TIME TO SHINE

Big-day jewellery and accessory inspiration, plus your ultimate wedding-ring buyer’s guide

Whatever your style from classic to boho it’s always time to accessorise and shine! “Floral accessories work well with the simple, floaty dresses that typify the boho style.” – Debbie, Rosedene Bridal

Handmade Flower Side Tiara, £174 Richard Designs available at https://rosedenebridal.co.uk

“Pearl accessories complement traditional wedding dresses, although full-crystal tiaras are a popular choice.” – Debbie Norley, Rosedene Bridal

Crystal and Pearl Beaded Belt, £79.50 Richard Designs available at https://rosedenebridal.co.uk

18ct Gold Diamond Pendant, £1,500 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk

Pearl Bracelet, £95 Richard Designs available at https://rosedenebridal.co.uk 9ct Gold Freshwater Cultured Pearl Hook Earrings, £120 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk

“Pearls might be seen as more traditional, but their resurgence on the runway shows that this jewellery trend is here to stay.” – Beaverbrooks

Silver Cubic Zirconia Freshwater Cultured Pearl Drop Necklace, £125 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk

“Veils can really make a statement as you walk down the aisle. They come in every possible length from shoulder to cathedral, as well as a myriad of edges – lace, crystals, satin and fine.” – Debbie, Rosedene Bridal

Boho Leaf Italian Veil Richard Designs available at https://rosedenebridal.co.uk Silver Green Cubic Zirconia Halo Drop Earrings, £125 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk

“Nostalgic early2000s fashion was a huge trend in 2021, and we can expect to see bright, bold and colourful jewellery making a comeback in 2022.” – Beaverbrooks

18ct White Gold Diamond Tanzanite Pear Shaped Halo Pendant, £1,400 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk

SOMETHING BLUE

9ct White Gold Diamond Hoop Earrings, £350 www.beaverbrooks.co.uk

“Statement jewellery is expected to be a major trend for 2022. Going a bit extra isn’t for everyone, but statement earrings are the perfect starting point and can add a special something to an understated gown.” – Beaverbrooks

The ring’s the thing

YOUR WEDDING RING BUYING GUIDE

Engagement ring and wedding rings in platinum and red gold, POA, www.aurumjewellers.com Hand-carved men’s wedding rings with diamonds, POA, www.aurumjewellers.com

Step one BUDGET Much like the rest of your wedding planning you need to mutually agree on what you want to spend on your wedding rings, bearing in mind this is something you’ll be wearing 24/7 for the rest of your life. Considering the hardiness of the metal you choose for example is important. More on that later! There’ll be something out there to suit whatever your budget though.

Organic wedding rings, POA, www.aurumjewellers.com Step three CONSIDER YOUR ENGAGEMENT RING

Wear your engagement ring when you’re shopping for the wedding bands as it will influence your choice. You’ll likely want to match the metal and even the shape, stones and depth. This is doubly important if you want your wedding band to be shaped around the design of your engagement ring. Many jewellers offer ready-shaped options to fit alongside standard diamond cuts such as marquise and pear, but you can always go down the custom-made route if none of them work.

Men’s wedding bands, POA, www.aurumjewellers.com Step five WHICH METAL? Arguably the most crucial decision, this will effect everything from cost to the longevity of your rings, as well as the obvious look. When we interviewed Richard Talman and Hugo Johnson from RTFJ (and BBC’s The Repair Shop and All That Glitters respectively) last year, they told us: “The hardest wearing precious metal is and has always been platinum. It’s timeless and also holds polish a lot longer than white gold. Alternatively, 18ct gold is best if you’re looking to go down the yellow route. Avoid 22ct though as it’s very soft and 9ct as there’s more copper content in it than gold, so it tarnishes.”

Step six PERSONALISATION Your wedding rings are the ultimate symbol of your love and commitment to one another, so why not personalise them as much as possible? Having them engraved with a meaningful phrase, your initials and wedding date or even your finger prints all add that unique touch. You can also select your stones to have special significance. But beware! As Richard says, “Try not to go for anything too in-the-moment as it may not stand the test of time. Make sure you choose something with everlasting meaning.”

Step two KNOW YOUR RING SIZE It’s important to get this right before you order as not all rings can be easily resized without a major overhaul of the design. Your jeweller will take your measurements properly, but if you’d like to get an idea for yourself there are plenty of measuring guides online.

Ladies 18ct rose gold and champagne diamond rose and thorn ring, £720, www.baroquejewellery.com

Men’s18ct white gold woodland ring, £1,350, www.baroquejewellery.com Step four WHAT’S YOUR STYLE? Once upon a time wedding rings were by and large simple gold bands, but nowadays the options are incredibly varied. On a basic level there’s eternity (where stones go all the way around), half eternity (where they cover half the band) or plain of course; then there’s matte or polished... we could go on. Also, have a think about whether you want your rings to match, complement each other or be completely different. There are no rules, you do you.

DID YOU KNOW?

Traditionally, the wedding ring goes onto the third finger of your left hand first, so that it’s the closest one to your heart. The engagement ring will be next followed by any eternity rings you’re lucky enough to receive for future anniversaries! ESPECIALLY FOR YOU

Andrew Leggett from Aurum DesignerJewellers (www.aurumjewellers.com) tells us about the bespoke process: “Considering the significance of a wedding ring it seems a shame to limit yourself to standard readymade designs. Even if you have something straightforward in mind, it’s much more personal to have a ring designed and handmade especially for you.

“Dealing with a bespoke jeweller opens up new possibilities. For example, you might like to incorporate some features from your engagement rings, so the two look like they were designed as a set. Your partner’s ring can also be designed to have something in common with yours that will mark them out as a pair.

“The good news is that a bespoke ring isn’t necessarily expensive. It’s designed to your requirements, including your pocket. The first step is book a design-consultation with a goldsmith to discuss the possibilities.”