International Women’s Day: great women with great diamonds
In homage to International Women's Day, we've put together a little something for 77Diamonds favourite women in jewellery.
Elizabeth Taylor
Bio
As one of the most iconic actresses of the age, Elizabeth Taylor is just as well known for her beauty as her Oscar-winning acting talent. Having been married eight times – twice to the same man – Taylor has accrued one of the most comprehensive and unrivalled personal jewellery collections in the world.
The Jewels
Some of the more note-worthy jewels of Taylor’s incredibly note-worthy and extensive collection include the 33ct Krupp diamond ring, the Taj Mahal heart-shaped yellow diamond necklace and La Peregrina Pearl – all gifts from fifth and sixth husband Richard Burton. Whilst third-husband Mike Todd lavished the actress with an antique diamond tiara and a 29ct diamond ring. However, Taylor’s collection also boasts some of the most iconic and famous jewels ever made. These include the famed Duchess of Windsor diamond brooch and the impressive 69ct pear shaped Taylor-Burton diamond, given to her by her Cleopatra co-star and former husband Burton.
Quote Unquote
‘I'm fortunate to have some very important pieces of jewellery. I don't believe I own any of the pieces. I believe that I am their custodian, here to enjoy them, to give them the best treatment in the world, to watch after their safety, and to love them.’
- Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewellery.
TOP FIVE JEWELLERY BLOGS
The Jewellery Editor
Stunning in both layout and content, this is blog is run by none other than one of the UK’s greatest jewellery editors, Maria Doulton. Covering all the major exhibitions, auctions, collections and other news within the high jewellery and watch world, this is one not to be missed...if for no other reason than Ms Dalton’s refreshingly light-hearted, though expert style.
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Gem Gossip
As the blog’s heading puts it...here you’ll find “endless talk of all things sparkly.” Not quite the expert level of Ms. Doulton, but sure to be there soon as she is currently completing her GIA Graduate Gemologist course and is hardly lacking in the passion! Enjoy.
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Collecting Fine Jewels
A blog for curators of collections of fine jewellery and for anyone who enjoys finding unique and rare fine jewels; be it antique, estate, vintage jewellery or modern magnificent stones and designs. For collectors, investors and stylists, Collecting Fine Jewels presents a stunning array of unique pieces found in auctions and antique shops around the world creating a lovely site for all those who share these passions.
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Jewellery Scape
Don’t be dissuaded by all the Italian at first glance, all the posts are in English too...and absolutely fabulous at that. Jewellery Scape is the best place to go for unbiased jewellery trends...they cover everything from the plastic to the fantastic!
Jewelry News Network
Our go-to guide for the more “serious” side of the jewellery world, covering all trade events and news with a well-informed and sober commentary. Great for all those who want to enrich their love and passion for jewellery with a deeper knowledge of what goes on in the industry.
*Disclaimer
All the images in the post were taken from, and link back to the blogs mentioned. If you would like them to be taken down, please email hannah@77diamonds.com
RED CARPET ROCKS: THE OSCARS 2011
With the Golden Globes, SAGs, BAFTAs out of the way...there was only one date we were still waiting for—us and over 40 million others, for that apparently is how many people watch them—The Oscars. And of course, we (like probably most of the 40 million others), were not as interested in who won what so much as who wore what...so here’s our little rundown of the season’s most rocking red carpet...
Image Credit: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
Scarlet and purple tones were the hit this time around making the red carpet hotter and more sizzling than ever before. The newly slimmed down Jennifer Hudson arrived in a flaming orange Atelier Versace gown, cooled down only by the ice of chunky diamond bracelets and an equally va-va-voom statement cocktail ring. Actress and host Anne Hathaway followed suit wearing a stunning strapless red gown by none other than the master of red gowns Valentino, as did Sandra Bullock who glided down in a fiery though elegant corset dress by Vera Wang—adorned only with whopping diamond stud earrings.
Talk of the town and Best Actress winner Natalie Portman opted for deeper tones, donning a fuschia gown by Black Swan costume designer Rodarte, with matching tassel earrings and a studded gold clutch by Tiffany. Newly single actress Scarlett Johanssen also stayed away from the scarlet choosing instead a mauve lace (read: sheer) dress by Dolce and Gabbana, while the fiery (and pregnant) Penelope Cruz opted for a purplish mauve number by L’Wrenn Scott with sequined, yes, you guessed it, flames.
Image Credit: Robyn Beck / AFP / Getty Images
Nicole Kidman hit the jackpot as far as jewels go, wearing over 150 carats of Fred Leighton jewellery – most of which were taken up by a chunky diamond necklace – to perfectly dress up the white oriental-inspired gown by recently suspended John Galliano of Dior. Cate Blanchett also opted for lighter hues donning a unique lavender Givenchy piece with pearl and leather detailing and a geometrically cut out back, and equally arresting Van Cleef and Arpels jewellery. But without a doubt, in the lavender leagues, it was Black Swan co-star Mila Kunis who stole the show in a dreamy lace gown by Elie Saab couture and a simple diamond bracelet and cluster-drop earrings to boot.
Image Credit: John Shearer / Getty Images
Helen Mirren chose to support British Fashion donning a grey puffy-shouldered gown by Vivienne Westwood, who recently opened a store in Los Angeles, accessorised by the daring feat of both nails and clutch to match, while Halle Berry and Michelle Williams went down the angelic route in heavenly silk gowns by Chanel couture and Marchesa.
All in all, just another year at the Oscars...but with a lot more red couture than carpet.
Like Jennifer Hudson’s diamond cocktail ring? Get yours here.
And Mila Kunis’s diamond bracelet? Check out ours.
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Red Carpet Rocks: Golden Globes
It wasn’t just host Ricky Gervais’ tongue that was razor sharp at Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards, the style was on point too. The crème de la crème of the film and TV industry didn’t disappoint, serving up a glutton of sartorial elegance with both the men and women showcasing some seriously stylish bling.
Before the ceremony even began, all eyes were on pregnant actress Natalie Portman who was up for (and later scooped) the Best Actress award for her portrayal of a ballerina in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan. Portman elegantly shrouded her burgeoning baby bump in a Grecian style pale pink strapless gown by Viktor & Rolf, perfectly off-set with a latticed diamond necklace by Tiffany.
However, if there was an award for the ‘Most Serious Bling’ there were three women vying for the accolade on Sunday night. It was the diamond-encrusted wears of The Kids Are Alright actress Julianne Moore, Brit actress Helen Mirren and newly appointed American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez that drew amongst the most attention.
Mirren was almost literally dripping with the gems as Cartier had loaned her a thick waterfall style diamond necklace, set in platinum and estimated at an eye-watering $6million, the perfect complement to her gold Badgley Mischka Couture gown. It also explained why a burly band of men trailed the actress all night. Moore on the other hand, earned some serious fashion stripes by styling up her hot pink Lanvin asymmetric taffeta gown with a 79 carat diamond and gold Bulgari choker that appeared to hold the dress in place. The look suggested something of a mythological deity, which the actress complimented with a stylish up-do.
Are you an aspiring jewellery designer? Part Two
At Seventy Seven Diamonds we love to encourage talent and support up and coming designers in their struggle to become more skilled, successful and recognised. This is the second part of the blog series in which we identify some of the key challenges faced by jewellery designers and offer advice and information on current opportunities which they, as aspiring artistes, can use to their advantage for both creating and selling their pieces.
What can you expect?
In part one we outlined the job requirements for designers in general terms. If you’re fairly new to the game, here’s some more information about what you can expect to be involved in the job...
Jewellery designers plan the style and pattern of jewellery, silverware and other decorative metalwork products. As a jewellery designer, you could produce designs for mass production, or to be made individually or in small numbers by yourself or other craft-workers. For example, you could be commissioned to:
- Produce designs to meet the requirements of a client (known as a 'brief' or commission) or for general sale. This can include the work of large-scale designer line sales.
- Produce designs which are then made by other staff (if you work for a company).
Are you an aspiring jewellery designer?
Are you an aspiring jewellery designer?
At Seventy Seven Diamonds we love to encourage talent and support up and coming designers in their struggle to become more skilled, successful and recognised. This new blog series will identify some of the key challenges faced by jewellery designers and offer advice and information on current opportunities which they, as aspiring artistes, can use to their advantage for both creating and selling their pieces.
The Job
Jewellery design can be an extremely creative and rewarding career, it is just difficult to know where to start in transforming your talent into profit. You can keep it low key and make a go of it at your local market exhibition stall or craft fair, or stretch to bigger targets of expansion through networking and employing a team to push design and sale.
