Author: Holly Diamond

Celebrating your first year of marriage is an important milestone in your blossoming relationship, and finding the perfect gift that your partner will cherish is the perfect way to commemorate this moment.

From traditional gifts, to modern, unique and quirky presents, in this guide, we share our top tips to help you find a thoughtful first anniversary gift for your partner.

What are the traditional gifts for a first wedding anniversary?

Traditionally, the first wedding anniversary gift is represented by ‘paper’. Paper symbolises a blank canvas for you to write your love story on at the beginning of your new chapter together. Similarly, the threads in paper symbolise the unseen strength of your relationship, too! The threads within paper are meant to symbolise the strength and connectivity of your blossoming relationship.

The modern take on wedding anniversary gifts assigns the first anniversary to ‘clock’. The clock is said to represent the couple’s eternal and never-ending love so has been adopted more recently as a way to signify a first wedding anniversary.

Thoughtful first wedding anniversary gifts

There are many ways to take inspiration from the traditional and modern interpretation of these wedding anniversary materials to find a unique and meaningful present for your spouse to celebrate your first wedding anniversary.

Eternity Ring

Eternity rings form part of a wedding ring stack, sitting on top of your wedding band and engagement ring. They are usually a band of precious metal, like gold or platinum, set with a continuous line of diamonds or other precious gemstones. This is meant to symbolise the never-ending love of the couple.

Eternity rings are usually given to mark milestones in a marriage, from significant anniversaries to the birth of a baby. Gifting your wife an eternity ring on your first anniversary celebrates your first milestone together as a married couple, demonstrating your love and devotion to your partner.

Make new memories with an experiential gift

Paper gifts don’t have to be boring! Why not book tickets to an experience that you can share with your spouse. Making space for quality time within your relationship is important at all stages of your marriage, so set the tone with your first anniversary by setting aside time to enjoy each other’s company.

Find an event, exhibition, theatre show or other activity that you and your partner can do together, allowing you to spend time together, make new memories and do something new or exciting with one another.

Remember that presentation is important, so be sure to print out the tickets onto paper or card, and present them in a beautiful envelope or gift box.

Love notes

In an increasingly digital age, many people are turning to more analogue and the rise of ‘stationerycore’ is growing. Journaling is also a great form of self-care and stress-relief, with many benefits to mental health.

Gifting a luxury notebook may encourage your partner to take time out of their day to slow down, journal and write down their thoughts, feelings, dreams or aspirations.

A modern or traditional timepiece

Take inspiration from the modern wedding anniversary gift guide of clocks, and give your husband a timepiece. A modern interpretation of the clock gift could be a smart watch, providing time-telling as well as connectivity.

For those with more traditional style and tendencies, try sourcing a vintage pocket watch, which is not only a sentimental gift, they also have the ability to become heirlooms of the future and passed down through your newly formed family.

Write your own cookbook – a recipe for gifting success

An innovative interpretation of the traditional first anniversary gift of paper is to buy a recipe journal. These are a ‘build your own cookbook’, giving you a dedicated place to write down and collect your favourite recipes together.

From family favourites to recreations of your go-to date night restaurant, a recipe journal can help you to collate recipes throughout your relationship.

Literary love stories

Celebrate your love story with a literary gift. A beautifully bound classic book is a little luxury that many people wouldn’t think to buy themselves, making them a perfect treat and great option for an anniversary gift.

Maybe your spouse’s favourite author has a brand new book out, or look out for a collection of romantic poems in a coffee table book. Classic tales are also a good option.

Alternatively, an e-reader, like a Kindle Paperwhite, are great for reading on the go – perfect for partners that have a commute or prefer more lightweight reading experiences.

A permanent present

If you’re looking for a unique first wedding anniversary gift, why not book in to get matching tattoos! Many modern couples choose to get their partners initials or their wedding date inked on them, however you could also look at getting more abstract that symbolises your relationship or your partner in a more subtle way.

This is a great idea for creative couples, who likely already have tattoos – although it’s a good idea to brooch the subject with your spouse before making any appointments to check they are on board first!

Replicate your first date, or another significant moment in your relationship

Take a trip down memory lane and recreate a special or romantic moment in your relationship.

Whether it’s revisiting the restaurant you had your first date at, going back to the place you got engaged, or taking a trip to the venue you got married in, you can make new memories in meaningful places on your first anniversary. Be sure to mention when booking that you’ll be celebrating your anniversary, as they may go the extra mile for you on your arrival!

Final Thoughts

When it comes to finding a first wedding anniversary gift that your partner will cherish, there are certain traditional materials and gift suggestions you may want to take inspiration from.

However, the best way to select the perfect present for your partner is to look for something meaningful, sentimental and special to you as a couple that will help you to celebrate and commemorate your first year of marriage.

As Christmas draws closer, festive celebrations are filling the diary. Finding the perfect Christmas jewellery to wear to each of these occasions can help to make the most of the festive season and elevate your party outfits.

From glitzy Christmas parties, to cosy, casual Boxing Day gatherings and full glamour New Year’s Eve soirees, we have put together the ultimate guide to styling jewellery this festive season and the key Christmas jewellery trend to look out for.

How to style jewellery for festive events this Christmas

The first thing to consider when trying to find your jewellery style this Christmas is to think about the type of occasions and events you will be attending, how formal they will be and what clothes you will be wearing with your jewels. This will help you to determine what jewellery styles will best suit each occasion.

What jewellery to wear for the work Christmas party

Work Christmas parties can vary in formality from company to company, from casual pub trips to black-tie dinners!

For more casual Christmas dos, opt for classic styles over statement pieces. Look for dainty high quality metals, like 9ct gold or sterling silver in simple styles to exude class.

For more formal affairs, you can afford to be more experimental and colourful with your jewellery choices. Try a bold pendant necklace or layer chains of differing lengths and chain thicknesses.

Festival jewellery for ‘Friend-mas’

More recently, groups of friends are gathering around the festive period to celebrate ‘Friendmas’, either instead of, or in addition to, their family Christmas.

There are often informal celebrations, so you can wear whatever you want. For jewellery, add a nod to traditional friendship bracelets, and wear your favourite bangles, bracelets or cuffs to your festive gathering with friends. You could even gift your friends matching bracelets for Christmas!

The big day – perfect jewellery for Christmas Day

Move over matching Christmas pyjamas, and say hello to a stunning jewellery set.

Whether you want to match your gemstone earrings to a cocktail ring, or choose a matching necklace and bracelet set, wearing a two, or three piece jewellery collection will create a classy, cohesive look that’s perfect for Christmas Day.

The beauty of matching sets is that you can wear them together on special occasions, like Christmas, to make a statement. But each piece can be worn separately, to tone down your jewellery look, meaning you can get the most out of your jewellery collection throughout the year.

Casual-yet-classic jewellery for Boxing Day

For many of us, after the chaos of Christmas Day, Boxing Day is a much more casual affair.

Whether you’re spending all day in your pyjamas, or pairing a Christmas jumper with jeans (or post-turkey leggings!), add simple jewellery, like a classic pair of delicate hoop earrings.

Be careful with festive knitwear, as it can be a hazard for chain necklaces or dangling earrings. To avoid getting caught in your jumper and risking ruining your knitwear, opt for more subtle, dainty jewellery, like huggie style earrings or smooth rings with minimal edges or details that could snag on your knitwear.

Jewellery for New Year’s Eve

Saving the best until last, New Year’s Eve is the perfect opportunity to wear your most sparkling, most special jewellery pieces. Whether you’re keeping it casual or heading to a party, make a statement with your jewellery to see in the new year.

A pair of statement earrings are a versatile way to add some sparkle to any outfit. From diamond studded hoop earrings, to emerald drop earrings, adding bold earrings to a simple Little Black Dress or cocktail dress is a stylish way to stand out this New Year’s Eve.

Jewellery Trends for the Festive Season

Gemstones Galore

Channel your inner Christmas tree and adorn yourself in multicoloured gemstones this festive season.

While multicoloured lights may have gone out of fashion for Christmas decor, bright and bold gemstones are set to be a huge trend in 2026. Get ahead of the crowd and pair gemstones with more pared back outfits, like neutrals or all-black outfits, or match your ruby or pink sapphires to your lipstick for an on-trend colour blocking look.

Diamonds in December

According to UK based bridal company BrideBook, 35-40% of all engagements happen in Winter, between the months of December and February, with over a quarter of them happening at Christmas time!

So, diamond jewellery is incredibly popular in December. Even if you are already engaged or married, you can add a touch of elegance to your festive fashions with some classic diamond stud earrings.

If you have an inkling you might be proposed to this festive season, our top tip is to make sure to book in a manicure and opt for more dainty and delicate jewellery, especially rings, and keep your ring finger jewellery free – just in case!

Gold rings for Christmas

In honour of the 12 days of Christmas song, why not wear your favourite 5 golden rings this Christmas season!

Try wearing a range of gold rings or bangles in different thicknesses and styles will make an eye-catching jewellery stack. This also allows you to wear several of your best pieces together, making the most of your jewellery collection.

Sparkle in Icy silver and white gold

If you’re more of a cool-toned jewellery lover, icy silver tones are perfect for winter.

Take inspiration from frosted mornings and snowy scenes, and look for metals like platinum, white gold or sterling silver. For gemstones, try diamond, opal or pearl jewellery this festive season.

Tap into traditional Christmas trends with vintage and antique jewellery

Nostalgic, traditional Christmas is a key trend in all things festive this year, from decorations to tableware.

Channel this vintage feeling and look for antique, one-of-a-kind jewellery to wear with your partyware this Christmas. Sourcing vintage jewellery is a stylish and sustainable way to grow your jewellery collection, finding unique pieces from different eras, from Victorian rings to Art Deco earrings. The exquisite craftsmanship found in antique jewellery is perfect to accentuate floor-length gowns and add some glamour to festive outfits.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas, add some elegance to your festive fashions with on-trend jewellery.

From delicate and dainty jewellery to create a classic casual look to making a statement with bold gemstones and icy-toned metals, channel Christmas trends from head to toe at all your Christmas celebrations this festive period.

As we near the end of 2025, it’s time to look ahead to the key jewellery trends to watch out for in 2026.

From the haute couture houses of Paris, to the modern runways of New York Fashion Week, and everywhere in between, jewellery trends for 2026 look to be big, bold and beautiful. From mixed metals and layered pieces, to structural and sculptural shapes, there’s something to suit all personalities and tastes.

In this article, we will look at the key themes featured at fashion shows for 2026, and how you can work them into your jewellery collection in a sustainable and stylish way, so you can be a trend setter not a fashion follower.

Key jewellery trends for 2026

Bold shapes

We are moving away from minimalism, and jewellery trends in 2026 are leaning towards bold shapes and structural looks. Think chunky chains, thick cuff bracelets and sculptural pendants.

This trend can lean to futuristic styles, with fluid and abstract shapes, or smooth pebble-like shapes featuring highly. Whether you want to go for angular and geometric, or look for softer shapes, make sure they are big and bold to make a statement for 2026 styles.

Vibrant gemstones

To go-to gemstones for 2026 are all about choosing bold, bright colours. Vivid gemstones are set to dominate jewellery trends next year, and you can be really creative with what stones you choose.

From making it personal with birthstones or choosing stones in your favourite colour, to creating a rainbow look by wearing multiple stones in different pieces of jewellery, when looking for gemstones to wear in 2026, make sure they are colourful.

Mixing metals

While silver has definitely had a moment in 2025, with prices of silver skyrocketing in 2025, next year will be all about mixed metals.

Mixing different metals, like yellow gold and silver, is a great way to experiment with your jewellery and create bold, interesting looks. You can still rock the mixed metal trend even if you’ve already figured out what metal matches your skin tone best, by layering different metals with the same tone, for example wearing different cooler toned metals like silver with blackened metals, or combining yellow gold with copper tones to add depth.

