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/

Easter Eggs for the Rich and Famous...

If you ask me what comes to mind first when I think of Russia, I am a little ashamed to say that it isn't necessarily the architecture, the Kremlin, the ballet, the Matryoshka dolls, or even the vodka (..sorry!).  It is in fact the Eggs.  The iconic Fabergé eggs to be exact. 

I have a fascination with these beautiful jewel-encrusted Easter presents given between 1885 and 1916 to two Tsarinas, Marie and Alexandra, by their respective husbands, Tsar Alexander III and his son Tsar Nicholas II.

It is hard to say which, out of the 50 exquisite and extraordinary artefacts, designed by the legendary Carl Fabergé, is  my favourite.  But I think that I may have to say the 4 inch-high 1900 Trans-Siberian Railway egg, made of platinum, rose-cut diamonds, rubies and rock crystal.  It really is extraordinary and contains a perfect miniature clockwork replica of the train and its five carriages – one for mail, ladies only, smoking, non-smoking and chapel.  It even comes complete with ruby brake light on the rear fender. Just incredible!

It all started in the late 17th century when the Fabergé family fled persecution in France and settled in St Petersburg where they became official jewellers to the imperial family.  In 1885, Czar Alexander III commissioned Peter Carl Fabergé to craft an exquisite Easter egg for his wife, Empress Maria Fedorovna. The gift was a hit, and Fabergé went on to produce 50, what are now known as the Imperial Easter eggs, each of which contained a surprise inside.   

The fate of the clutch of the Imperial Easter Eggs is just as fascinating as the Russian history of that period.  The decline and fall of the Romanov Empire, the assassination of Tsar Alexander II, the Russian revolution of 1917 and the massacre a year later of the entire imperial family and their servants in a Yekaterinburg cellar all reads like an opera and is impossibly dramatic and intriguing.  Over the years the Imperial Eggs were variously lost, dispersed, hidden, smuggled, sold and faked and only 42 of the original 50 exist today. A story featured in The Guardian tells of the American oil billionaire Armand Hammer, who in the 1930's was paid by Stalin for his services as a Soviet agent in Fabergé eggs.  He later sold these on to collectors such as King Farouk and Malcolm Forbes.

Worth millions, most people love these exquisite eggs while a few I am sure see them as nothing more than a frivolous indulgence of a decadent monarchy.  Whatever your thoughts on them, there is no denying that each egg is not only a fragile memento of the doomed Russian dynasty but an extraordinary and absolutely amazing artistic masterpiece.

Happy Easter to you all!

Much love 

Cat x

Pick the Perfect Diamond...

Purchasing a diamond can test the nerves of even the most astute buyer – but what do you look for? What makes one diamond worth more than another?

To understand why two diamonds of the same size are completely different prices, here is a simple guide to the essentials of diamond grading.

A diamond's value is based on the quality of its Cut, Clarity, Colour and it's weight, measured in Carats.  These are affectionately known as 'The 4 C's".

CUT

For a diamond to sparkle most brilliantly, the proportions and angles of the cut stone need to be precise to reflect the maximum amount of light back out and achieve what is known as 'total internal reflection'. This may not be the case if it has been cut too deep or too shallow. If a diamond doesn't catch your eye or if it doesn't flash in the light, it's probably not well cut. Good cutting is what brings fire to the ice.

CLARITY

Diamonds are mostly pure carbon, but during crystallisation other minerals can become trapped in the cooling rock. These impurities known as 'inclusions' show up as the various characteristics that affect the clarity of a diamond. Clarity is measured on a scale ranging from pure (flawless) to heavily included (I-3). The visibility of inclusions and blemishes that can be seen by an experienced grader under 10X magnification in good lighting sets the stone’s clarity, and the actual clarity grade is determined by the number, nature, position, size and colour of the inclusions.

COLOUR

The most sought after diamond is one where no colour is evident at all.

Diamonds are graded on the colour ranging from no colour at all (D) to deeply tinted yellow/brown (Z). Beyond "Z" is where the diamond's colour is no longer a 'tint' but an actual colour which is vivid and rich. These are called "fancy coloured diamonds" and are breathtakingly beautiful and rare.

CARAT

Carat is a gemstone’s unit of weight. It’s equivalent to 0.2 grams and is divided into one hundred points, so a diamond measuring 75 points is 3/4 carat in weight, or 0.75ct. The unit was devised in the States in 1913, its name coming from the carob seed, used by early traders as counterweights to measure precious gems.

So, when deciding  to buy a diamond, keep in mind the 4 C's as a factor of buying consideration.  I always ensure my clients are totally informed about these features and actually observe the differences by looking at real diamonds of different quality grades.  It is important to work out which quality is of greatest importance to you personally, and then to be guided in selecting the diamond that will hold the greatest value and sentiment for your budget.

I hope this week is good to you all.

Much love 

Cat ¨

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

Aquamarine is for March...

Happy birthday March babies! The beautiful aquamarine gemstone is your birthstone. It is also recognised as the gift for anniversary number 18, or even an 18th birthday. 

Aquamarine is the blue-green variety of Beryl, which is the same gem family that includes Emerald.   

It's colour ranges from pale blue to greenish-blue to deep blue, and is determined by trace amounts of iron in the crystal structure.  A saturated deep blue is typically the most desired colour.

Aquamarine in Latin means "water of the sea". Legend says that it was Neptune's gift to the mermaids and it was originally found in a mermaids treasure chest. It holds the power to keep sailors safe at sea and guard against storms.

Aquamarine is also said to promise a long and happy marriage and due to the colour, can of course also be the bride's 'something blue'!  Aquamarine is a fascinatingly beautiful gemstone, loved by many it for its beautiful blue shades reminiscent of the sea, which can complement almost any skin or eye colour.

Tip: clean with a luke-warm mild soapy solution, and use a soft toothbrush to gently clean around the stone where dirt can collect.

Happy birthday to all March babies.....

Much love

Cat ♥

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

Leap Year Love ♥

Today is the extra day of a leap year, the 29th February, and is when the conventional proposal process is reversed.

Some may see today as a prism of opportunity whilst others see it as a day to be feared.  Whatever you think, today is the day that women are meant to feel that they can propose to a man, without fear of being branded forward, desperate or any other such concepts. 

Curiously, according to Wikipedia, it was law imposed by 5 year old Queen Margaret of Scotland in 1288, that required fines to be levied if a marriage proposal was refused by the man; compensation ranged from a kiss to £1 to a silk gown, in order to soften the blow. I think I'd rather the silk gown to soften the blow of rejection!

In Denmark, the tradition is that women may propose in a leap year on February 24th, and that refusal must be compensated with 12 pairs of gloves, whilst in Greece, marriage in a leap year is considered unlucky. 

And if you’re not a woman pondering a proposal, and have no plans on getting caught up in the matrimonial mayhem, you might prefer to think of your leap day as a quadrennial gift - a free 24 hours that exists outside our normal routine - a free day to do something a little bit different and to try something that you wouldn't normally do....

Are you planning to propose today?

Much love

Cat ♥

Love is.....

All around the world people are celebrating Valentine's Day with gifts and going to any extent to prove their undying love towards their partner. For some, today is all about red roses, cupids and hearts, however, for others the mere thought of the customary onslaught of romance sends them into a cold sweat.  Statistics say that one billion cards are sent on Valentine’s Day each year, and whether you love it or loathe it, February 14th continues to be a key date in the diary. 

In honour of St Valentine I wanted to share one of the most remarkable love stories, originally published in The Telegraph in January 2008....

Just 3 days after Boris and Anna Koslov married in 1946 they had to say goodbye to one another.  Boris was a soldier in Russia’s Red Army and had to return to his military unit. Anna stayed and patiently waited for  Boris to come back to her.

Sadly this was not meant to be. Under Stalin's brutal regime,  Anna and her family had been declared enemies of the state and were sent into exile in Siberia. Anna threatened to commit suicide rather than go, as she couldn't bear the idea of living without Boris by her side. But she was forced to go and had no chance to contact her husband.

When Boris returned home from his military expedition, he found the house empty. Anna was gone and there was no trace of her. 

Boris spent years searching for Anna, but never found her. Over the years, both Boris and Anna remarried other people, and had children. But they never forgot about one another.  Boris became a writer and when he wrote his first book, he dedicated it to Anna.

As the years went by, Boris and Anna’s respective spouses passed away. In 2007, Anna, decided to go back to her original home village to visit the house she and Boris lived in after their wedding. Now an elderly woman, she had never forgotten about that magical time with the love of her life. 

In a remarkable twist of fate, the town received another long-lost visitor on that very same day – an 80-year-old man who had come to lay flowers at his parents’ gravestone. Stepping out of his car, he spotted a familiar face across the road - Anna's.   He approached her and they recognised each other. All the feelings that were once there between them came back. The time had done nothing to destroy the bond they had and they fell in love with each other all over again.

 Despite 60 years passing, Anna and Boris got married again. "Since we found each other again, I swear we haven’t had a single quarrel. We’ve been parted for so long and who knows how much is left for us, so we just don’t want to lose time on arguing.”

Isn’t that just amazing?

In Finland, Valentine's Day is called "Ystävänpäivä" which translates into "Friend's day"....a day more about remembering your friends, not only your loved ones.

So..... "Happy Friend's Day!".  I hope this week is good to you all. 

Much love

Cat ♥

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk