JANET FITCH
TREND-WATCH
Gemstones riding high
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Charlotte
Howarth started her own jewellery line , Charlotte ’ s Web , after falling in love with India and its vibrant colours
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This summer ’ s degree shows , Christmas in July press days , and scrutinising what others are wearing at rather too many parties , have convinced me that the popularity of gemstone jewellery is riding high , and still growing . Many celebrities like Kim Kardashian , Adele and Katy Perry have publicised the trend for using crystals for healing and wellbeing , and gemstones are worn for their beauty but also for their powers of promoting health and balance .
Charlotte Howarth started her own jewellery line , Charlotte ’ s Web , after falling in love with India and its vibrant colours . Ten years later the jewellery is still handmade by craftsmen in Rajasthan . The signature collections feature spinning rings , bracelets and pendants , used throughout history to calm and soothe the soul . The new Holi Jewel collection is inspired by Holi , the Indian festival of colour , using hand sourced gemstones - amethyst , blue topaz , emerald , moonstone , sapphire and turquoise , to create stacking and spinning rings and hooped and studded earrings . Charlotte ’ s Web hopes to expand into new stockists and will be at IJL 2018 . ( charlotteswebwholesale @ yahoo . com )
Blue is a favourite colour , and as goldsmith , enameller , and member of the Decimus Collective , Melissa Rigby says : “ I made a series of rings in 2016 after I had sold several necklaces with blue lapis lazuli and labradorite beads , finding customers particularly drawn to blue stones as they
Caitlin Hegney
Chris Massey
Kathy Kraus look wonderful against the skin . I found and bought amazing Ethiopian opals , aquamarines and rainbow moonstones with blue hues that flash within when tipped backwards and forwards .” All of Amanda ’ s work is inspired by nature and the clear blue skies around her Wiltshire studio . The stones are set in 22ct yellow gold , “ for the buttery rich colour ”. ( www . melissarigby . co . uk )
Just launched is the A / W 2018 Pippa Small Turquoise Mountain diffusion line , inspired by the coin talismans of Central Asia , with warm yellow gold tones and lapis lazuli elements . Founded by HRH Prince Charles and Hamid Karzai , then leader of Afghanistan , Turquoise Mountain aims to revive traditional Afghan crafts , including jewellery making , that were banned under the Taliban , providing desperately needed employment and support in a volatile country . This season , Pippa Small and Turquoise Mountain celebrate 10 years of collaboration . The latest collection , All the Blues of the Sea , echoes the bliss of surrounding yourself in all the shades of the sea , in lapis , tanzanite , kyanite and turquoise . ( www . pippasmall . com )
Caitlin Hegney ’ s outstanding work was at New Designers 2018 . Freshly graduated from The Glasgow School of Art with First Class Honours , she has already won four awards this year , was talent-spotted at New Designers by The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and is now Artist
20 JEWELLERY FOCUS
August 2018 | jewelleryfocus . co . uk