John Lewis - my picks of new and vintage

Hola, lovely jewellery lovers. Happy Mother's Day to all the mums out there. I hope you've had a smashing day. I certainly have :) 

Today I have decided to have a look at and share my picks from John Lewis online. I decided to do this when looking on the website for new baby gifts for my little sister. 

John Lewis has two jewellery sections; jewellery, and VINTAGE jewellery. You know how much I love vintage, so this is going to be fun. I'll start in the "new" jewellery section and end on vintage. There are an astounding 3,447 pieces to look at, just in the "new" section, so let's get started...! 

[note - I've posted about John Lewis items before and I'm not going to repeat myself - please check out my tags for other desirable items from JL].

Necklaces: 

1. Astley Clarke Colour // 18 carat gold vermeil multiple disc long necklace // £195  
2. Alex Monroe // 22 carat gold plated lolite baby bluebell pendant necklace // £108. 
2. Kojis // Graduated freshwater pearl necklace in white and pink // £350. 
3. Jou Jou // Rose quartz and silver ball double strand necklace // £49.50. 


Bracelets: 

1. Auren // 22 carat gold vermeil hexagonal gemstone bracelet // £69. 
2. Orelia // gold tone metal and and cubic zirconia arrow bangle // £18. 
3. Finesse // rose gold plated Pom Pom bangle // £55. 

Earrings: 

1. London Road // 9 carat rose gold moonstone bubble studs // £175. 
2. London Road // 9 carat rose quartz and pearl Burlington drop earrings // £330. 

Ring:

1. A B Davis // 9 carat gold flexi ring, slim // £85. 

VINTAGE:: 

Sharon Mills // 9 carat gold ruby and cultured pearl cocktail ring // £485. Just look at this vintage beauty. Yes it's "out there", yes it's extravagant, but what else do you need from a cocktail ring? This is one to wear on special occasions with that black cocktail dress. 

Alice Joseph Vintage // 1980s Grosse gilt filigree glass stone clip on earrings // £140. The detailing in these 1980s beauties is just superb. The green glass appears to have a marble and opalescent look to it. I particularly like the twisted rope-type part that goes around the outside of each earring. 

Alice Joseph Vintage // 1980s Yves Saint Laurent pink Swarovski crystal clip on earrings // £300. How I long for these YSL earrings to hang from my ears. I've had my eye on these for a while but I just cannot afford them, they are just utter perfection. Sigh. 

Eclectica // 1960s gold plated enamel bangle // £115. I can't make up my mind whether the enamelling looks like peacock feathers, koi scales, or something else, but whatever they look like, the enamelling is stunning. It has a Japanese feel about it, do you think?

Susan Caplan // 1950s gold plated seagrass collar necklace // £95. As far as collars go, this one is one of the best. Described as seagrass, this collar is unusual and very much a statement piece. Classic. 

Eclectica // 1980s Monet gold plated elephant brooch // £65. How adorable is this elephant and pearl brooch?! I am really starting to enjoy brooches and John Lewis has a fabulous selection, most of which are vintage. This one is my favourite of the lot & I think it's the pearl that I like so much, along with the little "bell" under his belly. 

Alice Joseph Vintage // 1990s Elizabeth Taylor for Avon gilt rose brooch // £185. This brooch is over the top and I think it's brilliant. It is the epitome of Avon in the 90s and it's spectacular. Worn on a black coat, this would stand out beautifully. 

Eclectica // 1980s miracle gold plated dagger brooch // £60. When I look at this it reminds me of the Guerlain loose kohl powders [I'll add a photo] which makes me love it even more. If only it opened and had a secret something inside. This looks luxurious and special. 

There we have it folks, all my favourites from John Lewis online. I could have picked a few more, but I wanted to be semi-selective. I think there are some proper treasures here and maybe something for everyone [although my tastes are definitely on the more eccentric end of the scale]. 

I hope you've all had a lovely Sunday and that your week follows suit. 

Thanks for reading, 

L. x

Wedding sneak peak - my earrings

Happy Sunday fellow jewellery lovers. I am having a really hard time picking out the perfect jewellery for the wedding. My jewellery is very important to me [obviously] so making the right choices for our big day is daunting. 

I was originally looking for something classic; pearls, diamonds, rose quartz... but after hours, and hours [literally, many hours] of searching, over many, many months I purchased some earrings on a whim, from a brand that I'd been coveting but had not actually bought anything from before - Les Nereides. I know, I can hear the gasps, it's risky, but ladies and gents... it paid off! 

I took a risk with these; I'd never seen anything from Les Nereides in the flesh, so they could have looked cheap and plasticky. Thank goodness that they look quite the opposite. Here is what the website showed me... 

And here are mine... [in a vintage box that one of my wedding rings came in]

Aren't they amazing?! Yes, yes they are. They are weighty [in a good way], the enamelling is beautiful, the stone sparkles and is vivid in colour. They are going to look amazing with my floral crown. I'm not a confident person, so these little touches will help me to feel special on the day. Here is a picture of me wearing one of them... [excuse my dry ears, please] and it helps to show that they are actually a lot smaller than they look. 

So there we have it. My wedding earrings. I'm seriously considering buying a bracelet or two from Les Nereides to tie the look together. I don't have to worry about a necklace, so the bracelets are all that's left. Phew! 

L. 

Saturday brings us snake rings

Happy Saturday! I have a poorly boyfriend today, so instead of swanning around and eating brunch, we are relaxing in front of the TV. This means, of course, that I can write a lovely post on one of my favourite ring designs... snake rings! 

Snakes... according to Wikipedia, the snake [or serpent] is one of the oldest and most widespread mythological symbols. They represent dual expression of good and evil. They are also used as fertility symbols in many cultures; the shedding of their skin is symbolic of rebirth, healing, etc. Snakes have also been used as guardians of sacred spaces such as temples. They also have their place in the history of medicine and are associated with healing, immortality, and poison [obviously]. Here's one that we all know about - snakes are connected with vengefulness and vindictiveness. 

The Victorians loved the symbol of the serpent and snake jewellery really took off when Queen Victoria was proposed to with a snake ring. Her ring featured two snakes entwined with an emerald. Sadly this ring was never photographed and she was buried with it, so we can only guess at what it looked like. The popularity of 'snake jewellery' peaked in the 1840s, and became popular again during the Art Nouveau period. 

I won't go on, however much I'd love to [because it's so very fascinating], but if you're interested in this sort of thing have a look on Google, there's lots to read. 

This is what you're really here for [I guess]... some of my favourite snake rings. 

Two-headed snake ring by Erica Weiner $400 - $675  

From EW's 1909 collection, this two-headed snake ring is the right combination of snake and delicate. It comes in yellow gold and with no stones, red diamond eyes, or white diamond eyes [see price ranges at the beginning]. Perfection in a snake ring! 

Vintage snake ring by Zara Taylor £12

Sadly this beauty is made from brass, hence the price tag, but it has such wonderful detailing that I couldn't leave it out. 

Snake ring by Momocreatura £187

This ring is not currently available from Momocreatura, but it is in stock at Boticca [I've never purchased from here]. I couldn't leave it out because it's rather special. It comes with different coloured eyes and doesn't it look ah-mazing stacked?? 

Gold and white sapphire snake ring by Julia Failey £296.50

I just saw this one when I was looking at the Momocreatura ring so it's a bit of a cheat entry because it isn't one I've had my eye on previously, but with those white sapphire eyes I couldn't not add him into the list. 

Snake tail ring in sterling silver with rubies by Michelle Chang £70.97

This is one of my all-time favourites. I love the way the tail is in the mouth and the softness of the metal make it look very modern and wearable. 

Twisted snake by Makri £currently unavailable 

This ring by Makri is a work of art. I'll show you the front and the back because it's intricate and beautiful. 18k pink gold with white diamonds and rubies. I HEART this ring. 

Victorian 14k gold persian turquoise snake ring Vintage $645 

A real-life Victorian ring - oh my! 

Snake ring by Grace Lee Designs $385 

I love how delicate this one is, it'd be perfect for stacking and great for every-day wear. Once again this one has diamond eyes. A popular feature of the snake ring. 

Serpent ring by Pamela Love $1,300 

This one is a little more of a luxury item at that price, but it's stunning. Seriously, look at that tri-stack! Swoooon. 

Anyway, there you have it - Snake rings! I hope you see something you like and if you have some snake-inspired rings, or any snake jewellery, please comment and let me know! 

Thanks for reading, 

L. x

Friday night is alright - Fine jewellery auction at Sotheby's.

We're chilling out with some America sweets that I got from a new sweet shop on my way home from work and watching some new American horror series on Netflix. Of course I am also skipping through the pages of the Internet, looking at sparkly things. What is it tonight, you ask? Well, let me share... 

SOTHEBY'S! Yes! Auctions. They have a fine jewellery auction coming up and seriously, these jewels could not be more beautiful. There are lots and lots of lovely things to look at but I do, of course, have my favourites. So, here they are... 

Lot 23 :: Amethyst, peridot, and enamel necklace, early 20th century. 

Isn't this just beautiful? Look at the intricate baskets that the gems are sitting in, and the colours - oh, the colours! Estimated at £2,000 - £3,000. 

Lot 83 :: Emerald, Ruby, and Diamond ring. Look at those rubies, that cabochon emerald, those sparkly diamonds! This is a rare beauty, when do you see emeralds looking like THAT?! For crying out loud, it's amazing. Estimated at £3,800 - £4,800. 

Lot 144 :: Lady's diamond wristwatch, Jaeger LeCouture, 1960's. Estimated at £3,000 - £4,000 and worth every penny [in my opinion]. This, along with the emerald ring are utter perfection to me. I'd have them both if I could. I could look at this watch all day. It has also made me want to look into "Jaeger LeCouture", which I'll do when I'm finished here. Elegant, beautiful, feminine. 

