Tagged with 'Pearl fashion'

One important and enduring design inspiration in jewellery is colour. The beautiful and unique qualities of a pearl and other colourful gemstones bring a unique aspect to jewellery design. At Winterson, we draw on our love of colour to create our contemporary heirlooms.

A pearl’s colour may be observed in its ‘body colour’ and ‘overtones’.  The dominant colour and shimmering surface radiance of a pearl are influenced by a number of factors. The natural tone of a host mollusc's shell, the genetic fingerprint of its tissue and epithelial cells, and the quality of its external environment, give the most significant clue to a pearl's eventual colour.



Image 1: Luna Moss Tahitian Pearl Ring
Image 2: Lily Eclipse Pearl Ring

Even then, colour remains one of the few things that the pearl culturing process cannot entirely anticipate – where nature’s unpredictability plays its most important and majestic role. Discovering a Tahitian pearl with cherry, peacock, or pistachio overtones is part of the enduring magic of working with this fascinating gem and a true design inspiration.

Matching pearls for colour and lustre – the quality of light reflected from the gem’s surface – is a job that requires morning light and an experienced eye.

At Winterson, pearl grading has been the family business for decades. For us, grading by colour is as important a value factor as grading for lustre, size and shape. Our access to and selection of high quality Akoya, Tahitian and South Sea pearls is at the heart of Winterson’s distinctive approach to designing pearl jewellery.



Image1: Classic Pear Drop Earrings in Ruby
Image 2: Luna Rose Tahitian Pearl Ring

Our designs celebrate the unique quality of a pearl’s colour, selecting precious and semi-precious stones that enhance this individual beauty, drawing out the subtle differences in every pearl.

Whilst the timeless combination of white diamonds against the rose blush of Akoya pearls will never tire, coloured stones emphasise every delicate movement in the overtone of a pearl; a grey Tahitian with steely tones responds to the languid blues of aquamarine, whereas a peacock Tahitian pearl flashes with vivid colour alongside the variegated blues of tanzanite, sapphire and blue diamond.



Image 1: Lief Earrings in Yellow Gold with Amethyst and Tahitian Pearls
Image 2: Lavender Eclipse Pearl Ring

This playfulness with colour, complementing tones in the pearl with colour in natural gemstones, is a distinguishing feature of the design inspiration behind a Winterson jewel.

To learn more about what causes a pearl's colour, read our Guide here.

The timeless beauty and versatility of pearls make them an ideal choice of wedding jewellery, with a classic style that can complement any dress.

Not only will you have a beautiful and wearable reminder of your big day, but as pearls photograph so well, you are guaranteed some incredible pictures to cherish too.

There are several factors you may wish to consider when selecting your pearls to ensure they provide the perfect finishing touch.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Unless you have a heritage piece that you are determined to wear, it is best to select your dress and any headpiece or veil you might wear, before looking at your jewellery options.

As your dress should be the main event, a ‘less is more’ approach such as with a classic Akoya pearl necklace would be wise to follow when it comes to your jewels.

There are some simple rules that are best to keep in mind. If you are wearing an elaborate headpiece, you may need to forgo wearing a necklace. But if your dress has a simply cut style, then you can be a little more daring with your jewellery.

YOUR NECKLINE

Before deciding on the type of pearl to wear, you need to establish which pieces of jewellery will work best with your dress.

Sweetheart

A short pendant or string of pearls will complement a sweetheart neckline. And while there is plenty of bare skin to play with, it is best to avoid longer chains which may lessen the impact of this stunning bridal shape. Choose a necklace of between 42 and 45cm in length.

Combine with matching earrings, or if you decide against a necklace entirely, go for more striking statement pearls for your ears, such as the Lief Enchanted Earrings in White Gold and Freshwater Pearls, designed by Alice Cicolini.

Strapless

Arguably the most versatile of necklines, strapless dresses can carry almost any type of jewellery.

While you can keep things simple with a subtle pearl choker, this neckline also offer the opportunity to go for bolder earrings or a chunkier necklace.

