Better late than never...

So I meant to write this post last week to coincide with London Jewellery Week, but things got in the way and it's a bit late now, but let's just pretend it's this time last week! I had the idea of gathering images of jewellery I love by designers past and present, they are mainly pieces of incredibly expensive and amazing fine jewellery or vintage one of a kind pieces I have come across. So here they are...

The first image is a pair of earrings which belonged to Elizabeth Taylor. Famous for her love of jewellery, she saw a pair of earrings in Paris which her then husband Mike Todd bought for her. They were just costume jewellery but she didn't care as she loved them so much. Unbeknownst to her, Mike took the earrings and had them replicated in diamonds, she didn't realise until she went to put them on one evening and said they felt slightly different! Sadly Mike died not long after they were married, and so began Elizabeth's multiple marriages and jewellery purchases...

The other images are as follows:

Cartier Love Bracelet. Designed in 1969 the bracelet is famous for it's resemblance to a chastity belt, and can only be opened with a tiny screwdriver. 

Stephen Webster 'Poison Apple Ring'. It opens!

Art Nouveau 'Birth of Venus' Pendant, c 1900

The 'Lichen Suite' by Gilbert Albert, made with portions of a conch shell with diamonds and pearls

Antique Jewish wedding ring.

Boucheron Earrings

Cartier 'Les Elephants' bracelet, 1989. The bracelet has 100 diamonds, 14 sapphires, 34 rubies and 28 emeralds

An antique Queen Victoria mourning pendant from 1901, with the words 'To live in hearts we leave behind, is not to die'

Rings by Solange Azagury Partridge: Adam and Eve ring, Vices and Virtues ring, Emerald Cup ring

The next three are by Tony Duquette - Angel brooch made using black lava, diamonds and pearls. Abalone, azurite and buddha eye necklace. Malachite necklace

Mother of Pearl and coral ring by Dior Fine Jewellery

Vintage memorial heart pendant