Lot 196 :: Pair of coral and diamond pendant earrings. Estimated at £1,500 - £2,000. Seriously, I'm not sure I can cope with all this glamour. I have a thing for this style of earrings after seeing THESE [link] earrings from Les Nereides and these earrings really remind me of them. Of course the Les Nereides are much more within my price range, but a girl can dream - right? 

Lot 283 :: Pair of sapphire and diamond pendant earrings, 1920s. Estimated at £5,000 - £7,000. Talking of glamour... oh, my... Look at the cut of those sapphires, and those diamonds. These are from the 1920s and I can only daydream about the glamorous life of the first owner. *le sigh* 

Lot 1847 :: Jadeite bead, ruby, and diamond necklace, Cartier, circa 1933. Yes, you read that correctly. Jadeite, ruby, diamond and CARTIER. My word... look at that catch, and that ruby red against that jadeite green. Just stunning. Please go to the link and have a play around with the zoom feature, those jadeite beads are stunning. The estimate must be more than I'll earn in a lifetime because it is available upon request. Oooo... 

Anyway, I've blabbered enough for a Friday night. I just wanted to share these finds with you. I can pretty much guarantee that this is not the last time I'll be talking about Sotheby's - there are lots, and lots of lovely, beautiful things that need to be talked about. 

G'night. 

Thanks for reading, 

L. x 

Mother's day - gift ideas

Mother's Day is just around the corner [Sunday March 30th, in the UK] and jewellery is always a nice gift. So here are some things that I think would make the perfect token of your appreciation. 

To make things a little more interesting I'm putting my gift selections into categories; Splurge, pocket money, high street, personalised, and pre-loved. Remember, it's not the amount of money you spend on gifts, it's picking the one thing that you know will suit who you're buying for because you know that someone and you know what they will like. 

Let's go... 

SPLURGE: 

Goldoni Heart Earrings // Tiffany & Co // Paloma Picasso // £405 - I think these little stud earrings are just beautiful; made from 18k rose gold, I think they are the right balance between sophisticated and sweet. 

Slightly less of a splurge, but still very luxurious, here are the same earrings in sterling silver - £165. 

Astley Clarke Red spinel heart friendship bracelet // Liberty // Astley Clarke // £225 - Who better to give a friendship bracelet to than your mum?? This bracelet is perfect for stacking and is just beautifully thoughtful. 

POCKET MONEY: 

Budding Blossom sterling silver stud earrings // John Lewis // Kit Heath // £30. I think that these are an absolute steal at £30. They have the "two tone" look that I so often go for and they are very, very cute [yet grown up]. Aren't they fab??

Hugs and kisses [XO] sterling silver necklace // Accessories online // Dogeared // £42.95. Remind you Mum of all the love she has for you and you for her by gifting her a hugs and kisses necklace. Delicate, and subtle. 

HIGH STREET: 

Small heart daisy necklace // John Lewis // Alex Monroe // £135. If you leave your gift buying until the last minute & the high street is the only option for you, then John Lewis could be your saviour. This beautiful offering from Alex Monroe is the perfect gift, in my opinion. 

Sterling silver twisted drop earrings // Marks and Spencer // £19.50. I have seen these earrings myself [and purchased them as a gift] and they are very petite, and pretty and for £19.50 they are such good value, making them a perfect high street recommendation. 

PERSONALISED:

Milestone medium & tiny personalised necklace // Scarlett Jewellery // £79. Scarlett jewellery is one of my favourites. Her Mojo beads are personal and utterly charming. This necklace is made from actual cast pebbles and can be personalised with a message, name, initials, or even a date. Go on, give something uber special. As with most personalised items, things can be changed on this necklace; for example, the small pebble can be changed to a gold pebble. 

Silver initial heart charm bracelet // NOTHS.com // Hurley Burley // £29+ [additional charms cost more]. I need a representative from the bracelet club so here is a wonderful bangle from Not on the high street. You can add as many charms as you need, so why not add one for each of your siblings or your Dad? 

PRE-LOVED:

For pre-loved bargains you might get the best deal by scouring antique shops, charity shops, eBay, etc. However, these pieces are from my favourite Etsy seller, based in London - Addy. 

Vintage diamond and sapphire gold ring // £390. Such a beautiful example of what you can buy vintage. I would snap this up if it was in my size. The sapphire, the flower halo, the two tone metals... agh, utter perfection. 

Edwardian chalcedony drop earrings in yellow gold // £395. Just. Beautiful. 

These examples are both on the pricier side, so here is something more affordable but still amazing. 

Antique garnet and rose gold ring, circa 1880s // £125. 

There you have it, lots of lovely things to choose from - from higher cost, to lower cost, from new to old, from silver to gold. The latter items are pricey, but look at what you're getting - history, precious metals, gemstones, good quality products. 

So, what are you getting for your Mum for Mother's day? Let me know and comment. 

Thanks for reading, 

L. x