FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONE: AMETHYST

Amethyst is a type of quartz and is suitable for everyday wear. Available in a wide range of purples from the palest pastel lavender to the deepest seductive purple they are available in many sizes.

COLOUR: Pale lilac to deep purple.

GEMSTONE FAMILY: Quartz.

MOHS HARDNESS: 7

LOCATION: Mainly in Russia, Brazil and African countries such as Namibia and Zambia.

A BRIEF HISTORY: With its association with the god Bacchus amethyst has long been associated with drink and is believed to help prevent drunkenness.

FAMOUS GEMSTONES: Known as the purple sapphire, the amethyst below was looted during the Indian mutiny in 1855. Everyone who owned it since has suffered disaster and misfortune. When Edward Heron-Allen, owner of the stone from 1890, discovered its sinister history, he declared it 'cursed and stained with blood' and locked it in a bank vault with instructions that it not be opened until 33 years after his death. Heron-Allen's daughter donated the stone to the Museum with a letter he wrote warning anyone against handling it. (Source: The Natural History Museum).

CRYSTAL DICTIONARY: Amethyst is believed to calm the emotions, create clarity of thought and assist in attaining wisdom.

IMPORTANT: Be careful heating an amethyst - high temperatures can cause an irreversible change in the stone and can cause the colour to fade or change.

 www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

JANUARY BIRTHSTONE | GARNET

Garnet is not a single mineral, but a group that consists of a range of closely related minerals. They all have certain properties in common; namely they all have a cubic crystal form with a hardness of between 6.5 - 7.5 on the MOHS scale. 

Commonly thought of as rusty-red, the Garnet comes in many different varieties and colours - red, pink, yellow, orange, brown, green.



Different varieties of Garnet

Clockwise from top right: Hessonite: yellowish orange to orange-brown variety of Grossular garnet, sometimes called the 'cinnamon stone'. Demantoid: green variety of Andradite garnet, regularly used by Faberge in some of his designs. Rhodolite: rose-red to purple form of the Pyrope garnet.

For more information visit: www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

FAIRYTALE OF NEW YORK...

Congratulations to this beautiful couple - Jamie and Hannah - who got married this summer in NYC!

Hannah's wedding ring is a handmade 18ct white gold wishbone-shaped band, made to shape around her engagement ring and Jamie's wedding ring is a flat palladium band with an off-centre engraved line, with a high polished finish on one side and a brushed finish on the other. Wedding photos courtesy of Jonny MP Photography.




Photograph courtesy of Jonny MP Photography.

18ct white gold handmade wishbone-shaped band

Palladium band with off-centre engraved line and a high polished finish on one side and brushed on the other.



Photograph courtesy of Jonny MP Photography.

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

DECEMBER BIRTHSTONE: TANZANITE

Tanzanite is a rich blue-violet stone, discovered in the 1960's in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.

A member of the Zoisite family of gemstones, this beautiful blue-violet stone is mined only in Tanzania and is often mistaken for a sapphire. Tanzanite is strongly 'pleochroic', which means this gemstone displays different colours - red, violet, blue, grey - when viewed from different angles. The blues appear more evident when subjected to fluorescent light and the violet hues can be seen readily when viewed under incandescent illumination.

With a hardness rating of 6.5 tanzanite is somewhat soft and fragile - most are set in earrings or pendants and care should be taken with tanzanite rings.

In its natural form, tanzanite is typically a brown colour, however most blue tanzanites for sale today owe their colour to heat treatment, which is what reveals its attractive pleochroic blues and violets. Simply richer in colour, heat-treated tanzanite is considered to be the same quality as non heat-treated tanzanite's, and as a rule, the larger the tanzanite, the deeper the colour.

Probably the most noteworthy tanzanite gemstone is the "Queen of Kilimanjaro", which is set into a white gold tiara along with 803 garnets and 913 diamonds. It is thought to be one of the world's largest faceted tanzanite gemstones, and weighs 242 carats.

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONE: TOPAZ

TOPAZ is the birthstone for November and is believed to come from the Sanskrit word meaning 'fire'. Topaz occurs in a wide range of colours including red, orange, peach, pink, gold, yellow, brown and clear.

It is typically found in huge and flawless crystals, which can be faceted into giant gemstones which can weigh thousands of carats. Some of the largest gemstone pieces ever cut were of Topaz.

Topaz is a hard and durable gemstone, suitable for all jewellery, however, it does have perfect cleavage which can make it prone to chipping or forming flaws if banged hard. 

Details of the Topaz Gemstones shown above (Clockwise from top left):

GOLDEN TOPAZ: Golden brown to yellow in colour and is often confused with the less valuable citrine.

PINK TOPAZ : Pink or red topaz gets its colour from the presence of chromium - the same element that makes rubies red.

RUTILATED WHITE TOPAZ: Topaz with yellow needle-like inclusions of the mineral Limonite. It should be noted that these inclusions within Topaz are rare.

TOPAZ AND BIXBYITE: Topaz growing with Bixbyite - a rare mineral formed of isometric crystals, which give the appearance of highly modified cubes.

BLUE TOPAZ: Blue Topaz does occur in nature, but is rare and almost always light in colour. Most if not all blue Topaz used in jewellery has been irradiated and heat treated to artificially create the blue colour.

IMPERIAL TOPAZ : The highly prized “imperial topaz” - an intense golden to reddish-orange colour found primarily in Brazil.

For more information: www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

DREAMING A DREAM: INSPIRATION BEHIND FLIGHTS OF FANCY

Victor Hugo is one of my favourite authors.

He is regarded by many as one of the supreme poet of French romanticism, and is best known for today’s popular world classic: Les Misérables.

Everything Hugo writes in Les Misérables revolves around one central notion - that a universal moral order exists. That every one of us possesses a natural human goodness - the potential for compassion, courage and kindness - and that all things in the natural world are connected. One thing has an effect on another - the butterfly effect - the idea that a butterfly's wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere that may ultimately alter the path of a hurricane.

There is a particularly beautiful sentence in the book: " Every bird that flies has the thread of the infinite in its claw" and this is was one of the inspirations behind the Flights of Fancy collection.

At 1400 pages, it's a bit of an investment so here is an excerpt of my favourite part. His insight is beautiful.

"Algebra applies to the clouds, the radiance of the star benefits the rose—no thinker would dare to say that the perfume of the hawthorn is useless to the constellations. Who could ever calculate the path of a molecule? How do we know that the creations of worlds are not determined by falling grains of sand? Who can understand the reciprocal ebb and flow of the infinitely great and the infinitely small, the echoing of causes in the abyss of being and the avalanches of creation? A mite has value; the small is great, the great is small. All is balanced in necessity; frightening vision for the mind. There are marvelous relations between beings and things, in this inexhaustible whole, from sun to grub, there is no scorn, each needs the other. Light does not carry terrestrial perfumes into the azure depths without knowing what it does with them; night distributes the stellar essence to the sleeping plants. Every bird that flies has the thread of the infinite in its claw. Germination includes the hatching of a meteor and the tap of a swallow’s beak breaking the egg, and it guides the birth of the earthworm, and the advent of Socrates. Where the telescope ends, the microscope begins. Which of the two has a greater view? Choose. A bit of mold is a pleiad of flowers; a nebula is an anthill of stars."

Victor Hugo, Les Misérables (New York City: Penguin Books, 1982) pp. 764-65.]





See the Flights of Fancy collection here.

GEMSTONE: FIRE OPAL

This fiery treasure glows with an inner fire and flashes every hue of the red and orange colour spectrum.

With a long history of being mined in Mexico and used by the ancient Aztecs for rituals and religious ceremonies, the fire opal originates in the furnaces of ancient volcanoes and is formed when water seeps into the silica rich lava.

Fire opals are either faceted or cut as a cabochon, since this is the shape which best brings out the warm glow of this orange jewel. It is the oval which is regarded as the classical shape for valuable fire opals.

Opal is the birthstone for October.

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

LULWORTH CASTLE WEDDING FAIR: BESPOKE BRIDES

Thank you to everyone who came to see us at Lulworth Castle Wedding Fair in Dorset! The popular wedding show was buzzing with brides-and-grooms-to-be scouting for creative, stylish and original wedding ideas from a host of handpicked exhibitors.

I presented a selection of ideas for bespoke wedding rings and examples of previous commissions. Throughout the show I spoke to many people about the process involved in creating a piece of bespoke jewellery, from initial sketched ideas, CAD images to 3D wax printing and casting, along with pieces made entirely by hand.

I also showcased a selection of my 18ct gold vermeil and silver Clover collection which is inspired by the iconic quatrefoil shape and worn by celebrity fans such as Jodie Kidd and Eunice Olumide. An luxury, elegant and feminine collection, it is a perfect choice for weddings.

