Antique Diamond Cluster Ring

It is December and we are finding ourselves in glittery and sparkling outfits, that during the rest of the year would be seen to be a little OTT but now is just right!  So I thought that it was time to revel in all this extravagance and this Georgian style diamond cluster ring is the perfect place to start:

Georgian Style Diamond Cluster Ring at Richard Ogden

So I didn’t used to be in to cluster rings, I suppose coming from Sweden/Finland where there is a great appreciation for clean and simple designs, cluster rings were never a consideration for me.  However, having seen so many beautiful Victorian and Georgian rings here in England, and seeing what a beautiful part in the history of jewellery design they are, I now absolutely adore them and always enjoy viewing them when one comes around the shop.  There is such a romantic look around a really beautifully set diamond cluster ring and the one that I have hijacked for this post is a perfect example: 

Georgian style diamond cluster ring in a cut down setting

This is a Georgian style diamond cluster ring set with a cushion cut centre diamond.  This beautiful cushion is surrounded by old brilliant cut diamonds and it is all set in a Georgian style cut down setting in 18ct white gold, with the shank of the ring mounted in 18ct yellow gold.
Let’s take a closer look at what this actually means: first of all the Cushion Cut is in my eyes the most romantic cut of diamond that there is and it makes a wonderful choice for an engagement ring.  It has a soft and subtle sparkle to it, which (and I know that I have mentioned this before) is best viewed in candle light where the brilliance comes to its own right when the flames are reflected in the facets of the diamond.

Victorian Style Diamond Cluster Ring at Richard Ogden

As for the Georgian cut down setting: this is a different style to what we are used to seeing in contemporary designs, as today quite often diamonds are held in place with gold or platinum claws, however here you can see how the white gold surrounds the diamonds in a very period typical design.  In order to bring out the whiteness in the diamonds the white gold is closest to the stones, whereas the yellow gold makes up the shank, which I think is the ideal design for a classic cluster ring.

The ring is beautifully finished off with fleur de lis design shoulders, which you can see quite nicely in the photo below:

Fleur de Lis design shoulders

This ring was made up by one of the most wonderful craftsmen that I have met here in London, who specialises in Georgian and Victorian designs, and it is just a joy to see all the amazing designs that he comes up with, often using old cut diamonds.  I hope you enjoyed this just as much as I did, I would love to hear your thoughts below!

 

Ruby and Diamond Rings

Oh I do hope things are well with you dear!  At my end it has been busy times indeed but all great fun.  The shop is gearing up for Christmas and the Christmas Catalogue has been taking up a lot of time lately but it looks so amazing now, yei!  We have a little helper in the shop at the moment, Suki, who is clearly taking her job very seriously:

Boss Lady

I was helping a customer the other day with choosing an engagement ring and it is always fun when someone goes for a different stone than a diamond.  I was showing them these two beauties:

Ruby and Diamond engagement rings at Richard Ogden

The left one is a Ruby and Diamond Cluster Ring in an Art Deco style, which I find is very popular at the moment.  The right one is a Ruby and Diamond Target Ring and just the most fabulous design – it gets a lot of attention from those who want something classic but still different.

Ruby and Diamond engagement ring at Richard Ogden

The ruby and diamond cluster ring is also referred to as a Halo Ring, where the diamonds surround the centre stone like that.  It is especially lovely when the guy has taken the girl’s birthstone into consideration (for those who are lucky enough to have a strong enough stone as their birthstone that is – my Amethyst for February sure wouldn’t make a great one as it is far too soft!)

The July-born ones are very lucky to have the Ruby as their stone – and the September Sapphire is another great one.  Emeralds in May are a bit softer and might not be the best choice, because if you accidentally hit it against something in the wrong place you might be looking at a mighty fine crack all across the stone.  However, as I think I have mentioned before, some people look after their jewellery very well and I know someone who has worn the soft aquamarine for 30 years without any damage to it!

Ruby and Diamond Target Ring, Engagement Ring, Richard Ogden

This Target Ring is so special and you won’t find another one in many places (except a sapphire one that we also have at the shop!) because they are made by this one craftsman who isn’t creating any more of them at the moment.

So there we are, I so love going to work and helping people find their dream jewellery – there are so many beautiful designs out there for us to enjoy!

