Thursday 20 February 2014

TALITHA


This iconic picture taken of the society model Talitha Getty by Lord Patrick Lichfield circa 1970 was the inspiration for the Talitha collection. Reminiscent of Moroccan or Persian patterns seen in decorative architecture the motif is like a quatrefoil ‘stylised four sided flower’ an very loved  shape seen in much Medieval architecture all over Europe too – Delicate and intricate.
 
 

Tuesday 3 December 2013

As Seen On...

Wave Hoops in 22k Gold
 
 
The Fabulous Jessie J wearing a pair of my newly released XL Wave Hoops in 22k Gold Vermeil and matching Wave Chain Bracelet. While I was re-designing the wave hoops I inspired by the sheer size of hoop earrings that Jessie J wears and I wanted to create the largest hoop I could without making the piece too heavy to wear everyday, so in the office they have always been referred to as the 'Jessie J' hoops.
 
 
 
Nicole Scherzinger has been a fan of my jewellery for a few years now and this is the second appearance my Almaz Hoops have had on The X Factor in 12 months. Nicole also wore a stack of my wave bangles in sterling silver which looked so chic!


Thursday 7 November 2013

Topaz - Symbol of Loyalty and Friendship


The Topaz represents November as its birthstone, the word 'Topaz' originates from the Sanskrit word meaning 'Fire' and was thought to be able to control heat - having the power to cool boiling water. In ancient lore, people also used the stone as medication to cure fever.


Topaz Mineral can be found in many regions of the world such as Brazil, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Africa but certain colours are mined in specific locations. For instance, yellow shades of topaz can be found in Germany, Blue in Brazil and also in Texas and pink hue's in Sri Lanka.


A 'pure' topaz itself is a colourless stone, but can also be found in variety of light shades of yellow, pink, red, pale green, brown and even black! The most valuable colour is a golden orange - yellow type called an 'Imperial Topaz'.


Selection of Imperial Topaz



Blue Topaz does occur naturally, but it is extremely rare and almost always lightly colour. Most if not all blue Topaz used in jewellery has been irradiated and heat treated to artificially create the blue colour. The original stones are colourless or lightly coloured, and the radiation process gives them their deep sky-blue colours. In a few rare circumstances, some forms of blue Topaz tend to slightly fade in exposure to sunlight after extended periods of time.


It has not been until the last century that blue topaz has become so widespread in gem market due to the introduction of irradiated and heat treated gemstones.  Untreated coloured topaz can be unstable and fade in colour (Siberian brown topaz's are known for being bleached by the sunlight.) 




This is a selection of our current AW13 and SS14 Anniversary collection and 3 stone rings and set in 14k gold.

I love to use topaz in my designs, lately I have been using a wide variety of shades of Blue Topaz, my favourite being the rich London Blue that I featured in the launch of the Anniversary Collection this year.




Monday 21 October 2013

Dinny's Jewellery TLC tips


 A little guide all about the precious metals we use ....

Platinum
The king of metals! Platinum will not oxidise at any temperature meaning it will not tarnish. Platinum is most commonly sourced from South Africa which produces 80% of the world's supply - although it can also be found on the MOON, it is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust! Without a valid hallmark no expert could tell the difference between platinum and white gold with a rhodium plate.

Platinum Hallmarks

850
900
950
999




White Gold
The raw colour of white gold is a gun metal shade and so most jewellers give it a rhodium plate (which is in platinum family) in order to attain its characteristic shiny cool white colour. It is tough and holds gemstones well but please note that all white gold products should be re-plated from time to time as the polish can get dull looking after much wear and tear.



Yellow Gold
The pure colour of gold is a bright yellow colour that keeps its luster as it does not tarnish in air or water so it needs little aftercare as it remains shiny and tough over time, although do be careful when using chemicals to avoid daily abrasions. No real need to clean or re-polish  over time - that's why we jewellers love using it so much. Carat is a unit of purity which is used to measure the pureness of gold alloys. Yellow Gold is usually mixed with copper (red hue) and silver (green hue) alloys to give the precious metal its signature warmth.

Gold Hallmark
585 - 14k - 58% pure gold
750 - 18k - 75% pure gold
916 - 22k - 91% pure gold
999 - 24k - purest gold



Rose gold
It is formed from gold and copper so there is no such thing as 'pure rose gold'. The colour differs the copper content in the metal - the more copper - the redder in colour the gold will be. Over the past year or so I have been producing more and more collections in rose gold and rose gold vermeil as I love the pink tones in the gold and copper alloy mix.


Gold Vermeil
Vermeil originates from a French word, meaning silver that is plated with a sufficiently thick layer of gold. For an item to be considered vermeil it must be coated in at least 10 carat gold and be 2.5 micrometers thick. Dust gold plated jewellery with a soft cloth or wash in warm soapy water, rinse and pat in gently dry. The original fire-guilding process of created a vermeil piece was banned in France in the 18th Century when artisans reported they had gone blind from using mercury in the process, nowadays we use electrolysis which is a very safe procedure.


