Colour in
gems is the big story
for 2007 and 2008. Think vibrant, vivid,
luminous hues that shimmer with brilliance.
These colourful necklaces were on display in Hong Kong in 2007. Expect
brooches with colourful cabochon stones, briolette
cut stones and plenty of malachite green.
Black cameos, black pavé crystal/diamonds, plain or rougher onyx
and oxidised silver, bring a blacker jewellery look to the fore.
In contrast to dazzle, note how the popularity of rose cut
diamonds has risen this year. Rose cut diamonds were
highly regarded about a 100 years ago. They have a soft
scintillating sparkle and the cut is what gives a vintage
softness to antique pieces when compared to modern brilliants.
Is the rose cut diamond the next big 'it' diamond cut?
Here we have
Paloma Picasso's sugar stack rings for Tiffany & Co at Harrods.
Paloma Picasso's rings are made from 18 carat yellow gold, with a variety of coloured
stones. The Sugar Stack rings can be worn either separately or
lined up together. Stacked rings are as much of an
important style statement as stacked bangles. Image
courtesy of Harrods.
Another important aspect of jewellery this year is the use of
pavé set pieces whether diamonds, cubic zirconia (CZ) or crystal. As a
result of the use of crystal, the status of the superior
Swarovski crystal grows each year. Pavé and
micro pavé is
used to good effect in many watch styles
and
techellery taking pavé beyond necklaces, earrings and
brooches.
If
for example you wear lots of gold and earthy tones think about a
necklace or earrings which uses lemon citrine, smoky quartz and
amber. If you are a something of a pink fan then pink
quartz, pink topaz and tourmaline are all less expensive than
pink sapphires. Consider
how garnets cost less than rubies, lavender jade costs less than
amethysts.
If greens are your favourite opt for affordable peridot,
green amber or jade if your bank balance won't run to fine
emeralds. If opals, sapphires and lapis lazuli are
beyond your budget consider buying chalcedony. This
necklace left is an enchanting pastel-tinted
olive, sea foam and blue
17" chalcedony
necklace, with 14kt gold roundels and toggle clasp.
Blondes mostly look best in gems like peridot,
sapphire, aquamarine, citrine, and emerald with gold metals.
Brunettes wear white metals more easily, mostly looking better
in garnet, ruby, amethyst, rich topaz and sapphire. But
trust your instinct when you see a colouration against your
skin. Ask yourself, does it lift my skin and make it look
healthy, or does it make it look greyed
and deathly flat.
Diamond cut gold means that gold necklaces and chains sparkle
more than ever. The chequerboard facets catch the light and
twinkle. Look for heavy chunky collar necklaces that are
bejewelled. Chunky jewellery can be worn with different
plain dresses, when you don't
have the embellishment on the dress. This large chain link
pavé stone-set collar necklace right is from John Lewis and
priced at £499.
Costume and fashion jewellery is large and very chunky for
2007/8. Notice the unbelievably oversized metal jewellery of a chain
size to match chains on handbags. Twenties style 30 and 24
inch chains can also be found as often as shorter chains. See the necklaces that
make use of lettering or graphic styling bring a fresh look to
chain links.
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Seek out a chunky chain necklace,
short or long, with either style being fine provided the links
are large
Heavy chain straps have moved from bags onto
dresses, so that a shoe-string strap becomes an attractive
chain.
The
cuff -
This
is such an important jewellery item this season that I have
a whole page devoted to the style. These gold cuff are
both
from Plumo. Every jewellery range from low, to high price
ranges offer a
cuff.
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Get a cuff bangle
Right - this Plumo brand Turkish gold cuff, called Eau de Nil
is made from 925 silver with 24 karat gold plating. It
consists of 25 individual bangles adorned with pearls at £129.00
and is at the Plumo online site. Nothing beats the look of 24K
gold.
Hurry if you want one, as these cuffs are selling out quickly!
With a modern wide cuff bangle you can be in fashion for as little as a few pounds,
or spend thousands.
Gemstones such as citrine and yellow sapphire are good
alternative to pink diamonds, as
golden tones become the more fashionable colour trend.
Gold tones have some staying power right now. Smoky quartz matches many of the
earthy colours in fashion.
If you prefer real diamonds and gold, to costume pieces then put good
diamond sellers to the top of your list.
Coloured gems are in every range of jewellery, and you can
wear them on your fingers, or your wrist.
It's not just
the wrist that is a focus for adornment.
The well
manicured hand drips with chunky oversized rings, either
fabulously fake or real rocks.
Big cocktail rings have been on the up and up for some time.
Now
they have reached enormous proportions, whether in precious gems,
semi-precious stones, or quality costume jewellery with Swarovski
crystal. The most obvious fashion choice for the hand is a ring.
But rings are new, bold and chunky in fashion style. Chunky dress rings with huge cabochon stones or multi mix
gems used in one ring are bold and fashionably big this year.
Right - A sumptuous collection of large cocktail rings from
Plumo and made from semi-precious stones in lavender blue, honey
coloured quartz and dark green labradorite. All are made from 18
carat gold plate on sterling silver, price ranges from £89 to
£129.
