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Posts Tagged ‘jewellery’

Alex Monroe at EC One

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

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To ensure that your loved one turns sufficiently dewy-eyed and weak at the knees this Valentine’s Day, why not pay a visit to EC One jewellers to sample the sumptuously beatific delights of the jeweller Alex Monroe?  It isn’t hard to guess where the British designer takes his inspiration from. All of his delicately crafted pieces are closely mirrored on nature and the English countryside, from solid gold bumblebee pendants to intricate rings fashioned on twine and buttercups. His pieces are elegant, charming, and ultimately timeless.

Having trained at Sir John Cass School Of Art in London, Monroe established his first store in 1986, and now supplies worldwide, with over 100 stores in Britain and Ireland alone, including the V&A museum and Liberty of London. Monroe receives worldwide acclaim for his craft – as Liberty comment, “The 20:20 collection, exclusive at Liberty, reworks the best of Alex Monroe’s classic heritage designs. His feminine and quirky collections have long been a favourite with Liberty customers.”

EC One has two stores, one located in Notting Hill on Ladbury Road, the other, in Exmouth market. I favour the latter, if for no other reason than its location directly opposite two equally irresistible restaurants; the highly successful Moro (brainchild of Sam and Sam Cook, and winner of the coveted title of Observer Best Restaurant Award 2009), and Medcalf, for those more inclined to traditional hearty British cuisine.

For more information visit www.alexmonroe.com

A Rose by any other name

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

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Monica Vinader’s work is always unexpected, unique and a touch extravagant. She has long been regarded as ‘one to watch’, with a celebrity following including Keira Knightley and Cameron Diaz. To celebrate the launch of her New Rose collection the designer welcomed guests for an exclusive preview. With a glass of champagne in hand I made my way to view the collection in the perfect location for such an event, the Liberty Jewellery Room.

Monica Vinader’s jewellery collection is celebrated for its use of colourful, bold hand-cut, semi precious stones, all bespoke, uniquely set in 18 ct vermeil, sterling silver, and solid gold. The Rose Vermeil is part of the New Collection for SS10 of 18 ct Rose Gold with silver using Chalcedony, Amethyst, Smoky and Rose Quartz.  The brand’s philosophy is to create pieces you really love: luxurious, practical, for all occasions, beautifully balancing sophistication, style and comfort. This would explain why just about every woman at Liberty’s was angling to try them on.

A one-off statement piece was raffled on the night to the delight of one lucky guest, who became the proud owner of a jewelled Betsy bracelet. The launch was a huge success bringing in crowds of jewellery lovers and press, for a glamorous evening in a perfect location.

The collection is available now from Liberty and Harrods.

For more information please visit http://www.monicavinader.com

Brangelina meets Asprey’s – a marriage made in heaven?

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

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It is certainly a joy to wander around Asprey’s flagship store on New Bond Street marvelling at the sheer size of the gemstones and the intricate attention to detail which goes into the various ranges on show. But the true magic happens in the warren-like upper floors of the iconic London building, which I had the opportunity to explore in the run up to the launch of the collection. This is where the craftsmen have worked for over 150 years- and where they still work today. It is here, using the same traditional methods which have been used throughout the store’s 200 year history, that the personally inspired and researched designs of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been created.

The collection undeniably has Jolie stamped all over it, with her obsession with snakes being well publicised, particularly in her life pre-Pitt when she was well known for some slightly eccentric qualities; she spent days ‘getting to know’ the snakes before filming with them in Alexander in 2004, and for a time was renowned for wearing a phial of her husband’s blood round her neck. Some of the gemstones also hold serious significance for her, notably the rubies from Cambodia, from where she adopted her eldest son Maddox. Robert Procop, CEO of Asprey, assures me however that Pitt, despite his apparent back seat in the designs, was also an eager participant in the process and that his ideas certainly play a role in the finished collection. Apparently the whole Jolie-Pitt clan enjoy wearing the collection, which includes Cambodian style anklets, pendants designed specially for children and even a small silver spoon and egg cup.

The net profits of all sales from the collection will be donated to the Charity Education Partnership for Children of Conflict (EPCC), a charity close to both Jolie and Pitt’s hearts which Angelina co-founded. In fact, the initial idea for this collection stemmed from the couple’s desire to create gifts for these children innocently affected by conflict. The high profile collaboration will therefore lead to some serious donations taking place; one wonders if, given that charity was the key motivation behind the initiation of this collection, a less expensive and exclusive version of the collection will eventually emerge, so that we can all try our hand at looking like Brangelina.

Only 10 of each item are being produced in this seriously limited edition range, but Procop hopes that the collaboration will continue, perhaps long into the future, as is often the case with Asprey collections. New items are already in the pipeline but official details will be kept firmly under wraps until plans have been finalised. Prices start from GPB 315 for the silver spoon.

The collection, which was launched on November 17th, can be viewed at Asprey’s flagship store, 167 New Bond Street, London or at www.asprey.com

The rise of a fabulous new designer

Monday, November 16th, 2009

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For those who find this winter’s rough, tough leather and lace look a little, well, rough, Fannie Schiavoni’s gorgeous chainmail jewellery is the perfect way to bring an autumn/winter feel to your look without resorting to studded thigh-high boots.

Inspired by the landscape and colours of Schiavoni’s Swedish hometown, the range offers dramatic, swooping chain necklaces, multi-layered chokers, and even a chainmail glove. Although the look is industrial, Schiavoni handmakes every piece using ancient handcraft techniques. ‘I love the raw feel of chainmail,’ Schiavoni says, ‘and the rough style you can create with it. I’ve always been drawn to androgynous rock style.’

Her spring/summer collection was launched with a clever marketing campaign that echoes the chains in her own work: it was debuted simultaneously on blogs across the world, including celebrity fashion bloggers and fans of her work, Susie Bubble and LibertyLondonGirl. The new collection pushes her aesthetic even further with chainmail tube bracelets, shoulder pieces and draped harnesses.

She may have only graduated last summer, but her range has already met with approval from London’s best buyers; Schiavoni is stocked by hot new jewellers Kabiri, Shoreditch’s 127 Brick Lane, and Browns Focus.