For more information visit www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk or to arrange an initial appointment contact info@catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk or 07701 080 615.




LULWORTH CASTLE, BUILT IN THE EARLY 17TH CENTURY AS A HUNTING LODE

THE CASTLE INTERIOR: ORIGINALLY USED FOR HUNTING PARTIES FOR THE KING AND COURT

CATHERINE BUDD JEWELLERY: BESPOKE

 

WHITE GOLD ENGAGEMENT RING SHOWN NEXT TO THE WAX MODEL USED IN CASTING

THE CLOVER CUFF IN 18CT ROSE GOLD VERMEIL AND STERLING SILVER

BEAUTIFUL PACKAGING WRAPPED WITH A SILK BOW

For information on our bespoke jewellery service visit www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk or to arrange an initial appointment contact info@catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk or 07701 080 615.

INTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY LONDON: CLOVER COLLECTION LAUNCH

Catherine Budd Jewellery successfully launched new pieces from the Clover collection at International Jewellery London (IJL), the UK's largest jewellery event for luxury brands and independent designers. The collection was showcased to an international audience as part of 'KickStart', a platform which launched 10 selected jewellery designers considered to be 'talent of the future' and sponsored by IJL and the British Jewellery Association (BJA).

As a result of the show the collection will be stocked by a number of new retailers in the UK. Thank you to everyone who came to visit my stand and for all of the wonderful compliments.

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CENTRE: THE CLOVER CUFF



THE NEW LARGE AND SMALL CLOVER STUD EARRINGS



CLOVER TRIPLE DROP EARRINGS



THE CLOVER RINGS



THE NEW CLOVER COLLECTION



THE 2013 KICKSTART GIRLS AT THE AFTER SHOW DRINKS PARTY



CATHERINE BUDD JEWELLERY DISPLAY



PROFESSIONAL JEWELLER HOT 100 PARTY WITH KATIE JAMIESON AND ALDYTH CROWTHER

 

PROFESSIONAL JEWELLER HOT 100 PARTY

Diamonds and Pearls

My lovely and most beautiful friend Annelise, celebrated her marriage to Romesh in June. Unbeknown to Annelise,  Rom had secretly contacted me before the wedding and commissioned me to design and create a pair of earrings  as a gift to be opened on their special day.  The brief was simple - diamonds and pearls - but it was our long standing friendship that was the most useful reference to allow me to narrow down the design intricacies.

These earrings so versatile, and are made so that the pearl can be removed and the diamond hoop worn separately. Beautiful earrings for all occasions, but a perfect accessory for the most important day so far of her life.

"Great work from Catherine Budd Jewellery for designing and producing some lovely pearl earrings for my Bride, and now wife, Annelise. They were much adored on the day and will be forever more."

Annelise looked beyond stunning and Rom was as handsome as ever. The wedding was just beautiful and I wish them both so much love for the future.

Photograph by: www.capture4life.com  

Cat x 

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk/

Have you ever thought about having a piece of jewellery commissioned?

There is something so romantic and utterly special about a piece of beautiful jewellery that has been designed especially for you....

This year has been so exciting with the launch of the 'Crown Collection' but I also have a growing number of clients for whom I have designed unique and one-off pieces of bespoke jewellery - engagement rings, wedding rings, wedding rings to curve and shape around irregular shaped engagement rings, eternity rings, earrings, pendants....

Being a jewellery designer, I love working on commissioned pieces. To me, it is all about understanding you and your individuality, so that together we create a piece of jewellery to match your style, personality and your budget. Classic or contemporary, bold or understated, it is all about designing a piece which is right for you.

A selection of one-off creations 

Typically I visit each of my clients for a design consultation in the comfort of their own home - alleviating the need to trudge up and down a high street from one jeweller to another. There is no charge for a design consultation, and if you decide my service is not right for you it's fine to just walk away.

Commissioning a piece of fine jewellery is about having fun and enjoying the process. 

Every person is different. Some people have quite clear ideas about what they want and if this is the case I will work with you to bring your ideas to life as a practical design. If you haven't decided on exactly what you would like, or have absolutely no idea at all I will talk about jewellery styles, perhaps draw inspiration from things you are passionate about, favourite colours, family heirlooms, or aspects of your life to find a design that is right. However much or little creative input you would like to have, I always make sure that through my knowledge and understanding of both the aesthetics of design and the practical limitations of jewellery construction, that the piece is not only beautiful but that it actually works from a technical point of view. This is important. Some ideas look great in your head but won't work when translated into a 3-dimensional structure!

