British Pearls Boutique Wins An Award

BoBijou, a leading online retailer of Orchira pearl jewellery, announces receipt of the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Interactive Media Award in the “Retail” category for their retail website, which is dedicated to the highest quality standards in the industry and offers luxurious and unique Orchira branded pearl jewellery made exclusively with fine cultured pearls and natural gemstones.

Bobijou.com was given a complete makeover, enhancing the look and functionality of the website while streamlining the integration of the proprietary e-commerce platform, enabling to personalize and enhance the online shopping experience.  Exclusively dedicated to the retail of Orchira branded pearl jewellery in the United Kingdom, 2010 plans include expansion of the pearl jewellery brand portfolio and further international expansion.

The IMA judges evaluate websites based on five criteria: Design, Content, Feature Functionality, Usability and Standards Compliance and Bobijou.com excelled in all areas of the international competition's judging criteria, earning an overall score of 478 out of 500. It is an extremely challenging award to win and represents a very high standard of planning, execution and overall professionalism.

Jennifer Aniston fresh start with Ross, the Dino Geek

What every Rachel Green needs is the clever gift for her geeky friend. Ensuring smooth transition from the friendship zone into the boyfriend heaven. Can it be secured with roughly 3 million year-old dinosaur bone?


It's sure can. Introducing dinosaur bone cufflinks a must have to impress uptight folks at any palaeontologist convention.

Both David Wein and David Yurman options look nice, but it seems that David Yurman missed the dinosaur extinction event amongst fancy banker's bonuses and is charging Tyrannosaurus prices.

Gemstone dealer turned to jewellery design, and why not?

I am buying all kinds of colour gemstones. All day long. All year around. No weekends. Because my job is beautiful and I love it. I couldn’t care less about our jewellery design department, because half of the folks there don't know anything about gems and another half think too much.

But I get worried when my gemstone suppliers turn into jewellery manufacturing. I was worried when I saw Multicolour Gems opened it's fine jewellery store. I thought yeah, right, now where would I get my alexandrites and spinels? Turns out - now they understand my needs better, since they have the same headache as me - keeping goldsmiths and jewellery designs in bay.

And now my other favourite gemstone trader, Multicolour.com announced that they are planning to open a jewellery store. Oh, well. Every gemstone dealer thinks that jewellery is made of gold, when sometimes it's made of wood. Although I must admit, their first jewellery collection is very nice.
Organic contemporary ornaments. Good colour mix and interesting composition. Oh well, maybe now they will understand my needs better too?

Orchira pearl necklaces design thoughts

Orchira Pearl Necklace

Orchira has perfected a method of pearl stringing that has increased its restringing guarantee to eight years. Claimed method, patent pending by the way, involves some kind of sophisticated process of hand-knotting pearls on quadruple stands of Japanese silk.

My guess - it's just a very labour intensive method, which perhaps is suitable for fine pearl jewellery, such as classic pearls necklaces and designer pearl lariats. Not sure if it will be useful for commercial pearls or fashion jewellery. Although, I do like BoBijou pearl necklace designs. Very trendy.

You got pearls

Abalone Pearl by Multicolour.com

I bought this rare and 100% natural Abalone beauty from Multicolour.com for an upcoming pearl jewellery design competition. Imagine the thrill of finding one of these?

The Abalone pearl, with its true scarcity and impending extinction will prove itself the ultimate prize for the knowledgeable and informed collector. Unlike the Oriental Natural, the Akoya pearl, and the South Sea and Tahitian cultured pearls, abalone pearls are not primarily judged by their roundness. Also, unlike other types of pearls, Abalone pearls are not subjected to any type of processing, such as bleaching or buffing. The pearls essentially look the way they look coming directly from the Abalone shell.

Hot September - Sapphire Bespoke Rings

Sapphire jewellery is always hot in September, but this time Fameo latest bespoke designs features hypnotic blue sapphire fine cabochon rings. Very stylish, and nice gemstones too.

Hypnotic Pool - Blue sapphire and white diamond gold ring

One blue sapphire glows around an orbit of light. Sixteen white diamonds adorn a circle of white gold in this beautifully designed fine cabochon sapphire ring.