Recall
all those old war and spy films where a main character had their poison ring filled with a some deadly
tablet, that they could take rather than give precious
information. Theo Fennell has excellent leading edge
examples of this type of secret compartment jewellery. Think of poison
rings of the past, and you have the locket ring of today.
You might also like to have a bold ring like this lemon
citrine shown left and designed by
Saretta.co uk.
But if all these choices break your budget, then try browsing
the rings at
frostfirestyle This ring shown right is bit of bling. It is celebrity inspired from 'designer'
diamond pavé pieces and costs just £9.
The blue pavé rolling ring
has two overlapping sections creating a sophisticated visual
effect. The ring uses Swarovski crystals and a high polish
finish.
As we drifted toward the millennium, the cool, stark,
simplified looks of the white metals - platinum, silver and
white gold became the most sought after accessory metal.
Gold
took a dip. White jewellery metals were minimal in style, and
matched stainless steel or chrome design elsewhere in the
environment. Now in the late noughties every
kind of precious metal is back in favour. Gold yellow looks are
important again.
But all the gold metals are in vogue. Very yellow gold as
in this 18K gold necklace left is much admired and so is rose
gold.
In this necklace shown right, the goldsmith has mixed the metals in
an interesting
way. It gives added versatility to an item. Such
an easy to match, two tone statement necklace
could become a workhorse in your jewellery wardrobe. Both
necklaces on display in Hong Kong in 2007.
Choose from bright yellow gold, white gold and rose gold.
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Observe that rose gold is
becoming more fashionable when you next purchase gold
Rose
gold, which lends itself to wearing with copper tones, is an
autumn colour trend. A subtle warm rose gold is the
new fashion colour for gold. Out of favour for many years,
rose gold has gained a new following from a generation
unfamiliar with the metal. This is a metal colour to buy
if warmer tones suit you. But as gold prices increase, so too
silver emerges as an affordable alternative. Women buy
silver for themselves often leaving family and friends to buy
them gold.
For autumn, hammered copper sits well against metallic
shimmering looks, although brushed metals are gaining ground. Other metal textures include frosted, brushed, puffed, mesh and
interwoven effects.
Then of course there are fast fashion pieces in coloured or
gold plated metals, that
on first sight give a grand impression. This piece on the
right is from Monsoon Accessories, Autumn Winter 2007 range. It is
a magnificent statement piece, but at the high street price of
£16/€25. The Alexis Necklace is in Store from August 2007.
It follows neckwear shape trends in superior modern fine
jewellery collars like the gem set necklace
above and seen in
Hong Kong in 2007.
Butterfly
diamond pendants are some of the prettiest of charm necklaces.
Diamond star, starfish and snowflakes make great jewellery drop
pendants, as do dream catcher cathedral window pendants.
Jewellery micro pavé hearts and key pendants are physically bigger than ever
and are life size. The large link chains that often hold them are
a mega trend. Other hearts have colourful
multi gem insertions.
Right - The gold and silver hearts are from Plumo online.
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Buy some jewellery that features
a heart
‡
Talisman
We all know the heart is a favourite talisman between
sweethearts and lovers, but the latest lockets hold even more
secrets. Hearts have been growing in favour this past year, but now
working heart lockets, together with round or oval lockets are about to become popular again.
There is trend for pendants and lockets to be the size of
pill boxes.
Lockets can take many forms and poison heart lockets are
fashionable. Over sized lockets and pendants on
elongated chains, or on shorter choker chains or torqs are sure
to be Christmas scene stealers. Heart earrings
follow by default.
Heart rings, and every heart design imaginable, including puffed
hearts are
at the forefront of jewellery compositions.
Charm-link looks with multiple baubles,
add a fresh twist to an old idea.
Bows, streamer bows and ribbons can look modern or vintage
dependant on the design.
You can also find all these elements of fashionable jewellery today at
Vintage sites. These lovely turquoise and seed pearl hoop earrings are topped with pretty bows.
Image
left courtesy of online vintage jewellery store
V4 vintage.
Pave Diamanté bow and heart earrings right are from Vivienne
Westwood, and available from House of Fraser. Vivienne Westwood
earrings £99/€149.
Filigree Effects -
Bows are often worked in
filigree metals.
Accessorize Autumn Winter 2007 have
many filigree earrings at the low price of £6/€8.90 in store
now.
Fleur-de-lis -
Like the heart, the fleur-de-lis symbol is another traditional
motif that is instantly recognisable. This year watch for
some wonderful filigree and micro pavé work related to the fleur-de-lis emblem,
as well as the heart and butterfly designs which truly lend
themselves to filigree.
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Get some earrings with flamboyant
bows, streamers or hearts.
Women love the change of look that jewellery can bring. Now
they are buying jewellery in the same way they have been
devouring fashion handbags. One fifth of women's spend is on earrings in
their accessory choices. Medallion earrings and dream catchers are one of the better
new looks in chandelier styles of earring.
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Consider some circular earrings
with dream catcher, snowflake or medallion styling
Pearls are used for
earrings with stars. Many
chandelier earrings feature pearls or diamonds.
Notice
how some earrings are pear drop leaf forms. Drop leaves become almost
charm earrings.
Right - Plumo Art deco earrings - Beautiful art deco
style earrings made from faceted Swarovski crystals. White gold
plated, nickel free and hypoallergenic. Length 4.5cm £49.00.
Left - House of Fraser 'Babe' Gold & black stone drop earrings
£79.
Snail shaped
pave earrings are centred with a pearl. Pavé, pavé and more
pavé.
Larger earrings like these glamour earrings above are set to dominate
the evening scene. Feel that 80's vibe again. Under
sleek Italian influence, women in the 90s abandoned over the top jewellery
looks for the discreet diamond stud. This was a backlash to the glut of Dynasty style diamante rocks, or the golden
bling of the era.
But glamorous jewels sit nicely beside
screen starlet fashion looks of today.
Diamante bow and heart earrings £99/€149 Vivienne Westwood
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - For earrings think glamour and
glitz.
Brushed sterling silver is used as a contrast to sleek shiny
silver and crystal or CZ encrustation. For more
Gothic and rock looks sometimes oxidised silver proves
more suitable.
Pavé - Sparkle and shimmer with pave is
another big favourite. Pavé in diamond, cubic zirconia or
crystal are all good choices and look quite different when set
in a white metal. White metals such as silver, white gold, platinum or rhodium
plating offer lots of different price points.
These 3 brooches right are from Plumo and they pick up the
current fad for bows and leaves in jewellery.
Platinum is still used extensively, but palladium
which is from the same metal group, is being used more and more as a
primary metal in its own right. In the past palladium was mixed
with platinum, this makes platinum more malleable when worked.
Palladium is also a prime alloy in making white gold.
White
metals are brushed and beaten, hammered, oxidised or worked in
fine filigree. Every effect imaginable is available.
These delicate sterling silver flower earrings shown left, are
from an Australian jewellery company,
Simply Jewelry.
Multi coloured mixes of gems enable jewellers to ply their
skill to create botanical works of art reproducing gemstone
orchids, leaves, roses, camellias, lilies and fantasy flowers
that captivate.
Leaves,
as shown above right, feature heavily in many collections, often
as skeleton leaf foundations for pavé or other enhancement.
The fine jewellery butterfly brooch pin left has a different
effect when diamonds are set against yellow gold. The look
is quite different to that of the brooches above set in white
metals.
Butterflies and dragonflies are
some of the prettier insects
this year. But flower forms for jewellery are competing
with dream-catcher circles, medallions and snowflake designs.
Natural forms, bugs, fruit, cherries, pears are all motifs seen in jewellery for 2007. Right
- affordable
Mikey apple brooch.
Strong jewellery trends this year have included jewellery
designs with owls, ladybirds/ladybugs, dragonflies, bees,
lizards and butterflies.
Right - look how intricate this Octopus ring is.
Doves, wings, birds, cats, lizard and dragon jewellery studded with pavé diamonds, rubies and sapphires,
all give ample opportunity for 3 dimensional effects.
Whether the resultant pieces are pendants, rings, brooches or
earrings is not important. All are fascinating, but
brooches are big news again especially when several are worn to
compliment each other.
Jewellery Wardrobe Tip - Gather together your brooches and
wear several of similar type such as insects massed together.
Read more about these colours and about
fabrics on the Spring 2007 colour page.
Special thanks to David of prshots one of the best sources of PR material.
Images courtesy of Heavenly Treasures, Simply Jewelry, Mikey,
Dior, House of Fraser, Plumo, V4Vintage, Saretta, Monsoon,
Marilyn Jones, John Lewis, Harrods and Frostfirestyle.
Fashion-Era.com looks at women's costume and fashion history and analyses the mood of an era. Changes in technology, leisure, work, cultural and moral values. Homelife and politics also
contribute to lifestyle trends, which in turn influence the clothes we wear. These are the changes that make any era of society special in relation to the study of the costume of a period.
Fashion-Era.com can take no responsibility for any information on the site which may cause you error, loss or costs incurred from use of the information and links either directly or
indirectly. This site is owned, designed, written and developed by author: Pauline Thomas and Guy Thomas. This site is designed to be viewed in 1024 X 768 or higher.
Before you write to me for costume/fashion help or information please, please consult the extensive sitemap which lists all our pages. If you still cannot find the answer after searching the site, then before you email me, please consider if you are prepared to make a donation to the website.
Donations Reader's donations help this site flourish, in particular donations encourage me to write more articles on fashion history as well as current trends. PayPal
allows anyone with a credit card to donate easily and securely. You may donate any sum you feel appropriate.
If you have any comments, or if you see any broken links, then please email with details of the page url or problem.
Find great anniversary gift ideas from Premier Gifts. Choose from our wide range of anniversary gifts to celebrate your special day in style.
Designer Inspired BagInc Fashion Bags and Cheap Handbags at Wholesale Rates.