2D technical drawing of a bezel set engagement ring 

As the design develops, I will explain all that there is to know about different metals, diamonds and precious gemstones, so that you can make decisions and choose what is right for you, with confidence and at a price that suits you, your lifestyle and your budget.

You may worry that you can't picture what the finished piece will look like. Don't fear. With the help of design sketches and particularly with the use of CAD software, it's possible to actually see a 3D render of your finished piece before it is actually made - which is a fantastic option if you aren't very good at imagining what the finished piece will look like. I also have a collection of jewellery which whilst not intended as a 'catalogue' for clients to choose from, are to give a taste of the jewellery I create, the quality of workmanship, and to also serve as points of reference when discussing what you really want.

3D CAD images of a bezel set engagement ring

Many people think that bespoke jewellery will cost the earth. Think again..... I always strive to give the best possible value for money, regardless of how much you decide to spend - part of the meaning of good design is knowing how to produce beautiful results within a specified budget. And if a particular design is going to cost more than your budget allows, it is more than likely that I can find a way of doing a very similar design, that is to your budget. This is the beauty of bespoke design - changing the quality or type of stone, or perhaps a simple design change could considerably alter the time it takes to make, the materials, and hence the price.

The finished piece - made with white gold and set with a 0.50ct diamond 

Bespoke jewellery and good design should be accessible to everyone.

So next time you are thinking about buying a piece of jewellery....why not consider commissioning a bespoke piece and create something as beautiful and unique as you are?

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a design consultation, please contact me.

Much love

Cat ♥

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

A Jewel in the Crown: The Crown Collection

Spring 2012 has been really exciting for me with the launch of my fine jewellery range ...the 'Crown Collection'.  This is the first collection for Catherine Budd Jewellery and I have been thrilled with the response so far.   

Made from 18 carat gold with delicate accents of diamonds, The Crown Collection is a classic and elegant range which was inspired by the shape and form of the vintage tiara, and marks the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.  The collection features an engagement ring, a choice of wedding rings and an eternity ring, which fit together perfectly, creating a stylish and intricate look.

Dating back centuries and reflecting eras of fashion decadence, some of the most stunning tiara's have been worn by Royal Queens and Princesses.  Queen Elizabeth II is said to have the largest collection of these fascinating jewelled headpieces in the world, which have been passed down from generation to generation as treasured and precious heirlooms.

Considered by many to be one of the most important pieces of jewellery worn on the most important of occasions, the tiara is often associated with weddings and believed to symbolise the loss of innocence and the triumph of love.  Each ring is available in 18 carat white, rose or yellow gold and can be set with white diamonds, coloured diamonds or precious gemstones.

For details, visit www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk, contact info@catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk or call 07701 080 615.

Much love

Cat x

I *LOVE* MY JOB

I admit that I am one of those exceedingly annoying people who can hand on heart say "I love my job".  I mean love it.  Really love it.  Whilst I admit that getting out of a cosy warm bed is sometimes horrendous, I can honestly say that I am glad I do what I do, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to work in an industry as rewarding and as interesting as I find it.

I get to design and create the most beautiful pieces of fine jewellery.  I look at diamonds every day, and work with the most interesting of precious gemstones.  Being so passionate about jewellery, you can imagine what an absolute joy it is to see a design evolve on paper and ultimately become a wonderful creation for someone to treasure.

And it is not only this.  All the clients I talk to during my day, are happy.  The reason we are meeting is truly special - an engagement, marriage, anniversary, birth of a child, birthday, or just a well-deserved treat - and it is an honour to be involved in these precious moments and occasions. I have even been part of a heart-stoppingly wonderful proposal © (you know who you are) which was an amazing privilege and a memory I will treasure.

I admit I really do have to frequently stop myself from talking friends and family to death about all things fine jewellery related.  Imagine the excitement I have when I meet with my clients and we can chat about jewellery until my heart's content. It's is like a dream come true for me!  From discussing the technical aspects of the 4 C's to the fun bits of trying things on, I love nothing more than looking at diamonds and gemstones that make you go "oooooooh", and coming up with jewellery designs that make you go "aaaaaaah".

Pieces of jewellery are special. The reasons for which they are worn are special. And the people who wear them are special.  How could I not love what I do?

I hope this week is good to you all.

Much love

Cat ©

http://www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk/