DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

Congratulations to beautiful couple Phil and Victoria, who were married on a beautiful day this summer in Dorset.

Victoria's bespoke trilogy engagement ring features a stunning white oval diamond and two sparkling trillion cut diamonds, set in platinum with a yellow gold band.

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.

BESPOKE JEWELLEY: AQUAMARINE AND DIAMONDS

This special ring was custom made for a lovely couple with a sea-blue aquamarine and diamonds, in platinum and 18ct yellow gold.

Aquamarine in Latin means " "water of the sea" and according to legend, aquamarines were used by mermaids to keep sailors safe at sea.

Aquamarine is the birthstone for March.




Details: 0.68ct oval-cut aquamarine centre with white diamonds, in platinum and 18ct yellow gold.

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

 

 

 

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

FIFTY SHADES.....

Congratulations to Eddie and Vicky on their engagement with this stunning Tahitian pearl and diamond ring - a combination of soft lines and strong geometric form.

Tahitian Pearls are made by the black-lipped Oyster, indigenous to the South Sea Islands. Wildly iridescent and mystical, these one-of-a-kind pearls come in a variety of metallic colours - peacock, graphite, aubergine, dark green, olive green, blue, grey - and can be twice the size of the classic white Japanese Akoya.

Details: Tahitian pearl centre with 12 channel set white diamonds, in palladium.

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.

CATHERINE BUDD JEWELLERY SHORTLISTED AS BJA NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR 2013

As Catherine Budd Jewellery nears its first year in the retail market, further celebration is in the air after being short-listed for “Newcomer of the Year 2013” by the British Jewellers Association. 

 

2013 has been a big year for Catherine Budd Jewellery since launching at the Jewellery Show in February this year. Catherine's jewellery collections, made using sterling silver and gold vermeil, as well as 18ct gold, diamonds and coloured gemstones has so far lead her to being 'Designer of Excellence' finalist 2013 at the Jewellery Show, chosen as one of 7 designers to be part of the Houlden Groups 'Designs of Excellence' touring collection, selected as a 'KickStarter' at International Jewellery London 2013 and the most recent 'Newcomer of the Year 2013' finalist by the British Jewellers Association.

 

CLOVER COLLECTION

 

 

“While it is a huge shame to confirm to BJA members that they didn’t make the shortlist this year, we must applaud those who came through a very rigorous vetting process to make it through to the final stages,” said Simon Rainer, BJA Chief Executive.

 

Members of the British Jewellers Association and trade can vote for Catherine HERE.

 

The awards ceremony takes place on 5 December 2013 2012 at the annual Ball where the jewellery industry comes together to celebrate the years achievements.

 

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk