Astley Clarke On Their Own

AC Tearoom Collection rings

AFTER four years of bringing us some of the world's most desirable jewellery from designers, including Shaun Leane, Carolina Bucci, Asha by ADM and Agrigento, Astley Clarke is pooling its vast knowledge and launching its own jewellery collection. There are seven ranges in the collection but our favourites are the AC Colour collection with its vibrant, stackable bracelets and rings; the AC Diamonds range reminded us that they really are a girl's best friend; and we're quite besotted with the delicate, vintage-inspired AC Tearoom collection - the rings would make a seriously pretty alternative to traditional engagement rings.

Harry Winston New Hope

Harry Winston Embracing Hope necklace

THE famous Hope Diamond made its official debut in its temporary "Embracing Hope" setting at the historic Court of Jewels Exhibition - where more than $1 billion of the world's rarest diamonds and most extraordinary gemstones were on display - at Harry Winston's Fifth Avenue flagship store in New York last week. The new setting - which was selected from three different Winston designs by popular vote in an online poll in 2009 - sees the fabled 45.52-carat deep blue stone set in a sculptural ribbon of 340 baguette diamonds set into platinum. Eight master jewellers devoted more than 1,000 hours to creating the necklace. This is the first time that the diamond has been exhibited in a new setting since it was given to the Smithsonian Museum in Washington by Mr. Winston in November 1958 to help found the National Gem Collection.

Astley Clarke Joseph's Jewellery

Astley Clarke Takara necklace, £60,000

Until Valentine's Day, the Joseph stores in Fulham Road, Westbourne Grove and Sloane Street will be home to a selection of exquisite jewellery creations in an exhibition called Rocks, Stone & Metal, curated by the concept store. The shop collaborated with jewellery brands including Garrard, Stephen Webster, Albion Trinketry, Loree Rodkin, Aurélie Bidermann, Carolina Bucci, Delfina Delletrez and Hannah Martin on the project, which Joseph put its spin on fine jewellery. Many of the pieces are exclusive, including this necklace from the Astley Clarke Takara collection. Be sure to visit before Christmas or, in fact, before Valentine's Day. Visit www.925jewelrybox.com/ for more information.

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Chanel Les Secrets D'Orient

Coupole ring

IT wasn't just the world's most gorgeous clothes on show during Couture Week in Paris - Chanel unveiled its new fine jewellery collection, romantically entitled Secrets d'Orient.

SEE THE SECRET'S D'ORIENT COLLECTION HERE

Inspired by Venice and Coco Chanel's first visit to the Doge's Ducal palaces in 1920, an opulent Byzantine theme infuses the collection. Rings start to resemble domed cupolas, an openwork bracelet recalls a sculpted façade and the iconic Chanel camellia is turned into an intricate Byzantine rose window. An exquisite mélange of diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, pink tourmalines and pearls dazzle with the glamour and mystery of the exotic places that inspired them: Venice, Byzantium, Samarqand and Isfahan.

Tiffany’s 2010-2011 Blue Book Collection

Tiffany & Co. has released the 2010-2011 Blue Book Collection, the jeweler’s annual presentation of the world’s most spectacular diamond and gemstone jewelry.


This year’s collection includes the Tiffany Majestic necklace (pictured), which contains more than 300 pear-shaped and round brilliant stones. It took over 700 hours to create the necklace. Each stone was hand cut and set in diamond florets that surround a 30.31-ct., E color, internally flawless detachable diamond drop. The platinum mountings were individually crafted and discreetly linked to create a flexible setting that sparkles as it moves.

Another item featured in the catalog is the Fringe necklace, which has a 20.01-ct., D color, internally flawless diamond in a rectangular modified brilliant cut with 61 round, 33 cushion and 30 marquise diamonds in platinum. In addition, there’s a diamond ring collection that includes internally flawless diamonds of 14.42 cts. and 12 cts. in gem-encrusted settings.

The Blue Book Collection also includes a necklace based on Art Deco jewels in the Tiffany & Co. Archives. The design features a triple-drop pendant with three rare fancy vivid yellow diamonds. The rectangular-shaped 13.09-ct. yellow diamond and two 6-ct. yellow diamonds, surrounded by 642 round brilliant white diamonds.

Tiffany highlights a 28.01-carat unenhanced, esteemed Kashmir sapphire in a necklace of 1,097 round brilliant diamonds. The Blue Book also includes color-rich sapphires, vibrant tourmalines and rubellites surrounded by diamonds in rings and drop earrings. The book showcases tanzanite, introduced by Tiffany & Co. in 1969, with two matched pear-shaped tanzanites in drop earrings of striking beauty.

Tiffany jewelers in New York and Paris went to the original drawings of world-renowned designer Jean Schlumberger to create the Leaves necklace of hand set turquoise beads with diamonds, 18k gold and platinum; and the Bird on a Rock clip.

Other creations include diamond and platinum chandelier earrings and diamond bracelets based on the Art Deco period of the early 20th century; and the flexible geometric patterns of the Zigzag diamond bracelet with over 1,300 round diamonds and a five-row bracelet of 260 round and square-shaped diamonds.