Tagged with 'Winterson'

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.

Congratulations to Bella Mung, the winner of the Winterson Prize 2013 for the Best Use of Pearls.

Announced yesterday evening at Central Saint Martins, London, Bella was awarded the prize for her contemporary and often humorous exploration of the use of pearls in everyday fashion.

There were many pieces of a high standard in the CSM BA Jewellery Design Class 2013, including Claudia Rice's collection of historically inspired jewellery and Simeï Iréne Snyman's ambiguous fantasy garden of ceramic food.

The judges, which included CSM course leader Caroline Broadhead and designer Alice Cicolini, however, loved the detailed development of Bella's concepts throughout the last year.

Initially exploring the idea of the hidden shape and form of a necklace beneath a garment, inspired by her mother's jewellery, Bella playfully extended the concept to using pearls in different pieces of attire.

These often amusing and sometimes peculiar pieces of fashion included a pearl necklace that transformed into a tie, a hoody with its suggestion of pearls and a pair of gentlemen's pearl-studded brogues.

The stand-out piece was this pearl necklace (above) that was transfixed like the wearer's hair blowing in the wind. The considered shape and graduation of the necklace was perfect.

We asked Bella about her inspiration and plans for the future:

Tell us about yourself.

I studied the foundation of art and design in Los Angeles and found out I am very interested in the jewellery field.

What was the inspiration for this piece?

I love the way my mother wears her mother's silver chain half hidden by her clothes and half shown. I copy the way she does this by combining a pearl necklace with everyday wear.

What's next for you?

I will be doing an internship in BLESS after I graduate and applying for an MA degree at the Royal College of Art in 2014.

Name one jewellery toolbox essential that you can’t live without.

My Pearl knotter.

We are delighted to announce a very special collaboration in Pearls with the BA Jewellery Design course at Central Saint Martins (CSM), London.

Central Saint Martins ranks amongst the most influential arts institutes in the world. It has the reputation for being the home of creativity. The College exists to generate knowledge, to inspire creativity and develop the next generation of ambitious designers, artists and performers. CSM attracts the world’s most talented students. Drawn from over 90 countries the students represent some of the world’s most exciting raw talents.

What will we be doing with CSM this year?

Firstly, we have been working with a selection of Year Three BA Jewellery Design students so that they have a fantastic opportunity to be given free rein to produce a stunning piece of jewellery using pearls. With our own heritage of over 50 years of knowledge and experience of working with pearls, we hope this collaboration will be a great experience for these soon-to-be graduates.

In June, Winterson will be awarding a prize for the Best Use of Pearls at the Jewellery Awards evening on 20th June 2013 during the Central Saint Martins degree shows.

Secondly, the Year One BA Jewellery Design students at CSM are working in conjunction the upcoming Pearls exhibition to be held at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), the world famous museum of art and design, in the Autumn later this year. The exhibition explores the history of pearls from the early Roman Empire through to the present day, the beauty and allure of pearls which across centuries and cultures have long been associated with wealth, royalty and glamour.

Following an introductory talk by the exhibition's curator Beatriz Chadour, the students will be investigating the historic and cultural significance of pearls and their contemporary relevance and versatility. In addition they will be given a handling session at the V&A and experimenting directly with pearls in the workshops.

We will also be supporting these students with a range of pearls to work with. The results will be shown at the V&A on the Pearls exhibition Study Day, alongside a How to Wear Pearls event, which the students will be hosting.

It's a truly great privilege to be working with these two highly respected institutions of design.

Follow our Journal or Facebook page to keep up to date with how the collaboration develops this year.

Modernism characterised the style of 1920s jewellery, inspiring design even today with its bold, geometric lines and forms.

Following the end of World War I, this decade saw increasingly prosperous times and technological advances. Most of the creative arts sought a break from the past and looked for new directions.

In fashion, it was the decade of the Roaring Twenties with working women wearing more comfortable and practical clothes with slim, streamlined designs. Jewellery was also no exception with a number of important changes and developments.

BAUHAUS AND ART DECO

In the 1920s jewellery broke away from the romantic and elaborate, natural forms and arabesque designs of the Art Nouveau movement of 1890-1910 (during the "Belle Epoque").

In this new decade, jewellery was stripped back bare to its geometric shapes.

Aesthetic clean lines were inspired by designs found in industrial machines. A key influence of this modernism was the influential Bauhaus movement, with its philosophy of form following function.

Contrasting textures and colour were also in fashion. Examples of changing tastes in design were the use of diamonds being set against onyx or translucid citrines and amethysts juxtaposed against opaque coral and jade.

