Kennedy's Shine Magazine 2015

JEWELLERY IS
AN ESSENTIAL
PART OF YOUR
INDIVIDUAL
STYLE.
WHAT COULD BE
BETTER THAN
DESIGNING YOUR
OWN?
That’s so
YOU
By now, most of us are aware that a simple trip to your
local tailor can make refining your ‘look’ a piece of cake.
Those dress pants not quite cropped the way you’d like?
Spotted a designer dress you want drummed up in a different
fabric? Simply explain what you’re after and the sky really is
the limit, style-wise.
But what of jewellery?
Until fairly recently, and with the exception of celebrity-sized budgets, the idea
of having jewellery made to specific order was fairly niche. You chose from the
jewellery cabinet and that was that. But times are changing, and customers’
desire for something personal to them is on the rise.
Thankfully, some retailers are meeting that demand with specialised services –
a bespoke engagement ring, or another stunning piece that so far exists only in
your dreams.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: Your jeweller will conceptualise your idea, or work
with you to come up with an idea. Using their expert knowledge, they will also
make sure the design is not only beautiful but also sturdy and practical. Once the
design is approved, which may involve a bit of back and forth to get it exactly
right, your jeweller sets to work.
The best thing about custom-made jewellery is that it’s accessible for all budgets
and occasions. Which means everyone can indulge their unique creative visions.
We’ve designed hundreds of custom made pieces for our clients and can truly
say that no two pieces are the same. That’s the beauty of it. The process of
having something made just for you can take longer than choosing something
ready-made, but the end result is always worth the wait. And the journey is
really enjoyable.
Common requests include engagement rings, wedding bands, and gifts for
loved ones. Sometimes a customer brings in images of things they like, or point
out something in the cabinet that catches their eye and the jeweller can work
from that.
So what’s hot at the moment?
More rose gold – It’s a beautiful, warm tone and matches most skin tones
and designs. You can even use it as a small highlight in your piece of
jewellery to give it a point of difference.
Engagement rings have taken a slightly different path, too – a lot of women
choosing an oval shape diamond over the cushion cut, which until recently
was very popular. (Here’s a little tip, ovals tend to look large for their
weight but keep an eye out on the cutting and proportions as a poorly
made stone may show a dark centre or ‘bow-tie’ effect , which looks like an
‘X’ through the centre of the stone. This can detract from the performance
and overall sparkle of the stone.)
Still on engagement rings, it looks like the halo design – a stone surrounded
by smaller stones – is still much coveted. No matter what shape you go for
it will add that extra wow factor to your engagement ring. It can also give
you a larger look for less.
Design elements aside, there’s one aspect of the experience that remains
the most beautiful - seeing the smile on a client’s face when they try it on
for the first time.
A sparkling
surprise
At a local football match, a customer
told me his wife was turning 50 that
year. He said he’d like to upgrade her
wedding and engagement rings.
With the help of his daughter, he and
I started work on the engagement ring.
I sourced a beautiful 1.50ct CanadianFire
round brilliant diamond for their
approval. They loved it. The next
step was to focus on the ring’s
design using a series of CAD drawings
from the supplier. The result was
a magnificent 2.07ct engagement
ring with a pair of 0.72ct matching
wedding bands.
At a special birthday dinner, the family
presented the rings to a delighted
wife and mother. She absolutely
loved them and her eyes filled with
tears of joy. She simply couldn’t
believe the rings had been custom
made without her knowledge.
The husband was still planning however.
His 30th wedding anniversary was
later in the year and he wanted a
special piece of jewellery to take
with him on a cruise as a surprise
gift for his wife. He wanted something
extra special with the WOW factor.
A supplier I work closely with
recommended a spectacular 2.00ct
oval stone. Once again we worked
with the husband and daughter to
design and create a stunning pendant.
The pendant arrived totalling 4.50ct
and the customer was so delighted
he also chose a pair of 2.00ct TDW
diamond studs we had in store to
match.
To celebrate the occasion he had
booked the presidential suite on the
cruise to show his wife how much
he appreciated the 30 years they’d
enjoyed together. A video of the
present opening features tears of joy
and squeals of delight.
It feels very rewarding to help such
special people with the design and
creation of unique pieces that will be
treasured for generations
Rosie Ficarra
Kennedy’s Showcase Jewellers
12 SHINE | ISSUE 1
SHINE | ISSUE 1
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