Fabergé jewellery - eggcellent!

Until today I had not paid much attention to Fabergé, to be honest. Of course I've heard of them and I've seen things in the windows of antique shops and jewellery shops, but I envisioned them as a little.... dated, perhaps?

But today I saw something that made my heart race [and made it straight on to my wish list]. A rose gold Fabergé egg necklace pendant. This one... [£2,073]. 

Isn't it spectacular? I can even be engraved with a message, which looks really nice. Of course this got me looking around the rest of the website and there are some rather lovely things to look at. Here are my favourites [all of the pendant come without a necklace/bracelet and this can be purchased separately]... 

1. Palais Tsarskoye Selo Turquoise Charm. £2,665. 

Isn't this charm pretty?! It is from the Heritage Collection and is made from 18 karat yellow gold with turquoise guilloché enamel. 

2. Boris Red Cufflinks. £2,600. 

Although I have absolutely no use for them, I have a bit of a thing for cufflinks at the moment. These ones are stunning. Made from 18 karat gold, cherry red guilloché enamel, and 0.08 carats of white diamonds. So, so beautiful. 

3. Palais Yelagin Forest Green earrings. £16,000.  

These come in a few colours but I like these ones (yellow gold, diamond, and Forest Green enamel) and the next ones (white gold, diamond, and Royal Blue enamel). 

4. Palais Yelagin Royal Blue Earrings. £11,846. 

5. Palais Tsarkoye Selo Turquoise Diamond Locket Pendant. £14,000. 

This pendant is super-cute and fun. It is made from 18 karat yellow gold, turquoise enamel, and 0.47 carats of white diamond (60 diamonds on total). Isn't it beautiful? 

6. Zenya Emerald Egg Pendant. £28,135. 

This pendant isn't exactly to my taste, but it shows the skill of the craftsmen at Fabergé, because the stones are so beautifully placed. It has 366 round white diamonds, and 203 round emeralds, totalling 2.49 carats, and 2.77 carats. It comes in an all-diamond version which has 567 diamonds, totalling 5.8 carats of diamond! 

7. Treillage Diamond Rose Gold Matt Ring. £2,400. 

I can't explore a jewellery designer without taking a look at their rings, obviously. I like the matt finish that Fabergé offer on their rings and the subtle 'quilting' which matches some of the eggs in their collection. This one is the thinner of two band widths on offer. 

8. Devotion Amethyst 6.55cts Ring. £15,000. 

Again, this isn't entirely to my taste but it has a couple of details that I adore. It has a mighty fine cushion cut amethyst which is just beautiful. I love the shape of the claws and the fact that the ring has a couple of dual-tone parts, like the claws and the side-diamond bezel, which I love. 

There is a 'story of Fabergé' link HERE so you can have a read about the company and where is has come from. Take a look at the jewellery and please share your favourite piece in the comments below. 

I hope you've enjoyed this introduction to Fabergé as much as I have enjoyed writing it. 

L. x 

Digby & Iona - my favourites

Happy Sunday! The weekend is here, the daffodils are starting to show their faces, and the sun is trying to peek out from behind the clouds. We went rummaging around antique shops yesterday to find goods for my new Etsy shop - The Velveteen Box [Trinket Box], we also had a hot chocolate and a sausage roll and it was a lovely day. 

But enough about all of that, I am here today to share one of my favourite jewellery houses with you [I did mention them back in 201]... Digby and Iona. One of my wedding rings is from D&I and I just love their quirky style. Here are some of my favourite pieces... 

The Ambro .70ct. 
This stunning example of a watermelon tourmaline speaks directly to my heart. I am hoping that 2015 is the year that I own a watermelon tourmaline and it may be in the shape of this ring, who knows? This ring is made from 18k rose gold and has D&I's wonderful wave engraving on the band. Perfection. $1330. 

Here's a sneaky picture of another one of D&I's watermelon tourmalines, this time an aqua coloured version...