Vintage and heritage inspiration

With the rise of ‘old money’ style in fashion, there’s no wonder that vintage and heritage is a jewellery trend to watch out for in 2026.

Often used as a reaction to, and rejection of, fast fashion that is poor quality, many consumers are now looking to well-made, timeless pieces both in fashion and accessories, including jewellery.

Jewellery for 2026 will focus on vintage inspired pieces, a nod to by-gone eras and building a jewellery collection filled with timeless items that you can wear time and time again.

Layering jewellery

Again, moving away from minimalism, layering jewellery looks to be making a come-back in 2026.

Building a cohesive jewellery stack can take many years, collecting pieces over time. However, with a solid foundation of key, timeless pieces, you can expertly layer jewellery to complement your style and showcase your excellent taste in jewellery!

Pieces to invest in now to stay ahead of the trends

With many trends set to hit the high street and costume jewellery shelves next year, here are some jewellery pieces that you can invest in that can help you stay on trend while retaining your signature style and building out a timeless jewellery collection.

Statement pendant necklaces

From Ralph Lauren to Hermes, one trend that was seen on many catwalks for Spring / Summer 26, was statement pendant necklaces. Worn long and low on the body to mirror deep necklines, or even worn backwards to accentuate backless dresses, the statement pendant necklace is definitely one trend to work into your jewellery collection next year.

Choosing a pendant that can be worn on a long or shorter chain will mean you will get maximum wear, and allow you to layer with other necklaces as the trends change

Brooches

Making their way to the catwalks of high-end fashion houses for Spring / Summer 2026, brooches are set to have a big moment next year.

The beauty of brooches is that they retain their timeless style, and can be worn multiple ways. Fixing a statement brooch to a scarf or tie, to wearing many on a lapel, seeking out a vintage brooch is a great way to create an on-trend look that can adapt to your personal style, as well as change with the fashions.

Chunky hoop earrings

A timeless way to tap into jewellery trends in 2026 is to invest in a pair of statement hoop earrings.

A classic hoop earring never goes out of style, and having a few key pairs of hoop earrings in different sizes and thicknesses mean you can swap them out depending on trends and your chosen outfits.

For 2026, hoop earrings are going to be chunky, so look for thicker styles. To avoid heavy, weighty hoops dragging your ears down, look for hollow styles when considering bigger, bolder hoops to avoid damaging your ears and improving comfort.

Ethical gemstone jewellery

Sustainability never goes out of style. So if you’re wanting to try into the vibrant gemstone trend, be sure to look for the origins of your jewellery. All of our gemstones are ethically and responsibly sourced, meaning you can wear the trend guilt-free.

One of the most sustainable ways to wear gemstones, and all jewellery, is to buy vintage and antique. Through buying vintage jewellery, you are reusing materials and giving existing pieces a new lease of life, truly planet-friendly fashion!

Final Thoughts

Whether you want to hop on the heritage trend, or vibing with vibrant gemstones, jewellery trends are set to be full of fun and creativity in 2026.

When it comes to staying ahead of jewellery trends for 2026, we recommend choosing the trends that most align with your personal style as this way you will be able to select pieces that will work with the trends next year, and many years beyond!

With a chill in the air and the nights getting longer, gothic jewellery may start to make its way onto the fingers and necks of those seeking a darker jewellery look this spooky season.

But, gothic jewellery isn’t just for Halloween! Taking inspiration from ancient architecture and blending it with modern motifs, gothic jewellery trends transcend time.

In this article, we will look at the key styles and trends in gothic jewellery that you can wear all year round.

What is gothic jewellery?

Gothic jewellery draws inspiration from gothic subculture, a cultural movement first emerging in the 1970s in Britain.

The Gothic movement takes influence from a range of historical sources, such as gothic literature from the 19th century, medieval gothic architecture and natural elements like botanicals and celestial elements.

Gothic jewellery often features echoes of the past, and the origins of gothic inspiration, and tends to be on the darker side.

One of the key features of gothic style is creativity and self-expression. So, if you’re looking to embrace your more mysterious side through gothic jewellery, you can blend your personal style with gothic touches or go for a full gothic jewellery collection.

Styles of gothic jewellery

While all types of jewellery can be made with gothic elements or inspiration, there are some key jewellery pieces that emulate the gothic vibe.

Brooches

Inspired by Victorian jewellery, brooches are a great way to start your gothic jewellery collection. They are versatile pieces that can add a touch of gothic flair to your outfit. From an antique cameo brooch to a bejewelled uniquely shaped brooch, you can make a statement or add some subtle style.

Necklaces

To achieve a gothic necklace look, try stacking multiple necklaces of varying lengths. Choker necklaces are incredibly popular in gothic style, layered with large gemstone pendants on longer chains and plain but thick chains to fill in the gaps.

Rings

Wearing lots of bold, statement rings with large jewels is a staple for many gothic jewellery lovers. Some people even choose to wear a ring on every finger! Though that may be impractical for many, adding some interesting, gothic-inspired rings to your collection can help you achieve a toned down version of this look.

Author Jacqueline Wilson wearing her signature gothic rings. Source: The Guardian

Gothic jewellery trends and themes

Silver style

The preferred metal choice for many gothic loving jewellery fans is undoubtedly silver. From brushed and slightly blackened to highly-shined and polished silver, choosing cool-toned jewellery.

The popularity of silver in gothic jewellery comes from its ability to highlight intricate detailing, with the natural oxidisation process providing depth to pieces. Others say that it’s because of its likeness to moonlight.

However, if warm-toned metals like yellow gold jewellery suit your skin tone better, you can incorporate other gothic elements to help achieve this striking look. Look for darker, more muted tones of gold to help create a more gothic look.

Deep jewel tones

In keeping with the dark nature of gothic style, when choosing gemstones, look for deep, striking gemstones to achieve a gothic look this Autumn / Winter. Bold jewels will really stand out against silver settings, creating a striking look.

From blood-red ruby jewellery to inky sapphires as dark as the night sky, deep jewels can help to create a jewellery collection with depth and a touch of gothic style.

Following Queen Victoria’s extended period of mourning after her husband, Albert’s death in 1861, mourning jewellery grew in popularity, with black jet featuring highly in jewellery of the time. While black gemstones are more unusual, you can emulate this design with black stones, like onyx or rare black or salt and pepper diamonds.

Memento mori

Coming from the Latin phrase that translates to “remember you must die”, Memento mori was a popular theme in jewellery between the 14th and 17th century, and later in the mourning jewellery made popular by Queen Victoria.

While it may seem morbid, commemorative jewellery is still rather popular today. Though memorial jewellery of the 19th century sometimes featured lockets with hair of the deceased enclosed, which, unsurprisingly, has fallen out of fashion in contemporary jewellery making, commemorative jewellery featuring loved ones’ ashes is ever popular.

Instead, incorporating skulls or other motifs into your jewellery is a way to channel this memento mori in a more subtle and stylish way.

Victorian inspiration

Harking back to the era of gothic literature, gothic style has a tendency to draw inspiration from the Victorian period.

Key features of Victorian jewellery are intricate detailing on the metalwork and gemstones set with claw-like prongs.

Whether you’re seeking out Victorian-inspired or authentic antique Victorian jewellery, look out for filigree detailing on the metal work and rich symbolism.

Details like hands, hearts and serpents were all common in traditional Victorian jewellery, with strong sentimental symbolism attached. More contemporary adaptations of gothic jewellery may feature motifs like bats or skulls that have less sentimentality and links more closely to cultural symbols.

Celestial celebration

Alongside natural motifs, gothic jewellery often centres on celestial inspiration. From stars, moons and suns to zodiac and astrology.

You can incorporate elements of celestial style by choosing ethereal stones, like moonstone or opal gemstones, that reflect multicoloured refractions of light, creating a dream-like quality.

You could also take an astrological route, figuring out your birthstone and incorporating that into your gothic jewellery. Alternatively, zodiac symbols or the animals associated with the starsign, like scorpions for Scorpios or Lions for Leos, often feature in jewellery designs and can add a touch of the celestial to your jewellery.

Religious iconography

Gothic style often echoes religious iconography and architecture, perhaps taking inspiration from gothic architecture.

Incorporating religious inspiration is common in gothic jewellery, with crosses and crucifixes. However, a more subtle way to incorporate this inspiration could be through choosing gemstones that mimic stained-glass windows, with rich jewel tones.

Final Thoughts

While gothic jewellery tends to be on the darker side, combining subtle gothic features and accents with timeless designs and beautiful craftsmanship, gothic pieces can be added to your jewellery collection seamlessly and worn alongside contemporary items and antique finds alike!

When it comes to choosing pre-loved jewellery, often antique and vintage jewellery are the preferred choice for people wanting unique, well-made pieces that hold meaning and value.

Investing in antique or vintage jewellery is a great way to build your jewellery collection, prioritising craftsmanship and precious materials as well as personal style and heritage.

It can be confusing to identify what makes jewellery antique versus what qualifies as vintage jewellery. From hallmarks to period specific techniques, here is our guide to help you identify and choose your next antique or vintage jewellery purchase.

What is antique jewellery?

The main difference between antique and vintage jewellery is their age.

In the jewellery industry, antique jewellery is generally classed as pieces that are over 100 years old.

This means jewellery made before the 1920s are antique, and include pieces made in the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian periods, as well as earlier pieces, if they have survived!

Antique jewellery can be difficult to source, making them incredibly rare and valuable, often resulting in being very expensive. This does, however, mean that you are likely to be wearing a one-of-a-kind, incredibly unique piece of jewellery, making them deserving of the higher price tag.

What is vintage jewellery?

Unlike antique jewellery, vintage jewellery has less rigid rules when it comes to classification. However, there are some guidelines that most jewellers and valuers adhere to.

Vintage jewellery must be less than 100 years old, and most commonly it is between 50 and 100 years old. This means that jewellery made between 1920 and 1970 is considered to be vintage. Although, often jewellery made more than 20 years ago is considered to be vintage, too.

As the time span that covers vintage jewellery is quite broad, so too is the price range. Earlier vintage jewellery, from the 1930s – 1950s can hold more value compared to ‘newer’ vintage pieces, however this can be dependent on condition, quality of materials and design.

What is vintage-style jewellery?

Lots of contemporary jewellery is made and described as ‘vintage inspired’ or ‘vintage style’. This means that it has been made with modern materials and techniques, but takes inspiration from the design of vintage jewellery.

While vintage-style jewellery is a more affordable option, good for costume jewellery pieces for special occasions, genuine vintage jewellery holds a lot more value and is often more hardwearing, due to the time and techniques used to produce them.

How to identify if jewellery is antique or vintage

Jewellery experts look for some of these key indicators when inspecting jewellery to help them identify when it was made to help them accurately classify them, and give them a valuation that is appropriate for their age, design and condition.

Hallmarks or other makers marks

The most accurate way to identify when and where the item of jewellery was made is to look for marking. Sometimes markings can even help you identify exactly who made it, as makers may have engraved initials or company logo onto the piece.

In Britain, design registration marks and hallmarks, such as marks from the assay office can not only help to authenticate the material and quality of the jewellery, but the date it was made too.

Specific eras or styles

Throughout history, certain design styles have been popular during specific periods of time. This means there are details or designs that can help to identify when a piece of jewellery was made.

For example, in the 1920s and 1930s ‘Art Deco’ was the style of the time. Key features of art deco design that you can look out for in vintage jewellery from this period include streamlined, geometric shapes and sometimes a nod to Egypt, inspired by the discovery of Tutunkahmun’s tomb in 1922.

Antique jewellery from the Victorian period often include natural motifs, like floral details or vines, or include snakes and serpent details, a popular symbol of love used in eternity rings inspired by a ring that Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria.

Researching popular design and jewellery styles of notable antique and vintage periods can help you to identify these when looking for heritage jewellery.

Period appropriate craftsmanship

Another way to identify when a piece of jewellery was created is to look for specific making techniques or materials that place it in a specific time period. For example, older pieces of jewellery would have been handmade and exhibit intricate details to reflect this, whereas vintage jewellery may have utilised contemporary machinery to the time to help manufacture and make jewellery.

The cut of diamonds, for example, can be a great way to identify when it was made. More traditional cuts, like the old mine cut, are likely to be antique, while modern cuts, like a round brilliant cut, are likely to be vintage instead.

Material matters

Similarly, material used in jewellery can help to identify when it was made. Higher-carat gold is likely to be used in antique jewellery, while platinum and white gold is often found in vintage jewellery.

When it comes to later vintage periods, like the 1960s onwards, plastic, or resin, and wood can be found used in fashionable jewellery of the time.

How to take care of antique or vintage jewellery

For jewellery you wear daily, such as an antique engagement ring, it’s a good idea to get into a regular cleaning routine to keep your jewellery maintained well and improve the life-span of heritage jewellery. Often it is easy to clean gold jewellery at home, with simple household items, but take care to be gentle with older pieces, as they may be more delicate than modern items.

Be sure to store antique and vintage jewellery in a dry place, and away from direct sunlight, and remove before showering, exercising or swimming. Try to avoid contact with chemicals, such as harsh cleaning products and even over exposure to perfumes, as this may cause damage in the long run.

Taking good care of antique and vintage jewellery will ensure that you can enjoy your jewellery for many years to come, and even pass them down as heirlooms of the future!

Restoring antique or vintage jewellery

Restoring antique or vintage jewellery is a great way to give historic, meaningful or symbolic heritage pieces a new lease of life. However, as a general rule, in order to maintain its status as vintage or antique, at least 50% of the original jewellery must remain in the restored piece.

This could mean keeping a gemstone but making improvements to the setting to ensure that it keeps its integrity but has a more robust setting. In contrast, using metal from antique or vintage pieces of jewellery, melting it down and redesigning it would mean it is no longer classed as either antique or vintage.

Final thoughts

When it comes to antique and vintage jewellery, the most important thing to consider is their condition and their value, not just financially but what it means historically, to you in the present, and who you might pass it down to eventually.

Investing in heritage heirlooms adds new stories to existing pieces of jewellery and keeps the rich tapestry of jewellery making and wearing alive for years to come.

Need help identifying or choosing an antieur of vintage piece of jewellery?

Our experts can help to identify or value jewellery, source jewellery from a specific period, or discuss ways to restore or rejuvenate existing pieces, contact us.

When it comes to building your jewellery collection, a signet ring is a great way to add style and personality. Whether you’re looking for a signet ring for special occasions or for everyday wear, finding the perfect style can be daunting.

Here we will look at the history and symbolism of the signet ring, as well as look at modern interpretations of the style, as well as our top tips for finding your ideal signet ring.

What are signet rings?

A signet ring is a popular style of jewellery that has been worn for centuries. They feature a flat front surface, making them perfect for engraving meaningful or symbolic designs.

Traditionally, signet rings served as an emblem of power and status of the wearer, they were worn by royalty, and most often worn by men. However, they have made a resurgence in popularity, for both men and women.

History and symbolism of signet rings

The word ‘signet’ means ‘small seal’, and signet rings were originally used to seal letters and sign or authenticate documents. By pressing the signet ring engraved coat of arms, crests or monogram details into melted wax, the wearer was able to easily sign or seal papers.

Often, signet rings were family heirlooms, passed down through generations as a symbol of heritage and lineage. Now, modern variations and rare antique signet rings are still given as a gift on milestone moments, such as 18th or 21st birthdays, or for weddings and anniversaries.

Throughout history and even today signet rings are a sentimental and symbol piece of jewellery that can express personal style and identity.

Signet ring styles for women

When looking for the perfect signet ring, it’s good to understand the different styles of signet rings available.

Engravings

Like the traditional styles, modern signet rings still often feature meaningful engravings such as initials or monograms. You can choose to have the initials embossed or engraved, giving different finishes.

Most people opt to have their own initials on their signet rings, however you could also wear a signet ring featuring the initials of a loved one, like a spouse or your children, making them extra meaningful.

Other engraving options you might want to consider are astrological star-signs, floral illustrations like flowers or celestial symbols, like suns or stars. Due to the flat surface of a signet ring, the possibilities of engraving are very broad!

Stones

Another popular style of signet ring includes having a stone setting. A gemstone signet is a great way to add some colour to your jewellery collection, from red rubies to striking sapphires.

You may also want to choose a signet ring set with yours or the recipient’s birthstone, for a modern way to wear personalised jewellery.

Shape

Round, Oval, Square, Rectangle…even hexagons! Signet rings are designed in a variety of shapes.

Whether you want a more traditional oval signet ring, a modern geometric style or a cushion style, which is a hybrid between a square and an oval, there are so many different shapes to consider.

The shape of your signet ring can also depend on your hand shape. For example, oval rings can be universally flattering, while round signet rings are great for those with smaller, shorter fingers as they elongate the fingers and square signet rings can balance the proportions of larger fingers.

Metal

Signet rings come in a range of different metals, from yellow, rose or white gold, to platinum and sterling silver. That means you can match your jewellery to your skin tone or personal preference.

If you are planning to wear your signet ring daily, we recommend choosing a more durable metal, like gold. This will mean it can stand up to daily wear and tear without getting damaged.

Band width

From thin to thick, signet rings come in a range of band widths. If you lean towards more dainty jewellery, you might want to consider a signet ring with a slightly thinner band. To make a statement, try a more solid signet ring with a thicker band.

Choosing the right band width may also depend on what finger you’re planning to wear your signet ring on.

We recommend trying on a variety of signet rings to help you find your new signature signet ring style.

How to style signet rings

Pinky perfect

Most commonly, signet rings are worn on the pinky finger of the wearer’s non-dominant hand. This is still a very popular way to wear signet rings, and is a playful way to wear personalised jewellery day-to-day.

Stack your signets

Signets don’t have to just be worn on your little finger though. Contemporary styles mean you can wear signets on any finger, so why not wear them on multiple fingers!

Stacking your signet rings lets you experiment with various styles or shapes of signet ring across different fingers for a really unique, bold look.

Vintage Vibes

Sourcing a vintage or antique signet ring is great for discovering one-of-a-kind jewellery that is unique to you. Wearing a ring that already has its own history, and styling it your way is the perfect way to give heritage jewellery another lease of life and continue to the lifespan of the piece.

Statement signet rings

Make a statement with a bold signet ring. Whether it has a bright, eye-catching colourful stone or features an intricate crest or coat of arms, signet rings are a great jewellery choice to make a statement.

Signature set

Finding, or designing, a modern signet ring gives you the option to add matching jewellery to your collection. From matching earrings to a complementary necklace, you can create a signature style with a set of jewellery that centres on your signet ring.

Final Thoughts

While signet rings are a very traditional style of jewellery, they have maintained their popularity and are a staple piece in any woman’s jewellery collection.

Select a signet ring that suits your signature style, in your preferred metal and with your initials or birthstone, making them the perfect, timeless way to wear personalised jewellery.

It can be difficult deciding what jewellery will suit you most. From yellow gold to platinum, ruby to emerald, worrying about finding the right metal and gemstone that flatters you can mean that you struggle to find jewellery that suits your skin and your style.

In this guide, we will give you our best tips and tricks to finding your undertone and deciding what colour metal and gemstones will match your skin tone and help you to build a jewellery collection that flatters you.

What metal can you choose from for jewellery?

Typically, jewellery is made from precious metals, due to their strength and longevity. These may include:

• Platinum
• Yellow Gold
• White Gold
• Rose Gold
• Sterling Silver

Each of these metals differ slightly when it comes to strength, however they are all a good option when choosing sentimental jewellery. The main difference between these materials is their appearance; their colour and their tone.

Some of these metals, like yellow gold, are much warmer in tone, while platinum, white gold and silver pull more cool toned. Rose gold, as the name suggests, has a pinkish hue and often has more variation than other metals, meaning it can appear more warm or cool depending on the amount of copper that is added.

To decide which metal will be most flattering on your skin tone, it is helpful to identify your undertone.

How to find your undertone to help match your jewellery to your skin tone

There are some easy ways to find out what your undertone is to help you choose the best metal for your skin tone.

Look at your veins

Look at the veins on your wrist. If your veins are more blue or purple, you’ll be cool toned. If they are more green, then you are warm toned.

If it’s hard to tell, or they are a mix of blue and green, then you may have a neutral skin tone.

How does your skin react to the sun

Another way to identify if you are cool, warm or neutral toned, is to look at how your skin reacts and responds to being in the sun.

If you tend to burn and go red in the sun, you might be more cool toned. If you get tanned when exposed to sun, you’re likely more warm toned.

What is your natural hair colour?

You can also look at your natural hair colour to help identify your undertone! Ashy blond, black and mousy hair colours are on the cooler side, while ginger, strawberry blonde and honey or caramel toned browns are more warm.

Consider what other colour look good on you

What colour clothes do you gravitate to? If you tend to wear cooler colours, like blue or purple, or blue-toned reds like burgundy then you are cool-toned. If you wear more warmer tones like yellows, oranges and browns then you are warm-toned.

If you wear a wide range of colours and are unsure which suits you best, try holding a piece of pure white and cream up to your face. You should be able to see that one accentuates your skin tone, minimising any flaws and giving you an overall brighter appearance. If white brightens you, you are cool toned, and if cream makes you look your best, then you are warm toned.

Once you’ve identified your undertone you will be able to choose jewellery in the metal that best flatters your skin and overall colourings.

• If you have a cool undertone, you will suit platinum, white gold and silver most. You may also find that lighter rose golds suit you, too.
• If you have a warm undertone, yellow gold and deeper rose golds will be the most flattering on you.
• If you have a neutral undertone, all metal tones will suit you – lucky you! Why not try to mix and match your metals.

Choosing gemstones that will suit your skin tone

To enhance your jewellery even further, you might want to pair your chosen metal with gemstones that share the same tones.

Gemstones that work with gold settings

Earthy gemstones look great with warm toned gold jewellery as they bring out the golden hues of the metal.

Choose stones like citrine, amber or peridot compliment yellow gold jewellery. You may also want to consider turquoise jewellery and or a timeless pearl necklace with yellow gold detailing will also flatter warmer skin tones.

Cool-toned gemstones to compliment silver jewellery

Brightly coloured gemstones in typical ‘jewel tones’ pair perfectly with cool-toned silver, platinum and white gold.

Try red rubies or garnets, sparkling sapphires or regal amethysts. Milky mulit-coloured opals, semi-precious jade stones and pale blue aquamarine are great affordable gemstone options for silver jewellery.

What else to consider when choosing jewellery to flatter your skin tone and style

While matching your jewellery to your undertone can be the most flattering option, there are many other things to consider when choosing jewellery.

Trends

Investing in timeless, precious pieces in metals that suit your skin tone is the best way to build your jewellery collection. However, having fun, more costume-style jewellery in a variety of tones can mean you can try out different looks when they are on trend.

Season

Often, people’s skin tones change between seasons. This means you may be more tanned in the summer and choose to wear more gold jewellery in the sunnier months. Then, when winter comes around, you may want to wear more cool-toned metals, like silver.

Outfits

While you may usually gravitate to wearing certain colours, for special occasions you may want to try something new and switch up your jewellery to match.

Similarly, a new accessory may have different metal or hardware than you usually wear, like a zip on a bag or a buckle on a belt.

This presents a great opportunity for you to experiment with your jewellery and try something new in another tone.

Final thoughts

When it comes to choosing jewellery that matches your skin tone, start with finding your undertone by looking at your natural colouring, like your veins and hair colour, and what colour clothes suit you.

Whether you’re cool-toned platinum, a warm-toned yellow gold or a neutral-toned in rose gold, finding your perfect metal can help you build a cohesive jewellery collection that you’ll love to wear and will make you look and feel great!