Silver
A warm white loveable metal, which is very malleable but when worn is not so tough as gold, it doesn't hold gems well unless it has a chunky setting. Over time silver oxides and can go some odd shades under some particular conditions. Keep clean using silver dip or a silver polish cloth. Don't expect fine silver chains to last a lifetime!

Silver Hallmark

800
925
958
999


Shop our 14k and 18k Gold, Gold Vermeil, Rose Gold Vermeil and sterling silver.
 
 

Monday 7 October 2013

October Opals



The Opal is Octobers traditional birthstone and also considered to be the Zodiac star sign Libra's birthstone symbolising love, hope and purity and sometimes associated with the sign of Scorpio too.


 Opals are mostly found in Australia, which produces 97% of the world's supply and has the gemstone as their national stone, but deposits can also be found in Mexico and South America too.  
Opal is a very unique gemstone, most commonly found in 'white' and are famous for their play of colours and flashing hues of the rainbow. The iridescent effect is due to the interference of light from the presence of thousands of tiny little scales. I don't use Opals very often in my own designs but I wish I could. I find them extremely beautiful and at times mesmerising; a truly exciting and mysterious gemstone.
 


The 'bad luck' myth is the result of centuries of misinformation, superstition, wives' tales, and jealous diamond traders spreading rumours which as a result dramatically reduced the value of opals in the 1800's. This myth is said to have started by Sir Walter Scott when he published his novel "Anne of Geierstein" in which he used an opal to reflect the changing fortunes of the herion and amazingly this myth started by book critics so long ago still exists today.


You can find black and fire opals too, black opals still obtain the famous iridescent quality of the stone having a deep black base with an intense blue, where as in a fire opal there is no play in light except for the fact that there looks as if there is an inner brilliance of flame orange coming from within the stone. Top quality black opals can be worth more per carat the diamonds.



Care tip - Opals are known as a soft stone, so wear with care and although it is true that chemicals can harm them it is a total myth that if you place you opal jewellery in a damp environment whilst you aren't wearing the pieces the stones won't crack - Australian Opals are actually non-pourous and can't soak up any water, oil or anything other substance, unlike doublet and triplet opals that are non solid and water will damage these stones.



The Andamooka Opal


Queen Elizabeth was presented with the magnificent gift on March 23rd in 1954 on the occasion of her first visit to South Australia. This was an opal weighing 203 carats found at the Andamooka Opal Fields, west of Oodnadatta in 1949. It is said to be the finest-quality opal ever found in the Andamooka Fields, partly because of its extraordinary size, but also because of the intensity of the fire and the flashes of colour in the stone. The opal was then set in a palladium and diamond scrollwork necklace - doesn't she look absolutely stunning in the set!





 

Tuesday 1 October 2013

V and A 80's Exhibition




The V and A's Club to Catwalk - 80's Fashion Exhibition is running until Feburary 2014.


I started my jewellery career during the height of the New Romantic era, this exhibition is bringing all those heady memories back!
For me the 80's was a time for experimenting with boundaries - playing with scale and unusual materials such as leather and wood or 'lace bobbins' which appeared in the form of earrings on the cover of Elle Magazine on none other then Christie Turlington.

I created pieces for the catwalks shows in New York and London for the best designer of the time - Rifat Ozbek. Seeing my creations being worn by such beautiful people was so exciting for me at such an early stage in my jewellery career.

What the 80's meant to me.
  
What was your fashion highlight in the 80's? Hands down my favourite 80's Fashion moment was going to NYC to do the jewellery for the Isaac Mizarahi show and meeting Christie Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford after the show! I was so lucky to be able to go to New York during such an exciting time in fashion history, but high up on my list must be wearing my very first Azzedine Alaia outfit.

 

What was the best catwalk show you designed for? For me the 80's are an extremely remembable time for my catwalk designs for Rifat Ozbek, I still adore all the jewellery that I designed for him, all of his shows were so distinct and strong. – all of them. He inspired me to come up with ideas which I would not have though of otherwise. One of the most striking are the huge brass cuffs which I now use as candle shades as they give off such pretty light.

 
 
Your favourite piece you designed? Well I absolutely loved creating wild and wonderful earrings, I suppose earrings are my favourite item to design!

 
What did the 80's mean to you? All about ideas, creativity, innovation, freedom to express and mixing with the most creative people I have ever known but in a world which was changing irreversibly towards a money driven, big brands.

 
Whats your most memorable time during the 80's? Probably hanging out with Sam Mac Knight and having my own studio in Soho in Beak St (which had once been Canalettos studio!) I had such fun but I was working head - I had my jewellery selling in Liberty and Harvey Nichols in London and in Barneys and Bergdorfs in New York.
 
 
What was your favourite trend? My favourite fashion look of the decade must be Azzedine Alaia bodycon dresses, panelled and cut to perfection.
 
