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W&W Blog
The W&W Trend Report - Spring/Summer 2012
W&W bring you a break down of the Spring/Summer 2012 collections in bite size snippets based around the key colour concepts and how to accessorise with the right jewellery pieces.
Viva la Colour!
Autumnal for Spring
Autumnal boozy hues of burgundy, Bordeaux and claret should now be your colour stables and wardrobe essential. Think exuberant, luxurious, rich jewel tones in shimmering and tactile fabrics. Effortlessly cool and so easy to wear, perfect to compliment fabulous gemstone cocktail rings or that key statement necklace.
Fresh & Icy
Peppermint green, glacier blue, lemon and sugar plum pink are the fresh hues of spring; channelling the prim ultra feminine 1950’s American house wife with a contemporary punch. Think preppy outfit fits in ice-cream sundae shades and a flash of the midriff. Match with iridescent pearls or a tiara headband as seen at Louis Vutton.
Golden Girl
Gold is remaining the ruler of all that shimmers, from warm coppery bronze through to soft champagne. The 1920’s flapper dress is the new shape of the season, with deco detailing of feathers, tassel trimmings and beading, and of course the signature drop waist. Capture the 1920's through vintage inspired jewellery designed by W&W.
Be Bold & Bright
The new term to learn is ‘printful’ – prints that are punchy, fun and very playful, and of course boldly worn head-to-toe. Not for the faint hearted, this trend mashes together eclectic colours, prints and textures. The mixture of ancient craft techniques and avant-garde ideas means you really can wear anything together. Throw the rule book out the window! Pair with chunky bangles and large gold cuffs, or go the full hog with Dolce & Gabbana's pasta bow earrings.
Images courtesy of Conde Nast Publications.
Autumn/Winter Trends 2011
Posted Friday 9th September 2011
It has been a busy week for the Jewellery Industry with one of the largest Jewellery shows in Europe taking place in London. It obvious to spot the emerging trends for Autumn/Winter and W&W are excited to share these with you.
As mentioned in our previous Blog, the catwalks were studded with opulent jewel tones. The allure of vibrant coloured gemstones is undeniable; they add deep, luxurious and often playful tones to any piece of jewellery. W&W recommend wearing coloured stones as an eye-catching cocktail ring, the perfect way to accessorise any dull winter wardrobe.
A big jewellery comeback for the Autumn/Winter season is the choker. Removed from its Sloane connotations and dainty vintage look, the choker for 2011/2012 is a vibrant, stand alone statement piece. Necklines will be plain as the choker dominates and delights the neck. Beaded, studded and thick bands of metal are providing a tougher, more graphic and modern look. W&W would be delighted to design and create a bespoke choker that is fit for life's catwalk.
Heritage is another key trend for this coming season. Regenerate and embrace your old un-loved pieces to give them a new lease of life. Remodelling and converting heirloom jewellery into new, more wearable pieces embodies tradition and heritage into a piece that is truly unique and difficult to replicate in a new piece. Book a consultation with W&W to let us transform your inherited jewellery into a one-of-a-kind modern vintage piece.
Jewel Works
posted Friday 19th August 2011.
Not that we are looking forward to the grey days here at W&W, but when Vogue announced its Autumn/Winter Runway Round-Up its hard not to start thinking about next season's latest trends, especially as they are starting to creep into the shops. Of course there will be the usual abundance of black and dark tones, but these are to be punctuated with deep and luxurious jewel tones that ooze sophistication. The trend is set to be a sure fire winner for the Autumn/Winter and we are squealing with delight! Delicious emerald, sapphire, amethyst, garnet and ruby tones should be worked throughout your wardrobe, and of course it is the perfect time to invest in the real things.
Right Hand Cocktail Rings work perfectly in all gemstone colours, or add some sparkle to any outfit with a scrumptious gem-tastic necklace.
Browse our fantastic selection of mesmerising coloured gemstone pieces and choose your perfect accessory for the next season.
Catwalk images from UK Vogue.
The Right Hand Ring
Posted Thursday 4th August 2011.
It appears that the classic saying ‘Diamonds are Forever' is in need of marketing make-over. Originating as a sales initiative by DeBeers in 1947 to push diamond engagement rings to symbolise matrimonial commitment, it became apparent that over time the diamonds were out-lasting the marriages, and sadly the ring was left unworn. Further to this, the number of couples getting married has decreased over the past sixty years, with even the promise of a sparkling diamond not being enough to tempt certain women into wedlock. This has sparked the rise of The Right Hand Ring, a way of expanding the diamond's romantic connotations to accommodate self-love.
The phrase you need to remember ladies is, ‘your left hand says ‘We' your right hand says ‘Me'!
Women are inherently programmed to behave like magpies around sparkly things; they are also renowned for being exceptionally good at managing their finances, so it is fitting that diamonds should now be marketed to accommodate the independent woman looking to spend their hard earnt pay cheque on luxury treasures
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With the Right Hand Ring there are endless options and variations, unlike the engagement ring that is pretty much tied to the diamond the Right Hand Ring can sumptuously incorporate diamonds and coloured gemstones in various intricate or outrageous designs. These rings are here to make a statement, to bring joy and excitement into an otherwise grey day. They are not status pieces or a mark of society; they also don't need to cost the earth. The Right Hand Ring is about the celebration of one's self, whether that is in the form of modern abstract creations or old vintage sparklers. So girls, go get your Rocks on, you know you're worth it!
Something Worth Celebrating.
Posted Tuesday 31st May 2011.
There are moments in life that are most definitely worth celebrating; birthdays, anniversaries, graduation day and those special moments that should not go past unmarked. The birth of a child is one of those special moments.
For a couple to bring a baby into the world is an amazing thing, and it seems worthy that partners would like to treat the new mother as a thank you and congratulations for all the hard work that goes with pregnancy and labour, and not forgetting the years ahead!
Diamond Eternity Rings are the perfect way to mark the occasion. Not only can they be worn as a loving reminder and keepsake associated with the birth of each child, but they can also be seen as a great piece of jewellery to pass on to that child in the future.
Eternity rings or celebration rings are classically a full diamond set band. However, there are several variations in diamond size, cut and design that means you can create a unique celebration ring that is timeless in style. Half diamond set eternity rings are equally as stunning and can be a very delicate in design. W&W can create bespoke celebration rings that are most definitely worthy of any special occasion.
Diamond earrings are another great gift for new mothers. Guaranteed to always fit, and always be in style, diamond stud earrings can be made to suit every budget and are a lovely token that would always be appreciated.
Nicknamed 'Baby Bling', the giving of jewellery to celebrate the birth of a child is making a come back and is most certainly a worthy way to celebrate such an exciting new journey for any family.
Browse through our collection of bespoke Celebration Rings to find the right style for you.
A Right Royal Do!
Posted Thursday 28th April 2011.
As we all know, (how could we not!) the Big Day for Kate and Wills is finally upon us, and well, it seems that we are all jolly excited.
If there is one thing the Great British public are good at, it's throwing a patriotic party. It feels like the country had been Union Jack crazy for months and we are still yet to reach the crescendo. So get ready to wave your flags in excitement as W&W make their predictions for Kate's Big Day Jewellery Decisions.
It has been highly publicised that William has opted not to wear a wedding band due to personal taste, however, we do not see Kate passing up on a piece of Bling. The rumour mill is hot with the news that her wedding ring will be made from a nugget of Walsh gold that has been in the Royal family for centuries, a traditional touch that's in keeping with the couple's style. What is for certain, is that Kate will not be opting for an out-of-the-catalogue ostentatious piece of tat that will be desperately trying to compete with the Diana sapphire!