The British Royal family are known for their beautiful jewellery collection, often choosing heirloom pieces seeped in history and meaning, passed down from previous monarchs.

From tiara’s worn at Royal Weddings, to recognisable engagement rings, pearl necklaces and signet rings, we are taking a look into the archives to showcase the most iconic jewellery pieces from the British Royal family.

The Crown Jewels

When talking about the most iconic jewels in the British Royal Family’s collection, we must discuss the Crown Jewels. The Crown Jewels are a collection of ceremonial items used in coronations and many other important ceremonies. They include items like sceptres, spoons and orbs, and, of course, crowns!

St. Edward Crown

The original St. Edwards Crown was thought to date back to the 11th century and was used to crown all English sovereigns until 1649. This was when the monarchy was abolished, and Parliament ordered for the crown to be broken up and melted down.

When the sovereign was reinstated in the 1660s, a new state crown was commissioned, meant to faithfully reflect the original St. Edward Crown although took influence from design of the time too. The current St. Edward Crown is made from a solid gold frame set with various precious and semi-previous stones, like rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines. The crown also has a purple velvet cap with a fur band.

The St. Edward Crown is only used in the moment of crowning a new monarch, and it was used in the coronations of both Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III.

Imperial State Crown

The Imperial State Crown is the crown worn by monarchs when they leave Westminster Abbey after the coronation or at other State occasions such as the annual State Opening of Parliament.

The original Imperial State Crown was made for Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1838, and was remade in 1937 for the Coronation of King George VI. This version, still in use today, is made with a gold frame and is set with almost 3,000 diamonds alongside sapphires, emeralds, pearls, and rubies.

All of the Crown Jewel’s hold such immense historical significance and irreplaceable financial value that they are held under lock-and-key at the Tower of London.

What are the most iconic pieces of Royal Jewellery?

Queen Victoria Brooch from Prince Albert

One of the oldest pieces of jewellery in the royal collection is the sapphire and diamond brooch that Queen Victoria received from her husband-to-be, Prince Albert, on the day before their wedding in 1840.

So enamoured with the brooch, Queen Victoria pinned it to her wedding dress, very in keeping with the ‘something blue’ tradition made popular in the Victorian era!

Upon Queen Victoria’s death in 1901, she left the brooch as an ‘heirloom of the Crown’, which meant that the piece should be worn by all future queens. So far, the four queens and queen consorts since—Queen Alexandria, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth (the Queen’s mother) and Queen Elizabeth II—have been seen wearing it. Look out for Catherine, Prince of Wales sporting it soon!

Princess Diana’s Sapphire Engagement Ring

One of the most recognisable and famous engagement rings in history is Princess Diana’s sapphire cluster ring, now worn by Catherine, Princess of Wales.

This beautiful white gold ring was set with a 12 carat Ceylon sapphire and surrounded by a halo of 14 solitaire diamonds and is said to be inspired by the brooch we discussed above.

Unlike all royal engagement rings before, Diana’s ring was not custom made. Instead, this brilliant blue engagement ring was personally chosen by Diana from a jewellers catalogue in 1981, meaning that ordinary people could purchase the exact same ring – if they could afford the luxury price tag that is!

Controversially, even after their divorce in 1996, Diana continued to wear her engagement ring, which Prince Harry inherited after her death in 1997. In 2010, Prince Harry chose to give this ring to his older brother, William, to prose to Catherine. Who knows, perhaps it will be passed down to the next generation of Royals, too!

Queen Elizabeth’s Pearl Choker

Pearls hold a significant place in British Royal Family tradition. Queen Elizabeth I wore pearls to symbolise her virtue and chastity, often adorned in pearls in portraits.

Many other royals followed suit, including Queen Elizabeth II, whose pearl and diamond choker necklace has been worn by many modern Royals. This four-strand necklace features freshwater pearls that were gifted to the Queen by the Japanese government during a state visit in 1975.

Later, in 1982, the Queen loaned the choker to Diana, Princess of Wales, who wore it to a banquet at Hampton Court Palace, paired with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara (below). The pearl choker has now been passed on to Catherine, Princess of Wales, who has worn the necklace on several occasions.

Queen Mary’s Love Knot Tiara

Another pearl piece from the royal collection originally belonged to Queen Mary, who had the Love Knot tiara made in 1913. It played homage to her grandmother, Princess Augusta of Hesse’s Lover’s Knot Tiara, who received it as a wedding gift in 1818.

Queen Mary’s Love Knot Tiara reused pearls and diamonds from another tiara in her collection, a great example of how you can transform heirlooms into new pieces!

After Queen Mary’s death in 1953, the tiara was given to her granddaughter, Queen Elizabeth II. It was subsequently worn by Princess Diana and Catherine, who first wore it publicly in Buckingham Palace in 2015, over 100 years since it was made! Since then, it has become one of Catherine’s favourite headpieces.

Queen Elizabeth’s Cartier Halo Tiara worn by Catherine, Prince of Wales

Similarly, another very famous tiara from the Royal collection is the Cartier Halo Tiara. This stunning piece was originally purchased in 1936 by King George VI for his wife, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen’s Mother.

She subsequently gifted it to her daughter, then-Princess Elizabeth, on her 18th birthday.

In modern Royal history, the Cartier Halo Tiara was worn by then Catherine Middleton on her wedding day to Prince William in 2011, making it a very memorable and recognisable piece within the collection.

Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau worn by Meghan Markle

A surprisingly modern tiara, Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau features the County of Lincoln Brooch in the centre, that Queen Mary received as a wedding present in 1893.

Forty years later, in 1932, this headpiece was created, with its sleek design reflecting the streamline art deco style of the time.

After Mary’s death in 1953, the tiara was passed down to Queen Elizabeth II, who famously, lent the Diamond Bandeau to Meghan Markle for her wedding to Prince Harry’s in 2018.

King Charles III’s gold signet ring

Jewellery isn’t just for the women in the royal family! Traditionally, men in the royal family do not wear jewellery however, except for watches and wedding bands. However, there are some male monarchs who have challenged this.

Prince Philip wore his father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, signet ring, and most notably, our current monarch, King Charles III, followed his father’s lead and has rarely been seen without his gold signet ring.

King Charles, then Prince of Wales, has worn this pinky ring since the mid 1970s featuring the Prince of Wales crest and made from Welsh gold. The ring was previously worn by Charles’ uncle, Prince Edward, the Duke of Windsor, though the ring itself dates back over a century.

Final Thoughts

The Royal collection is filled with one-of-a-kind historical jewellery that is passed down through the family, and often redesigned or reworn by multiple generations, proving the importance of choosing high quality, timeless pieces when building a jewellery collection.

Looking for jewellery fit for a Queen?

Get in touch with our jewellery experts, who can help you find your perfect piece, or design your very own bespoke jewellery item.

Image sources:

Gov.uk, WikiCommons, WikiCommons, WikiCommons, WikiCommons

Stud earrings are a staple piece of any jewellery collection. Simple and stylish, don’t let their small size mislead you, stud earrings can be striking and make a statement.

When building your capsule jewellery collection, choosing some stud earrings that suit your style and compliment your other jewellery pieces is a great way to create a seamless selection of earrings that can be worn day-to-day and for special occasions.

In this guide, we will take you through the different stud earrings on offer, helping you to find the perfect pair of stud earrings to add to your ever-growing jewellery collection.

When should stud earrings be worn?

The beauty of stud earrings is their versatility.

They can be subtle and stylish, worn daily to complete your look (though remember to regularly take them out and clean them!). Opting for more bold, larger studs can also be used to make a statement, making them the ideal earring portion for elegant up-do styles, too.

Unlike other earrings styles, like drop earrings or hoops, stud earrings don’t tend to compete with other jewellery, such as necklaces, so can be worn alongside your other jewellery, and complement your collection.

What style of stud earrings should I choose

When it comes to selecting the perfect pair of stud earrings, there are many different styles you can choose from. From subtle to statement, classy to contemporary, here are some staples you might want to consider.

Classic Diamond Studs

A truly classic choice when it comes to stud earrings are diamond studs. They are special enough to be worn to formal occasions, yet classic enough to be subtle enough for daily wear.

Just as you would when choosing you would if shopping for a diamond ring, when choosing diamond stud earrings, you should consider the four C’s:

• Carat – what is the weight and size of the diamond.
• Color – what colour is the diamond, this ranges from colourless to yellowish brown, with colourless being the most valuable.
• Clarity – does the diamond have any imperfections, like internal inclusions or external blemishes?
• Cut – how does the way the diamond has been cut make it interact with light and how sparkly is it?

If you opt for diamond earrings, be sure to choose a style with a strong and stable setting to keep the diamonds safe and secure.

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Pearl studs

Another chic earring selection are a pair of pearl stud earrings which are a timeless classic. With their off-white colour, they are incredibly versatile and can be worn alongside other jewellery pieces.

It’s said that even the ancient Egyptian Queen, Cleopatra was thought to have owned a pair! This long standing connection with royals and Pearl earrings can still be seen today, with many Royal women adorning pearl jewellery still.

Pearl earrings are a great choice for those wanting to build a timeless jewellery collection.

Metal studs

Matching your earrings to your preferred jewellery metal is a good idea. This will mean you can wear your earrings alongside other jewellery for a seamless look.

A simple pair of silver studs are a chic addition to your jewellery collection that you can wear everyday and add the finishing touch to casual and more formal outfits. Similarly, delicate gold studs can add elegance and a little bit of opulence to a classic t-shirt and jeans or little black dress. Where as mixed metal stud earrings can create a modern look, and are perfect for people who like to wear both yellow and white gold or silver together.

Add a touch of colour with gemstone stud earrings. From rich red Ruby earrings to vibrant green emerald stud earrings, precious and semi-precious gemstones can stand alone as a pop of colour, or coordinate well with other gemstone jewellery or colourful accessories you have.

Birthstone earrings make a brilliant milestone birthday gift, too! Choosing gemstone earrings that match their birthstone is a really thoughtful and sentimental gift for friends or family members.

Geometric and abstract stud earrings

Angular or abstract earrings can be a modern take on the traditional studs.

While square and circle shaped studs are classic, more unusual shapes, like ovals or octagon earrings are a great way to put a twist on a classic.

Similarly, fluid shaped earrings with curves and texture can create a modern, sculptural look and really make a statement.

Mix and Match

Create a youthful, fun look by mixing and matching your stud earrings. Choosing slightly different earrings for each ear makes for a really playful approach to jewellery.

We suggest choosing earrings that have subtle connections – for example if you want to try different gemstones, make sure the overall style is the same. Alternatively, you could choose a theme and select earrings that match this theme, like the ‘seaside’, mixing a starfish earring with a shell shaped one.

Top tips for creating an earring stack

Many people now have multiple piercings in each ear. This means you have more opportunity to build your earring collection and wear various earrings together to create different combinations to suit your outfit or mood.

Curating your earring stack is a great way to showcase your style and creativity, so try to experiment with a variety of different earrings to create a bespoke collection.

When it comes to creating the perfect earring stack, there are a few things you might want to consider.

Metal colour

Sticking with the same metal, for example sterling silver or yellow gold, for all your earrings can create a uniform and cohesive look. Alternatively, try mixing metals for a contemporary, trendy jewellery look.

Size

Ensure that all the earrings in your stack sit well alongside each other, with no overlapping will mean your earrings will look and feel comfortable.

Variation

To keep your ear stack interesting, why not explore including different textures, gemstones and styles of earrings. This can help to create a really unique ear jewellery collection that will spark conversation.

Final Thoughts

Adding a pair of stud earrings to your jewellery collection can help you add the finishing touch to your outfit. By selecting earrings that work alongside your other jewellery pieces and reflect your personal style.

Try to select a few pairs to add variety to increase your versatility, so you can choose between simple or statement, colourful gemstones or more classic pearls or diamonds depending on your outfit or the occasion.

Need help finding the perfect pair of stud earrings?
Get in touch with our specialists who can help you select new or vintage stud earrings.

Now you’ve said ‘yes to the dress’, it’s time to find the perfect necklace to compliment your wedding dress for the Big Day.

Choosing your wedding jewellery can be daunting, so we’ve put together a guide to help you select a wedding necklace that matches your gown, your wedding and engagement rings and your overall wedding theme.

How to choose a necklace that compliments your wedding dress

To create a cohesive look, it’s important to find a necklace that compliments the design and style of your wedding dress. One of the biggest things to consider when choosing your necklace is the neckline of your wedding gown.

Sweetheart, strapless or off the shoulder

Necklaces that sit on, or around your collarbones can help to enhance a sweetheart, strapless or off-the-shoulder gowns, as this will help frame the décolletage elegantly.

A choker style necklace can also mimic the strapless neckline beautifully and is a great option for this style of wedding dress.

V Neck

Pendant or drop necklaces follow a ‘V’ neck’s natural angularity and can help to accentuate the clean lines of your dress. Similarly, visually it helps to direct the eye to the neckline and creates a clean silhouette.

Back-less

Modern brides may opt for a backless style dress, and this is a perfect excuse to try something more experimental with your wedding necklace. Opting for a necklace that has the detail on the back, like a back-drop style necklace, can help to enhance backless wedding dresses and add even more focus to the backless detail.

High Neck, halter neck or one-shouldered dresses

If you have a high or halter neck wedding dress, or an asymmetric, one-shouldered dress, you may want to instead focus on statement wedding earrings, bracelets or bangles to avoid the necklace trying to compete with the neckline.

What kind of necklace should brides wear?

When it comes to finding your wedding necklace, there are many styles and designs to choose from, from traditional to contemporary, simple or statement.

Classic Pearl Necklace

A pearl necklace is a classic choice when it comes to wedding necklaces. Pearl necklaces are a timeless option, and can complement traditional and modern wedding dresses.

Pair your pearl necklace with some simple pearl stud earrings to create a complete look.

Statement Necklace

Create a contemporary look with a statement necklace. Structured, chunky or angular necklaces can help to create a real focal point.

Statement necklaces look best with strapless dresses or dresses with less embellishment, so the statement necklace can be the centre of attention.

Name Necklace

What’s in a name? If you are choosing to change your name once you are married, it’s a fun idea to get a name necklace with your new surname for the evening.

Alternatively, choosing an diamond set initial pendant necklace featuring your future spouse’s initial, or your new married surname initial can be a stylish and sentimental nod to your new married name – a definite conversion starter!

Locket Necklace

For a sentimental option, a traditional locket pendant allows you to add a photograph of you and your future spouse and hold them close to your heart. You can also add a photograph from your wedding in there afterwards, as a lasting memory that you can carry around with you.

Lockets Buy this locket £650

Something Blue

Jewellery is a great way to incorporate your ‘something blue’ tradition in a way that matches their style and wedding theme. Choosing a sapphire necklace can subtly nod to something blue, while also acting as a beautiful piece of bridal jewellery.

Layered Necklace

Some brides opt to layer multiple necklaces of different lengths for a unique look. This works best with deep ‘V’ neck dresses, as you can really vary the length of chains you wear, layering choker style necklaces and longer chains too.

Varying the thickness and even style of the chains can create a really nice textured look. The layered look is best paired with a more simple wedding dress to avoid creating a very busy look.

Vintage necklace

Choosing a vintage necklace will ensure you have a unique necklace that is on-of-a-kind and steeped in history. Vintage, or vintage-style necklaces suit more traditional or period-themed weddings perfectly.

Finding a vintage necklace for your wedding can serve as your ‘something old’ and your ‘something new’, as although it is old, it’s new to you!

Gemstone necklace

Although many brides-to-be have classic diamond engagement rings, if your ring features a different, colourful gemstone, like Ruby or Emerald, why not match your wedding necklace to your engagement ring? Choosing a vibrant, colourful gemstone necklace can help tie your engagement ring into your overall look.

Alternatively, picking a gemstone that matches other elements of your wedding, like the overall colour scheme, your bridesmaids dresses or floral arrangements can help to create a cohesive colour story for your wedding.

1.52ct Marquise Ruby & Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Open Circle Pendent	1.19ct Round Sapphire & Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Open Circle Pendent	1.42ct Oval Aquamarine & Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Cluster Pendant
£2,995	£2,750	£3,150

What to consider when choosing your wedding necklace

Alongside your wedding dress style, there are many other factors you may want to consider when it comes to choosing your perfect wedding necklace.

Wedding theme

If you have decided to go for a specific theme for your wedding, it’s a good idea to ensure that your wedding dress and accessories match this style.

If your theme is 1920s glamour, you might want to look for a graphic art deco necklace design. Modern, minimalist weddings may lend themselves more to sleek, simple chain necklaces.

Dress details and embellishment

Another thing to consider when selecting your bridal jewellery is the overall look of your wedding dress, including any key details or embellishments. If your dress is heavily embellished, with sequins or beading, you might not want to detract attention away from this with an overly detailed necklace.

If your dress has any details, like a belt or patterns, make sure to consider this when choosing your additional accessories, like bags and of course jewellery.

Metal choice

We recommend matching your wedding necklace to your wedding band metal and your wedding dress tone.

For example, if your dress is brilliant white, or oyster grey, silver and white gold will work well, whereas if your dress is ivory or champagne, gold will bring out the warm tones.

Similarly, if your wedding and engagement rings are yellow gold, you may want to match your other wedding jewellery by opting for the same metal. However, if you are opting for a mixed metal approach, feel free to pair yellow, white or even rose gold together to create a contemporary bridal jewellery look.

Mixed metal pendent Buy this pendent £3495

Other jewellery

If you are thinking of wearing statement drop earrings or bangles on your wedding day, ensure that your necklace compliments these other pieces. Try not to overdo your jewellery stack as this can be distracting or uncomfortable on your big day.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to finding your ideal wedding necklace, selecting a necklace that helps to accentuate your wedding dress, matches your wedding theme and expresses your personal style will help to ensure that you look and feel amazing on your wedding day.

Finding it hard to find your perfect wedding necklace?

Why not treat yourself to a bespoke necklace. Find out more about our bespoke jewellery design service.

Wondering how to plan the best engagement party? Many newly engaged couples plan a post-proposal celebration to mark the occasion ahead of the Big Day.

Much like planning the perfect proposal, hosting and organising an engagement party requires some key considerations when it comes to venue and date. However, when it comes to the finer details, like who is supposed to host and pay for the engagement party, things can get a bit more complicated and confusing.

In this article, we will take you through the steps to planning the perfect engagement party and answer all the questions you may have about party planning.

What is an engagement party?

Put simply, an engagement party is a celebration of the new engaged couple! They give the couple’s friends and family the chance to toast the occasion and offer a perfect opportunity for those who will be attending the wedding to meet in a more casual setting ahead of the Big Day.

Often, engagement parties are held soon after the proposal to extend the excitement. Usually, they’ll be around two to three months after the question is popped.

As wedding planning can take many months, an engagement party is a lovely way to extend the post-proposal bubble and excitement and celebrate with your nearest and dearest.

How to plan an engagement party

Here are our top tips to take the stress out of engagement party planning.

Decide who is hosting

Traditionally, the Bride’s parents would host, and pay for, the engagement party for the soon-to-be-wed couple. This is rooted in a time when the Bride’s family would host the soiree at their home, and it would be a chance for the two families to meet, sometimes for the first time.

Just as relationships and wedding traditions have changed, contemporary views on who pays for the engagement party have evolved, too.

Many modern couples now decide to host and fund their engagement party themselves. This allows them to have more control over the party, just as theme, guestlist and budget, letting them plan a party that is truly reflective of them as a couple.

Whether it’s a family member or the couple themselves, it’s important to decide who is hosting the engagement party early on in the planning process, as it will help to inform many of the next steps.

Pick a date

Usually the engagement party would be held in the months following the proposal, even if the wedding isn’t due to take place for a while. However, some couples who plan to have a longer engagement may decide to wait a while before hosting an engagement party.

Choosing the perfect date for an engagement party will be individual to the couple. You may want to pick a date that has some significance for you as a couple, like an anniversary date.

If you are flexible with your date, it may be a good idea to find a venue you like and check their availability first.

Make a guestlist

As a general rule, everyone who attends your engagement party should also be invited to your wedding, so keep this in mind when putting together your guestlist.

This can help you to stay focused and relieve the pressure to invite people because you think you should. Instead, think about the people who mean the most to you and who you want with you as you embark on an exciting new chapter in your relationship!

Find a Venue

Now you have an idea of how many people you want to attend, you can look for venues that accommodate that many guests. Popular engagement party venues include pubs, bars or restaurants, though depending on the size, some are still hosted in a home.

As engagement parties tend to be less formal than the actual wedding will be, you have more flexibility when it comes to finding a venue, and can choose somewhere unusual or unique.

Try to consider how accessible the venue is, and understand what transport and parking options there are, as this will help your guests travel to the party and increase the chances of ‘yes’ RSPVs.

Create a wedding email address

It is worth considering creating a wedding specific email address that can be used when contracting any wedding related contractors or contacts. Try using ‘thesmithwedding’ or use both your names.

Setting this up ahead of your engagement party will mean you can use this to collect and keep track of your RSVPs, can help with future wedding communications and keep all wedding related emails together, without getting lost in or cluttering up your usual inbox.

Design and send invitations

With your date, venue and guestlist set, it’s time to tell people when and where the party is taking place. Sending invitations out as soon as possible, with plenty of time before the event is taking place will mean people can arrange travel and book hotels if necessary.

Your engagement party invites don’t have to be in keeping with your wedding theme or how you plan your wedding stationary to look. We suggest keeping engagement party invites simple, with a sleek, chic design that captures all the important information.

Be sure to include details on how to RSVP (maybe using the new email address you’ve set up!) and, most importantly, a deadline for RSVPs, as this can help you best prepare.

Choose what to wear

Generally, engagement parties won’t have a strict or super formal dress code, but guests can be expected to wear cocktail attire or dress up a little bit to suit a party atmosphere.

For the couple, it’s a chance to wear show-stopping outfits and be the centre of attention. Many brides-to-be choose to wear white to their engagement party, for a nod towards their wedding dress. Other popular colours include light colours, like pale pink or cream, or metallics, like silver or gold. It’s a good idea for financés to treat themselves to a manicure, as guests will want to admire the beautiful new engagement ring!

Grooms may choose a smart outfit, which may include a blazer and dress suit, or even opting for a full suit. Grooms may want to take this opportunity to invest in a special pair of cufflinks for their engagement party. These could even be reworn on the wedding day!

Most importantly, the couple should dress how they are comfortable in outfits that make them feel amazing.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, planning the perfect engagement party should be an exciting time for the newly engaged couple, so keeping it simple and following these key steps can help ensure that it is a stress free process – allowing the happy couple to enjoy the planning as much as the party itself.

Perfecting your party planning early with your engagement celebration is also a great practice run for wedding planning, too!

Finding the perfect, unique wedding gift gives guests and close friends the opportunity to give a keepsake that can remind couples of their special day, as well as mark the milestone moment.

Instead of monetary gifts or homeware items, why not consider a timeless jewellery gift for brides or grooms, that they can wear on their big day and may even become an heirloom of the future, kept and given to future generations.

Whether you’re looking for extravagant gifts from a group of groomsmen, or you’re wanting to give your bestie a piece of bridal jewellery for her big day, it’s important to think about their style and their overall wedding theme when searching for the perfect wedding gift.

From traditional timepieces to beautiful bridal bracelets, here are our top tips for choosing thoughtful wedding gifts for your soon-to-be wed friends.

Jewellery for Brides

Gifting brides with jewellery pieces that they can wear on their wedding day is a great way to contribute to their special day and give them one less thing to worry about. It’s also a perfect present for bridesmaids or groups of friends to come together to give a sentimental gift.

