TIME TO SHINE

JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES TIME TO shine

Big-day jewellery and accessory inspiration, plus your ultimate wedding-ring buyer’s guide

Whatever your style from classic to boho it’s always time to accessorise and shine!

Silver Cubic Zirconia Freshwater Cultured Pearl Drop Necklace, £125 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk (Local stores in Bluewater and Maidstone)

www.nishajayne.co.uk Forest Sequin Flower Crown, £120 and Blooms Organza Veil, £210 www.instagram.com/claude_bridal_studio

“Pearls might be seen as more traditional, but their resurgence on the runway shows that this jewellery trend is here to stay.” – Beaverbrooks

Richard Designs Pearl and Crystal Cluster Floral Headband (TR2655A), £124.50 Available at www.victoriagracebridal.co.uk 9ct White Gold Diamond Hoop Earrings, £350 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk (Local stores in Bluewater and Maidstone) 9ct Gold Freshwater Cultured Pearl Hook Earrings, £120 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk (Local stores in Bluewater and Maidstone)

Silver Green Cubic Zirconia Halo Drop Earrings, £125 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk (Local stores in Bluewater and Maidstone)

The Margot Crown, £695 www.edenbstudio.com

“This exquisite veil is adorned with 3D chiffon flowers and petals fading up from the train and will complement any wedding dress creating a real statement.” – Hayley, Victoria Grace Bridal

Freesia Crown, £69 www.posypatou.com

18ct Gold Diamond Pendant, £1,500 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk (Local stores in Bluewater and Maidstone)

Neon Starburst Cape, £255 and Neon Flora Sequin Flower Crown, £120 www.instagram.com/claude_bridal_studio “Nostalgic early-2000s fashion was a huge trend in 2021, and we can expect to see bright, bold and colourful jewellery making a comeback in 2022.” – Beaverbrooks

Wildflower Buttonhole, £59 www.posypatou.com Flowers Tattoo Bow Veil, £310 www.instagram.com/claude_bridal_studio

Something blue

18ct White Gold Diamond Tanzanite Pear Shaped Halo Pendant, £1,400 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk (Local stores in Bluewater and Maidstone)

www.nishajayne.co.uk

Navette Jewellery JEWELLERY & ACCESSORIES

The ring’s the thing

YOUR WEDDING RING BUYING GUIDE

STEP 1 BUDGET

Much like the rest of your wedding planning you need to mutually agree on what you want to spend on your wedding rings, bearing in mind this is something you’ll be wearing 24/7 for the rest of your life. Considering the hardiness of the metal you choose for example is important. More on that later! There’ll be something out there to suit whatever your budget though.

STEP 2

KNOW YOUR RING SIZE It’s important to get this right before you order as not all rings can be easily resized without a major overhaul of the design. Your jeweller will take your measurements properly, but if you’d like to get an idea for yourself there are plenty of measuring guides online.

STEP 3 CONSIDER YOUR

ENGAGEMENT RING Be sure to wear your engagement ring when you’re shopping for the wedding bands as it will influence your choice. You’ll likely want to match the metal and even the shape, stones and depth. This is doubly important if you want your wedding band to be shaped around the design of your engagement ring. Many jewellers offer ready-shaped options to fit alongside standard diamond cuts such as marquise and pear, but you can always go down the custom-made route if none of them work. Natalie Towell at Navette Jewellery Studio (www.navettejewellery.co.uk) says, “Advice and guidance from experienced jewellers is always offered at wedding ring fittings, as well as suggestions for the perfect ring set for you both. A top tip for gents is to opt for a comfort fit, where the inside of the ring is curved to sit correctly on the hand.”

“There’s never a wrong choice as long as you stay true to your personal taste and not what’s popular. This ensures that as the years pass, you’ll always enjoy your ring.” – Natalie Towell, www.navettejewellery.co.uk

STEP 4

WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? Once upon a time wedding rings were by and large simple gold bands, but nowadays the options are incredibly varied. On a basic level there’s eternity (where stones go all the way around), half eternity (where they cover half the band) or plain of course; then there’s matte or polished... we could go on. Also, have a think about whether you want your rings to match, complement each other or be completely different.

Natalie says, “Try them on and see what suits your hand shape. There’s a surprising amount of choice when it comes to the humble wedding band, so just as you’d have a fitting for your wedding attire, so you must for your rings.”

STEP 5 WHICH METAL?

This is arguably the most crucial decision as it will affect everything from the cost to the longevity of your rings, as well as the obvious look. The hardest wearing precious metal is platinum, which holds polish a lot longer than white gold. Alternatively, 18ct gold is best if you prefer the yellow tone.

STEP 6

PERSONALISATION Your wedding rings are the ultimate symbol of your love and commitment to one another, so why not personalise them as much as possible. While all of the above will do that for you, you can go one step further by having them engraved with a meaningful phrase, your initials and wedding date or even your finger prints.

DID YOU KNOW?

Traditionally, the wedding ring goes onto the third finger of your left hand first, so that it’s the closest one to your heart. The engagement ring will be next followed by any eternity rings you’re lucky enough to receive for future anniversaries!