 
 
My Jewellery is now stocked in the V and A shop in the Jewellery Department!
 
 

Friday 20 September 2013

Dinny's favourite LFW looks!

 
 
As the mad rush of London Fashion Weeks is swiftly over the city is still alive with the buzz left as the swarm of designers, models, editors and bloggers fly off to Milan!
 
Monochrome is one of my favourite looks as its so classic. I love wearing a mix of silver and gold vermeil pieces with this trend! I think the Almaz Collection is a fantastic collection to wear with monochrome as the defined shapes keep in uniform with the moderness of the look.
 
Looks by Joao Melo Costa, Paul Smith, Christopher Kane
 
 
 
My other favourite trend was the feminine pastel tones that were showcased in nearly every designer's collection. The nude and sugary pink tones just melted my heart and filled up my SS14 designer wishlist! 
 
Looks by Antonia Berardi, Peter Piliotto, Matthew Williamson
 
All these nude and pastel tones got me so excited as the new SS14 colours of the Anniversary Collection samples have just arrived and I couldn't wait to show you.
 
 
Exclusive look at the SS14 colour of the Amelie Earrings and the Shai Rings

 
 
Follow me on Instagram @dinnyhalljewellery for more exclusive photos and updates on the new collections! 

Monday 9 September 2013

September Sapphire

Dinny Hall purple and Cornflower Blue Sapphire (from Sri Lanka) Stacking Rings with a Rose Cut Diamond 
and Eternity Rings.


Sapphires are my favourite gemstones  we sell more of them than any other precious gemstone. 
The gemstone can come in nearly any colour under the sun, but is most commonly found in shades of blue. Although Sapphires can be heat treated to enchance their natural colour. Padparadscha Sapphires are an incredible Orange/Pink, this colour is very rare as it's like nothing else. Most people don't know that a Ruby is the same mineral as a Sapphire but contains Chromium in the stone making it a different gem from a Sapphire.


I've mostly used Sapphires in my engagement ring designs, although I would love to use them much more, so watch out for more designs. 


Sapphire's are mined mostly in Madagascar, Sri Lanka and Burma and unlike many other coloured gemstones are hard enough to wear everyday for a lifetime as it is the second hardest natural material on the planet. There is a place in Australia named 'Sapphire' after it's local sapphire mine, where the gem's they tend to mine are in the darker colour's which I think are better suited to the men. 


Sapphire's from Kashmir, India are extremely rare and expensive, and are known for their highly saturated violet-blue colour and 'velvety' transparency which is caused by the presence of 'silk' in the stones. Kashmir Sapphire's were first discovered when a landslide revealed large blue crystals in the Earth. Due to extensive mining of Kashmir Sapphire's in the 1880's, Sapphire's from this area haven't been mined in over a Century making them very sought after and rarely available for sale, their extreme rarity gives these stone's a nearly mythical reputation. 



Hill's Kashmir Sapphire


The famous 22.66-carat Kashmir blue sapphire is an unnamed blue sapphire that once belonged to the family of the railroad magnate James J. Hill, and was used as the centerpiece of a pendant to a diamond and sapphire encrusted necklace consisting of 36 other gemstones. The piece was kept in Hill's family from 1886 when James gave it to his wife as a present until 2006 when it was donated to the Minnesota Historical Society. The necklace set a new world record for price per carat AND whole stone when it was sold in Christie's, New York in 2007. 





Thursday 28 March 2013

Happy Holi - the Hindu Festival of Spring!


Holi powdered colours
 
Amrapali's London store on Beauchamp Place

Last night the Dinny Hall girls headed to Amrapali’s beautiful Beauchamp Place store to celebrate Holi, the Spring festival when people throw coloured poders over each other as well as Amrapali's new Autumn/Winter 13/14 collections. We were greeted by the gorgeous Anjali who gave us all bindis of brightly coloured powder to celebrate spring before showing us around the collections and letting us try on anything we wanted! And didn’t we have a good time…


Our lovely Finola getting into the Spring mood with her bindi of orange and pink powders



Babs wearing Amrapali's incredible Gazelle Temple Necklace, which she teamed with her beloved Dinnh Hall Talitha Statement earrings


In the meantime...Just look at these!



...Amelie and Shakira wearing the Panther and Gazelle rings from the Manish Arora collection, which are available exclusivelly from Dinny Hall in Liberty!

We could have stayed there all night trying on piece after stunning piece, but alas we are back in store today. I guess we’ll just have to cheer ourselves up by looking forward to the new Dinny Hall-Amrapali collaborative designswhich will be in stores in the Summer. Here's a sneak preview from Dinny's sketchbook:
Dinny Hall-Amrapali Maharani collection

Dinny Hall-Amrapali Jaisalmer collection

One item we were all sad to leave behind was the Jewelled Collar with the gorgeous enamel, green oxyx and incredible holographic crystals. We would love to see this in one of our stores! Watch this space…