FREE GIFT WRAPPING & SHIPPING AUSTRALIA-WIDE | EASY RETURNS
FREE GIFT WRAPPING & SHIPPING AUSTRALIA-WIDE | EASY RETURNS
July 08, 2021 3 min read
Image: “Layers of womanhood” Collar, Repetition Project, Advanced Diploma of Jewellery & Object Design, crafted by Stephanie Sieber from aluminium foil, 2015.
Jewellery choices are often at two ends of the spectrum - highly personal or highly fashionable. But whether your choice is driven by personal taste or by fashion, you should always look for jewellery that is well-designed. Well-designed jewellery looks and feels better no matter the style, because it simply hangs better, moves with you better and complements clothes better.
Here are some tips for choosing jewellery that not only looks good, but also feels great.
There are two elements to balance – visual balance and physical balance. Visual balance makes the jewellery easier for the eye to follow and is determined by how well elements of the jewellery are spaced and how various sizes and colours are offset. Good visual balance means that your jewellery will be more versatile and work much better with your clothes. An easy way to check if your jewellery is visually well balanced, is to ask yourself if you feel like you need to rearrange it for it to sit right. If you do, then it’s probably out of balance.
However, it is important to look beyond just aesthetics. In fact, more important than visual balance is physical balance. When looking at jewellery, consider whether the elements look to be counter-balanced from a weight perspective. For example, a heavy stud earring will be uncomfortable if the earring back is too small. A large hook earring will also sit better if it has a longer hook to balance the front. Similarly, a heavier pendant will always be more comfortable on a heavier chain; if a chain is too fine for the weight of a pendant the chain will drag on your neck. Even in the case of more dramatic asymmetrical pieces, singular large design elements should be balanced by equivalent smaller elements.
Like balance – movement is both visual and physical. Jewellery with strong visual movement often has repetitive or related elements that create a rhythm. This makes the piece more enjoyable to look at as the piece’s rhythm guides the eye. For example, the eye will travel along a flow of lines, edges, graduation of sizes, repeated shapes, darker to lighter elements etc. The flow can be on-going or can stop at different elements within the piece, such as a focal point like a pendant on a chain or stone in an earring.
Movement can also be created by action, which brings life and activity to a piece of jewellery. Given humans are naturally active, jewellery that embraces movement is often more comfortable and enjoyable to wear. This is because jewellery with several separate elements naturally adapts to the body. Alternatively, if jewellery is made from a singular piece, it is more comfortable when its lines have been carefully shaped to follow those of the body.
A simple way to check if a piece is in harmony is to ask yourself whether there is anything niggling at your eye or that seems “out of place”. If it passes this test, you will notice it naturally complements an outfit better because every element looks just right.
There are good reasons why design matters and hopefully if you consider these tips next time you buy some jewellery, you will choose a piece that you will enjoy wearing for years to come.April 19, 2021 4 min read
Let’s face it, Mother’s Day is different for everyone but it can be the ultimate affirmation if you are able to celebrate it surrounded by wonderful family. For for those who want some inspiration, here are a few tips on how to make it a great day.
October 07, 2020 4 min read
It’s an understatement to say that life is getting a little simpler these days. We’ve had to learn how to deal with life’s restrictions and to make the most of simple pleasures. And while we are definitely buying more online and in places like Melbourne, “click and collect” is a wonderful excuse to leave the house, perhaps now is the time to start to spend more wisely.
With that in mind, it seems fitting to share some suggestions on how to create a wardrobe that you can keep looking fresh, rather than constantly replace.
July 21, 2020 3 min read
It’s clear COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon, so the more we learn to live with it, the better. We are all getting used to keeping our distance and washing our hands regularly, however one thing that isn’t often talked about is keeping your jewellery clean.
Jewellery that is worn every day is wonderful for harbouring bacteria in its nooks and crannies. The good news is diamonds and precious metals are quite resilient and with the right attention to detail, are very easy to clean. Here are some tips on how to clean some of the most common everyday gold and silver jewellery.
sign up for 10% off your first purchase