COSTUME JEWELLERY

Fashion designer Coco Chanel broke away from real gemstones with cheaper glass products. The Maison Gripoix, which still exists today, was an early partner for Coco Chanel in creating a range of glass jewellery. The iconic long pearl rope necklace was a signature piece of faux jewellery created at the time.

Josephine Baker, pictured below at the Folies Bergères in Paris, was an icon for the new Art Deco movement, with her fearless style, slicked down hair and bold earrings, oversized rings and ropes of pearls.

Glass jewellery was still expensive and only became affordable in the 1930s with injection-plastic moulding techniques. But Coco Chanel, by stepping into the world of faux jewellery, in effect launched a future industry of costume jewellery.

MACHINE-CUT GEMSTONES

Until the 1920s, gemstones were hand-cut and hand-polished. With the latest developments in machinery, it also became possible to machine-cut and polish gemstones, generating sharp lines and edges, sparkling facets and complicated new gemstone cuts.

The rectangular baguette-cut became hugely popular around this time, as it complemented the geometric designs of the day.

Jewellery of the 1920s then was an innovative period that would become notable for its stunning, daring design.

At Winterson our Luna Rose Tahitian Pearl Ring evokes the 1920s jewellery style of this creative period. The gold shank of the ring has a geometric, solid shape and an angular, baguette cut pink sapphire.

The unusual aubergine colour of its Tahitian pearl, however, would have been unknown in the 1920s and is perhaps entirely modern too.

Our buying team returned this week from Hong Kong with a new selection of fine pearls for our jewellery collections.

Hong Kong is the centre of the pearl business today, with dealers and pearl farmers from around the world sorting and selecting through the best (and the worst) of the new season's harvest of cultured pearls.

The size of this jewellery show also makes it one of the biggest in the world, with over 42,000 buyers from 140 different countries. Finished jewellery, brands and designers exhibit alongside the glittering distraction of rows upon rows of diamonds, precious gemstones and pearls.

With three main jewellery fairs in Hong Kong a year, the March and June exhibitions are the best time to view and select from the new harvest. This is because most pearls are harvested when the water is cool. Colder temperatures are believed to improve the quality of the lustre of the pearl.

Most sellers in the main part of the jewellery fair are wholesalers, but a number of the big pearl farmers and trade groups from the pearl producing regions of Tahiti, Australia and Indonesia also hold auctions by invitation to try and obtain the best prices for their new harvest.

In high demand this year were golden pearls from Myanmar, famed for their deep rich, burnt orangey golden colour. Prices for some pearls were reported to be reaching 5-8 times the seller's asking prices.

This is where it can take years of experience to be able to select a lot of fine pearls from the many others, recognising the excellent quality of nacre that gives the exceptional Akoya pearls above their mirror like shine, or the telltale signs of when a pearl's lustre is fading.

A typical pearl auction is held in a large quiet room away from the bustle of the main jewellery fair. Perhaps up to 300 or 400 different lots of loose pearls are arranged in bowls along long tables. Each lot will be comprised of between a few hundred to 5,000 individual pearls, sorted by shape, colour and quality, but usually mixed by size.

Buyers select a bowl that they are interested in, ask for it to be weighed and then search for a clear table with good, natural daylight to look at the pearls in each lot.

Sorting through such a large group of pearls such as the one above can be a daunting and rewarding challenge. It is important to think about the eventual use of the pearls in jewellery, their various grading qualities in terms of lustre, shape, colour and surface. Higher quality pearls will be used for earrings and pendants, whilst slightly less perfect pearls tend to be made into necklaces.

If everything looks good, the final stage of the auction is to make a sealed bid. A price in Japanese yen, dollars or euros (depending on the particular auction) is written on a small ticket and dropped into a ballot-like box.

A short wait follows, until the auction closes, before it is possible to see if your bid is ultimately successful.

Amongst our immediate favourites from this trip's selection were the beautiful dark Tahitian pearls picture above, with their gorgeous natural colours of peacock purple, cherry, aubergine, blue and green.

Over the next few months, we will be introducing these gems to Winterson.

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.

Dinner with Patron and Olympic medallist Tom Daley on a cold November's evening in London was just one of the highlights of the The Brain Tumour Charity's 15th anniversary Gala Dinner last week.

The Brain Tumour Charity is the leading brain tumour charity in the UK and was set up 15 years ago in memory of Samantha Dickson, who was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 14. Her parents, Neil and Angela Dickson, set up the charity to make a difference after finding there was no dedicated brain tumour charity in the UK and a dire need of funding for research and support.

To date, the charity has raised over £12 million of funds solely from volunteers and donors, which has allowed it to sponsor research into new diagnosis and treatments, provide support to patients and their families, and to improve information about this critical illness.

The charity's most recent campaign Headsmart is raising awareness of how professionals and the public can improve the diagnosis of childhood brain tumours in the UK. One year on, the campaign has shown that diagnosis times have already been reduced from 9.3 weeks to 7.5 weeks, with a target of 5 weeks now in reach.

Speaking about the last 15 years, and their achievement in building the work of The Brain Tumour Charity into the UK's dedicated brain tumour charity, Neil and Angela Dickson said "we are proud of our work over the last fifteen years but remain resolute in our determination to find new treatments and diagnosis techniques for brain tumours."

We are really delighted to be able to help support this hardworking and professional team in the important work that they do.

If you would like to help or fundraise for The Brain Tumour Charity, then more information can be found on their website. Thank you.

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.

With the new season, and the arrival of our new ranges of pearl jewellery this Autumn, comes the addition of high definition video to Winterson.

 

Pearls are uniquely beautiful gems, but their round reflective qualities also present some technical challenges for luxury jewellery photographers. To complement the exquisite still photography of our jewellery, this Autumn we have also introduced short video clips of some of our most best selling pieces of pearl jewellery.

 

These videos, shot at the highest quality in a professional studio, are displayed online on the Winterson website, in a choice of high or standard definition and are viewable or a desktop, tablet or mobile device. Each video is shot without enhancement, under specialist lighting conditions, and we hope conveys an alternative close-up and three dimensional view of our pearl jewellery to our customers.

 

Pearls are a favourite choice of jewellery for the autumn, with their colours making them a perfect accompaniment to autumn fashion. Here are three of our favourite earrings from the collections at Winterson.

 

Cultured Tahitian pearls are one of the most beautiful types of pearl in the world. Their dark natural colours sets them apart from the traditional notion of a white pearl and this pair of Pearl and Diamond Earrings will work with many outfits.

Grey Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Stud Earrings with 18ct Gold

 

Last year we launched a colourful collection of Akoya Pearl and Gemstone jewellery with Sophie Breitmeyer. Akoya pearls are one of the most traditional of white pearls, having been first cultured in Japan. These blue sapphire Akoya pearl and drop earrings has been one of the firm favourites.

Blue Sapphire and Akoya Pearl Drop Earrings with 18ct Gold

 

A second piece of jewellery from Sophie Breitmeyer's block colour range for Winterson, the pink ruby gemstones in this pair of Akoya Pearl Earrings truly sparkle in the video clip. These earrings are also available with a matching pendant.

Ruby and Akoya Pearl Stud Earrings with 18ct Gold

 

We will be adding further videos over the coming weeks to our jewellery collections, including our new range of Pearl Rings. If you have a question regarding the video clips, please do contact us.

Launching this Autumn at Winterson, our new collection of Pearl Rings celebrates the enchanting beauty and subtle luxury of the pearl.

One of the earliest forms of adornment by women, the ring has taken many forms since its ancient beginnings as a simple band of silver or gold. Today the ring is one of our most precious pieces of jewellery, with the symbolism of a wedding ring or the fashionable drama of an eye-catching cocktail ring.

Before diamonds became forever associated with engagement rings, rings made with natural freshwater and saltwater pearls were also the romantic and popular choice of gemstone for a new bride.

The inspiration for the designs of the first pieces in this collection of pearl rings was to celebrate this heritage with a simple classic, and contemporary design. Each ring is crafted in Britain from 18 carat white or yellow gold, with the band of the metal having a angular sharpness to its outside edge whilst being rounded on the inside for comfort.

Set into the beautifully proportioned shoulders of the gold ring are two types of saltwater pearls. The first is a round white Akoya pearl, a classic pearl that is much admired for the quality of its lustre and shine. The second type of pearl chosen for the collection is a Tahitian pearl, which has a naturally grey colour with overtones of light green and pink.

Set into yellow gold, with a sparkling trio of white round brilliant cut diamonds on either side, the Tahitian Pearl and Diamond Yellow Gold Ring is already a firm favourite at Winterson.

All the rings are now available for order in a standard UK size M, which is a standard 6¼ size in the United States. It is possible for each ring design to be be resized to accommodate most ring sizes. Please contact us for more details if you would like some more information about ring sizes.