V-neck

This neckline is perfect for pendants. Choosing a freshwater pearl combined with a diamond will see you exuding bridal chic.

 

Alternatively, this shape also lends itself to the classic charm of a double strand or looped long pearl necklace.

CHOOSING THE TYPE OF PEARLS

It’s also important to consider the shade of your dress when choosing your gems.

Freshwater pearls are a dream match for ivory and cream wedding dresses, while Akoya pearls will complement a white gown.

Ivory and cream dresses can also be lifted by the golden tones of South Sea pearls.

MATCH YOUR METALS

If your dress is of a bright white hue there’s a chance gold embellishments will clash, so go for pearls set on white gold or platinum.

Off-whites work with both gold and silver tones, while gold jewellery can make the most of yellow undertones in ivory and cream gowns.

SOMETHING BLUE?

Depending on your colour scheme, your jewellery offers a perfect opportunity to elegantly work in your ‘something blue’.

Blue Sapphire Stud Earrings in White Gold with Akoya Pearls offer the perfect lift to a stunning bright white dress, while Sophie Breitmeyer’s Blue Sapphire and Akoya Pearl Pendant could add an ideal modern twist to a vintage inspired dress.

Discover more about buying pearls and choosing jewellery by reading our expert guides, or view the wedding collection here.

We are delighted to announce that Evangeline Armstrong is the winner of this year's Winterson Prize for the Best Use of Pearls, for a witty and playful new collection of jewellery.

For the past three years we have been supporting the students of Central Saint Martins, the influential London arts institute, with pearls and advice on working with this beautiful gem.

Every year a number of students choose pearls as the main focus for their degree show collection and this year’s candidates did not disappoint with their work, delivering an impressive array of imaginative design.

The result was an exciting and varied portfolio of exquisite pieces, ranging from the classic through to the more avant-garde.

The annual BA Jewellery Design Awards took place on Thursday 25th June at an exclusive ceremony at Central Saint Martins, London.

Joining Andrew Fraser from Winterson on a panel of leading jewellery design experts was Caroline Broadhead, Programme Director at CSM, Maia Adams, Director and Founder at Adorn Insight, and British jewellery designer and Creative Director of Winterson, Alice Cicolini, herself an MA graduate of Central Saint Martins.

Titled ‘The Daily Grind: Secret Jewellery For the City Businessman’, we loved the modern approach taken by Evangeline. Setting classic pearls in concrete, with tailored men's fashion, fully reflected the fun and expression of the story behind the jewellery.

Commenting on the views of the judges, our Creative Director Alice Cicolini said: “We were intrigued by the whole concept of making these extremely beautiful flashes of subtle classicism appear from underneath the very conservative style of men’s shirts and suits"

A great winner for this year’s prize and congratulations to Evangeline!

Watch the video above or here. To learn more about this year's competition, read the first part in our series of interviews with Evangeline Armstrong and the students at CSM.

As summer arrives, all those emerging jewellery trends that we spotted on the SS15 catwalks will start to feature high on wish lists and influence our shopping habits.

Delicately enhancing the estate jewellery seen at shows by Prada and Dolce and Gabbana, and appearing on exquisite chokers by Lanvin and Chanel, pearls look set to be a major jewellery trend again this season.

And if you have a long established desire to own some truly beautiful jewellery, now is the ideal time to consider how you would like to wear your pearls.

THE HERO PEARL

For some, pearl jewellery will mean a classic strand of pearls. Unquestionably beautiful and effortlessly elegant, a classic strand will always stand the test of time. But it is the exquisite lustre of the pearl, arguably one of nature’s most beautiful gems, that’s inspiring a whole new wave of designers to work with it.

With any ‘hero’ pearl piece, simplicity is key. One unique pearl takes centre stage and makes its statement.

Single pearls on gold bands, worn stacked or with multiple rings across fingers will be a particularly popular way to embrace this particular trend.

ESTATE JEWELLERY

Estate jewellery describes those antique and vintage pieces that also featured in many of the new season’s shows.

Delicate Georgian earrings adorned the ears of catwalk models in all shapes and sizes.

Winterson Creative Director Alice Cicolini’s 19th century inspired Beau collection takes inspiration from this quintessentially British style. Centering her designs around a modern bow pattern, she plays with the language of lustrous seed pearls, diamonds and enamelling to exquisite effect.

CHOKERS

While we saw statement, at times more flamboyant, pearl chokers from Lanvin, there were also more wearable influences taking centre stage such as those from Coach.

For anyone feeling unsure about embracing such a stand-out trend, a simple, classic pearl strand could be the perfect entry point.

Pink Freshwater or peacock green Tahitian pearls can offer an extra colour dimension to any pearl jewellery, while pure white Akoya pearls ensure that you will be able to match your new piece to almost any outfit.

RAINBOW GEMSTONES

A cascade of colour dazzled us at SS15 shows worldwide, a particular highlight for colour-lovers being Ralph Lauren’s vivid rainbow-coloured display of gemstones.

This eye-catching trend for rainbow gems looks set to stay for summer. And with such a range of colours out there, it is just a question of deciding how bright you would like to go.

Bright amethyst or blush pink tourmaline alongside pearls or diamonds are a failsafe option if you want to stay classic.

Delicate gemstone studs also embrace another current trend for mismatched or unbalanced earrings. Mix and match them and have some fun experimenting as you go.

TAHITIAN PEARLS

While some of the major design houses remain fixed on the trend for classic white pearls with yellow gold, many others showcased the Tahitian pearl.

Often known as black pearls, these gems can range from light grey to a vivid peacock green in colour, making them an eye-catching accessory to any outfit.

Winterson’s Luna Rose ring combines a striking aubergine Tahitian pearl with yellow gold and a pink sapphire, while the different tones in our Multi-coloured Tahitian Pearl Necklace reveal the true wonder of French Polynesia’s treasure gem.

This week we are delighted to launch a new collection of jewellery called Lief, which is also the old English word for "Beloved".

The newly launched Lief collection has been designed by our new Creative Director Alice Cicolini, who first began working with Winterson in 2013.

ALICE CICOLINI

Alice is a successful jewellery designer, creative commissioner and producer, with her work currently being stocked at Net-A-Porter, Dover Street Market, Urban Flower Grange Hall and Colette.

Her first collaborative collection with us called ‘Beau’ - a flamboyantly British range of seed pearl jewellery – is available exclusively at Winterson.

In her official Winterson role, Alice will be responsible for the creative conception and product development of the classic, bridal and fine jewellery collections at Winterson. She will also establish and manage our exclusive collaborations with other up and coming British designers.

Alice brings a distinctive style and influence to our jewellery that has already inspired our customers with her Beau collection, rings and earrings. We are delighted to welcome her fully to our team.

THE INSPIRATION FOR LIEF

The new Lief collection is based on the Winterson brand motif, which is inspired by a wild northern flower called Linnaea Borealis.

This little alpine twinflower is named Carl Linnaeus, a world renowned Swedish botanist who is also believed to have been the first to culture successfully a spherical cultured pearl.

Alice's designs for Lief are an exquisite fusion of colourful gemstones and diamonds with Winterson’s signature pearls. Clever interchangeable design allows the wearer to create different looks across the collection, from everyday to the more formal.

Three designs beautifully capture the essence of spring and colour and will be an exciting range of enduring classics to treasure.

LIEF, ENCHANTED AND ENTWINED

 

The new Enchanted Diamond Earrings sparkle with 36 ice clear gems and are finished in white and yellow gold. Stunning on their own, they can also be combined with a selection of our carefully chosen pearls, crafted with an 18 carat gold loop and expertly designed to fit the Lief stud earring earpost.

New elegantly understated studs also join the range with a beautiful selection of gemstones to tempt, from soft Morganite and Green Beryl, to vibrant Pink Tourmaline, Aquamarine and Amethyst. Each stud earring can be paired with white Akoya or Freshwater Drop pearls, naturally grey Tahitian pearls, or simply worn on their own.

New Entwined Pearl Stud Earrings feature wild gold leaves, entwined around a pair of white Akoya pearls and adorned with two round white sparkling diamonds.

Discover the Lief collection here.

Introducing the latest addition to the Winterson range of exquisite pearl jewellery. The Luna Ice South Sea Pearl Ring, a timeless piece of jewellery with an irresistibly modern twist. A stunning addition to any Christmas wish list.

Capturing the spirit of winter time with its highly polished 18 carat white gold setting, ice-clear diamond and stunning South Sea pearl in purest, silvery white, the new Luna Ice ring is the product of our design work with up-and-coming British jewellery talent Alice Cicolini.

Cultured in ocean waters off the coasts of Australia and Indonesia, South Sea pearls are notable for their silky lustre. The perfectly round 8.5 mm pearl in the Luna Ice ring is perfectly complemented here by the subtle sparkle of the art-deco style baguette-cut diamond set beside it.

A new contemporary design to treasure.

We are delighted to announce that the winner of the Winterson Prize for Best Use of Pearls this year is Felicia Swartling, showcasing a collection that combined imaginative sculptural elements with the freeform shapes of baroque pearls.

The CSM Jewellery Degree Show Awards took place on Thursday 19th June at Central Saint Martins. Each year this exclusive awards ceremony celebrates the new and exciting creations submitted by graduates of the influential London arts institute.

This year’s judging panel comprised Winterson Director Andrew Fraser, Caroline Broadhead, Programme Director at CSM, Maia Adams, Director and Founder at Adorn Insight, and British jewellery designer, Alice Cicolini, herself an MA graduate of Central Saint Martins.

The judges also commended Ruiyin Lin for work that drew parallels between how pearls take their form and modern materials that are constructed using 3D printing.

Commenting on the award, Winterson Director, Andrew Fraser said: ‘Felicia's work showed a well-judged appreciation of how each pearl could become an integral part of each piece, as well as being impressively accomplished at a technical level. We are delighted to award Felicia this year's Winterson Prize.'

Read more about Felicia's work in our interview here.

Thinking about what the jewellery trends later this year might be? We spot our favourite styles from the fashion catwalks of Milan, New York, Paris and London to wear and enjoy this Summer and Autumn.

BLUE IS THE COLOUR

Perhaps anticipating the warmth of the sea or a crisp clean sky, blue is the clear colour of choice this summer on the catwalk.

Think of a colour palette that ranges from bright electric to baby blue, but be sure that it is blue. Anna Sui, Dsquared2, Armani, Dior & Oscar De La Renta were just a few of the labels that will be influencing the look of this season.

In fine jewellery, we anticipate a selection of blue gemstones to match, from the deep blue of sapphires and London Blue topaz, to the mauve of spinels and the delicate pastel blue of aquamarine.

BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL

From the bold styles of last summer, jewellery designs this year continue the trend with more oversized gemstones and chains.

At Chanel, statement imitation pearls have been stretched to several centimetres in diameter. At Nina Ricci, rose quartz and malchite are worn in large rings and cuffs revealing their polished surface. Finally Balmain goes all the way with oversized chains in the form of chunky necklaces and bracelets, integrating these too in their womenswear collection.

CLASSIC PEARLS

Pearls continue to reign with a unique and effortless style that seems to complement the inventiveness and sophistication of today's catwalk.

This signature gem was playfully worn as pairs of giant headphones at Chanel, whilst models at Nicole Miller were draped with pearls layered  in varying sizes amongst chains and other beads.

Discover the new collection of earrings and pendants at Winterson this Autumn, styling aquamarine and other gemstones with the pretty white beauty of an Akoya pearl or the silvery-grey of a Tahitian pearl.

The world of the cultured pearl is always changing, with each year bringing a new set of pearl trends to discover as pearl farmers adapt their production and develop new techniques.

Our buying team recently returned from Asia with a stunning selection of the highest quality pearls for our collections of jewellery at Winterson, being carefully chosen for their lustre, colour and beauty.