Well Diamonds Sure Are a Girl’s Best Friend

Hello dearest, I know that I haven’t written in a long time but things have been pretty hectic all around – and you can always follow me on the Decades of Elegance Instagram page, as that one definitely gets updated on a regular basis!  Now let me take you for a quick spin at the antique jewellery shop to show you what I have been up to lately:

Oh you know, just another week at work, trying on a pair of Diamond Drop Earrings from Moira Fine Jewellery

In the photo above I was trying on a pair of antique-style diamond drop earrings from Moira Fine Jewellery.  The earrings are a “bow and swag design” and they feature old cut and rose cut diamonds and the stones are mounted in silver upon gold.  This was a key feature of the Victorian era, as it made the diamonds face up whiter than they would if mounted in yellow gold.

Floral Diamond Earrings from Richard Ogden

One of the things that has been taking up my time is measuring diamond weight – and yes, the calculator above gets more attention that any of the pieces of jewellery in the shop!

Floral Diamond Earrings from Richard Ogden

Diamonds are measured in carats, and one carat equals 0.2 grams – in other words five carats would weigh 1 gram.  So whenever I do valuations for insurance at the jewellery shop I will count all the diamonds in a piece and measure their size in order to determine their value.  In the photo above you can see the metal thingy that is used for determining the size of very small diamonds – I just always forget what the little tool is called – stencil?!

Diamond Bracelet 

Art Deco Diamond Bracelet at Richard Ogden

And just to finish off the post: a couple of breathtaking Art Deco diamond bracelets, definitely something to keep dreaming about.  I know that these would both go so beautifully with all outfits in my wardrobe..!

A Belle Epoque Diamond Tiara to die for…

Oh you guys, I just had to share this photo with you – I am at Richard Ogden, trying on a Belle Epoque diamond set tiara which is just insanely beautiful!

Diamond Tiara Belle Epoque from Richard Ogden, Burlington Arcade

The Belle Epoque stretched from circa 1895 to 1914 and ran alongside Art Nouveau.  In this tiara the brilliant cut diamonds are set in yellow gold, and it features the time-typical romantic design, which was lavish yet delicate with diamonds taking centre stage.

I have also just found out that brides can hire this tiara for their wedding (£200+VAT) and really feel like a princess for a day – boom!

A Divine Art Deco-Style Diamond Ring

Art Deco-Style Diamond Engagement Ring at Richard Ogden

Oh I have such a crush on this ring and just had to share it with you guys!  It is an Art Deco-style ring here at Richard Ogden, with a centre diamond that weighs approximately 1.50 carats and is surrounded by brilliant and trillion cut diamonds – the trillion cut diamonds are the triangular ones that you can see on either side of the centre diamond.

Art Deco-Style Diamond Engagement Ring at Richard Ogden

In the photo above you can see around the small top diamond a millegrain edge – one of my favourite features in antique jewellery!  Millegrain is when the craftsman creates small beads out of the gold, that then run along the edges of the jewellery.  I love how it gives a piece such lovely character by softening the lines and adding some subtle sparkle to the design.

Art Deco-Style Diamond Engagement Ring at Richard Ogden

So there we are, a bit of Monday sparkle to kick off this wonderful week ahead!

Weddings at Irene Country Lodge, South Africa

Good morning sweetheart, I hope you have had a lovely week so far.  Mine has been just wonderful, and very busy, which is why our Monday-post is now a Wednesday-post!  It is however one of my favourite posts to write until this very day, as we are visiting the divine Irene Country Lodge in South Africa:

The view that greets you as you enter the coutryard of Irene Country Lodge – the weddings are held at the far end in this photo, with a view of the lake ahead

You might remember that we briefly popped by the Lodge in last week’s post Wedding Fair at the Irene Country Lodge, and today we are looking closer at what the Lodge itself has to offer our lovely bridal couples:

We just loved the decorations here – just look at the hay bales on the left, so romantic…

With a peaceful and tranquil view of the lake in the background this is such a beautiful setting for a wedding ceremony 

My mum loved how the chairs had been decorated: with just a simple piece of fabric in your favourite colour the whole venue is transformed!

What a beautiful place for a wedding!  The guests will be overlooking this lovely lake and the meadows that surround the Lodge and we just loved how the venue had been decorated.  My mum got a lot of inspiration from the bows on the chairs, that really changed the look of the whole venue.  All you need to do is add the ribbons to the chairs closest to the isle – or to a few randomly selected chairs, to create a beautiful setting like the one above.

