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Shopping for jewellery is thrilling and also a risky business. We are going to tell you our top 5 tips to keep in mind when your out shopping for your jewellery in a real-life-not-online setting. 1.Be aware of the hard sell Markets are places where you will definitely encounter a pushy sales person or two. From sellers offering a friendly hello and reassuring that if you need a hand they are there, all the way to some sellers pulling you in as you try to walk past. In my experience, the best selling experiences are had when a fellow dealer isn't trying too hard to grab my attention or force me to their stand. If a seller is approaching you and being overly pushy when it comes to browsing for your jewellery, it might be a great time to say thank you and move on. 2. Reproduction items For an experienced dealer, reproductions are usually fairly obvious; The rings appear pristine, we may have encountered a like-for-like style previously, and sometimes its even just about the vibes. There is nothing wrong with reproductions, and they are a great way to own stunning pieces of jewellery based off of an original very rare design. The issue arises when the seller is not disclosing that these pieces are reproductions, it can be due to an intent to fool or down to in-experience. Some pieces can look so like the real thing its hard to distinguish, a good rule of thumb is that if a seller has a cabinet full or pristine antique treasures and the pricing is too good to be true, it usually is. We all know how rare and hard to find these jewels are, and the dealers know it too. Usually a cabinet full or rarities will have the price tag to match, and when it doesn't, you should definitely move on. 3. Poor quality pieces Experience is key here ; Often pieces may look perfect, with no obvious issues or signs of a problem apparent. The problems will arise later down the line. Glued in gemstones, loose rattling stones, irreparable damage to the shank or split settings around gemstones. These are problems that can be tricky to spot, it takes a really keen eye and to know what you are looking for, to notice that there is something up with the piece. This is not to say all damage means that the jewel should be put back, sometimes minor issues are really simple and not too expensive to fix. It can also be the alternative scenario where the cost to repair exceeds the value of the item and that is a really unfortunate position to be in. 4. Materials Market places are always going to be locations where you are faced with somebody telling you a piece is one thing and its going to turn out it is not. What we are looking for when we are inspecting a piece of jewellery are hallmarks, the look and feel of the metal, and also the gemstones. If you have some gemstone knowledge, don't be afraid to ask if you can take a look at the item in natural daylight. Most dealers have another person with them who can watch their stand while they accompany you into brighter lighting, or they can watch you at a side door. In terms of the metal, unless the piece is hallmarked with an actual assay office stamp, and not just stamps for '18ct' or '15ct', you really aren't going to know what you are buying. The colour does not denote the carat unfortunately, and that rich butter yellow pendant that the dealer swears is 18ct, can just as easily be 9ct gold. 5. Over pricing We recently visited an antiques market and its safe to say the pricing varies wildly. Experience is your friend here; We handle hundreds of pieces of jewellery and only a very tiny fraction ever make it home with us to retail on our website. Knowing when to walk away from a piece you want, but you feel is a very inflated price is important. Its easy to get swept up in the excitement, if a piece is really rare then pricing isn't going to matter as much. If you are unsure and need time to think, a great thing to do is let the dealer know you love it but you are going to circle round and have a think. If I am still thinking about a piece after 15 minutes I will go back to purchase, mostly I have forgotten all about it, saved myself a headache, and moved onto something new to look at quite quickly . ................................. In person treasure hunting can be a seriously fun day out, I hope these tips helps you to avoid getting duped and walk away as a savvy, knowledgeable buyer. Is there anything on this list that surprised you? Let us know in the comments below!

Last week saw the return of London Fashion Week, with some of the capitals top designers showing their latest collections. Whilst we are fully in autumn here in the UK, we have had a taste of what trends we will be seeing when spring does eventually arrive. Here you can find our top 5 trends that we think we will be seeing plenty of in the spring, and some of the jewels we have that will work wonderfully within these trends. Floral, Whimsical & Feminine Erdem is a designer known for their aesthetic and inspiration coming from his passion for history. They are noted to have spent most of the time dreaming up this collection in the libraries, museums and galleries of London, with this particular collection being inspired by the work of the museum conservators. The whole collection has a wonderful nature-inspired colour palette, dripping in floral motifs. Anything Georgian or Art Nouveau would be perfect for wearing pieces inspired by this collection. Opals and pearls are a great way to wear something dreamy and whimsical, whilst carved coral and jade will make an excellent choice if you're looking for something more colourful. English Charm S.S.Daley is a designer who is really making his mark on the LFW scene. His style has a very quintessentially British feel to it, with botanics and heritage patterns and techniques being used from collection to collection. Daley's SS23 collection sees an array of soft colours and textures, which as expected has a wonderful old-English feel to it. Whilst S.S.Daley's interests are said to come from 1920's and 1930's working and upper class dress codes, we can't help but think that classic and timeless jewels from the Victorian era would be a wonderful start to wearing this trend. A serious POP of colour! Molly Goddard is most probably best known for her extravagant tulle dresses (most notably *that* pink dress Villanelle wore in the first season of Killing Eve). Every collection Goddard always manages to rework this eponymous style ready for the new season. SS23 sees intense, bright colours paired together to create beautiful and bold colour blocked looks. It's surely not just us who thought of gemstones when we saw this collection? Wear a bright intense gem on its own or pair with complimentary colours like our favourite looks above to create a bold statement. Go one step further by choosing something foiled to get an even more intense colour, these Georgian 15ct Gold Foiled Amethyst Gemstone Earrings would be the perfect jewel for this. Iridescent and Celestial Edward Crutchley is known for his expertise in fabric creation and manipulation, not only for his own brand but also Dior and Fendi. This collection is inspired by the sea nymphs from Ancient Greek mythology, creating ethereal and iridescent fabrics to mimic the magical creatures living in the sea. The first thing that came to mind was obviously OPALS! Their surface, like the fabrics in this collection, glitter and sparkle to create an array of wonderful colours and shimmers. Anything cool toned and icy such as aquamarines and platinum, paired with sparkly diamonds and rich sapphires will no doubt be a great way to wear this trend in jewel form. Minimal and Sophisticated Karoline Vitto's debut collection at LFW has a beautifully minimal feeling to it. Fabrics have been shaped to the models bodies, models of all shapes and sizes which is thankfully becoming more and more present as fashion weeks evolve. Simple metalwork is used to hold the clothing together, almost like jewellery in itself. The entire collection is in black and white, except one entirely red look. The whole collection looks so sophisticated, so jewels to reflect this is a must. Nothing with intense colour or a busy pattern so that the minimalism is adhered to. Minimal chains are a great way to replicate the metalwork featured in the clothing whilst keeping to a more realistic everyday approach. Will you be wearing any of these trends by the time spring arrives? We think there is definitely something for everyone, let us know which trend you will be sporting in the comments! ................................ Images via Vogue Runway.

This question has to be up there with our most asked and requested information share; How do you find your jewellery ? