November 2017
The UK's personalised jewellery retailers Soremi Jewellery has Iaunched a new website and introducing two new demi-fine precious metal coIIections, Mobius Infinity and Boulon D’amour - just in time for the forthcoming festive season of Christmas.
   July 2017Anabela Chan's Objects of Desire
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| Anna Maria Pitt's jewellery - from the Artic Poppies and Armorous collections - are to be worn or admired as sculptural works of art. Pictured here at the Scoop International trade show held at the Saatchi Gallery, London, 12 - 14 February 2017. © Lucia Carpio 2017 |
Having studied silversmithing and jewellery design at Bucks New University where she graduated with a BA Hons degree, Anna set up her studio where her jewellery-creations are made by hand.
Her designs - be they a necklace, a ring, a pendant or a bracelet - make bold statements, ideal for the confident woman who likes or wants to be noticed.
Her jewellery creations are works of art that can be worn for maximum visual impact. Yet each piece is uniquely beautiful, and can be admired as a stand-alone piece like a sculpture or objet d'art.
"I make design models out of paper before moving onto metal, which is then laser-cut and after I assemble and finish off each piece by hand in my workshop," explained Anna Maria in the lead up to her recent exhibition at the Scoop International trade fair held in London earlier this month at the Saatchi Gallery. This was followed by Anna Maria's participation in Milano Fashion Week where four of her pieces have been selected for the Artistar Jewellery Exhibition.
You can almost imagine the Icelandic landscape when observing some of her jewellery designs. In the picture above, Anna Maria models her Arctic Poppy bracelet on her left wrist. Depicting a flower that blooms in the harshest of conditions, the piece is assembled by cold connecting eight separate parts to create the suspension of form. This modern piece blends the soundness of structure with the lightness of natural order. On her right hand is one of her latest ring designs - the Migration Ring made from sterling silver, and are part of her cold connected Migration Collection. Each ring, handcrafted by the artist herself, incorporates a clean slate, a flying bird or an abstract promise thereof, creating dimensional movement in each and every piece.
The picture above shows a selection of Migration necklaces, in varying sizes, made from gold plated sterling silver, as part of Anna Maria’s Migration Collection. Inspired by migrating bird formations sweeping the sky, each silver or gold bird is fixed onto a circular plate, creating a dimensional arial movement flowing above the surface.
The Canopy bracelet shown in the picture above was inspired by forest tree crowns. This large piece is assembled by fixing silver leafs to a bracelet base. Available in silver and gold.
Here is the sterling silver Backbone necklace - an intricate piece part of Anna Maria’s bespoke collection. Inspired by a wild reindeer’s vertebrae, the necklace is assembled by cold connecting twenty six separate parts, emulating the animals spinal structure – creating a interconnecting spiral which fuses form and functionality. Imagine it framing a lady's face and adorning a simple black dress. It certainly makes a striking vision.
All images © Lucia Carpio 2017.
Swarovski jewellery trends for A/W 2017/18
All photos © Lucia Carpio 2016.
Swarovski jewellery trends for A/W 2017/18
“Inspired by nature and driven by science," Swarovski's new fine jewellery atelier collection combines luxury and innovation, featuring "Swarovski Created Diamonds" and crystals, handcrafted in a Parisian atelier.
 
This new collection celebrates Swarovski's 10th year collaborating with the world’s greatest design talents.
Created exclusively for the red carpet, the collection includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings were inspired by three key themes: Mosaic, Art Deco and Concentric.
According to its press release, Swarovski Created Diamonds are grown in a “state-of-the-art lab and have the same optical, chemical and physical attributes as mined diamonds. Both are 100% carbon, both have the same hardness and brilliance.
This Atelier Swarovski Fine Jewellery Collection reflects an integral part of Swarovski’s heritage of craftsmanship, innovation and excellence as well as a commitment to sustainable practices. “
Retail versions of the Atelier Swarovski red carpet pieces will be available in 2018.
Best known for its iconic "crystal" and lab-created gemstone jewellery, Swarovski announced in 2015 (when the brand celebrated its 120th anniversary) that it was stepping up its presence in the high-end market with the release of a new collection that features diamonds set in sterling silver and 14-carat yellow and rose gold.
The move allowed Swarovski to target a new consumer base – jewellery prices range from US$125 to US$1,450 – as part of its 2020 Vision brand development programme.
Although often associated with fashion-focused jewellery, Swarovski had released previously in the category of fine jewellery collection, a range in China as well as another in collaboration with jewellery designer Matthew Campbell Laurenza via its Atelier Swarovski division.
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Swarovski jewellery trends for A/W 2017/18
Judging from designer collections recently seen on European catwalks, and at major international trade fairs, bold decorative elements and opulent surface treatments bordering on excess are the way forward in a world dominated by technology.
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| Swarovski announced Autumn/Winter 2017-18 trends at Premiere Vision Paris - Accessories fair in Septmber 2016. |
Who else but Austria's leading crystal authority, Swarovski, would provide expertise to realise new design inspiration projected for its Autumn/Winter 2017/18 through their advanced technology and synergy with creative forces.
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| Crystal jewellery with edgy gender-neutral designs forge one of the key trend influences from Swarovski. New for Autumn-Winter 17-18 include BeCharmed Beads and angular crystals, Dark Rainbow effects, amd metal tones. |
The new design focus has sustainability in its heart, and it includres a special partnership with celebrated filmmaker and environmentalist Celine Cousteau, who is the granddaughter of legendary ocean explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, and is herself known for her dedication to protecting the world's oceans and who has recently become a spokesperson for indigenous tribes in the Amazon guarding an as yet untamed ecosystem.
In the Tribute to Tribe collection, Cousteau’s designs (her second collaboration with Swarovski) are inspired by tribal decorations painted or tattooed on bare skin, which express coexistence with nature, and include the new crystal shapes, namely Oval Tribe Fancy Stone (shown at left here), the Rhombus Tribe Fancy Stone, and the Cross Tribe Pendant (shown below).
For Autumn/Winter 2017/18, the overall title is "The Nature of Us". The new season hones in on the crucial human-identity-defining activities of eating, working and travelling, under the influential notion of sustainability and ethical behaviours, with tribal patterns and colours to project the new inspirations for jewellery.
The first story Travel Age is a romantic one, based on our lust for travel, and a new, anything-goes attitude that gives rise to an adoration of all things unique and unabashedly unconventional. No limits, no rules and no regrets are conveyed in a cultural cross-over of design directions.
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| Travel Age sees a collection of triangular, round and square crystal shapes in eclectic combinations, referencing an anything-is-possible design mindset. Deep sumptuous crystal colours allude to the rich historic heritage of decoration across all cultures. |
Steering away from the strong 70s boho ethos of past summer seasons, the Travel Age look mixes strength and attitude and crosses both eras and borders.
More is more in this theme, with prints, colours, textures, layers, crystals and volume all worn at once.
Understatement is not an option.
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| Work Life: A dichotomy of aesthetics comes together in crystal jewellery, with architectural minimalism meeting playfullness, and simplicity merging seamlessly ito sopistication. |
A second theme is Work Life, based on a new mindset generated as we becoe more conerned aout the use of robotics in the work sphere and te potential impact of this on our jobs.
It is predicted that robots and humans will work more closely in the future for mutual support, and that an influx of technology will lead to the development that "humans and machines are gradually converging, as we seek too join the dots between our digital and physical identities - our bodies, our hardware and software," according to Trend experts WGSN recently.
Here see the emergenve of the paddtel palette is design;'s direct response to the need to humanize and feminize the robotic design element, with shapes, figures and kitsch details also employed to evoke people's childhoods and crete a form of emotional attachment.
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| Industrial effects are influential in jewellery. Soul Food features new mtrials and colout combinations. Designs are encrusted with clusters of modern cut crystals, with mixed-media detailing adding a homogenous spirit. |
Another theme is Soul Food, shining light on a new breed of well-informed consumers, in particular the millennials, wants to know not only where products come from but that the product itself will make a positive difference.
Today, design must do good, not just be good, and a no-waste ethos pervades the direction.
The new catchcry, for design is ~home spun and humble~ with pieces borrowing colours and details from a range of historical influences and morphing them for the modern mindset.
The new focus on pared-back design sees less become even less, but mean even more. Form follows function as we pay homage to the worker, the labourer, and the farmer, taking direct inspiration from the essential and honest elements of life on the land.
Now that we have got all those sentiments out in the open, we get down to party.
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| Influenced by fashion, vintage and unisex styling, the glam-rock inspired theme of Party Spirit updates crystal jewellery with edgy gender-neutral designs. Zip-inspired jewellery makes a bold statement, while at the same time retaining glamorous appeal. A precious feel is evoked through the use of crystals, decorative settings, and delicate silhouettes and castings. Modern-cut crystals and mixed media detailing add a glamorous edge in exaggerated and sculptured shapes, The use of unconventional embellished chains adds an edgy twist, while gunmetal and hardware give conventional pieces a rebellious feel. |
As we enter a time of monumental shifts in how consumers define themselves, a younger more irreverent attitude is being incorporated within moern edgy glamour directions.
Party Spirit is taking life to the extreme and living on the edge, emulated and encompassed in revellious design elements, offering an attitude of extreme nonchalance.
With the rise of festival fashion and focus on music events influencing a new generation, designers pay homage to the stand-out style and stage presence of music legends from the past.
Embodying the heart and soul of rock'n'roll, beauty, energy and animal magnetism are all conveyed in one profile. The one overriding and interconnection detail ... an extreme focus on the continued rise of gender neutrality. Leather, chains, beads and crystals combine to infuence gender-fluid designs and constructions where nothing is out of bounds.
Understantement is not an option, according to Swarovski.
All photos © Lucia Carpio 2016.
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