With Irene Farm just a short walk away, beautiful details that bring our thoughts to the farm are to be found in the most elegant and subtle details  

The Lodge is in close cooperation with The Irene Dairy Farm, which is just a few minutes walk away, and a place that we will visit in a future post.  This is reflected in the loveliest little details, like the hay bales in a photo a little further down:

One of their ideas for decorating the wedding tables 

Pearls, roses and and candleholders

Wedding table at Irene Country Lodge

Sweet little reminders of the adjoining Irene Farm

You can find out more about weddings at Irene Country Lodge by clicking here.

The wedding ceremony venue is overlooking one of the most beautiful lakes in Gauteng with the lovely meadow in the background

We had the pleasure of trying the Presidential Suite at the Lodge, and I can so warmly recommend a night there for the newly weds (and anyone else who wants to stay in the most luxurious hotel room!).  Before I had seen the suite, a friend told me that staying there feels like being in the jungle, and I completely understand what they meant!  The balcony opens up to a hidden away Camdeboo forest and offers the most serene setting for a relaxing morning coffee or chilled lunch:

A view of the balcony in the Camdeboo Forest

… and the hotel room is just so beautiful, with the tallest ceilings, wonderful underfloor heating in the luxurious bathroom, and your own kitchen and drawing room area:

The beautiful bedroom…

The kitchen and sitting room at the Presidential Suite at Irene Country Lodge

So, there we are good folks, a wonderful visit to Irene Country Lodge which is now my favourite place on earth.  I haven’t even mentioned the food there, and that was one of my absolute favourite parts of the stay!  We had scrumptious breakfasts in the restaurant where the chef was making us omelettes, scrambled eggs and pancakes to our hearts’ content – not to mention all the fresh fruit and juices.  The Library Bar saw far too much of us in the evenings, where we snacked away on sharing platters of hams and cheeses and had delicious cocktails and several bottles of bubbles!

My divine breakfast at the Lodge

Oh an I will take you to their glorious Camdeboo Spa next time…

The Camdeboo Day Spa at Irene Country Lodge

Wedding Fair at the Irene Country Lodge

Hello my lovely and welcome back to the blog after three long weeks!  I have had the most wonderful time in South Africa and seen so many beautiful things that I want to share with you, so let’s start straight away:

A view of the restaurant at the back of Irene Country Lodge, with the lake in the background

We stayed in a small town outside Pretoria called Irene, at Irene Country Lodge.  I would move into this hotel forever if I could – it is the most amazing place that I have every stayed at, and so many of my friends said the same thing.  We were served the most delicious food (a breakfast buffet to die for every morning); the rooms were big and spacious with glorious lake views and chickens roaming around freely on the grounds; not to mention their heavenly Camdeboo Spa where I spent far too many hours!

We will look closer at all of these, but first I want to invite you to the Wedding Fair that took place at the Lodge on 27th April:

Absolutely adore this Wedding Cheese Cake from The Cheese Cake

Nothing has been overlooked, and the cakes are accompanied by seasonal fruits, breads, crackers, jams and chutneys

Beautiful displays of the scrumptious selections 

Cranberry and cheese – one of my favourite combinations – and we love the display with the cheese dome and sign here

Beautifully presented Wedding Cheese Cakes from The Cheese Cake, where they have a sea of different cheese cake options for you wedding.  We are loving the presentation and the little quirky details that make it so special – and that will have your guests reminiscing for years to come!

Just a few of the beautiful dresses that you can find at Diamond Love Bridal Couture

Diamond Love Bridal Couture at the Irene Country Lodge Wedding Fair

Some lovely beadwork and beautiful fabric on this wedding dress

It is all about the lace and the pearls my friend

We also had a quick chat with the lady running Diamond Love Bridal Couture, and found out that they are an exclusive bridal boutique store elegant wedding dresses and accessories – stocking all the beautiful brands, like Enzoani, Kitty Chen Couture and Ivoire Los Angeles.

A retro VW van from All About Photography

Hats, wigs, umbrellas… everything you could possibly think of to make the wedding photos as fun as possible!

We then very much enjoyed meeting the guys behind All About Photography, who supply your wedding with an old VW van that caters as a retro photo booth!  They also had all kinds of wonderful props that you can use to make the pictures funny and crazy – I have seen these at weddings before, and believe me, after a few glasses of wine those photos get very interesting!  Such a wonderful idea though and if you are planning a wedding I do recommend checking these guys out for some unforgettable photos!

