Alex Monroe's 12 Days of Christmas

What a lovely idea! After hearing on the grapevine what Alex Monroe and co had planned for the run up to Christmas I was super excited to see the beginning two days of Alex Monroe's 12 Days of Christmas advent calendar. Playing on the classic song but switching a few of the details around, the little AM workshop have been super busy putting together an ascending number of goodies in their 'trunk show' style. That is, when the pieces are gone, they're gone; making them even more must-have. The first day was of course a Partridge in a Pear Tree necklace. And not just any old necklace; it featured a solid 18t gold Pear, its chain draped over a handmade silver tree, complete with fallen golden pear.

 

And the second day...? Two Turtle Doves necklace, perched on a little branch in gold plated silver. Sold out of course...

I really cannot wait to see what will happen over the next ten days. What will Nine Ladies Dancing be?! At least we're safe guessing about Five Gold Rings though, eh?

Alex Monroe's mini tour of his workshop

I was just having a quick read through the Alex Monroe blog ahead of something fun I'm looking forward to writing about soon (before the end of the week, anyway!), when I came across this lovely little video filmed by Emma at Alex Monroe. It's a mini tour of the staff and workshop at AM headquarters in London. Alex showing us his favourite drill and saw... gotta love that!

Stephen Webster: Seven Deadly Sins Rings

Last week I got to luxuriate in the headiness of high-end jewellery - being involved in the launch of British jewellery designer Stephen Webster's exclusive new collection - Seven Deadly Sins - at EC One in Notting Hill. This was the first time the rings had been unveiled in the UK, and the idea behind the collection is Stephen through and through - a little bit dark, a little bit playful; showing off the beauty and the atrocity of the theme simultaneously. The desire for Stephen's jewellery is reflected in these rings' exclusivity: only seven of each design will ever be made... And with two of the seven styles already selling out, the Seven Deadly Sins rings are in demand - despite starting at £15,000 and peaking at £125,000...

So here we have them: Envy, Gluttony, Greed, Pride, Sloth, Wrath and Lust.... and a few little snaps from the evening at EC One

Envy - white gold set with a central green tourmaline, black and white diamonds

Gluttony - white gold set with a central fire opal, white agate 'teeth' and rubies

Greed - yellow gold set with round brilliant-cut diamonds

Pride - set with a central emerald-cut amethyst in anodised titanium, with blue and pink sapphires

Sloth - yellow gold set with a cushion-cut aquamarine, diamonds and rubies
Wrath - rose gold set with a deep red garnet, rubies and black and white diamonds

Lust - white gold set with a central tanzanite and white diamonds

Interview: Ros Millar

I first saw Ros Millar's jewellery at New Designers, an absolute treasure-trove of upcoming, just-graduated design talent. Next, she appeared as an entrant and later a top ten finalist in EC One's graduate jewellery design competition EC One Unsigned, meeting Ros in person at the Unsigned winner's party. Today, Ros is busy with a new collection, open studio days and is seeing ever-growing interest in her jewellery - most recently she was involved in City jeweller Little 15's evening of events for Vogue's Fashion Night In. I caught up with this lovely lass to find out more about her collections and future plans...

Three stacking rings from Ros' Growth Collection, set with natural brown diamonds

Your jewellery has a clear style to it, and I love that it's a step away from the cute, vintage-style of a lot of jewellery designers are doing. Tell me a little about your jewellery-making history and style...

I first studied jewellery at Ulster university for about a month during my foundation year and absolutely loved it... So I scrapped all my intentions of going to study Fashion and moved to Sheffield to study Metalwork and Jewellery. There I found the techniques which suited me best and were easy to work with - cuttlebone casting in particular. Taking this technique as a base I do most of my designing after. When I left university in 2009 I moved to London and started an internship with Melissa McArthur and then with Fannie Schiavoni, as well as freelance work. Finally I set up my studio and began to design for myself again.

Sounds brilliant, a great progression and some great designers to be working with. You're originally from Northern Ireland where you grew up and studied; do you think your work takes any influence from your early surroundings?

I grew up in a place called Bangor on the coast of Northern Ireland.  It's so beautiful... And I do believe that it does have influence on my designs - the fact that they are very organic!

