls as part of their storage range.  Pouches are also a great choice when travelling with a limited amount of space in your luggage.  You can also purchase multi-storage cases or pouches to keep different chains, necklaces and bracelets separately.

Jewellery storage tip 3: specialist storage 

There are also a variety of specialist storage solutions available for different types of jewellery, which your local independent jeweller can advise you on.  Certain types of jewellery and precious stones and metals can often benefit from specialist storage.  

For example, to retain the original shine of sterling silver jewellery, you can purchase plastic zip-lock bags, which have an anti-tarnish strip incorporated, to not only store jewellery protectively, but also delay tarnishing.  

Pearls are soft precious stones, which can scratch if stored with other pieces; a dust free bag is therefore the best way of storing pearls to prevent damage to them.  Other precious gemstones can be susceptible to scratching and cracking too, so it’s a good idea to keep pieces which include gemstones in separate pouches.   

If you’re at all unsure how your special pieces of jewellery should be stored, or whether they require specialist storage, the best place for advice is your local jewellery shop, where friendly help and tips will be on hand, together with a comprehensive storage range as part of the shop’s giftware collection.

Burglars Targeting Gold jewellery – are your Special Pieces Safely Insured?

In recent months there has been a rise in targeted burglaries specifically aimed at the theft of gold jewellery.  With gold values being at a record high, gold jewellery has never been more attractive to thieves; there are even reports of burglars using metal detectors to target family heirlooms.  With this worry looming over every jewellery owner, it’s time to ensure that your precious pieces are properly insured.  Ask your local independent jeweller to carry out a full valuation of your items and make sure your insurance covers them correctly. 

Who is being targeted and what for? 

Jewellery thieves are targeting anyone whom they believe to have collections of superior gold jewellery. Unfortunately, Asian families are particularly vulnerable at the moment, as, according to the Metropolitan Police, they are disproportionately being targeted for their high quality gold. Asian households account for 24 per cent of all burglaries whereby jewellery was taken, and for 16 per cent of all repeat burglaries.  

It is not unusual for Asian families to have large quantities of Indian gold which may have been handed down through the generations, and thieves are aware of its quality and value.  Police are warning families to be particularly vigilant during Asian festivities and family celebrations, when some communities bring large collections of family jewellery together to celebrate. It’s important therefore to make sure that your jewellery is properly protected, and a valuation at a local jewellery shop is often the first step towards keeping your pieces safe. 

How can you keep your jewellery safe? 

Police are advising jewellery owners that one of the easiest measures to keep your jewellery safe – or at least reunite it with you, should the worst happen – is to use a specialist property marking solution on your pieces.   

A number of companies produce unique identifying markers which are then registered to the piece’s owner. The solution is invisible to the naked eye, only being visible under UV light, so it does not affect a piece’s appearance or value.  

It’s also important to have your pieces adequately insured; household insurance doesn’t always cover the full value of pieces, and you may need to either expressly declare certain high-value items on your household insurance, or take out specific jewellery insurance.  Either way, you are likely to need a valuation, which can be carried out by a local jeweller.  

What do you need to do to satisfy your insurance criteria? 

When insuring your pieces, you’ll often find that you need to satisfy certain criteria.  This may include having your jewellery valued, which can be undertaken by your local independent jeweller.  This will ensure that you are insuring your piece for the correct value, should the worst happen; of course, it’s awful losing a treasured piece of jewellery due to the sentimentality attached to it, but it would be worse to have the double blow of not being insured to the full value.   

Your pieces should also be documented photographically so that pieces can be recreated if necessary; Asian jewellery in particular is often highly individual and has usually been passed down from generation to generation, so it’s important that the piece can be recreated if necessary.  It’s also important to check any special terms of your insurance policy – for example, do you need to keep your pieces in a safe or bank when they’re not being worn?  With jewellery thieves being so specific in targeting gold pieces, it’s important that your special items are adequately insured, and your local independent jeweller can help you protect your property.

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Source: Metropolitan Police: http://content.met.police.uk/News/MPS-launch-operation-to-target-gold-crime-across-the-capital/1400019851427/1257246741786 , last viewed 06/10/2013.

Simple Jewellery Care Tips from Your Local Independent Jeweller

Jewellery should most definitely be worn to be seen. But obviously some precious pieces are more delicate than others, and all jewellery may be susceptible to wear and tear over time.  To protect your jewellery from everyday weathering that may occur, there are some simple tips that are easy to carry out.  Here, your local independent jeweller gives you their best jewellery care advice:

The importance of good storage

When you’re not wearing your jewellery, you should make sure that it is correctly stored.  Make sure that you have jewellery storage solutions which include individual soft lined boxes, padded compartments and separate pouches so that you can prevent scratching, entanglement and possible chipping of stones.  Plastic zip lock bags can be purchased with an anti-tarnish strip, which not only ensure that chains do not become tangled with other chains, but also help to slow down the tarnishing process.  As part of their giftware range, your local jewellery shop will stock a variety of storage options, and it’s worth investing in a jewellery box which includes a variety of storage solutions to enable you to store your different pieces correctly.

                        

Avoid contact with household chemicals and cosmetics

It may sound like a simple piece of advice, but many people don’t realise the impact that household cleaners and the likes of perfume and hairspray have on their jewellery.  Such substances can permanently damage and discolour precious metals, and if your jewellery includes porous gemstones, the stones can absorb these chemicals, potentially causing both corrosion and discolouration of the stones.  When applying cosmetics, you should always ensure that they are completely dry before putting your jewellery on.  Should your pieces come into contact with substances they shouldn’t, remember that your local independent jeweller will offer a cleaning service and will professionally clean your jewellery in a manner which will not harm it further.

Have your jewellery checked regularly

It’s important to have your jewellery checked over by a local jeweller on a regular basis.  This could mean having the settings checked for loose stones, ensuring that clasps are still strong and do not pose a risk of loss, and getting pearls or gemstone necklaces restrung if necessary.  Jewellery can be professionally polished, and in the case of white gold pieces, you may need to have the rhodium plating replaced to bring back its original shine and silver-white appearance.  All of the above services will be offered by your local independent jeweller, so there really is no excuse for poor jewellery care.