Mirror, Mirror

Mirror, Mirror in my hand, who is the fairest in the land?

OK so, I'm sure you are all perfectly familiar with the concept of a mirror… but just in case ‘a mirror reflects light in a way that preserves much of its original quality prior to contact with the mirror’. Making them an essential component to personal grooming, if not everyday modern life and interior design.

The earliest forms of Mirrors date back to 6000BC when ancient civilisations used mirrors crafted from polished stone, bronze, tin, copper and volcanic glass. Clearly vanity wasn't something that the Ancient Greeks overlooked! However, mirrors were very difficult to produce and therefore were generally only owned by the wealthy.

Way before Alice fell through the looking glass the rarity and mystery of mirrors led to the evolving legends and superstitions. During the middle ages when they were heavily associated with witchcraft and were believed to be the reflection of the soul and hold mystical powers enabling spells to be performed.

Probably the most common superstition associated with mirrors (and one I will never risk) is that someone who breaks a mirror will receive seven years of bad luck as the mirror is believed to reflect part of the soul. Therefore, breaking a mirror will fragment the soul. Heavy stuff!

Finally, it is said that mirrors cannot lie and the reflection will only show the truth (Which personally I think, is possibly scarier than any of the other myths and superstitions!). That said, imagine trying to live a day without looking into a mirror...! Just so you are never caught unaware and always ready to look your best I have popped a few of our favourite compact mirrors below-go on add a touch of glamour to your handbag!

W4568: A Fine Antique George V English Sterling Silver and Guilloche Enamel Compact in the Art Deco Style
W3950: A Fine Vintage English Sterling Silver and Enamel Compact
W3308: A Very Good Vintage 9 Carat Yellow Gold Compact

W3722: A Fine Antique George V English Sterling Silver and Enamel Cigarette / Card Case and Compact Set in the Art Deco Style

All about Art Deco

The mere mention of the 1920’s conjures up images of Great Gatsby- esque glamour; flappers, the hedonistic indulgences of the golden era and of course, the birth of Art Deco style of design which began in Paris in the roaring twenties and flourished internationally throughout the 1930’s.
A distinct departure from the asymmetrical curves of the previous Art Nouveau style, Art Deco was widely considered to be an eclectic form of elegant and stylish modernism. The versatile style was incorporated into all areas of design including architecture, interiors, fashion, painting and jewellery.
The structure of Art Deco design is based on mathematical geometric shapes and it drew inspiration from ancient Egyptian and Aztec work, reflecting the advances in foriegn travel and historical discoveries being made at the time. However, unlike many design movementsn of the era the intention of Art Deco was purely for decoration and it held no origins in political or philosophical ideals.

Art Deco experienced a decline in popularity during the late 1930s and early 1940s as the world was once again back at war. At its best Art Deco represented glamour, functionality and modernity. Today, it represents similar connotations of prosperity, elegance and style, most notably in the landmarks that make up New York's famous skyline including the Empire State Building, Chrysler building and Rockerfeller center.
Aside from architechture, antique pieces of silver and jewellery have stood the test of time, only improving with age over the decades, as would be expected of the Art Deco period these pieces are characterised by their angular design and clean lines. An edited selection can be seen below and for further examples in the AC Silver inventory click here.

W2321:A 1.67 Carat Diamond and Sapphire Platinum Art Deco Style Dress Ring

W3361: A 1.04 Carat Art Deco Style Diamond and Platinum RingW4377: An Antique George V English Sterling Silver Tea Caddy in the Art Deco Style

W3895:A Pair of Antique Edward VIII English Sterling Silver Candelabra
W4175:A Vintage Art Deco English Sterling Silver Ivory Handled Four Piece Tea and Coffee Service and Tray

Grab your pearls, Girls

Once the reserve of the more conservative among us, according to the fashion press pearls are making a comeback in a big way, but in my opinion they never really went away.

Both timeless and classic, they are ideal for any season but really hold their own in the summer, happily accompanying you from Ascot to Cartier, from weddings to graduations, garden parties, regattas and beyond. Whether natural or cultured, the allure of pearls does not age, making them the perfect accessory for an event certain to be heavily photographed- And if those pictures are destined to sit on the mantelpiece for years to come it makes sense to choose a gemstone famed for providing an iridescent shine that flatters any complexion.Marilyn Monroe may have declared Diamonds as being a girl’s best friend but she epitomised old school 1950’s Hollywood glamour in a string of pearls. Through the generations women of all guises of personal style have adopted pearls as the ideal day to night accessory. And therein lies the true beauty of pearls, they are the most versatile of all the gemstones, and will elegantly compliment any outfit.