Be sure to consider their personal jewellery style, preferred metal colour, like white, rose or yellow gold, as well as any colour palettes or themes of their wedding to ensure that the jewellery you choose is something that will suit their special day.

Elegant Earrings

Give a small yet sentimental gift for brides by choosing earrings that can be worn on their wedding day, and beyond!

Subtle studs

A classic pair of studs can add some subtle sophistication to your friend’s bridal jewellery collection. Stud earrings can also be worn many times after the wedding, subtle enough to be worn day-to-day as well as for special occasions.

Stud Earrings From just £135

Delicate drop earrings

For those wanting to make a bit more of a statement, choosing drop earrings can add a touch of glamour to a bridal look, and can be worn on special events after the wedding too, like anniversaries!

From diamonds to opals for a classic look, to bright gemstones that match their engagement ring, drop earrings are an especially good option if the bride is opting for an up-do.

Drop Earrings From just £280

Bridal Bracelets and Bangles

Another great option for bridal jewellery gifts are bangles or bracelets, as they are a subtle addition that can be easily worn alongside other jewellery pieces cohesively.

Russian Bangle

The ‘russian’ design of this 9ct white gold bangle has three thin, intertwined bands that represent the past, present and future. It is particularly symbolic of love, said to embody: ‘For each other, For now, Forever’, making it an incredibly thoughtful gift for soon-to-be married friends.

The sleek design will mean it can sit elegantly on the brides arm, allowing their brand new wedding band and engagement ring to shine.

Russian Bangle Buy Now £1450

Dripping in diamonds

Diamonds really are a girl’s best friend, and a diamond tennis bracelet is a beautiful gift for luxury brides.

Singing with sophistication without being overpowering, a diamond bracelet can add sparkle to your friend’s bridal look in a quietly elegant way. Choosing a timeless tennis bracelet style will mean this gift can be worn for years to come, making it a true keepsake.

Tennis Bracelet Buy Now £7850

Lovely Lockets

One of the best keepsake jewellery gifts is a locket necklace. Designed to hold special memories, lockets can hold small photographs, locks of hair or tiny pieces of fabric or ribbon – like a swatch of fabric from a wedding dress!

Gifting a locket will let the bride add in a picture of them and their spouse, perhaps even from their wedding day! Choosing a heart shaped locket, like our sterling silver locket is delicate enough to be worn on their big day, and subtle enough to wear everyday or for formal occasions, it’s a truly versatile and thoughtful gift!

Locket Buy Now £120

Gifts for Grooms

Don’t forget the guys! Men love receiving jewellery keepsakes too, so gifting grooms with timeless pieces can be a really special gift from groomsmen or ushers.

Choosing pieces that they can wear on their wedding day, or vintage heirloom items that can be passed down to future generations will make for a special and sentimental gift for grooms.

Cufflinks

Cufflinks are a staple piece for men’s jewellery and accessories collection, being worn for various important events, from job interviews to formal dinners and, of course, their wedding day! Gifting a beautiful pair of cufflinks to your friend who’s set to be married is a sentimental and significant gift that is as useful as it is thoughtful.

Be sure to give the groom the cufflink gift ahead of time to avoid them purchasing their own! Presenting their present at a bachelor party (or stag do) is a great way to mitigate this and gather together to create a memorable gift giving.

Cufflinks From Just £105

Pocket Watch

A pocket watch is a thoughtful and meaningful jewellery piece that is traditionally given to mark a momentous and memorable occasion, making it the perfect gift for grooms.

Whilst not normally used every day, a vintage pocket watch can be a lovely symbol of the time the couple will spend together as a married couple, and be worn for special date nights and anniversary celebrations.

Vintage Pocket Watches From just £1750

Final Thoughts

When it comes to finding the perfect wedding gift for a friend who is getting married, choosing a sentimental, thoughtful jewellery piece will mean that the bride or groom can have a beautiful new item to wear on their wedding day and commemorate their special day.

By choosing to gift keepsake jewellery pieces, your friend can also rewear their sentimental jewellery on special occasions, like anniversaries, and they may even be passed down to their future children or relatives, becoming future heirlooms, making them a real lasting token representing both their love and your love for them.

When it comes to finding thoughtful 18th birthday gifts, there’s nothing better than gifting a timeless jewellery keepsake. Selecting a high quality piece will mean it will mark their milestone birthday, be worn and enjoyed for many years to come, and even passed down to future generations.

It’s important to consider the recipient’s style, personality and taste when choosing jewellery for them, so that your gift can fit seamlessly into their jewellery collection, or help them to build out their staple pieces.

From birthstones to bespoke pieces, here is our guide to help you choose the right jewellery keepsake for the soon-to-be 18 year old in your life.

Why is jewellery a popular choice for 18th birthday gifting?

When someone turns 18, it represents an important transitional point in their lives where they move from childhood and embark on their adult lives. For this reason, many like to mark the occasion by gifting an extra special piece of jewellery.

Gifting a timeless piece of jewellery is the perfect way to commemorate and celebrate milestone birthdays, as they can be worn for many years, or even become an heirloom of the future by being passed down through generations to come.

18th Birthday Gift Ideas for Girls

Finding the perfect piece of jewellery for girls turning 18 can be hard. It’s important to take into account their style while balancing an element of timelessness so that the piece can be worn throughout their lives, and evolve with them.

Top Tip: Be sure to consider their metal preference (white, yellow or rose gold) when purchasing a keepsake to ensure they’ll make the most of their gift.

Bangles and Bracelets

Bangles or bracelets are a beautifully jewellery piece that everyone should have in their jewellery collection. Giving a bangle or bracelet as a gift for an 18th birthday can help your friend or family member start building their own special jewellery collection with timeless pieces that can be worn to every occasion.

Due to their subtle nature, bracelets and bangles can be worn day-to-day with casual outfits as well as dressed up and layered to create a statement look, making them a versatile jewellery option that can grow with the wearer, through life changes or style evolutions.

This 9ct white gold Russian bracelet design is made up of three intertwined bangles. They signify the past, present and future, making it a perfect gift for someone embarking on their journey into adulthood!

Bangles From £1350

Birthstone Jewellery

For a personal touch, choosing a piece of jewellery that incorporates their birthstone can help to add an extra special meaning to their birthday jewellery piece. Chances are, they might already have items that include their birthstone, so you can add to their collection with a beautiful new piece that will compliment, and help to grow, their collection.

Picking a gemstone ring or pendant that features their birthstone can help to signify their milestone birthday with a subtle, personalised element.

Find their birthstone:

• January: Garnet
• February: Amethyst
• March: Aquamarine
• April: Diamond
• May: Emerald
• June: Pearl or Alexandrite
• July: Ruby
• August: Peridot
• September: Sapphire
• October: Opal or Tourmaline
• November: Topaz
• December: Tanzanite or Turquoise

Lockets

Lockets are designed to keep memories safe, so they are a great choice of gift to mark an important milestone like an 18th birthday. Lockets are designed to keep small photographs, locks of hair or even small keepsakes like a ribbon or piece of fabric that hold a sacred memory for their wearer.

You can either leave the locket empty, allowing the recipient to add in their chosen photograph or tiny object, or opt to add in a photograph from a special memory you share together or an important moment from their life so far.

Lockets Buy this locket £650

18th Birthday Gift Ideas for Boys

When it comes to picking a jewellery piece for boys, looking for heirloom pieces that can be worn for future significant events and moments in their lives is a great place to start.

Cufflinks

A classic jewellery piece that should feature in any man’s collection is a solid pair of cufflinks. Presenting a pair of cufflinks as an 18th birthday gift is a sentimental way to help your cherished relative or friend to begin their adult life with style and sophistication.

Cufflinks that could be worn at many future important events and moments in the wearer’s lives. From job interviews, to their wedding day, gifting a special pair of cufflinks is a great keepsake that can remind the recipient of their milestone birthday and be present at milestone moments in the future!

Cufflinks From just £100

Signet Ring

Signet rings symbolise family history, personal identity, and authority. They would traditionally feature a family’s crest, or the wearer’s initials, however signet rings can be worn without this detail, instead having a sleek, sophisticated and modern look.

Gifting a plain signet ring also allows the wearer to personalise it later in, by getting their initials engraved later down the line if they want to.

Signet Rings From just £595

Pocket Watch

With many people adopting a Smart Watch for their daily time telling and step tracking needs, a vintage pocket watch can help you to embrace the traditional gifting of a keepsake timepiece in a special and sentimental way.

While it may not be worn every day, it can be used as an ornament in their home, and taken to special occasions and events throughout their lives. Pocket watches embody elegance and style, making them a fantastic 18th birthday gift.

Vintage Pocket Watches From just £1750

Bespoke 18th Birthday Gifts

Struggling to find a piece of jewellery that fits their unique style or personality? Why not work with our talented jewellery design team and award-winning jeweller to create a bespoke, one-of-a-kind jewellery heirloom for them!

Find out more: Bespoke Jewellery Design Service

Final Thoughts

By gifting a piece of jewellery, you can help your loved one to celebrate and remember their important milestone birthday, and mark the occasion in a really special way.

Whether you’re looking for birthstone jewellery or vintage timepieces, we can help you find the perfect, thoughtful gift for special birthdays and beyond.

A beautiful addition to any jewellery collection, eternity rings are a symbol of everlasting love and commitment.

Often given to mark an important milestone in a couple’s relationship, choosing the perfect eternity that complements the wearer’s style and existing wedding and engagement ring can be challenging.

In this guide, we will explore the history and rich symbolism of eternity rings, answer some of the most asked questions about eternity bands, and help you to choose a timeless, elegant eternity ring for yourself or your loved one.

Sapphire & Diamond Bridge Ring	Sapphire & Diamond Half Eternity Ring
£3,965	£1,925

What is an eternity ring?

An eternity ring is a circular metal band with gemstones, usually diamonds, set continuously around the ring. Eternity rings are also often called infinity rings, that symbolise eternal love and commitment, illustrated by the unbroken circle of the ring.

Eternity rings take Inspiration from the ancient Egyptian and Greek symbol of an ‘Ouroboros’, a serpent eating it;s own tail, creating an endless circle shape. This came to symbolise the eternity of life, and of love.

While eternity ring designs have moved away from snake-inspired designs, the sentiment remains.

What is the best style for an eternity ring?

Although traditionally, eternity rings are usually a uniform row of equally sized diamonds in a complete circle, modern jewellery design has meant that eternity rings come in many styles now.

Some people opt for a half eternity band, with the diamonds or gemstones featured on the front half of the ring only, with a smooth metal band. This style can improve comfort and can be a more budget friendly option.

As with modern engagement rings and even wedding bands, some people choose abstract designs for their eternity ring too! From organic spaces to gemstones in a multitude of colours and sizes together on the same ring, there really are no rules when it comes to jewellery.

Ruby & Diamond Half Eternity Ring	Ruby & Diamond Half Eternity Ring
£1,550	£2,345

When should eternity rings be given?

Traditionally, eternity rings are given to commemorate a special milestone for a married couple. Most often, this includes wedding anniversaries, especially the first anniversary, or the birth of their first child. However, eternity rings can be gifted at any moment that is significant for the couple as a beautifully personal gesture of love.

What metal should an eternity ring be in?

We recommend choosing an eternity ring in the same metal as your wedding and engagement ring. While mixed metals can create a contemporary, trendy look, different metals can compete against each other, and cause erosion and damage to the metal and stone settings of wedding and eternity rings.

Matching the metal of your wedding and engagement ring can also make for a classy, cohesive look.

Do eternity rings have to have diamonds?

Traditionally, eternity rings feature diamonds as they represent love, strength and are a symbol of beauty. However, in contemporary jewellery design, many eternity rings feature an array of different gemstones.

Choosing an eternity ring to compliment or match an existing wedding ring stack may mean you want to explore non-traditional gemstones or designs.

