THE TRENDSETTERS
More recently, brands have been
bringing stars on board to launch their
own tailored collections. In 2009,
jeweller Stephen Webster launched a
range using singer Christina Aguilera
in a series of 1940s style shots, which
were as provocative and enticing as
his jewellery.
She has continued to be a
showcase for his jewellery ever
since. Tiffany have recently worked
closely with music icon Lady
Gaga to create the ‘HardWear’
collection. This consists of “heavy
duty” gold and silver jewellery
designed as nails, nuts and bolts.
As Gaga’s tastes have become
somewhat more classical, Tiffany
have blended spectacularly with
that, offering her a custom $5m
necklace - The Tiffany Aurora -
consisting of over three hundred
round brilliant cuts and a 12ct
pear shaped diamond for the 76th
Golden Globes.
Designer and third generation
18 JEWELLERY FOCUS
diamond dealer Lorraine Schwartz
has manufactured an entire
empire of supplying the stars of
today by using social media and
Red Carpet interviews. Famous
ears, fingers and necks belonging
to Barbara Streisand, Beyonce,
Angelina Jolie, Emily Blunt and
Halle Berry to name but a few,
flaunt the ostentatious and often
colourful designs of this go-to
fashionista. But by only supplying
the elite, it allows her to offer a
collection of D IF diamonds that
are Type II. Most normal jewellery
purchasers wouldn’t have a clue
what the significance of this was,
but Schwartz brings the world of
gemmology to the forefront of
jewellery admirers.
Meghan Markle’s engagement
ring has brought back the demand
for a traditional trilogy ring
and the now defunct Angelina
Jolie-Pitt made the Marmite
emerald cut diamond absolutely
en trend. Thanks to social media
and the world’s now slightly
bizarre obsession with absolutely
everything, even catwalks can
make statements about what
jewellery we should be wearing. In
last year’s Victoria’s Secret show,
the Fantasy Bra was worth a very
lowly $1m.
Historically, these showstopping
creations that have taken hundreds
of hours to make, have been set
with 20ct solitaire diamonds;
hundreds of sapphires or rubies;
crafted in 18ct gold and been
worth 10 times that amount.
In 2018, the Dream Angels
Fantasy Bra was crafted instead
from silver and designed with
over 2,100 lab created ‘Swarovski
Diamonds’. De Beers, The house
for diamonds, the creator of the
engagement ring we crave today,
have even started a range of
synthetic diamond jewellery.
No doubt the Hollywood elite
will jump aboard this train and
start a new trend that us mere
mortals will actually be able to
‘‘
Jewellery has
always been the
leading star to
express wealth,
prosperity and
success
follow and indeed perhaps even
buy. Prices for synthetics – be it
corundum, beryl or diamond – are
so much more attainable than their
natural counterparts. Perhaps this
could be a much needed saving
grace for the struggling high street
brands of today.
‘‘
FEATURE
About the author:
Rebecca Share is a gemologist
and jewellery manager for www.
thefinejewellerycompany.com based
in Birmingham, the city renowned
for its historic Jewellery Quarter.
March 2019 | jewelleryfocus.co.uk