But there were a few surprises too.

Here are our reflections from the visit and a prediction of pearl trends for the coming year:

SMALL SIZES…

Pearls above 11mm in diameter command a significant premium for their rarity, particularly for the highest quality South Sea and Tahitian pearls.

But this year more than ever before, we noticed that pearl sizes smaller than 7-8mm diameter, for the Akoya pearl and even seed pearls as small as 1-2mm, are very much in demand for necklaces, earrings and other types of jewellery.

Comfortable to wear and elegantly proportioned, these are the classic pearl sizes for a jewellery designer to work with.

THE EVER CHANGING FRESHWATER PEARL…

The shift in production and demand for Freshwater pearls over the past thirty years has been significant, with small cereal shaped pearls being steadily replaced by the introduction of rounder shapes, and more recently by larger nucleated pearls.

This year really is no exception. Round nucleated Freshwater pearls are now widely available in sizes above 12mm. The trend of the last few years towards large oversized baroque shapes in contemporary jewellery seems to be falling out of fashion.

Perhaps more concerning was the apparent level of processing treatment of some of the larger pearl sizes. Although designed to achieve a whiter colour, these pearls might lose their lustre over time. If in doubt, always buy from a retailer that specialises in pearls.

We only select the highest quality Freshwater pearls that we can find and we loved the dazzling metallic colours of the pearl drops above!

THE NEW WHITE IS…GOLDEN?

The boutiques and shops of Hong Kong are filled with many of the world’s luxury and fashion brands.

The Chinese home market of shoppers loves pearls and prices for high quality pearls are increasing with the growth in Asian markets.

Classic pearls that have a natural-looking white colour are the most favoured style, but it is the luxurious golden South Sea pearl, with its rich tones of champagne, gold and burnt orange, that is the most highly sought after pearl this year.

PREDICTION FOR 2014

The world of pearls is so varied that it is difficult, almost impossible, to summarise one single prediction for this organic gem next year.

Perhaps the most exciting trend is the popularity of small sizes - we are going to see more jewellery designers working with classic white pearls in many subtle, intricate and intriguing ways in 2014.

Laura Whitmore, brand ambassador at Pond's Institute and immaculate host of ITV2's 'I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! Now!', last week hosted an exclusive event for 100 press and VIPs at the Victoria & Albert Museum's Pearls Exhibition.

We were delighted to be asked to help celebrate the event with Laura wearing a selection from our finest Akoya pearl range of jewellery.

The Akoya pearl is a traditional type of saltwater pearl, that is cultured in oysters in coastal waters near Japan, China and Vietnam. The Akoya is particularly well-known for its sharp lustre, perfect round shape and tinted pink overtone.

The guests were treated to an interview by Laura Whitmore about Pond's and pearls with Caroline Neville, followed by a private tour of the Pearl Exhibition to see the pieces on display there and learn about the iconic status that this amazing gem has held throughout history.

The pearl jewellery on show included Marilyn Monroe's necklace of Akoya pearls, which was famously bought for her in Japan by her husband Joe DiMaggio in 1954, and a pair of Bulgari pearl drop pendant earrings worn by Elizabeth Taylor.

An explanation of how pearls are cultured today introduced a number of showcase pieces of Akoya pearl jewellery by Mikimoto, including a flamboyant scarf of over 5000 pearls that was just pure showbiz.

As well as the elegant Akoya Pearl Bracelet, pictured below, Laura also wore our Amber Eclipse Pearl Ring which is an open ring design of 18 carat yellow gold, that has been finished with a square-cut orange sapphire gemstone set facing a white Akoya pearl.

Laura also wore our new Beau Seed Pearl and Diamond Ring with Yellow Gold, designed by Alice Cicolini. With seed pearls, a diamond knot and a flamboyant bow, this eye-catching ring will be coming soon to Winterson with the launch of Alice's Beau Collection.

Thank you to Laura Whitmore and Pond's Institute for hosting the event.