No Need to be Blue

Sapphires are one of my favourite gems. It started with a birthday present my husband bought me - a large yellow sapphire solitaire ring - which was something of a revelation as like a lot of people I wasn't really aware that Sapphires came in other colours! I asked our gemologist about it and he was so enthusiastic and passionate about the subject I think some of that enthusiasm rubbed off on me. 


Estate Blue Sapphire & Diamond Cluster Ring.

When we think of sapphires I think most of us picture a vibrant blue gem, similar to the stone set in Princess Diana's (now the Duchess of Cambridge's) engagement ring. That rich, lustrous royal blue which catches the eye even without diamond embellishments. And we've all seen the dark blue, almost black stone which is usually used in mainstream jewellery but how many people are aware of a third, fourth or even a fifth option?
Sapphires come in many colours; pink, green, yellow, purple, orange - the list is endless. And whilst the occasional Pink Sapphire seems to have made its way into High Street Jewellers in recent years, we still don't we see them as often as their Blue counterparts. Maybe it's down to tradition, maybe fashion, or maybe it's just cynical marketing? Either way it's a real shame as the colour variation can be spectacular!

I added a green sapphire to my collection a while back, and we've had pink, purple, orange and even white examples in the shop, but my overall favourite is the Padparadscha which can only be found in Sri Lanka, and like it's namesake (padparadscha means Lotus Blossom) it is a gorgeous pinky/orange colour.


Padparadscha, Yellow & Green Sapphire (the box is shameless I know, but the colour makes the rings photograph beautifully!)

There is still a real drive for individualism and uniqueness in jewellery, despite the current climate which has us all counting our pennies. And I think as so many of us develop emotional attachments to our jewellery we don't necessarily want to invest in "disposable" fashion pieces. The price variation in Sapphires is huge, depending on colour choice and whether you favour natural or man made gems, meaning you can enjoy the prestige of actual gems (instead of glass or paste fashion stones) for not much more money. Sapphires are a fabulous way to introduce some of your own personality into your jewellery using precious gems without necessarily breaking the bank!

Many antique pieces circa 1910 will be set with "Created" Sapphires as this was around the time when the process was invented. At the time, it was the height of technological achievement and the stones were highly prized! Now, they command far smaller prices and little gold gypsy rings set with Faux Sapphires can be found for under £100.



Victorian White & Blue Sapphire Pendant at Bonner's Jewellers.

 

Antique Faux Blue Sapphire Ring, Vintage Orange Sapphire Ring & Estate Yellow Sapphire Ring at Bonner's Jewellers



It's also becoming more common to see Sapphires set in Silver (keeping the cost affordable) but gold doesn't have to mean expensive if you try to source Second Hand and have an eye for a bargain!

I'll certainly be keeping mine peeled!

Signing off...

Introducing Gus!

Thought you might like to meet Gus! He's our latest family member to join Bonner's Jewellers and although he's a bit on the big side he's a very lovely lad.


Augustus, the Bonner's Jewellers Shop Dog

Gus came to us from Sunnyside Rescue Centre and is still learning his manners; namely not jumping onto the counter to get a better look at our customers!

Slobber doesn't suit everyone.....

TTFN!

Vintage Diamond Earrings Day!

Just bought two pairs of lovely vintage diamond earrings over the counter. Both pairs are 18ct gold and in excellent condition; the perfect antidote to a rainy Friday!

The first pair are real statement earrings - you need bags of confidence to pull these babies off! ;-) They're hallmarked London 1982 and look fabulous on!

Vintage Diamond Clip Earrings from 1982



Vintage Diamond Stud Earrings



By contrast, this pair are dainty and understated and therefore far more wearable - if a little less fun! New earrings like these cost around £700-£800, but they won't cost a fraction of that here. So if you're in need of a little weekend pick me up and you're in the area feel free to pop in! I promise not to keep them for myself......

TTFN!!

Ringing in the change!

We've had a real rush on rings in the shop over the past few days! One of my favourites found a new home on Saturday; a gorgeous 1920's Sapphire and Diamond dress ring which has a really unusual fan design:

1920's Sapphire & Diamond Dress Ring.

I've never seen anything like it before and it really is breathtaking on. Ah I was born in the wrong decade....... We also sold a fabulous 1950's diamond cluster dress ring which has always received plenty of compliments but failed to find a buyer until now. No pics I'm afraid but trust me, it was very purty.

Vintage seems to have been the theme with the others too, more people than ever seem to be open to buying vintage jewellery which is really great. All it really needs is a little imagination and you have an unusual one of a kind accessory!

I'm not sure what was the catalyst for the sudden splurge in Alcester, maybe the fact that we can finally leave our gloves at home and actually see our fingers has something to do with it!!

TTFN!

Death to the Onesie!!

I was re-dressing one of our cabinets today and it gave me the opportunity to spend time appreciating some of the more unusual items we have. One in particular got me thinking.



18ct gold pink guilloche enamel & diamond fob watch hallmarked London 1909.

I'm not the type of person who dreads weddings and parties because I don't know what to wear. I absolutely love any excuse to get out of my staple skinny jeans and boots and dress up. I am completely obsessed with dresses (the more swishy the better) and have a wardrobe full of hardly worn examples which is a bone of contention between me and my husband. (I know I'm not alone in owning lots of clothes I'll never wear but I don't suppose many other women will admit to stroking them on a daily basis.... ;-) ) I get so frustrated that the modern trend seems to be predominantly casual, and that it feels inappropriate to wear a nice frock for anything other than a formal affair. This is probably why I feel so drawn to past eras; times when appearing casual was really frowned upon!

The same can be said for jewellery. Like many people, it seems wasteful to me to have things which can only be worn for special occasions, but I love collecting jewellery so when choosing which piece to wear I tend to think less about convention and more about what makes me feel happy.

The only time I hold back is when the item is fragile or obviously ostentatious. I'm never one to advocate leaving jewellery in a box and to shy away from wearing it, but I could make an exception in this case:



Rare Pink Guilloche Enamel & Diamond Fob Watch signed "Grand Prix Paris 1900"

It's stunning, but completely unwearable other than for special occasions - mainly as it could be so easily damaged by the chores of modern everyday life. The company who made the watch were exhibiting at the World Fair, Paris in 1900 (hence the signature) and were obviously prestigious as the quality of the watch movement and casing show. It has a beautiful Swiss Jewel Lever movement inside and the suspending chains are a combination of yellow gold links smothered in pink enamel and creamy natural pearls.

The pink enamel is very unusual and looks fabulous against the 18 carat gold case. The white diamonds are really just the icing on a very lavish cake.

I would love to add this to my collection, but I know someday it will find a new caretaker who will appreciate and cherish it. I just wonder which category they will fall into. Will it be a treasured antique? Encased in a cabinet to be preserved and admired only through glass. Or an infrequently worn addition to a jewellery collection? I suppose we don't wear evening gowns on a daily basis but it makes it all the more special when we do.

I think if I bought it I would fall into category number three. The category which firmly believes in reviving the forgotten art of dressing up! Ok so we all lead busy lives and our clothes must help, not hinder us but if we made more effort when socialising then pieces like this could again be popular accessories, adding not only elegance but also a dose of individuality to an outfit. I've already found these lovely pieces which I think would go beautifully with the fob watch:



Vivienne Westwood, Ted Baker & Zara Dresses.



Vivienne Westwood & Ted Baker Dresses (I have both of these and trust me, they are fabulous!)



Just keep the other accessories to a minimum, but wear with lashings of confidence!

Death to the Onesie I say!!! So who's with me?

TTFN!