David Wein Sapphire Ring

Orbit Light - Blue sapphire and white diamond gold ring.

David Wein Sapphire Ring

One blue sapphire glows around an orbit of light. Sixteen white diamonds adorn a circle of white gold in this beautifully designed fine cabochon sapphire ring.
One blue sapphire glows around an orbit of light. Sixteen white diamonds adorn a circle of white gold in this beautifully designed ring.

Beautiful Frog

Various creatures have been part of Fameo’s artistic repertoire since 2004 - the signature line of small animals, designed with colour graded cabochon gemstones to achieve realistic and yet artistic expression of natural beauty. A variety of inventive jewel animals, using non-conventional creatures, such as frogs, gecko’s and snails, accenting on and exploiting the natural features of the animals. Here is the latest Frog Pendant. So cute!

Bridal Jewellery Collection of the Year 2008 Award.

Fameo won the Bridal Jewellery of the Year award, with their two bridal jewellery collections - a unique series of fine jewellery pieces, which includes an ensemble of special heirloom quality bracelets, earrings, necklaces and pendants. Award winning bridal jewellery collections include Imperial Wedding - a mix of cascading peach-colour morganite gemstones accented by princess-cut diamonds and the Tsarina - pearl jewellery range.

The UK Jewellery Awards event took place at the Grovenor House Hotel, Park Lane on Thursday 17th July 2008. A spectacular ceremony hosted by Mica Paris, soul singer and TV presenter, attended by British celebrities and the cream of the international jewellery world. The catwalk event that took place showcased stunning pieces of jewellery and the awards were presented to each winner of the jewellery categories. Retail Jeweller editor Sarah Carpin said: "It was a tremendous evening where we awarded and applauded the very best in our industry".

Other notable winners are:

Azendi - Multiple Retailer of the Year

Stephen Webster - UK Jewellery Brand of the Year
Elizabeth Gage - Lifetime Achievement Award

High-end bridal jewellery 2008 debut collections

Fameo expanded their online offerings to include two high-end bridal jewellery collections - Tsarina and Imperial Wedding, which are finalists in the UK Jewellery Awards 2008 and chosen for the event Catwalk Show.

In 2008 UK Jewellery Awards have decided to spice things up and include a Catwalk Show to really highlight this year's short-listed entrants and Fameo's bridal jewellery collection did not just make it to the shortlist, but also have been chosen to be on the spectacular catwalk that will be taking place during the awards presentation.

The Tsarina collection features the finest quality pearls that are captured inside gold cages and diamonds adorn the egg-shape enclosures. This range is symbolic and designed in mind of Tsarina Alexandra's life, where the pearl represents the last Empress of Russia and the golden cage represents her life in confinement and the diamonds represent her family and what they meant to her.

The Imperial Wedding collection showcases cascading morganite baguettes and princess square diamonds. The stunning pink hues sparkle in wonderment and timeless vibrancy. The concept behind the collection is the thoughts and dreams of the perfect fairy tale wedding. A magnificent dress adorned with elaborate embroidery, a long train and white veil floating past as you walk down the aisle. Stunning jewellery, which compliments the whole look. A crowded ceremonial room full of friends and family. A memorable event that will last a lifetime, as heirloom jewellery pieces.

Mueda aquamarine jewellery

David Wein has launched a new fine jewellery line, centred around Mueda aquamarine gemstones. Named after the largest town of the Makonde Plateau in north-east Mozambique, Mueda aquamarine has a unique natural sea-green colour and unlike most aquamarines on the market is not heat treated or irradiated to produce the desired and permanent appearance.

Found only in selected pocket of Makonde Plateau, the colour of the gemstone is suggestive of a hint of tropical lagoons. This gemstone is rare and limited exploration makes the Mueda aquamarine jewellery a valuable and desirable collectors piece.

David Wein designers produced range of exceptional designs to celebrate the beauty of the mermaid's stone where a stylish grandeur manifests itself through emerald cut Mueda aquamarines and marquise diamonds.

Demand for high end in the UK is rising and it seems that David Wein working hard to launch more fine jewellery lines this year featuring coloured gemstones.