Blog

The first icon in our series is Alexandra Queen of Denmark, who Queen Victoria’s son, Edward, Prince of Wales married in 1863. For years before her coronation, however, the future Queen’s radical style was revered as a fashion icon and her new jewels and outfit choices automatically set trends. In fact, Queen Alexandra was responsible for starting two of the most important jewellery trends of the late 19th/early 20th century: high-necked, dog-collar-like pearl chokers and diamond tiaras. Early Life Born Princess Alexandra Caroline Marie Charlotte Louise Julia or simply ‘Alix’ to her friends and family was raised in an 18th-century townhouse in Copenhagen. Although Alexandra was of royal blood, she had a relatively normal and humble upbringing. Alexandra spent most of her childhood surrounded by family, predominantly her younger sister…

The recent engagement of Jennifer Lopez and her former New York Yankee hubby, Alex Rodriguez, has caught the attention of the jewellery world because after the internet-breaking ring shot Instagram post. J Lo showed off her new gigantic emerald-cut diamond ring, which was presented to her against a dreamy, romantic Bahamas sunset. The Insta post can be seen below: At The Vintage Jeweller, we thought it only seemed right to explore the ring further and do a little extra research. The exact specifications and designer of the ring have yet to be confirmed but that hasn’t stopped gemologists and jewellers from speculating. Experts have estimated the diamond could be anywhere in the region of 11 and 20 carats, while the price of the ring has been estimated anywhere between $1…

‘Whose hair I wear, I loved most dear’ Unlike flesh which easily rots to bone, a clip of hair maintains its form and colour for centuries, acting as a perfect reminder and symbol of a loved one. These qualities mean that hair has historically been utilised in jewellery and fashion for both mourning and sentimental reasons. It is a modern day misconception that jewellery made to feature the lock’s of a loved one’s hair is entirely associated with death. One of the first recorded instances of hair in jewellery, however, illustrates, how it can be used as a token of love and sentimental expression towards a living person. In 1785, William IV of England, wrote to his brother, the Prince of Wales’ requesting ‘a locket for my shirt with your…

If you’re a February baby or are shopping for one, you should know that this month’s birthstone is rich in history and meaning. Here at the Vintage Jeweller, we currently have amethyst pieces that would make fantastic gifts for February birthdays or Valentine’s gifts. Although amethyst jewellery makes an excellent gift year-round. The stunning February birthstone is frequently featured in many gorgeous jewellery designs. Amethyst, the birthstone of February, is a variety of Quartz that carries a spectacular purple colour that ranges from a blend of deep violet and red to a lighter lilac hue. Amethysts come in colours ranging from deep purple to the palest shades of pastel lavender and even pink. The most valuable hue is a strong reddish purple shade. Lavender hues look particularly stunning in amethyst…

For a meaningful Valentine’s Day gift, choose a piece of jewellery that matches your Valentine’s unique style. Whether you decide on a pendant, bracelet or set of earrings, you’re giving a gift that they’ll cherish forever. If you want to find the perfect gift for your honey this February 14th, we’ve got some top tips to help you find something that they are sure to love. That means understanding your partner’s tastes, shopping at a reputable location such as the Vintage Jeweller and learning what the wording means in terms of how gemstones are graded. Above all, it’s important to start researching with time to spare and to know exactly how much you want to spend. Here are our tips for buying the perfect jewellery for your Valentine: Know your…

Winter is still in full force as February approaches, but the glimmer of spring is on the horizon. Soon, February 14th will bring a celebration of love with Valentine’s Day. But where does this tradition come from and how did it become so globally popular? Valentine’s Day existed long before the card companies developed heart-shaped declarations of love. Originally a Pagan fertility festival, the first Valentine’s Day is believed to have been in 496. The name derives from St Valentine who was a priest in Rome during the third century AD. He became famous for rebelling against the rules of Emperor Claudius II, who believed that married men made bad soldiers so he banned marriage for anyone serving in his army. St Valentine arranged marriages in secret and was subsequently…

The word ‘garnet’ is derived from the Latin ‘granatum,’ which means ‘pomegranate,’ because the crystals resemble the fruit’s red colour and seed-like form. Most people think of the garnet as a red gemstone, but in fact, it exists in all kinds of colours, including black, red and green. It can even be colourless. The garnet’s variety of colours come from metals such as manganese, iron, calcium, and aluminum. Some varieties even contain mineral fibers that produce the illusion of a four to six-rayed star within the stone. Garnet has a long history of being revered as a precious stone. The tombs of pharaohs in Egypt have been discovered by archaeologists to contain garnet amulets and noble patriarchs of Rome were known to have carved signet rings made from garnet. Ancient…

Tanzanite can only be found in one part of the world- Tanzania. It has become increasingly popular since its relatively recent discovery in 1967. The blue colour can range from pale blue to more of an ultramarine shade. It can often appear to display different colours when viewed from different angles. Tanzanite can also have more unpleasant brown tones in so it has to be cut correctly to highlight the blue tones. Today the tanzanite can be treated with heat to make sure the brown tones aren’t visible! Tanzanite is rare and is only found in a few square miles of land close to Mount Kilimanjaro. It was identified to be a vibrant blue variety of zoisite that had been around since the early 19th century. When tanzanite was discovered,…

The first recorded instance of human interaction with gold dates back as far as 3,000 B.C. in Egypt. Gold often played a significant role in ancient Egyptian mythology with the Egyptians perceiving it as the breadth of God. The Egyptians often buried their Pharaohs in gold, the most well-known of which is the mask of Tutankhamun which contains two alloys of gold: a lighter 18.4 carat shade for the face and neck, and 22.5 carat gold for the rest of the mask. Ever since these ancient times, gold has remained a rare and highly valued material which evokes both wealth and power and has multiple applications. The Incas called gold ‘sweat of the sun’, Romans named it the ‘muscles of war’, a triumphant Napoleon gilded Paris in gold and the…

You may have a formal workwear dress code or one where you can flaunt your style.  Either way, it’s nice to add a little bit of glam to your work outfit. Especially because you are in it the majority of the time! You need something that looks professional whilst bringing out a bit of your personal style too.  We’ve got jewellery pieces that will go with a shirt and trouser suit, a smart dress or smart knitwear. Statement Earrings If you’re wearing a simple work dress then wearing statement earrings still keeps the outfit looking professional but adds a touch of fashion and glamour to the look. Our Jade Drop earrings are perfect to wear daily with any coloured dress whilst at work. They’re striking but not too busy so…

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I write this blog post and announcement. Benjamin Hawkins is a fine jewellery designer specialising in one off bespoke artworks and also, a very good personal friend of mine. Over the coming months, we will be showcasing Ben’s craftsmanship and portfolio through our dedicated Benjamin Hawkins London page on our website and a series of blog posts. In addition to this, we will be releasing for sale a number of one-off pieces of jewellery designed and made by Ben exclusively in collaboration with The Vintage Jeweller. The rest of this post will provide a short biography of Ben’s career thus far. From the age of fifteen, Benjamin practiced goldsmithing, before studying jewellery at the Goldsmiths Centre in the heart of London’s jewellery…

There are so many pieces of jewellery out there, and it can be hard to know where to start if you’re not into jewellery or if you’re buying a gift for someone else.  Well, we’ve put together some jewellery pieces we think any woman would be delighted to own so you can make sure that gift is special! From statement studs to long necklaces, we’ve got some timeless pieces that will never go out of style… A Long Pendant Necklace Long necklaces go with pretty much any outfit.  You can put it over a casual t-shirt and jeans combo or a plunging neckline.  They look great on their own or you can layer them with different length chains and necklaces for a modern look. Our Cartier LOVE Pendant is perfect…

The gold hoop earring has been a powerful symbol in many cultures throughout history.   Jewellery has been used as a form of adornment for people for centuries. The oldest earrings archaeologists have ever discovered were from 2500 BC and belonged to Sumerian women. It has been said that even cats were adorned with gold hoop earrings in ancient Egypt.  During his reign over Rome, Julius Caesar turned earrings into a symbol of status. Following from this, pirates were known to wear earrings too between 1650 and 1730 in order to secure a proper burial. In more recent years they have been available in the 80s and 90s with style icons like Madonna and now with they’re making a big comeback all over Instagram and other social media sites. Well with…

The most famous and desired gemstone in the world is a diamond. It’s combination of brilliance, fire (dispersion) and lustre make diamond unique amongst gemstones. It’s uniquely hard, transparent and, of course, shiny. It’s these characteristics that have earnt diamond the reputation as the perfect gemstone and consequently, an expensive price tag. Taking all of this into consideration, it is no surprise that scientists have tried to imitate diamonds for over 200 years. The first major breakthrough, however, did not come until the early 1950s when a Swedish engineering company, Allmanna Svenska Elektrisk Aktiebolaget, succeeded in growing 40 small diamond crystals in an apparatus called a sphere. Due to high cost of production and low quality output, early lab diamonds were predominately used for industrial use posing an insignificant threat…

Here at The Vintage Jeweller, you might be surprised to know that we don’t just sell jewellery.  When people go to get a special gift for someone, their first thought is often jewellery. This however, can be tough when the person you’re buying for doesn’t really wear jewellery.  So instead we’ve put together a few of our special, timeless items that you can give as a gift they can keep forever and pass down to their loved ones. Firstly we have this stunning sterling silver card holder from Tiffany & Co. This piece is great to give as a gift as it is robust and is something the person you give it to can use every single day so it’ll get used a lot.  They’ll remember how special it is…

For the first time in nearly a decade, Tiffany & Co. have released a new engagement line.  The ring has a new diamond cut and has a more modern feel by sitting lower on the finger. The Tiffany CEO, Alessandro Bogliolo has said the new style is “subtle, not in your face.” However, if you’re opting for Tiffany because you want something classics, then we have many traditional options to fulfill your Tiffany dreams! Tiffany & Co. was founded in 1837 and has become one of the most well-known popular luxury jewellery brands in the world.  Having been the centre of the film Breakfast At Tiffany’s, it is a brand that has never been out of the spotlight. Everyone around the world recognises the iconic Tiffany blue box the jewellery…