Ros' Double Stud stacking rings

And how did you find studying in Sheffield, with its history of industry, engineering and the Yorkshire countryside so close by? 

I loved Sheffield, I really miss it.  I think that it was the perfect place to study and really concentrate on finding my design style.  In terms of the countryside - I am lucky that my current studio is based in the Essex countryside in a place called Felsted. Soon though I'll be embarking on a new studio in Greenwich where I will be moving in with two other designers (Emma Yeo and Rose Sharp Jones). I hope it will help being surrounded by other designers and being closer to Hatton Garden!

Your Growth Collection features stacking rings in silver, oxidised silver and rose gold - how do you make these rings?

All my pieces are cuttlebone cast at some point in the design process.  Once cast, I then decide which features of the ring to leave textured, and which parts to clean up and make smooth.  The cuttlebone gives an organic texture to each of the rings.  It's important that all rings fit together well so that they can be stacked easil and be worn comfortably. 

They're great, especially the ones with serious height to them! Tell me a little about your new collection...

I'm working on a new collection now - I am so excited about it.  I feel that having had this year since university, I can show in this collection how I have developed and grown as a designer.  I plan to play with colour again (move away from the black oxidisation and rose gold plate) but I definitely want to keep the cuttlefish bone grain within all my pieces again. I want to develop this process more, to make it my signature style as a designer.  As well as developing new collections I will always enjoy to make one-off pieces, I think that these help with the designing for new collections and vice-versa.

Pebble and Growth stacking rings

Do you have a favourite jewellery designer or someone you look up to?

My favourite jewellery designer is Ruth Tomlinson; I have followed her career and work since being at university myself. I love her techniques [Ruth uses porcelain, gemstones and glass] textures and use of colour... I think she's legendary when it comes to electroforming!

I also have a favourite 'fashion jewellery' designer - Fannie Schiavoni. She really inspired me to work hard and to design my own jewellery when I interned with her having just moved to London. I think that her background in fashion helps give her jewellery pieces edge - they are so bold and well made!

Are there anyone designers you'd love to collaborate with?

Good question!!! I would really love to collaborate with another designer who wasn't necessarily a jewellery designer, I think it would be great to see how I could push myself and having the influence of someone with a different design mind... It makes me a little excited to be moving into a studio with two different designers from different design disciplines.

And finally - that age old one - where do you see yourself in 5 years' time?

Recognised!!!

A selection of rings from the Growth Collection

What a sweetheart, eh?! A big thank you to Ros for her brilliant answers and photos

Lanvin for H&M Jewellery

That's right! The long anticipated range by Lanvin for H&M has finally been unveiled. Although we've still got to wait until November 23rd before we can snap it up, we've seen some great collaborations in recent years - Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garcons - and now it looks to be Lanvin's turn to impress. While most of the clothing revolves around dresses and suits for the impending party season, the jewellery is rather grand as well. Think pearls and gold chains, bold acrylic neckpieces with ribbon ties and matching chandelier earrings... Here's a sneak peek!

All images courtesy of H&M

Check out the video, below

LANVIN FOR H&M. SEE THE FULL COLLECTION AT HM.COM

A little something: Pippa Small Jellyfish earrings

I'd forgotten about Moonstone recently, which is a real shame. These stunning Jellyfish earrings by Pippa Small reminded me of my first Monica Vinader ring - gosh, that sounds like 'my first shoes' or something - which was a large square Moonstone. Like the Jellyfish earrings it shimmered with rainbow hues and soft icy blue colours. After a year of daily wear the poor thing was tattered, but in time for the wintry season I'm going to dig it out of my jewellery box, have it cleaned and replated. Love it. And love these...

A little somthing: CA & LOU Deco Loulou ring

Just spotted this CA & LOU Deco inspired Loulou ring on the Browns website. Lovely lovely, and definitely up my street as I (somewhat impatiently) await the new Holly Fulton for ASOS collection which hits the e-shelves on Friday. Tick, tick, tick.

Rose Gold plated bronze ring, set with Swarovski crystals, by CA & LOU

A little something: 8LA - channelling your inner-Prince

8LA is a fun new jewellery brand by designer Lucy Holbrook. Skulls, crosses and pearls feature throughout her jewellery, which is catholic-meets-rock'n'roll-meets-prettypirate-meets-NottingHill. Yep - it's wearable and subtle, but with character. Loving these Prince-inspired 'Becca' hoops; check out more at the 8LA shop here.

A little something: Disaya Kiss mask necklace

Like something straight out of Nacho Libre, this little Kiss Mask necklace by Disaya made me smile. Love it even more that it's a long necklace!

A little something: Giles Jewellery

That's right. Giles Deacon has taken a step into the world of jewellery design (a bit better than Cheryl Cole for De Grisongono, no?), creating a new label Giles Jewellery. His cute collection has taken some recognisable designs and scaled them down into wearable pendants, earrings and bangles. His own little mouse motif, named Eek, also features as does his infamous triceratops Dino - better known in handbag form... Loving it! Available later this month from Dover Street Market and Selfridges.

New designer: Merle O'Grady

Merle O'Grady is a talented up-and-coming designer, already making waves with her stunning jewellery collections. Hailing from Dublin and presently based in London, Merle's jewellery is a striking mix of texture, colour and shape. Swarovski crystals and perspex contrast one another, resulting in jewellery she describes as "armour-like and ultimately luxurious".

Here's a sneaky peek at her new SS11 'Poolside' collection. I'm loving its futuristic feel, which clashes with kitsch colours and shapes reminiscent of 50s motel pools, candy-coloured swimsuits and plastic flamingos all with a nod to the Navajo... Bliss!

 

Jewellery at London Fashion Week - SS11

Finding myself back at Somerset House for London Fashion Week a few weeks back, I was excited to this time have a partner in crime - my workmate Rainy - to come and lust over next season's jewellery.

 

We stepped in from the rush of traffic along the Embankment, and straight into Nicholas King who whisked us along to his stand, excited to have us as his first familiar faces of the day. Neon seemed to dominate, as did pastel florals. With a nod to Christopher Kane's lacy neon numbers, orange and lime seemed to fizz in his bold resin cuffs and bangles, while a striking new range of necklaces and earrings got Rainy very excited indeed. Check out her modelling skills, below.

Next up we had a quick browse over Lola Rose. I was instantly drawn to the pale, pea green and rose combination of carved stone bangles and necklaces. Lola Rose always seem to come up with something a little bit bold but still really easy to wear - their pieces pretty much work with any style. Love the large stone Elsa collar, as below...

Moving onto the wonderful Fiona Paxton there was a gorgeous new collection for SS11 including coral cut-out leather bangles and earrings (super lightweight and wearable) alongside collars that Rainy absolutely fell for, with its nod to ancient Egyptian jewels. A new collection of longer pendants also stood out. Fiona modestly explained how she's been selling a number of pieces to Cheryl Cole (noted previously on X Factor auditions, check out the necklace). A great collection I know I'll continue to covet....

We stopped off for a quick coffee and some free ice cream, and attempted some celeb spotting (um, Jason Gardener anyone?). Lacking in success on that front, and eager to get back inside we headed back in to Zoe & Morgan,  a little favourite of mine. 

Ruth, the youngest sibling of Zoe and Morgan was busy displaying  their fine collection as we stopped by for a look. Loved the little silver necklace with the record on it, and the new collection of animal mask rings. Posed for their 'usual suspects' blog posts, tried to get my Zoe & Morgan skull ring in, but ended up just looking a bit special!! 

Akong London was at the special Kickstart stand at International Jewellery London in early September, and it was great to see her pieces again at LFW. Fur and feathers and chains and gemstones made Akong's works pretty stunning. Each piece in entirely handmade, making them rather unique and very covetable. The new season collection features lots of gemstones, while the feathered and fur-trimmed neckpieces definitely had a regal feel.

Joanna Cave was up in the Esthetica section, where ethical jewellery, fashion and accessories are on show - a growing section each year. Great to see Joanna. She had her wayfarers in hand, so we asked her to pose (such a shame it came out so blurry!) but also got some great snaps of her new collections, including her continued project with ethical fashion label Partimi, and a new focus on minimal vs detail. Loving the earrings this season (as ever!) and the gorgeous little heart necklaces. A great show!!