In the Pink

My most recent purchase has been a joyful addition to my wardrobe in this gloomy month of February: This absolutely gorgeous silk shirt from 3.1 Phillip Lim. It is the most beautiful pink, a proper saturated unabashed 'rose bonbon', the kind of colour I longed to wear as a skinny shorthaired tomboy growing up in womens-lib 70's Oslo. And now that I can do whatever I like... well, I like to frolic in it and add a pair of fuchsia ruby earrings. Because I can!

The earrings are my own dormeuse design, featuring faceted pear briolettes of hot pink rubies, wrapped in 14k gold-fill wire and suspended from 14k gold-fill hooks. Price: £36.

Vibrant Lapis

In this often gloomy month of January I like brightening up an outfit with a pop of colour, and these lovely little 'onion' briolettes of royal blue Lapis Lazuli are exceedingly flattering. They are small and perfectly formed, faceted to catch the light and best of all - they have inclusions of sparkling bronze-coloured Pyrite (fool's gold). This pair can be worn two ways: Either long and dangling to accentuate the neck, or short and neat near the earlobe. The Lapis briolettes swing from fine 14K gold-fill chains attached to ornate gold vermeil studs.

Price: £42.

Amethyst & Moonstone Tassel Earrings

The tassel earring is one of my favourite designs, I particularly like the way small briolettes look when there are lots and lots of them together - it's the added texture that does it for me.




Here is a pair of tassels combining pale Lavender Amethyst, Moss Amethyst (these are shot through with dark 'needles', which I find quite captivating) and Moonstone. I've bathed them in oxidising fluid to darken the silver and create extra depth in the colours. Pretty in daytime, mesmerising at night.

Lavender Amethyst Dormeuses

I confess to having indulged in a little bit of alchemy lately, having discovered how to turn silver charcoal-black. I love the contrast between black silver and pale translucent gemstones, such as this pair of lovely Lavender Amethysts which really sparkle against their dark matte setting.

Vanessa Paradis - Coco, l'Esprit de Chanel

One of my all-time favourite ads, I love Vanessa Paradis as the exotic bird in a guilded cage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGtmjZ9Yuj0&feature=related

Champagne Citrine Dormeuses

Nothing is like a pair of sparkling "dormeuses" to liven up a plain outfit on a boring day. These are made from faceted pear briolettes of Champagne Citrine encased in gold-fill wire and suspended from gold-fill hooks. Like a drop of honey falling from each earlobe...

Chalcedony

Chalcedony is cryptocrystalline quartz with a wax-like lustre which occurs in almost any colour of the rainbow. Should be protected from scratches, sharp blows, harsh chemicals and extreme temperatures.

The Romans prized chalcedony carved into seals, and the Victorians wore finely carved cameos and intaglios. Chalcedony was used in Renaissance magic for health and safety.

Chalcedony is found in many parts of the world, but the most prized Chalcedony are from India, Madagascar, Burma, Brazil, Mexico & USA.