The big question; to tiara or not to tiara? Well, the Russian Fringe diamond tiara worn by the Queen on her wedding day, and said to be a favourite of Queen Victoria and Queen Mary, has got one ardent royalist all in a fluster as she placed a bet for £6,00 at the odds of 12 to 1, which would rake in a tidy £72,000 if Kate does choose to wear it tomorrow. Talk about cashing in on the Royal Wedding! Another betting favourite is Princess Diana's Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara. It's a pity to think Kate will have ruled out a flashing LED monstrosity as seen on My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
The dress is a whole other kettle of fish! It will be British, and it will be very 'Kate', flattering her slender physique. Other than that, only tomorrow will tell!
W&W wish you a brilliant Royal Wedding weekend, and if you ever want jewels fit for a Queen, do not hesitate to get in contact.
Blossoming Brides.
Posted Thursday 14th April.
Wedding season is now upon is, and the churning of nerves and panic can be felt across the land from Brides-to-Be. Hopefully, the venue is booked, the cake ordered and the all-important perfect dress has been found. However, it's the finer details; the hair, the make-up and the bridal jewellery that usually gets left to the last minute, can cause the most headaches. Never fear, W&W are here to give a helpful guiding hand on the latest bridal trends and perfect jewellery to suit every type of bride.
Bridal themes emerging for 2011, are taking inspiration from the past. The Glamour and Glitz of Old Hollywood is a trend that works beautifully for any bride. The hair should be sleek and sassy, the make-up classic, and the jewellery glittering. This vintage pearl and diamond choker is the perfect example of Hollywood glamour. Incorporate stunning pearl and diamond earrings and you will be fit for a red carpet aisle!
The nostalgia of Vintage Romance is also a big bridal trend for 2011. Bohemian and Classical Greek influences offer brides a very natural and soft look, suitable for the summer or destination bride. Dresses are flowing and layered, the hair should be left down in lose curls, and floral motifs and headbands are the best jewellery option to embrace this trend. Why not add a personal touch to your bridal jewellery by commissioning W&W to restore or remodel an old inherited piece of jewellery that has been forgotten about and left unworn. Let us transform it into a beautiful headband or hair-slide. A Victorian Gold, Natural Pearl, and Diamond brooch was restored and adapted to create this incredibly luxurious hairpiece. Contact us to see what W&W can do to transform your old or inherited jewellery.
Overall, bridal jewellery for 2011 is very demure and classical, bold statement pieces are still on trend, but they should not be over-the-top or brash. Elegant drop pendants and vintage-inspired shapes should highlight your dress, not over-power it. If you have chosen the big dress, choose soft pearls and delicate natural motifs for your bridal jewellery, and if your dress is very simple, try vintage-inspired earrings and necklace and keep the lines clean and sleek.
We hope this soothes the stresses for those Brides-to-Be. If you need any help or advise in finding the perfect piece for your special day, do not hesitate to contact W&W and we will be more that happy to help.
Elizabeth Taylor: Jewellery Icon.
Posted Friday 25th March.
With the passing of Dame Elizabeth Taylor on Wednesday 23rd March the world has lost a Jewellery icon. Her passion for beautiful jewellery was undeniable and she was the proud owner of some of the rarest and most exquisite jewels in the world. Taylor even had her own jewellery line; House of Taylor which was in partnership with Jack and Monty Abramov of Mirabelle Luxury Concepts, and in December 2009 she opened her own store, 'Luxury Jewels of Beverly Hills'. However Elizabeth's greatest contribution to her jewellery icon status came during her marriage to Richard Burton. Burton bought diamonds of unimaginable size that even little girls couldn't dream of.
The Taylor-Burton Diamond is the most famous piece in Elizabeth Taylor's collection. A 69.42ct pear shaped diamond that Elizabeth wore as a necklace was bought by Burton for $1,050,000 in 1969 from Robert Kenmore, Chairman of the Board of Kenmore Corporations and the owners of Cartier. As a condition of the sale Cartier were allowed to show the diamond to the public in New York and Chicago and thousands flocked to see it. Elizabeth first wore it in public on November 12th 1969 when she attended Princess Grace's 40th Birthday party in Monaco. In 1978, following the divorce from Richard Burton, Elizabeth sold the diamond for $5million and used the proceeds to build a hospital in Botswana.
Other gifts from her fifth husband Richard Burton include the 33.19ct Krupp diamond ring, bought in 1968. Elizabeth wore it nearly every day and in every film since acquiring it.
For Taylor's 40th birthday in 1970, Burton bought the Taj Mahal heart-shaped yellow diamond that Taylor had fashioned into a necklace. The diamond was originally a gift given in 1621 by Shah Jahan to his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who inspired the Taj Mahal.
And not forgetting the La Peregrina Pearl, a pear-shaped drop pearl weighing 203.83 grains that was once owned by both the Spanish and English Royal families. It is one of the largest and most historic pearls in existence, not bad for a Valentine's day gift!
Also included in Elizabeth Taylor's collection, again bought by Richard Burton, are the Bvlgari emerald and diamond collection. The emerald and diamond necklace and brooch were bought as a wedding gift, to which Burton added the earrings, bracelet and a ring at later points in their marriage.
"My love affair with Jewellery is one of the great passions of my life. I enjoy the special magic that precious gems radiate, and I am fortunate to have some very important pieces of jewellery. I don't believe I own any of the pieces. I believe that I am their custodian, here to enjoy them, to give them the best treatment in the world, to watch after their safety, and to love them." - Elizabeth Taylor.
Information collected from Elizabeth Taylor's book, 'A Love Affair With Jewellery', as quoted online.
Good As Gold.
Posted Friday 18th March.
W&W would like to officially report that Gold is making its fashion comeback! We are all aware that yellow gold has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence in recent years in the shape of costume and fashion jewellery. However, it is now officially the metal of choice for precious jewellery. Gold is ditching its trashy image and slipping into something a little more luxurious and alluring, ready to seduce she who dares.
Gold has recently hit the head lines with the launch of Fairtrade and Fair-mined Gold on Februrary 14th 2011. This was not only a milestone for the jewellery industry, but a great boost for the reputation of gold. Ethically sourced and eco-conscious jewellery is big news right now, and it is good to see positive change is being to happen. Although it will still be a considerable amount of time before Fairtrade gold is available extensively across the market, please do not hesitant to contact us if you have any queries. 
It can quickly be forgotten that gold comes in three colours, and it is not just yellow gold that is becoming increasingly popular.
The soft, very delicate colour of rose gold is fast becoming a favourite in jewellery design to help materialise vintage-inspired shapes. Vintage is a trend that has been seen across both fashion and precious jewellery. Rose gold offers a very natural hue that virtually suits all skin types and compliments any outfit.
The brilliance of white gold is seen this spring in minimal contemporary designs. A sophisticated elegance is created with the addition of diamond accents, and scattered-set stones. Textures are evoked with different metal finishes; either a matt brush finish or patterned geometric texture applied to white gold is a winning combination.
For the classic yellow gold, matching gold coloured gemstones are replacing contrasting emeralds and rubies to create jewellery that resonates in a warm glow of golden bliss. Fine gold jewellery should be worn with subtly, to enhance and compliment rather than steal the show. 
W&W hope this has tantalised your taste for gold jewellery to update your spring look. Take a browse through our Jewellery Gallery to see what inspires and delights you. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss any of your jewellery queries. We have a huge variety of designs and stones that we can use to create fantastic fine jewellery.
The Oscars
Stars dazzle in platinum and diamonds on Oscars Night.
Posted Tuesday 1st March 2011.
Well, big statement jewellery has definitely been abandoned on this year's red carpet, with celebrities' favouring classic, demure but very exquisite platinum and diamond pieces that accentuate their outfits instead of over powering them.
The host for the evening, Anne Hathaway lead the way by wearing a stunning platinum & 94.29ct diamond necklace, with matching platinum & 5.13ct diamond ring and a pair of platinum & 10.15ct diamond earrings, all by Tiffany & Co. Her red Valentino dress however, received sighs of disapprovement from the style gurus at the Telegraph; Olivia Bergin described the ruffles as 'too much extra "baggage", kind of like each ruffle represented an extra hanger-on.'
We salute Amy Adams, who just missed out on the Best Supporting Actress Oscar to her 'The Fighter' co-star Melissa Leo. We loved her glittering sapphire blue dress by L'Wren Scott that streamlined her silhouette with a knockout effect. She teamed this with a platinum watch bracelet with 30.75ct of emerald & 21.5ct of diamonds and matching platinum necklace with a 33.24ct emerald & 15.38ct of diamonds, plus a pair of platinum & 2ct diamond stud earrings. Amy is also so on trend with the carved emeralds that make the central piece of her watch bracelet and the pendant of her necklace. The glyptic art of stone carving and gem sculpting has become increasingly sort after to add an extra sculptural and artistic dimension to fine jewellery. We predict that we shall be seeing a lot more carved gemstones in the 2011 trends.
Other celebrity Oscars jewels that are worth a mention include Dame Helen Mirren who was flying the flag for British design by wearing a striking steel-grey Vivienne Westwood dress, perfectly accessorised with a platinum, diamond and pearl necklace from 1907 which was entrusted to her from the Cartier Archive Museum Collection: lucky lady!
Reese Witherspoon, who played it very safe and boring in a black dress by Armani Prive, but saved herself by teaming it with a fantastic collection of jewellery, including a platinum and diamond bracelet and bangle and a platinum, diamond and emerald ring with matching earrings.
We cannot sign off without mentioning the eco-celebrity of the moment, Best Actor winner Colin Firth's wife Livia Firth, who triumphed on the red carpet wearing a dress by Gary Harvey, which was entirely created from vintage pieces all from the era of 'The King's Speech.' Every part wad recycled, repurposed and remodelled to create a stunning eco-friendly red carpet look. And she didn't just stop there! Livia pulled the big eco-guns out and has become the first celebrity to wear fair-trade fair-mined gold jewellery by Cred, and set with ethically sourced aquamarine gemstones from designer Anna Loucah. Here at W&W we fully support her remodelling efforts and offer this as a service for any of your unworn jewellery that is in need of a re-vamp.
To get your platinum and diamond Oscar look take a look at our Jewellery Gallery where we have the finest collection of pieces suiting all budget.
Or, alternatively, if you have any queries about remodelling or ethical jewellery, do not hesitate to contact us and we will happily oblige.
Check out the Professional Jeweller website for more information on celebrity jewellery at the Oscars.
London Fashion Week - Bold and Beautiful.
posted Friday 25th February 2011.
It's been an exciting week of fashion as the Autumn/Winter 2011 collections at London Fashion Week come to a close. Here at W&W we have been getting very excited by the bright, bold and rich jewel colours that were puctuating the winter country tweed. Head-to-toe sapphire blue, emerald green, ruby red and burnt orange fire opal could be seen strutting down the catwalk.
Burberry opened their show with an array of jewel-coloured world coats, whereas there was nothing but ruby read to be seen at Betty Jackson. Acne, in their very minimal stuck to aquarmarine and sapphire blue to create a cool, sleek and modern collection.
Sapphires are obviously the talk of the town since the Royal Engagement, as it shows the fashion world wants a piece of the action too. An elegant and very wearable gemstone, sapphires make for the perfect statement piece. I urge you to check out our selection of sapphire rings, along with this stunning aquarmarine and diamond dress ring, which would dazzle with any outfit.
Just Click on our Jewellery gallery to find W&W's latest sapphire, emerald and ruby pieces. If you have got something special in mind, but don't see anything that takes your fancy on the website, then contact us and we would be more than happy to design and create your ideal piece.