Okay we have some more stalls to visit, so I will save that until Wednesday… hopefully this gave you some ideas, for those of you who are planning weddings over in Pretoria!

Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture at the Vintage Wedding Fair

 

Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture at the Vintage Wedding Fair

All you lovely brides to be who are thirsting for a vintage-style wedding dress would have LOVED Kate Edmondson’s stand at the Vintage Wedding Fair!  My friends and I were helplessly drawn to these stunning silk and lace creations – one more beautiful than the other:

Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture at the Vintage Wedding Fair

 

Kate makes vintage inspired bespoke wedding dresses and accessories and is based here in London.  We just loved the elegant lines, often with an air of the 30s, that characterise her designs – you can see some fabulous examples above.

Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture at the Vintage Wedding Fair

Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture at the Vintage Wedding Fair

And here on the blog we know that it is all in the details, so take a closer look at the beadwork above (my apologies for the slightly blurry photo!).

Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture – heavenly accessories

Hairpieces and veils 

I loved her whole setup at the fair – with the lovely dressing table mirrors you can just imagine how you would be applying your makeup on your wedding day, before putting on your veil and jewellery.  The pearls add some old Hollywood glamour and I don’t know how I would have been able to choose between the different headpieces!

Kate Edmondson Bridal Couture – and more veils… 

Hopefully this gives you some fabulous inspiration dear – whether you have a wedding date coming up soon, or if it is just for future inspiration (which a girl can never get too much of I say!)

You can find Kate Edmondson’s website here.

Coral & Slate – Bespoke Wedding Stationery at the Vintage Wedding Fair

At the Vintage Wedding Fair in Chiswick we ran into a stand all dressed up to the nines in beautiful wedding stationery  – Coral & Slate:

Coral & Slate  – bespoke wedding stationery at the Vintage Wedding Fair

Even someone who thought that they would just go for flowers and fairy lights in terms of decorations at their wedding, will have a second think when they see these lovely table plans, menus, napkin holders…!  You can make everything so special and your own, by including your favourite flowers, wordings and poems – just look at that sweet little poem above to the right!

We love all the personalised details at this sweet little table – a recurring theme throughout with the frame around the text and the same font across the board brings it all together nicely – there is even a personalised candle with the couple’s names on!

You can make the tables very special to each guest by having designed name tags and maybe little booklets with a bit of information about all the guests: “Went to university with Bryan the Groom and is a mean Miniature Golf player!”  Those little notes always open up for interesting conversations between guests who meet for the first time.

Beautiful invitations and RSVP cards from Coral and Slate…

So if you are looking for bespoke wedding stationery then you really must take a closer look at Coral and Slate.  The founder, Kate Sargent, is so passionate about making the wedding absolutely perfect for the couple and she will work closely with you to get your design just right.  If you are not quite sure what Your Design looks like yet, just have a browse around her website: Coral & Slate – and get some fabulous inspiration from the existing templates.

Bespoke wedding stationery is also the perfect detail for anyone who is going for a vintage-style wedding because even just using a font that reminds us of the 50s puts a whole new spin on the look of your wedding!

Rachelle’s Beautiful Bespoke Cakes at the Vintage Wedding Fair

Rachelle’s Wedding Cake Heaven….

So I visited the Vintage Wedding Fair in Chiswick and the first stand that I reached was Rachelle’s Beautiful Bespoke Cakes, that looked more like works of art to me.  Rachelle specialises in making bespoke cakes for weddings, and we can see here that her creations span wedding cakes, cupcakes and macaroons.  She will also design beautiful cookies for you if that is your preference, and you have to check out the sweetest Mini Cakes on her website!

The sweetest collection of cupcakes for those who want to venture away from the traditional wedding cake – or you can always have these on the side!

Rachelle works very closely with you to make sure that you get exactly the designs that you want to for your wedding day and you can find Rachelle’s website here.

Romantic Macaroons for the dessert table…

And below is the brooch inspiration for today:

Vintage silver and marcasite brooch worn with a white and gold scarf

A close up of this lovely vintage brooch

I thought that this look was suitable for the vintage wedding fair, and adding a brooch to a scarf that you have had forever is the perfect way to make it feel brand new again!