TASSELS & TIARAS
Hand-crafted
collections of wedding jewellery from 20 leading designers, including
very special tiaras by ‘jeweller to the stars’ Malcolm
Morris.
If
you are a ‘princess with attitude’, you may also be
tempted by the tassels of the Show’s title – a truly
cheeky collection of exquisitely decorated porcelain nipple tassels
by shining new talent Nicola Malkin!
Techno-princesses’
should take note of another star in the making, David Goodwin, whose
cutting-edge designs combine contemporary technology with traditional
techniques and materials.
Winner
of the prestigious British Design Council New Designer of the Year
Award in 2004, David’s elegant rings are complex, geometric
webs of fine, interwoven strands of gold, set with precious stones.
Whilst the pieces’ fluid lines are actually made possible
through the precision of computer aided design, each ring is unique,
challenging the notion that computer-based technologies are only
used in mass production. An amazing tiara made especially for the
Show will form the centrepiece of David’s collection.
Jewels
that sound good enough to eat come courtesy of Gallery favourite
Diana Porter – her new chocolate diamond range of rings mix
the subtle pale mink colour of 18ct white gold with chocolate colour
natural brown diamonds, whilst renowned Danish born jeweller Tina
Engell shows her sumptuous hammered gold rings set with cinnamon
diamonds, smokey quartz and greeny sapphires. Marianne Anderson’s
combinations of creamy pearls and rich, red garnets with pierced
silhouettes of darkly oxised silver create ornate necklace and earrings
sets that will add a strong statement to a classic wedding dress.
The
gentle curves of Hidemi Asano’s sculptural rings, necklaces
and earrings in white and yellow golds, set with precious stones,
convey both the minimalist aesthetic of her Japanese background
and her view that her jewellery imparts a sense of calmness and
serenity to the wearer.
Welsh
jeweller Mari Thomas is one of 8 designers new to the Show this
year; her coiled silver and gold rings are set with diamonds delicately
‘captured’ between the coils. Amanda Doughty frequently
‘hides’ diamonds, topaz or other stones inside the band
of her rings; symbolising concealed secrets or precious memories,
whilst cleverly protecting the stone, the rings are surprisingly
comfortable to wear.
Other highlights of the Show include: Betty Pepper’s adorable
embroidered Love Hearts brooches presented in their own special
boxes; Olivia Schlevogt’s rings, mostly for men, characterised
by strong lines and simple shapes softened with surface texture
and detail in gold and silver; tiaras by Katherine Grimes and local
designers Sarah Lawrence and Sarah Collins; Fiona de Marco’s
‘Blossom’ bridesmaids’ jewellery; plus new collections
from Gallery favourites such as Catherine Mannheim, James Newman,
Mikala Djørup and Shona Carnegie.