Convict love token necklace. This charming necklace is exactly that - charming. It can be personalised with your and your partner's initials, which I think is just lovely. It is made from oxidised bronze and comes on a rope [I'm not too keen on the rope - I'd put it on a chain]. As with most of D&I's designs, there's a lovely history to accompany it. $190 with initials, $150 without. 

Ouroboros signet ring. Anyone who knows me knows that mixed metals are my thing. I've been mixing my metals since a time when it was not considered the done thing and items like this signet ring make me happy. The snake also helps. Snake jewellery is wonderful. The signet ring is made from sterling silver and the snake is solid 14k rose gold that has been inset. It's a pretty big, statement piece, but I think it's beautiful. $280. 

Mens wave band. We discovered, when shopping for The Husband's wedding ring, that it is surprisingly difficult to find interesting bands for men. There are trays upon trays of plain bands, with absolutely no character and seeing something like this band from D&I makes me smile. I think it would make a perfect wedding band. $920. 

Battle diagram ring. Another one for the men; the battle diagram ring. I think it's very interesting and again, would make a lovely wedding band. Sterling silver. $150. 

Boat wave studs. These lovely little studs match the above rings perfectly. $360. 

There we have it, some beautiful pieces from this lovely brand. Perfect if you're looking for that vintage sailor look. 

Until next time, folks... 

L. x

Catch up - Shaun Leane talons and hooks from the Tusk collection.

Hey guys, I hope you're all well. 

I've been really busy with wedding planning and working far too much, so I'm sorry that I've neglected the blog somewhat. I've not been neglecting jewellery though, so I've got some bits and bobs to share with you at some point. I've made a few jewellery purchases for the wedding, as well as a couple of costume pieces for everyday. I've not bought anything high-end though as funds are having to be spent wisely at the moment. 

I cannot stop thinking about a pair of earrings that I saw a sales assistant wearing in a shop in Brighton and I can't wait until I can freely spend my money again because I need them in my life. I want both of these pairs to wear for different occasions. They actually sell the smaller ones in a jewellers not too far from me, so I can go and drool over them when I fancy. They will make it on to my birthday wish list later in the year if I've not managed to get them by then (and with the wedding fast approaching I don't think I will have managed before then). 

1. Shaun Leane silver talon earrings. 

2. Shaun Leane silver and rose gold vermeil hook earrings size 1

What else has happened? I've received my wedding present, which I'll show you after the wedding. We've bought my Groom's wedding ring. I'll show you my new snake collection when I've got good enough light to be able to take some photos. 

So, sadly, I think that's it for now. I'm working hard on putting things in place for an exciting future endeavour, which I'll share with you all one day. Fingers crossed for now. 

Have a great evening and I'll write again soon. 

Thanks for reading, 

L. x

If I had £1,000 right now... Monica Vinader

Good evening, folks. I've had a full Monday at work, I've just finished watching the last ever episode of Gossip Girl and I would like an imaginary £1,000 to spend. 

Of course, if you gave me £1,000 right now, it would go into my "dream ring fund", details of which I'll share another day, but for now let's play the game...

I don't want to go too far to spend my £1,000 so I'm going to make a single trip... to Monica Vinader. I adore her use of liquid-esque metals and stunning gemstones, as well as her combinations of lapis and yellow gold, and rose quartz with rose gold. Her designs are some of my favourites, so it only makes sense for my imaginary shop to take place there. It's just very tricky narrowing it down to £1,000!

So, MV has creating an amazing collection where you can mix and match various pendants to create a beautiful necklace. They have one of those nifty online tools to make your own and I've done just that. This stunner can be yours [or mine] for £575 [breakdown to follow]...

1. I chose the 32" sterling silver Lungo chain for £210. I like the little hoop that you can use to attach all of the pendants. 

2. I then added my favourite pendant, the rose gold vermeil Marie. It looks like an old Pirate coin and I love it. Of course I'll be mixing my metals for this necklace, it's what I do! £125. 

3. Then I added the Riva gold vermeil ingot for £105. This isn't my cup of tea on its own, but when added in this combination I think it's just stunning. 

4. Then the Ava small round pendant in sterling silver. A bargain at £40, and a well-balance addition, in my opinion.  

6. Then, last but not least, I added the siren bezel pendant in yellow gold vermeil with blue lapis [one of my favourites]. £95. 

Isn't this the perfect necklace?! Here are a couple of ready made ones from the MV website so get the creative juices flowing. 

Anyway, I've got a further £425 to spend, so I want some things to match this lovely piece... 

For £130 I would buy the Siren ring in 18ct rose gold vermeil with moonstone. I love the natural shape of the stone and the rose hue of the pink gold. Beautiful. 

That leaves me with £295... 

Which is exactly what these Siren medium drop earrings in rose gold vermeil and rose quartz cost. Handy, right?

I don't think my choices are too bad at all and that was really fun. I'll be spending more imaginary £1,000, I can assure you of that. I think I need to play the Lotto this weekend! 

Take care, 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

Today's purchase = my first purchase from Notonthehighstreet.com

I just got home from a typical Monday at work and I was pleasantly surprised to find a parcel on the doorstep. It was my new earrings from Lisa Angel [via Notonthehighstreet.com]. I ordered them on the 26th of Feb, they were dispatched on the 28th, and arrived today - not too bad! My first purchase from NOTHS.com and I'm impressed so far. 

Since getting my new pearl studs for Valentine's day I have rediscovered a forgotten love of stud earrings. I've only worn earrings [and dangly ones at that] in my primary holes for many years, neglecting my second set of pierced holes, but last weekend I decided to try earrings in them again. They had healed over a little bit, but I sorted that out [ouch] and I needed a pair of studs to keep them open again. I searched high and low, looking for a tiny pair of studs before discovering Lisa Angel on NOTHS.com. They came in Small, Medium, and Large, so I got the small ones and to be honest, they are still too big for what I wanted them for, so I'll have to begin the search again. I've got my eye on a pair though, so watch this space. 

They came in two lovely illustrated paper bags, inside a jiffy bag, inside a nicely illustrated box. They are listed as "turquoise" and "onyx" [two of my favourite stones] but they feel very light, so I'm not sure what they're actually made of, but they were only £9 a pair, so I'm not feeling cheated. They have sterling silver posts, I believe. 

Anyway, enough of my rambling, here are some photos for you, because that's what you really want. Oh, and I must not forget to do some links for you lovely people. 

Watch out for lots of posts coming up, I've got so many lovely things to show you and I've made plans for future posts, but I don't want to drown you with lots and lots of information, so I'm trying to play it cool. But before I go, I can at least share with you what other jewellery I wore to work today... I wore... 

My favourite earrings from Alexis Dove: Belle Hook Earrings in gold vermeil. Seriously, if you ever only buy one thing from Alexis Dove [which I do not recommend - buy LOTS of things from her instead] then these would be an excellent choice. They are so, so very pretty and I get compliments on them all the time. They are very unusual in their shape but they are just wonderful. I wear mine all the time. This picture is borrowed from Alexis Dove [also link to earrings]. They can be yours for £105. Not my ones though, no, they're mine. 

What else did I wear? Oh yes, I wore this ring, also from Alexis Dove [link]. £90. It's very dainty and pretty. I wore it on my ring finger instead of my engagement ring. 

I wore my usual silver rings too [cat ring and 3 handmade silver bands] and this mushroom necklace from Alex Monroe... 

It doesn't look like it's currently for sale on the Alex Monroe website, but here is a picture of it [it's sterling silver with 18k rose gold plate and 5 x 1mm diamonds on top]. It was about £180, I think. 

So there we have it, I really will go now, but I hope you enjoyed having a look at these lovely, pretty things; thanks for reading. 

L. x