Whats more, for all the ladies with a birthday on the horizon before the end of the month you are in luck, pearls are the June birthstone, so maybe its time to start dropping some 'subtle' hints!

W3811: Antique Cultured Pearl Necklace with Pearl and Diamond, 15 Carat Gold Clasp
W3457:Antique Edwardian Pearl and Diamond Cluster 18 Carat Yellow Gold Ladies Dress Ring
W4018: Vintage Diamond and Pearl, 18 Carat Yellow Gold Twist Ring
W4193: Pair of Cultured Pearl and Diamond, 14 Carat White Gold Earrings

Diamond, LOVE.

The nation was struck by its first hit of tennis fever this past weekend as on Sunday afternoon people up and down the country (myself included) were glued to their television to watch Rodger Federer suffering a defeat at the hands of his constant rival, Rafael Nadal. As anyone who follows the tennis circuit will know, these extremely talented players permanently stand head and shoulders above the competition, and as the season gathers momentum, the buzz seems to focus entirely on these two (minus the odd muffled whisper whether this could be Murray’s year), and who will be the overall victor, scooping the title of World No 1.

With Wimbledon just a few weeks away our thoughts have turned to strawberries and cream, Murray Mound (or Henman Hill to the purists) and for how long the inevitable rain will stop play. Another certainity is that the Williams sisters will be set to dominate the womens ccompetition, both on court and in the style stakes. Always one to make a statement Serena Williams is known for sporting some serious jewellery when she steps out on centre court; most notably (though perhaps unsurprisingly) diamond tennis bracelets.

These elegant bracelets got their name when in the late 1980’s Chris Evert, the former world No.1 broke her inline diamond bracelet whilst playing in the U.S. Open, causing the precious stones to scatter and play to the halted until they could be retrieved. And with that, the bracelets, sometimes referred to as eternity bracelets, can be credited with beginning the concept of diamond sporting jewellery as they are so flexible and comfortable to wear.

So, come 20th June whilst absorbing the action from SW20, it seems the only acceptable way to accessorise your Pimms is with a diamond tennis bracelet!

Well, if it’s good enough for a Williams’s sister…

W1953: A 12 Carat Diamond, 18 Carat Yellow Gold Tennis Bracelet

W1397: An 18 Carat Yellow Gold and Diamond Tennis Bracelet

W3017:A 2 Carat Modern Brilliant Round Cut Diamond, 9 Carat White Gold Tennis Bracelet

W1388: An 18 Carat White Gold and Diamond Tennis Bracelet

A Girls Best Friend

This week, I am dedicating the blog to a woman whose extensive jewellery collection comprised of some of the most impressive pieces of jewellery and rarest stones in the world, Ms Elizabeth Taylor. Sadly, the actress passed away earlier this year but she leaves behind a legacy of glamour and extravagance. As a woman who simply did not believe in being understated, even as her health deteriorated she was never seen without her jewellery.

Taylor's private life was the fuel for many a media scandal, she was married eight times, with the most famous and most extravagant additions to her jewellery collection gifted to her by Richard Burton whom she married twice, firstly in 1964 and then again in 1975. Burton bought Elizabeth several well-known pieces during their marriages, two of the most famous being the 33.19 carat Krupp diamond, which Taylor wore on a daily basis, and the 69.42 carat pear cut Taylor-Burton diamond Burton justified these lavish gifts as investments, which certainly paid off for Taylor who sold the 69.42 carat diamond after their second divorce for $5 million!

Her passion for jewellery did not begin and end with diamonds, in 1969 Burton purchased the 50 Carat La Peregrina Pearl as a Valentines present for Taylor. The pearl, first discovered in 1513 had previously been owned by Mary I and was set into a necklace of pearls, rubies and diamonds by Cartier.
Throughout her turbulent personal life, Taylors adoration of fabulous and unique jewellery remained constant, famously stating that"You can't cry on a diamond's shoulder, and diamonds won't keep you warm at night, but they're sure fun when the sun shines".

So strong was Taylor's dedication to her first love that in 2003 she published a book titled ‘My love affair with Jewellery’. After her death in March, her jewellery collection reportedly worth around $150 million, will be sold at auction at Christies later this year. In the meantime, we can all pay our own tribute to a woman of great personal strength and impeccable taste. Whether you are attending a dinner with the Prince of Monaco, a star-studded premiere or dashing out on the school run don’t be afraid to pop on the biggest jewels you can find, and wear them with pride!

W3955:Antique Victorian 8.82 Carat Old Cushion Cut Diamond, Three Stone Ring