Here at The Vintage Jeweller, we have a large range of different charms.  These are great as they are all different to suit different occasions, personalities, interests and price ranges.  What is great about our charms is that they can be worn in different ways to make them unique to the owner. Below we are going to give some ideas as to how you can gift them or style them yourself! Charm Bracelet The most iconic way is probably a charm bracelet.  You could have the bracelet as an investment piece for you or perhaps for your child or loved one.  Over time you can add different charms to mark different milestones in yours or their own lives. For example, they could have our Teddy Bear Charm when they are…

After four years of suffering during WW1 between 1915 and 1919, people realised how short life could be and a new motto emerged ‘Live and forget the past’. Traditions, values and fashions of the pre-war society and Victorian era were rejected and transformed. The period that followed became known as the Art Deco period (1920-1935), taking its name from the Exposition des Arts Deco-ratifs held in Paris in 1925. During this period, freedom of expression was encouraged and the years were characterised by decadence and excess. Art Deco style drew inspiration from the Far East, the Middle East and South American civilizations. It was influenced heavily by ideas from Futurism and Cubism, as well as Aztec and Russian Art. One piece in particular during the Art Deco period brought sweeping…

Here at The Vintage Jeweller, we have cufflinks to suit any man’s style and any occasion, read below our brief history of cufflinks and how you can style some of our range… History The cufflink first appeared in fashion in the early 16th century and were fastened together with ‘cuff strings.’  During the reign of Louis XIV, they gave way to something called ‘sleeve buttons’ which were usually identical coloured glass buttons which were joined together by a short chain.  This then progressed and by 1715 where the style of decoratively painted or jewelled studs, such as diamonds connected with gold links became popular. Cufflink Styles Cufflinks smarten up any suit and really add that extra bit of sophistication to any look.  Our cufflinks come in a range of metals,…

Omega has launched limited edition revivals of 18 watches that have been fitted with the original movements from 1913.  The parts have been supplied by their museum. This collection aims to reprise the style and features of the wristwatches issued in the same year which Omega created for the military. Omega’s latest creation sees the brand reprise a huge part of their watchmaking history as their unique 18 watch collection contains an original 18” CHRO calibre from 1913.  The experts at Omega’s Atelier Tourbillon have managed to delicately refurbish the calibres to give them a new lease of life to the new Limited Edition collection. The brand held a “Museum Night” at the start of June in Biel, Switzerland where they unveiled the “First Omega Wrist-Chronograph Limited Edition” collection.  They’ve…

Wearing a great piece of jewellery can really make any outfit stand out, and can even be the focal point of your look.  It is great to keep a few contrasting, bold pieces of rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings so you have something for every outfit. Having a few pieces of jewellery in all different colours, sizes, stones and precious metals is great.  You don’t have to hoard hundreds of items to sift through to complete your outfit, have a capsule collection that you can go to any time.  Your collection can be tailored to suit your budget and still look fabulous no matter what the price tag is. Jewellery can really make your look appear more put together.  We have items such as our Jade and Peridot ring for…

It can be quite overwhelming when it comes to looking for the right diamond for your love.  You’ve probably heard of the term ‘the 4Cs’ a lot but don’t really know what they mean. These are four headings that refer to colour, clarity, cut and carat. When finding the perfect diamond it is all about striking a balance between all four to find the right diamond for you.  Here we have a breakdown of what each of those terms means… Colour Did you know that diamonds don’t come out white? White diamonds do exist but are actually the rarest of them all. There is a colour scale that will indicate the colour of a diamond and it runs from D-Z.  This is the accurate GIA (Gemological Institute of America) scale….

Minimalist jewellery has been on trend for years, with simple and plain pieces taking the forefront of the fashion world. However, this may be coming to an end with the comeback of statement jewellery, in particular, cocktail rings. Cocktail rings have been essential on the party scene since the 1930s where the term was first used due to the large ornamental type pieces worn at cocktail parties. However, they have recently become more popular again especially as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, wore a vintage cocktail ring of Princess Diana’s to her wedding reception with Prince Harry. Cocktail rings do all the talking and can just be worn as a solitary accessory. Here we have our collection of cocktail rings with inspiration on how to style them. Firstly we…

Statement earrings are one of the top trends for 2018. All throughout fashion magazines, catwalks and even on bloggers on Instagram, everywhere you look there has been a natural summer look finished off with statement earrings. The earrings have been taking centre stage whilst keeping other jewellery and makeup minimal. Here are a few of our favourite statement earrings to keep you on trend for summer 2018… Firstly we have our jade and diamond drop earrings… The cool and light colour of the Jade will be great for a fresh day look. The jade is the main focus of the earring and you’ll want to show it off, let the earrings do the talking here and keep other jewellery minimal. A more unique take on this summer trend is by…