Tagged with 'Treat yourself'

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.

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.

With summer drawing to a close, we look ahead on the catwalk  to some of the key jewellery trends for Autumn Winter 2013.

Two old favourites - rock and roll chains and statement rings - rocked the catwalks with a thrilling range of Ready to Wear fashions that referenced punks and queens alike.

Versace led the rebels with its ‘Vunk’ catwalk show of glamour punk. The model Kate Moss starred as the face of the campaign, surrounded by glossy black PVC, studs and metal spikes.

Amongst the royals, Queen Elizabeth I was honoured with a theatrical and contemporary revival of her wardrobe by Alexander McQueen. Corsets, hoop skirts, cages, embroidery, feathers and pearls created a stunningly beautiful journey into the opulence and design of the 19th century.

ROCK AND ROLL CHAINS

Chanel marked its Ready to Wear show at Paris Fashion Week with the remake of a signature accessory – the link chain. Reminiscent of the styling of the traditional strap of a Chanel bag, the white metal links were connected into oversized chains, layered or woven with velvet and other materials.

In a colour palette of black, grey or white, nearly every Chanel model was accessorised with a chain in the form of a necklace or choker, a bracelet, or wearing black leather boots enlaced with chain.

Lanvin also indulges in stacked chains in this season’s collection, made of white and yellow metal. The bold large links were connected in an abundance of chains, layered with variable lengths and sizes and completed with a chunky and youthful pendant expressing words such as Cool, Love and Happy.

STATEMENT RINGS

For Autumn Winter 2013, fashion house Christian Dior collaborated with The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts to imprint an artistic influence throughout its catwalk show. The jewellery was feminine and graphic, with single earrings and layered statement rings.

One of Dior’s most classic looks is inspired by the iridescent pearl. In this new collection, oversized faux pearls rings were set in rings protruding with colourful geometric shapes. As an assemblage, they emulated a contemporary piece of art, perhaps inspired by the work of surrealist artists such as Joan Miró.

The rings at Chloé were also not for the fearful. Angular or bluntly round, metallic or organic, Chloe’s expressive brass rings accessorised a utilitarian, almost military, collection.

JEWELLERY TRENDS FOR AUTUMN WINTER 2013

This season has moved on from last season’s long rope necklaces and hoop earrings and is proudly bold and rock and roll.

We are very excited to have recently launched a new range of leverback earrings at Winterson. This interchangeable earring system is an elegant and beautiful way to wear pearls.

The three main classic earring designs include the stud, the hoop and the drop earring. The leverback earring is a type of hoop design, consisting  of a small hoop that is worn through a pierced earlobe.

Unlike the main hoop design, the leverback earring also has the extra safety benefit of a closure system, whereby the back of hoop has a hinged lever that can be easily clicked open and closed.

With this safety mechanism, leverback earrings tend to be popular with luxurious designs that feature precious stones, particularly with diamonds. The gemstones might be set on the front of the earring in sparkling micro-pave or with claws for larger stones.

Although these earrings can be worn on their own, leverback earrings are most popularly worn with a precious stone or pearl that dangles from the hoop below the earlobe. The combination creates an elegant drop earring that makes these earrings an ideal choice for chic evening wear.

Our leverback system also offers the possibility of choosing the style of gemstone or pearl to wear with each earring. This interchangeable design is very attractive as it gives the wearer a degree of flexibility in matching the same earring to a new outfit.

A pair of pearls fitted with small loops, shown above, are slipped simply on and off the open earring.

At Winterson our new collection of leverback pearl earrings are finished with diamonds in a choice of 18 carat white, yellow or rose gold. The prettiest of Akoya pearls, drop shaped Freshwater pearls, exotic peacock Tahitian pearls and golden South Sea pearls complete the final look.

If you would like purchase an additional pair of pearls with your earrings, then please select these from our Leverback Collection page or at checkout.

Whilst a single strand necklace of white pearls might be a sign of understated elegance, a multi strand pearl necklace layered with large, luxurious pearls will always turn up the glamour.

Some of our most popular, powerful and loved women have chosen to wear this type of necklace with its legendary style.

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, pictured above, was frequently setting the style of the moment with her triple strand of faux pearls. In this famous series of images of her in India in 1962, the First Lady is wearing a princess length triple row necklace, with an apricot silk dress and long white gloves.

Layering long mixed strands of pearls, chains and other stones has not only been a sign of jewellery fashion in recent years, but also consistently throughout history.

This beautiful portrait of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Duchess of York, by Hungarian painter Philip Alexius de László in 1925 shows the Queen Mother wearing a long pearl necklace with three strands of pearls.

The necklace lays elegantly across the shoulders, with the Duchess holding the longest strand in her right hand, as if telling us of her affection for these lustrous gems.

Perhaps the most famous multi strand necklace of recent times is Holly Golightly's famous five strand pearl necklace in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Although the pearls used for this statement necklace were imitation, the flattering effect of layering pearl strands captured the public's imagination and continues to be in vogue today.

At Winterson, we offer two styles of multi strand pearl necklace.

Our Triple Strand Freshwater Pearl Necklace with Diamond Clasp is made with the prettiest of round to near round freshwater white pearls, graduated from 4 to 8.5 millimeters in diameter. The pearl matching is excellent and the lustrous gems are held in position with a sparkling 18 carat white gold diamond clasp.

Worn with a fitted pencil dress, this graduated pearl necklace will effortlessly create an elegant vintage look.

For a versatile multi-strand necklace, our Long White Freshwater Pearl Rope Necklace with Silver can be worn long in a single strand, like a flapper necklace, but may also be twisted two or three times around the neckline. With three twists, this choker length multi strand pearl necklace can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion.

It's time to drop a few subtle hints for Christmas and perhaps nudge them in the right direction, so we have selected a few of our favourite pieces of pearl jewellery from our collections for you to send as a reminder.

There are many different designs, types of pearls and colours to choose from. Timeless in style and always beautiful to wear, a carefully chosen gift of pearls will always be loved for a lifetime.

AKOYA PEARL AND DIAMOND PENDANT

New to Winterson this Christmas, is an elegant single white pearl and diamond pendant necklace. The most traditional of cultured pearls, the white Akoya pearl has a beautiful lustre to match the sparkle of its diamond.

 RUBY AND AKOYA PEARL STUD EARRINGS

These colourful earrings feature a circle of pink rubies set in 18 carat white gold around a white Japanese Akoya pearl. Designed by Sophie Breitmeyer, each stud earring is less than 10mm in diameter and are easy to wear and very comfortable.

 TAHITIAN PEARL AND DIAMOND YELLOW GOLD RING

Sparkling round brilliant cut diamonds showcase the gorgeous colours of this beautiful Tahitian pearl. This contemporary ring features a grey saltwater Tahitian pearl, which has been cultured in the warm ocean waters of French Polynesia.

CLASSIC AKOYA PEARL NECKLACE, BRACELET AND EARRINGS SET

A beautiful set of matched white Akoya pearls, finished with either an 18 carat white or yellow gold clasp. These classic cultured pearls from Japan are adored for their exquisite lustre and effortless elegance.

All our jewellery is delivered in our signature gift-wrapped jewellery box and pouch, with its distinctive classic zigzag pattern. The box is sealed with our coral Winterson flower and would be a delightful gift to be opening this Christmas.

If you would like to learn more, browse through the other gift suggestions of pearl jewellery in our new Christmas Gift Guide or view our Collections.

With a heritage of working with pearls for over 50 years, one of the most frequent questions that we are asked at Winterson is what are the best pearls to buy. In this article we look at the most popular types of pearls and some tips to consider.

The classic pearl

The most popular image of the pearl is the classic round white pearl, draped in long elegant flowing strands, worn as a pretty stud earring or as a symbolic piece of jewellery for a new bride.



Image: Classic Akoya Pearl Jewellery Set

These styles will always be fashionable and versatile, but there are many other wonderful colours, sizes and shapes of pearls to buy. Before making a decision, it can be worthwhile exploring a little more about this beautiful gem.

Types of pearls

There are four main types of cultured pearl, including Freshwater pearls and three types of saltwater pearl known as Akoya pearls, Tahitian pearls and South Sea pearls.

Their size can range from as little as 1.5mm in diameter to as much as 20mm in diameter, with round, drop, oval and asymmetric baroque shapes. Their natural colours can include creamy whites, pastel shades of pink, peach and apricot, cooler hues of silver, grey, blue, purple and black and the warm opulence of gold.

Image: Freshwater and Saltwater Pearl Shapes

Each pearl will also have been carefully cultured in a mussel or oyster for between 6 months and 3 years and their quality, uniqueness and rarity will increase their value. The difference in price between a small pearl with poor lustre and a perfectly round, excellent lustre pearl can be significant.

Is there a best pearl to buy?

There really is no straightforward answer as to 'what are the best pearls to buy' or 'what are the best pearls in the world'. If you are thinking of purchasing or wearing a piece of pearl jewellery, our advice would be to always consider the grading of the pearl, particularly its lustre, and how the design of the jewellery complements the pearl.

Pearl grading

Choose a piece of pearl jewellery that has been graded by an expert. There are several different grading systems used across the industry. We use the GIA Pearl Description System to describe the pearls in our jewellery, as this is one of the best known and reputable.

We also contract an independent organisation called Feefo to ask all our customers for their genuine feedback on each purchase from Winterson. This feedback is unedited by us and is published on our and Feefo's websites, acting as a marker of the quality you can expect from a Winterson pearl.

Do be careful when no information about a pearl is presented or when a pearl is described as being of AAAA quality.

The importance of lustre

Lustre is a grading factor that is used to describe how a pearl reflects light from its surface. This is one of a pearl's best qualities and is quite unlike any other gem. The best pearls to buy should have lustre that is sharp and mirror-like, catching the light and the eye.

Image 1: Freshwater Drop Pearl and Diamond Pendant in White Gold
Image 2: White Gold Diamond Leverback And Akoya Pearl Earrings

One of our favourite pearls is the classic Akoya pearl, which is admired for its stunning lustre, as shown above with our Leverback earrings.

Beautiful jewellery design

Our third recommendation would be to choose a design that shows off the best features of the pearl. For example, we love the way that our Luna Rose Tahitian Pearl and Sapphire Ring, pictured above, contrasts the round shape and unusual aubergine colour of the Tahitian pearl with the rectangular shape and candy colour of the pink sapphire gem.

Using colourful gemstones to draw out the pearl’s myriad overtones is one technique that we use at Winterson. You can read more about our design inspirations and how we work with colour here.

If you have any questions about the best pearls to buy, our jewellery or our website, our Customer Care team would be happy to help you. Or learn more about the different Types of Pearls in our Guide to Buying Pearls here.

We are thrilled to be announcing a new design collaboration with Alice Cicolini, a London-based jewellery designer, curator and author.

We have been working with Alice throughout this year to develop our new collection of pearl rings, which has just launched at Winterson. The collection features classic Akoya, South Sea and Tahitian pearl rings with diamonds and colourful gemstones, set in 18 carat gold.

Alice is best known for her beautiful and unique jewellery, which is inspired by the enamel traditions of Persia and the patterns and traditions of the Silk Route. Her pieces are handmade in India to the highest quality of craftsmanship, using an artisanal technique of placing enamel onto metal called meenakari.

This traditional enamelling style originated in the courts of Persia and was established in the early 1600s in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Colourful layers of enamel are laid into grooves in the metal and fired individually to build up a complex and intricate pattern that can turn a piece of jewellery into a work of art. Often this detail might only be visible to the wearer.

Alice's Silk Route, Jodhpur and Silver Tile jewellery collections combine vivid reds, yellows, pinks, blues and greens and are quite wonderful to see. The new hoop earrings (pictured above) from a new collection called Orbital feature enamelled 22ct gold and shimmering white opals.

A background as a former Director Arts & Culture for the British Council in India, a graduate of Central Saint Martins in London and an author on contemporary British dandyism, give some clues to Alice's love for fashion and creative design. She has exhibited at Somerset House and Sotheby's in London, as well as curating a number of international exhibitions on design.

Enamelling was also a favourite technique of the Art Nouveau jewellers such as Lalique and Fabergé around 1900. Around this same time seed pearls were very popular, being used to decorate brooches, bows and earrings.

What might be possible today?

Inspired by the tradition and combination of these classic materials, the new Alice Cicolini collection for Winterson will be launched in Autumn 2013.