It is also common to give an eternity ring as a gift for reaching a milestone anniversary, so you might explore traditional anniversary gemstones for the eternity ring:

• 30th Anniversary – Pearl
• 40th Anniversary – Ruby
• 45th Anniversary – Sapphire
• 55th Anniversary – Emerald

In what order should you wear an engagement, wedding and eternity ring?

Typically, rings are worn as such: wedding ring at the base of your finger, engagement ring, then topped by an eternity band. This is so that your wedding ring is closest to your heart, and is held securely in place by your engagement and/ or eternity ring.

Sometimes, the size or shape of an engagement ring means that it is worn at the top of the trilogy, with the eternity ring then sitting on top of the wedding band.

Be sure to resize your finger ahead of choosing an eternity ring. Don’t assume that it will be the same size as your wedding or engagement ring! If your eternity ring is going to sit on top of your other rings, the position higher up your finger may be a slightly different size to your other rings. It may even be an opportunity to get a ring in a slightly tighter size in order to fit securely alongside your wedding and engagement rings.

Emerald & Diamond Eternity Ring	Square Cut Emerald Half Eternity Ring
£3,050	£1,525

Are there any cons to wearing an eternity ring?

On the whole, eternity rings are a pretty risk averse investment, as they are made from precious metals and gemstones that retain value and stand the test of time. However, some people experience some challenges when it comes to purchasing or comfortably wearing an eternity band.

Cost

After already investing in an engagement ring and wedding band, an additional eternity ring may be outside of some people’s budget.

However, opting for a half eternity band could be the perfect, practical compromise! Half eternity rings retain the show stopping style of an eternity ring, but can be a more affordable option.

Comfort

Worn on top of an existing wedding stack, some people find adding another ring uncomfortable or too bulky.

If your wedding band and engagement ring leaves little room for an eternity ring, you could even wear an eternity band on the ring finger of your opposite hand, or any other finger of your choosing. The beauty of jewellery is you can express your personality and style, and you don’t have to stick to any rules!

Damage

By adding another, bejewelled jewellery to your wedding ring stack, there is an increased risk of damage to your diamonds. Eternity rings do present a small chance that diamonds and other gemstones can become dislodged due to deterioration of settings caused by friction of the rings rubbing against one another.

To avoid this, schedule regular maintenance of your jewellery to keep them clean and spot any signs of wear or damage early on.

Multi Coloured Sapphire & Diamond Bubble Ring	1.01ct Square Sapphire & Round Brilliant Cut Diamond Eternity Ring
£2,230	£3,050

Final Thoughts

When it comes to choosing the perfect eternity ring, there are lots of factors to consider. From metal to gemstones, style to size, it’s important to find an eternity ring that matches or compliments their existing engagement and wedding rings.

The best style of eternity ring reflects the personal style of the wearer, so why not make choosing an eternity ring part of the gift. Organising a special time to select an eternity rings together as a couple can become part of the grand gesture and make the gift even more personal and meaningful.

Memorial jewellery, otherwise known as ‘memory jewellery’, is a popular way to hold your loved ones close, even after they’re gone.

In this article, we will be exploring the meaning behind memorial jewellery and how you can cherish special memories for many years to come.

When Somebody You Love Passes Away

When you lose a loved one, it is usually a very difficult time in your life. You experience a huge array of emotions, you burst into tears at seemingly random moments, and one day you think you see your deceased loved one in the supermarket.

According to the NHS, “all of this is quite normal […] Instead of analysing or questioning the way you feel, accept those feelings and let them be. Remember, one moment you may be okay and the next you may not. All of this is okay.”

As time passes, remembering your loved one will become easier and memorial jewellery can be a beautiful way to celebrate these memories.

What is Memorial Jewellery?

Memorial jewellery is a special piece of jewellery that honours a loved one. It might be purely symbolic or it might hold some physical part of them, such as a lock of hair, cremation ashes, or a fingerprint.

Memorial jewellery often serves as a comfort during times of grief, helping those grieving feel closer to the people they have lost, and it serves as a special keepsake loved ones can pass on to future generations to keep memories alive. It is especially popular for families hoping to store and keep their memories of loved ones who are no longer around.

Shop our Lockets From £120

Keeping Memories Alive: Fear of Forgetting

The Cambridge English Dictionary says that to remember is, “to be able to bring back a piece of information into your mind, or to keep a piece of information in your memory.”

A common fear people experience after the death of a loved one is the fear of forgetting them now that they’re gone. Whether you’re worried you’ll forget the sound of their voice, their smell, the way they hugged you, or their laugh, it’s important to many who are grieving to keep these special memories alive.

Memorial jewellery is a wonderful way to keep your loved ones close and feel them near, even after they’re gone. By investing in memorial jewellery, according to TAPS, “you’re simply trying to hold on to a tangible, physical connection to the person. The person’s body is no longer physically here, but these special items are. And if they help you make it through the naturally scary, anxiety-filled early months of grief, so much the better.”

While a piece of jewellery won’t in any way replace the person you’ve lost, it will help keep their memory alive. And as What’s Your Grief validates, “You may be surprised to see that, as you find positive ways to continue bonds with the person you have lost, you can let go more and more of the pain without fear that you are letting go of the person you love.”

What is the Meaning Behind Memorial Jewellery?

Memorial jewellery often contains a memento of the person who has passed away, providing a sense of comfort to the wearer and a feeling of connection.

The meaning behind memorial jewellery is different for everyone. While it is a special way to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away, the memories held within the jewellery are unique to each person.

Engraving: What Do You Put on Memorial Jewellery?

Memorial jewellery can be customised with an engraving to personalise it with an intentional message or special date. There are all sorts of things you can have engraved onto memorial jewellery. Some popular choices include;

• Your loved one’s name
• Their birth date and passing date
• A favourite nickname or quote
• Sentimental messages
• Religious or spiritual phrases

The most important thing to remember is to make the jewellery meaningful to you. Perhaps you had an inside joke or a special nickname for them, engraving something special onto your memorial jewellery is a great way to honor these memories.

What is the Difference Between Sentimental and Memorial Jewellery?

Sentimental jewellery is different from memorial jewellery in that it holds deep emotional significance for the owner but the person it holds that connection for can be living or passed.

Sentimental jewellery can symbolise friendship, love, the memory of a loved one, commitment, family, a beloved pet, and so much more. Popular examples of sentimental jewellery items include: engagement rings, engraved bracelets and necklaces, friendship bracelets, rings with engraved messages or symbolic stones, and lockets with photos, engravings, or locks of hair.

Shop Jewellery at Cry for the Moon

At Cry for the Moon, we have a huge selection of beautiful jewellery pieces for you to explore and purchase as a piece of memorial jewellery for a loved one. Our vintage jewellery captures the beauty of history and our selection of sparkling diamonds will light up any room.

If you’re searching for a special item of jewellery to celebrate the life of a loved one, we encourage you to browse our extensive jewellery collection. We’re confident you will find something that will help you capture a special memory.

Cherish Your Memories Forever

While every day will be different after the loss of a loved one – some days filled with remembering and embracing those memories and others filled with the fear of forgetting – most people want to remember their loved ones on a regular basis and in some cases, need something visceral to hold on to.

Memorial jewellery helps fill that gap, providing you with a physical keepsake that helps you cherish your loved one’s memory forever.

The pear-shaped diamond engagement ring is one of the most unique and stand-out engagement ring styles. It is especially flattering when paired with the right wedding band and is reminiscent of traditional glamour.

What you may not realise is that pear-shaped engagement rings have been around for many centuries. So, if you are considering purchasing a pear-shaped engagement ring, this article shares some of the history, symbolism, and unique beauty behind this gorgeous ring.

Shop our Pear Shaped Enagement Rings From £1,995

The Origin of the Pear-Shaped Diamond

The pear-shaped diamond ring first appeared in the late 1400s. It was introduced by the famous Flemish jeweller, Lodewyk van Bercken. The jeweler was most well-known for creating the polishing wheel that supported the careful and precise cutting of diamonds into particular shapes. This allowed him to experiment with different shapes and resulted in the infamous pear-shaped diamond that we know so well today.

What Exactly is a Pear Shaped Diamond?

The pear-shaped diamond is a cross between the marquise and round cut, making it particularly unique and one of the most widely recognised diamond cuts in the world.

While the cutting techniques, individual ring styles, and accompanying wedding bands have changed many times over the years, the pear-shaped diamond’s detailed 58-facet pattern has remained a constant people can rely on.

What Does a Pear Shaped Ring Symbolise?

When you’re getting engaged, you want every element of the proposal to be meaningful. Most important of all, in our view, is your choice of ring. So, it’s no surprise that you’re looking for a ring choice that encompasses what’s most important to you.

The pear shaped ring is a beautiful choice because it holds some very special meanings. The diamond itself is thought to symbolise empowerment, self-expression, and individuality.

This is just one of the reasons why the pear shaped diamond makes such a meaningful engagement gift; it symbolises many of the qualities you undoubtedly love and admire in your partner.

Are Pear Cut Diamonds More Expensive?

This is a common question we receive and the answer is, no. Pear cut diamonds are not more expensive than round cut diamonds. In fact, they are often more affordable – making them a popular choice for many.

The reason pear cut diamonds are typically less expensive is that round cut diamonds are higher in demand and, as we all know, with higher demand comes higher prices.

One of the many great things about pear cut diamonds, however, is that although they may be cheaper, they typically look larger than round diamonds of a similar weight. So, if your partner would prefer a large ring, pear shaped could be a more cost-effective option for you.

Are Pear Shaped Engagement Rings in Style?

Pear shaped diamond rings have a timeless beauty that means they are always in style. Many celebrities wear pear shaped diamond rings, further increasing the ring’s popularity.

When it comes to diamonds, we don’t believe they ever go out of style. If you’re looking to secure a ring design that is truly timeless, pear cut rings are certainly a choice you won’t regret.

How to Wear a Pear Shaped Engagement Ring

Pear shaped diamond rings are timeless and elegant, but to truly appreciate their beauty it’s important to wear them correctly.

The best way to wear a pear shaped engagement ring is with the bottom point facing towards the fingertip. This creates a slimming effect, making the ring finger appear long and slender.

Of course, there are no set rules and how you or your partner chooses to wear the ring is ultimately up to you.

What Style of Wedding Band Goes Best with a Pear Shaped Engagement Ring?

Pear shaped engagement rings are beautiful, however they can be tricky to pair with wedding bands. The best option is to go with a curved wedding band in order to enhance the fit and aesthetic of your wedding ring.

You want to avoid any gaps between the wedding band and the ring itself as this can be jarring. Instead, you should find a wedding band that beautifully aligns with your pear shaped ring and sits comfortably alongside it.

Most pear shaped engagement rings come in a set, so they will be available to buy with the wedding band as well. It’s worth being aware of this when you are shopping.

How to Select the Perfect Pear Cut Diamond

When shopping for pear shaped diamonds, you want to find the perfect fit. To do this, there are a number of things you need to consider, including:

Gemstone Symmetry: how symmetrical is the pearl shaped diamond you are considering? Ideally, the curved end of the pear shaped diamond should form a perfect semi-circle and the point should be aligned precisely in the center of the rounded end. Ensuring this balance is correct is crucial to secure a pear shaped diamond that doesn’t look ‘off’.

Size of the Diamond: of course, your personal preference plays a big part here. Most pear shaped diamonds range between 1.50 and 1.75 in length-to-width ratio. However, some people prefer fuller or rounder looking diamonds, while others want more sleek, elongated pear shaped diamonds. Both options are just as beautiful, it’s up to you as to which you like best.

Large Tables: if you or your partner are looking for a pear shaped diamond that looks particularly large, it’s important to consider a slightly larger diamond table (top surface). The larger the surface, the bigger the diamond appears.

Alternative Gemstones: just because you’re shopping around for a pear shaped diamond does not mean you need to go down the traditional diamond route. If you’re looking for something more unique, you might consider different gemstones such as sapphire which are especially stunning.

Cut Quality: when it comes to selecting the perfect pearl shaped diamond engagement ring, our advice is to prioritise cut quality over size. A smaller, well-cut pear shaped diamond will always outshine larger diamonds that haven’t been cut quite as well.

Start Shopping for the Perfect Engagement Ring

Finding the perfect engagement ring takes time. Here at Cry for the Moon, we sell a huge variety of stunning engagement rings. Shop our engagement rings and discover hundreds of different colours, styles, and cuts. If you’d like any support, you can reach out to us and we’ll help you find the right fit.

Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to show your partner how much you care. Gifting a loved one jewellery on Valentine’s Day is a lovely thought and certainly lasts a lot longer than flowers or chocolates. Nothing is quite the same as a well-chosen piece of jewellery that she can wear on repeat and think of you.

However, we know how difficult choosing the right piece of jewellery can be. You want it to be special and yet versatile so that she wears it every day. You want it to remind her of you but also be something that she loves and doesn’t want to take off. That can feel like hard criteria to fill. But thankfully, we’re here to help.

In this article, we will share our top Valentine’s Gift suggestions that your partner will cherish forever. Not only are these jewellery pieces some of our favourites, they’re some of our customers’ favourites, too. So, you’re sure to be inspired.

Let’s get started.

What is Valentine’s Day and Why Do We Celebrate it?

Valentine’s Day, also known as Saint Valentine’s Day, is a celebration of love on the 14th of February each year. It is believed to have originated from a Roman festival where men would draw women’s names from a lottery of sorts to be paired up with their future partner. Many would go on to get married after the festival.

The Church transformed this Roman festival into a Christian event, celebrating the life of Saint Valentine. Over time, Valentine’s Day became a day that people used to express their love and admiration for that special person in their life. This would be (and still is) typically expressed in the giving of cards and gifts, anonymously or otherwise.

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The Tradition of Gifting Jewellery on Valentine’s Day

The tradition of gifting jewellery on Valentine’s Day (celebrated on the 14th of February) has been traced back to the Renaissance period. The Renaissance period is well-known for its love for art, beauty, and expression. This appreciation for beauty was often expressed by men to the women they loved; commonly in the form of gifting rings adorned with precious stones and lockets containing pictures or locks of hair.

Since then, jewellery has remained one of the most popular and meaningful Valentine’s Day gifts to present to a loved one. And it’s no wonder when jewellery has an inherent, long-lasting beauty that is seen as symbolic of the enduring nature of true love.

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Choosing the Perfect Piece of Jewellery

Of course, choosing the right piece can be difficult. We recommend that it’s always worth knowing what your partner likes; do they like minimalistic jewellery or understated pieces? Are they into bold and beautiful jewellery that makes a statement? Do they prefer silver or gold? Once you know their likes and dislikes, it’s easier to make the right choice.

To inspire you, here are some of the best Valentine’s gifts for her that we think she’ll treasure forever.

A Diamond Necklace

Everyone knows the famous Marilyn Monroe song, Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend. As the lyrics say:

“Men grow cold
As girls grow old
And we all lose our charms in the end

But square-cut or pear-shaped
These rocks don’t lose their shape
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”

Certainly, if you’re looking for jewellery that will symbolise your undying, inextinguishable love for your partner, there is no better choice than diamonds. An especially popular choice are our diamond initials pendant. These brilliant cut diamonds are set into an 18ct white gold pendant in your initial or hers. It’s a stunning choice and a great way to bring a little sparkle to her day.

0.20ct Diamond Stud Earrings	0.46ct Diamond Stud Earrings	0.51ct Diamond Drop Earrings
£765	£2,380	£2,450

Diamond Earrings

If your partner likes slightly more subtle jewellery pieces, our Brilliant Cut Diamond Solitaire Earrings are an excellent choice. Claw-set in platinum, these beautiful earrings are made to last and are a lovely way to add a little sparkle to her outfit, without drawing lots of attention (if that’s not her thing).

Diamond earrings make for a beautiful Valentine’s Day gift and the benefit is they are suitable for wearing to any occasion. Whether you’re treating her to a special meal or you’re surprising her with a relaxing weekend away, she can wear her diamond earrings wherever and whenever she wants without looking out of place.

0.11ct Diamond & Akoya Pearl Stud Earrings	0.20ct Diamond & Pearl Floral Cluster Stud Earrings	1.59ct Diamond & Pearl Cluster Stud Earrings
£1,345	£2,380	£3,750

Pearl Drop Earrings

Pearls make for a stunning Valentine’s Day gift, not just for their beauty but also for the symbolism they hold. According to research, pearls “came to symbolise Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, who was believed to have been born from the sea. She is often represented as emerging from a shell or wearing pearl earrings in Roman art […] A pairing of pearls and ideal beauty was forged very early in art history.”

Due to their association with the goddess of love, it’s no surprise that pearls make the perfect gift for someone special on Valentine’s Day. Perhaps none are more beautiful than our Pearl Drop Earrings. Measuring 10×10.5mm with yellow gold shepherd crook fittings, these earrings are an elegant gift choice this Valentine’s Day.

Gold Curb Link Bracelet

Bracelets are also a popular gift choice to present a loved one on Valentine’s Day. They make for a meaningful yet practical gift. Our Double Curb Link Bracelet is the perfect example of this. It’s glamorous and suitable for fancy restaurants and hotel dinners. Yet it’s simple enough to be worn to work or on a night out with the girls.

If your partner loves jewellery that can be worn for many different occasions, our gold curb link bracelet is an excellent choice. We’re confident that she’ll love it and thanks to its versatility, she’ll likely wear it often, making it the perfect gift choice.

Start Your Valentine’s Day Shopping Now

It’s never too early to start shopping for Valentine’s Day. Just like birthdays and Christmas, Valentine’s Day can sneak up on you if you’re not prepared for it. So, start getting some ideas together now and browse our stunning jewellery collection for inspiration. We’re sure to have something special your partner will love.

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January is not everyone’s favourite month (actually, is it anyone’s?)… the comedown from Christmas excitement, the fad diets and new gym regimes sapping everyone’s energy – and that’s before we even mention the drab weather.

But, in order to feel the excitement of Spring and summer – we simply must crack on and get through it. Well, the good news is we’re almost there now, and you can start thinking about your summer outfits, and of course your jewellery pairings. Plus, if your fad diets and gym routines have worked out – won’t you look fabulous! Yes, yes you will. Especially if you match up your wardrobe switch-out with the hottest jewellery trends for 2025.

Here’s what’s trending.

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Layered Necklaces

Laying necklaces has long been a popular way to wear your favourite jewellery pieces. And come 2025, this trend is making a come-back. There are even clips you can buy to hold your layered necklaces in place to avoid the chains getting all tangled up.

Playing with textures, colours, and designs lets you get creative with jewellery layering, creating fun, eye-catching aesthetics. We recommend incorporating a variety of chain sizes to add interest, including chunky gold chains with dainty necklaces or colourful beaded chokers with long simple gold chains. The more variety, the better.

Layering your necklaces can upgrade an otherwise casual outfit, helping you level-up even the simplest of looks.

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Timeless Pearls

All things pearls will dominate the jewellery scene in 2025 and this trend is set to continue. Most people, when they think of pearl jewellery pieces, think of their grandmother and perhaps even vintage pieces they inherited. However, heirlooms or not, vintage or not, pearls make a beautiful addition to contemporary outfits.

In the words of Good Housekeeping magazine, “loved by royalty and Hollywood starlets alike, the coveted jewels are a timeless choice and evoke a unique air of glamour and sophistication. Think Marilyn Monroe dripping in pearl necklaces, or the Queen in any number of heirloom pieces passed down from generations before her.”

Many people opt for pearl studs – big and small – as these have the added benefit of lighting up the face, making your skin glow. Others invest in pearl string bracelets or pearl necklaces (this pearl necklace incorporates diamonds). Pearls are timeless and can be worn all year round, with any outfit, to any event. So, if you don’t have any in your collection, it’s time to do some shopping.

Carved Coral Stud Earrings	Diamond Dragonfly Pendant	Diamond Shamrock Pendant
£285	£795	£5,650

Nature-inspired Pieces

Jewellery inspired by nature (pieces incorporating flower motifs, leaves, animal patterns, etc) are a noteworthy trend as we move into 2025. Jewellery inspired by nature evokes a sense of connectedness with the natural world. It also allows the wearer to outwardly express their love and passion for nature and the outdoors.

Nature-inspired jewellery is a great way to connect with the natural world. Whether you’re interested in jewellery pieces that look like flowers or you’re passionate about sustainable jewellery made from natural resources such as wood, nature-inspired jewellery should be on your Christmas list this year.

Organic Shapes

Jewellery with irregular shapes and organic lines are on-trend for 2025. These unique and bespoke jewellery pieces showcase the beauty in imperfection. They are the perfect choice for those looking to break away from conventional jewellery choices and instead opt for something a little bit different.

Organically shaped jewellery makes us think of the Wabi-Sabi concept from Japan. According to Art Gallery, “In a world that often prioritizes perfection and uniformity, the Wabi-Sabi concept offers a profound alternative – one that invites us to embrace the beauty of imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness […] Wabi-Sabi deliberately incorporates elements of randomness or unpredictability, such as allowing glazes to run freely or embracing the irregularities of handcrafted objects.”

Organic shapes and asymmetrical jewellery pieces are taking centre stage in 2025 and it’s not difficult to see why. These imperfect jewellery pieces have a timeless aesthetic and celebrate the beauty in life’s imperfections.

Zodiac Jewellery

Do you know your Zodiac sign? If you don’t know your zodiac sign (perhaps you’re not even sure what a zodiac sign is), Britannica summed it up best when they said: “in astrology, the outcome of an event (most notably, someone’s birth) is affected by the zodiacal positions of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets when that event happened.”

Your birthday falls in a particular Zodiac sign and some people believe this is significant as it can indicate certain things about your character and personality. Many people know their zodiac sign. They like the sense of clarity their zodiac sign provides and the fact it automatically places them in a community of people – in other words, it gives them a place to belong.

Whether you have an interest in astrology or not, zodiac jewellery is extremely popular right now and this trend is set to continue. You can purchase zodiac jewellery pieces in many forms, from necklaces and bracelets to earrings and rings. It’s a fun way to incorporate a little bit of ‘you’ and to incorporate a deeper meaning into the pieces you wear.

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Demi-Parure Sets

It was once all the rage to wear matching outfits (think of the iconic fashion in Clueless) and now the matching theme is back with Demi-Parure Sets being released from Jewellery royalty such as Tiffany & Co and David Morris.

These striking sets typically include two pieces, often a necklace and a pair of earrings. This bridal jewellery set is a great example. It’s simple but effective and the right combination can have a striking effect. Whether you choose a colourful set or something simple and minimalist, Demi-Parure Sets are back in jewellery fashion and they’re set to take 2025 by storm.

Minimalist Jewellery

As always, minimalist jewellery is trending. It’s one of those styles that’s simply always on-trend, making it the perfect option if you wouldn’t consider yourself particularly fashionable.

The main characteristics of minimalist jewellery pieces are clean lines, subtle designs, and elegant shapes. They are typically quiet pieces, adding a touch of beauty that is visible but certainly not asking for attention.

Minimalist jewellery designs complement any outfit, whether you’re staying in or going out. Simple pieces like gold hooped earrings, plain gold or silver band rings, and simple chain necklaces are all popular choices. Their clean, sleek lines help take your outfit to the next level.

Choose Your Favourite Pieces

2025 is right around the corner, meaning there’s no better time to update your jewellery collection. Whether you’re writing your Christmas Wish List or you’re treating yourself to a shopping spree, we hope this article has offered some inspiration.

For beautiful jewellery pieces that are on-trend, shop our jewellery collection.