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The Significance of Birthstones: December & Turquoise
Turquoise is December’s birthstone – a semi-translucent or opaque stone that is blue-green in
colour. Often, the stone has rock forms running through it that are called turquoise matrix. Because of its beautiful colour, it has been cherished for thousands of years – so much so that the word turquoise is often used to describe the colour itself.
Spotlight on Suzanne Belperron
A graduate of the Besancon Ecole des Beaux Arts in the early 20h century, Suzanne Vuillerme (later Belperron) found a job as a model maker and designer at the Maison Boivin. It was here that her talents and eye for detail were fine-tuned, and where, over the next thirteen years, she developed her distinctive aesthetic.
The Significance of Birthstones: November & Topaz or Citrine
People born in November are lucky enough to have two birthstones to choose from: topaz
or citrine. Topaz comes in numerous hues: colourless, blue, red, yellow or orange, whereas
citrine is only ever orange.
Spotlight on: Rene and Jeanne Boivin
Rene Boivin is a well-known French jewellery house founded in 1890 by Jules Rene Boivin, and made famous after his death by his wife, Jeanne Boivin. Born in Paris, Rene became a goldsmith’s apprentice aged 17 where he learned inlaid metalwork and became an accomplished draughtsman and engraver.
How Ancient Jewellery Influences Modern Jewellery Design
Trends in jewellery come and go, influenced as they are by the whims of fashion as well as the social and political climate of the time. Despite this, some things last. Many of the designs found in ancient jewellery still influence styles in the 21st century.
What is Lapis Lazuli and How is it Used in Jewellery?
Lapis lazuli is semi-precious gemstone, prized for its intense blue colour and gold flecks. It is most commonly known for being used in Tutankhamun’s death mask, as well as many of the amulets and scarabs found in his tomb.
The Significance of Birthstones: Opal and October
Opal, the birthstone for October, is a beautifully iridescent gemstone which has been highly prized for thousands of years – even from before the Ancient Greek and Roman times. There are two main varieties of opal: precious and common. Precious opals can take on many colours, with internal refraction of light causing the phenomenon called ‘play of colour,’ meaning that no two are the same. Common opals don’t display play of colour but instead come in a variety of hues such as pink, green, blue and yellow.
Toi et Moi Rings: Unusual Engagement Rings
Toi et moi directly translates to ‘you and me’ in French, and a toi et moi ring symbolises the coming together of two people in love through the expression of two gemstones set alongside each other on a ring. This ensures that toi et moi rings are one of the most romantic engagement rings. They can be given as an engagement ring, at an anniversary, or even as a promise ring.
The Intriguing History of the Choker Necklace
Although usually associated with contemporary fashion, chokers are very much a piece of jewellery history – worn by women throughout the ages along with necklaces and pendants. A choker is a necklace worn high on the neck and generally tight fitting, although wider chokers are sometimes known as dog collars. Historically, chokers have been regarded as being ‘high fashion’, but there have been periods in history where they were associated with prostitution.
What is the difference between Vintage, Antique and Estate Jewellery?
Vintage and antique are two terms that are now used almost interchangeably to describe jewellery from years gone by – but there are differences in the meanings of the words that could be important to you, should you make a purchase.