Woven; Democratising the World of Haute Joaillerie for the Modern day woman
By Hannah Tan
They say diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but in the democratic world of fashion jewellery, why stick with just diamonds? And while your pockets may not run deep enough to have breakfast at Tiffany’s; fashion jewellery allows you to still deck out your décolletage in some sparkle.
1. Valiant du Grande earrings by SIF Jakobs 2. Smoke Quartz ring in yellow gold by Georgina Boyce 3.Yellow Sugar earrings by Racil 4.Piece of Magic Gold Ring by NU&MII 5.Beetle Talisman Charm by Loquet London 6.Earrings by Peter Pilotto 7. Ring by Les Georgettes 8.Earrings by Rachel Comey
It is true that your first encounter with the dazzling world of jewellery almost always begins by rummaging through your mother’s collection. After that, you discover the simple plastic joys of fashion jewellery on the high street. Scroll down any millennial Facebook feed long enough and there you have it, the inevitable cringe of a large neon plastic hoop earring. Luckily, our tastes change as we grow older. We swap the plastics and brass for sterling silver and gold, and cubic zirconia’s for the real thing. The more mature we get, the more value we put in things that can outlast simple trends. Whether it’s finding a vintage brooch from Lacroix in a flea market or investing in a classic set of pearls, we are no longer limited to labels like fine jewellery or fashion jewellery. We bend the rules and play in the specific junction where high meets low, and we’re all about democratising the word “Haute”.
Jewellery: From Art Nouveau to 3D Printing, Alba Cappellieri
While fashion jewellery may be a fairly recent concept, the art of fine-Jewellery has been around for thousands of years. Professor Alba Cappallieri’s new book, Jewellery: From Art Nouveau to 3D Printing, takes us on a journey through jewellery’s colourful history and presents an in-depth look into the narratives of some of the world’s most prestigious jewellery houses, from Boucheron, Lalique, Bvlgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels. The perfect coffee table addition for fine-jewellery lovers the world over. However, it seems that in 2018, the glamorous instances in which a fabulously rich madame would book out a private salon to view some impossibly expensive fine-jewellery pieces may not exactly be front of mind for most of the consumer population. And what fashion jewellery does is open the saloon doors for those willing to discover its many nuances.
Jewellery: From Art Nouveau to 3D Printing, Alba Cappellieri
In a way, Fashion jewellery is fine-jewellery’s crazier younger sister, and serves to fill the gap between high-jewellery and the high street. Big dramatic shapes and bolder-than-thou colours make fashion jewellery the next best thing to inheriting the family jewels, and has become a way for middle-income fashionistas to splash out without breaking the bank – and big brands are starting to take notice. Karl Lagerfeld has launched his exclusive collaboration with Kaia Gerber; a step removed from the fine pearl encrusted fine-jewellery strands of Chanel; but also a little bit more fun. Brands like Swarovski have made it possible to feel like a million bucks without actually spending a million bucks; and are constantly pushing the boundaries with designer collaborations. These collaborations include Mary Katrantzou – and even the costume jewellery queen herself, Iris Apfel. In recent years, ready-to-wear designers have also begun expanding their jewellery offerings; including Peter Pilotto, Roksanda, Rachel Comey, Mulberry, and Vivienne Westwood just to name a few. So, regardless of what world you inhabit, and whether that is fashion or fine jewellery, we can all surely get behind democratising the world of jewellery. After all, one cannot deny the inimitable feeling of adding a tasteful bit of sparkle to your ensemble.
Words by Hannah Tan-Gillies
