The Jewelry and Accessories Edition

Adding some bling to top off your perfectly planned wedding gives it that extra touch of… dare I say …sparkle!

It’s not only diamonds that are girl’s best friends, but Jewelry and accessories in general! Your wedding band is definitely your most prized piece on your big day but it’s not your only piece! Be sure to add a little something extra, perhaps something borrowed something blue, something old or something new!

Below, we have asked our very ingeniously creative Jewelry and accessories Guru’s to give us some information regarding their best sellers, trends for 2011 and more.

Kathleen Barry of Kathleen’s Bead Studio (Click here to visit Kathleen’s Bead Studio)

Bridal Jewelry Trends



I love the increasing trend towards vintage and classic style jewelry, I always advise my brides to try and maintain a classic look with their accessories, depicting their own personal style expression rather than that of the latest fashion trends.

Crystals and pearls are the perfect materials to add subtle ‘bling’ and glamour. Remember to consider the style and fabric of the dress when choosing jewelry to ensure that they beautifully complement one another. As dresses become more embellished with lace and beadwork we seem to have said farewell to the formal necklace, and find that elaborate earring-and-bracelet-sets are more prominent. Hair accessories are increasingly falling into the jewelry category. Custom made hairpieces, Alice bands and the new hair vine trend is taking our brides to a new level in originality.

Jack Friedman (Click here to visit Jack Friedman)

Being in the business for as long as you have, how have the trends developed or are they returning?



One trend that has definitely changed is that women don’t wait for men to buy their jewelry. They are more independent and spoil themselves to a quality piece of jewelry more often. Coloured stone jewelry – in particular blue sapphire, has come back into fashion lately. People understand jewelry, the cut there of, they want whiter, clearer and certified stones. As a result people expect and appreciate quality.

White gold and platinum are still very popular for engagement rings, but pink and red gold is definitely making its return. Even though the gold price is so high, people still invest in gold jewelry.

Which trend has made the biggest impact in SA?

Solitaire rings have always been the universal symbol of love. The Edwardian style rings were worn way back in 1933 they are growing ever more and more popular.

Any Best Sellers, and why do you think they are the best sellers?

The Edwardian styled designs are most definitely the way most women choose to differentiate themselves from the crowd and show off their independence. The uniqueness of the meticulous craftsmanship shows people that she knows what she wants and sets these designs apart from the rest.

Brides Dream (Click here to visit Brides Dream)

Top Sellers:



The birdcage veil

Times have changed and so has the traditional bridal veil. Today a wedding veil:

a) Signifies a special event - a wedding
b) Signifies joy
c) Highlights the bride’s appearance and features
d) Is the final crowning touch.

Very popular at the moment is the birdcage veil. These trendy veils, reminiscent of veils from the 40’s and 50’s, are so chic!

Garters

Garters are a small way to make a fun and exciting impact on your special day. A lady feels sexy when she puts on a garter. The garter often is the last and final touch to the underwear attire, and is one of the first things the bride’s new husband will remove. This is why so many brides order my custom made garters; they want it to be something worthy to be remembered! All my garters are handmade to suit your personality and colour scheme.

Hairpins

Look fabulous at your wedding wearing some of my gorgeous hairpins. It’s a perfect gift for the bride, bridesmaids or flower girls. The pins add a beautiful touch to your wedding.


LilyBlue (Click here to visit LilyBlue)



LilyBlue specialises in Bridal Shoes, Bridal Shoe Dressing and hand-made crystal and pearl bridal jewelry. There are so many design items on your wedding day; your dress, jewelry, hairpieces, shoes... it can all become too much! LilyBlue will help to make this process easier by guiding you through all the accessories and helping you to achieve your special look.

We take our inspiration from Old Hollywood, Vintage Victorian and Old World Glamour. In doing so, we have built up a large collection of vintage pieces that are reasonably priced and also modern pieces that will add the wow-factor to your dress. LilyBlue can alter most pieces to become hair combs, bracelets or earrings.

One of the most exciting services LilyBlue offers is Shoe Dressing. We can take any pair of shoes- no matter how ordinary and turn them into a special one-and-only pair of shoes by adding lace, diamante, brooches etc. There is no longer any reason to walk down the aisle with anything less than the perfect pair of shoes. Let your imagination run wild!

Lastly; Remember that you can wear your dress once, but you can wear your accessories and shoes again and again!

Martin Barnard Manufacturing Jewellers (Click here to visit Martin Barnard)



Designing

Choosing a piece of jewelry is a very personal experience and I work with a lot of different clients, each one of these with different needs. Whether it’s an engagement ring, wedding ring, earrings, pendant or a bracelet, I strive to capture their dreams and combine it with style, practicality and comfort. All our designs are done in full colour, on scale for the client to be able to visualise the end product which is then handmade.

When designing a piece of jewelry for a client’s specific needs, there is always a lot of emotion involved. Whether it’s love, in memory of a special person or the remodeling of an old piece; it’s a journey and it should be a pleasant one from start to finish.

A classic design which I would consider a best seller is the four or six claw solitaire diamond ring but for each and every client I work with, their own piece of jewelry is considered their own best sellers.

Martin Barnard is offering 10% discount on all jewelry
made by him when you use this article as reference.


Uwe Koetter‘s Latest design philosophy: (Click here to visit Uwe Koetter)



Now, more than ever, do the talented goldsmiths at Uwe Koetter Jewellers rely on innovative designs. They have to consider the sensitive states of their client’s pockets without compromising beauty, quality and individuality. That is why Johan Louw (director and head designer of Uwe Koetter Jewellers) and his team are cleverly designing jewelry pieces combining precious metals with less expensive materials like wood to create jewelry which is as easy on the eye as it is on the pocket. These pioneering designs combine tradition with novelty and aesthetics to enable both women and men to wear spectacular designer jewelry that is both affordable and fresh.

This ground-breaking approach on designer jewelry is nothing more than moving with the times which show a younger but more informed and certainly demanding consumer.

Rebel Rose (Click here to visit Rebel Rose)



Pearls – The wedding gift for centuries

They say that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but pearls have symbolized romance and sophistication for centuries. The understated elegance of pearls complement any wedding gown and create a more elegant and romantic look than diamonds and other gems. Pearls can be combined with Swarovski crystals for the bride that wants a more modern look.

Pearls are the oldest known gem and have been associated with purity and innocence, thus making it the ideal wedding gift. Rebel Rose designs cater for brides who want the more traditional wedding look, as well as for the more modern bride to create their perfect, dream look!

The contemporary, yet romantic look of the Juliette Choker and matching bracelet with Swarovski pearls and –crystals makes this best selling item at R460 and R240.

Gerhard Moolman Fine Jewelry (Click here to visit Gerhard Moolman)

Choosing your metal:



When you choose your engagement ring, one of the decisions you have to make is what metal your ring will be made of.

9ct gold is the hardest between 9ct and 18ct but 18ct is double in value. Normally we will use 9ct gold for Gents rings and 18ct for the ladies. Some ladies prefer 9ct for the hardness of the metal. 9ct Yellow gold tends to tarnish (goes black in colour), that means the metal reacts with the acidity in the wearer’s blood. That happens due to the high Copper content.

18ct is easily recognised by the rich yellow colour and looks beautiful when combined with White gold. The diamonds look its best when set in White gold.

Platinum is a superb metal and is the best for engagement rings. Due to the fact that you wear your ring every day, it will be wise to consider Platinum, the wear and tear on a Platinum ring is much less than on a Gold one. The metal is much harder because it’s a denser metal and that causes the ring also to weigh a bit more than a gold ring. Platinum can still get scratches and dents, but will lasts much longer. The last year we’ve sold double the amount of Platinum rings compared to Gold.

Palladium is normally used to make White gold. The Palladium causes the colour of yellow gold to go white. In latest years we’ve started manufacturing jewellery in Palladium. The weight of the metal is less than gold and it’s also less expensive than gold, so your piece of jewellery ends up costing less than an 18ct gold piece.

I know Platinum isn’t for everyone’s budget, but if you like the colour and you can afford it, I will definitely recommend it. If Platinum isn’t for you, a White gold ring or a Two colour engagement ring will look just as lovely.

African Diamonds (Click here to visit African Diamonds)



This season pearls are making a comeback. Their ability to complement any outfit is appreciated, and we love their grace and simplicity. Also easy on the wallet, pearls are winners.
When it comes to jewellery, many women opt for classic pieces. Diamond necklaces, stud earrings and elegant diamond bracelets are the most common items found in a woman's jewellery box. These classic trends aren't going anywhere either.

Dangle-style earrings, too, continue to bedazzle. From diamond dangle-earrings to gold hoops with diamonds, dangles convey class and confidence.

This sure puts a sparkle in your eye! If you have any questions regarding this article, please feel free to contact any of our Jewelry and Accessory Service Providers; they will gladly assist! Alternatively contact Jana at jana@saweddings for any queries.

The Jewelry and Accessories Edition | Wedding Articles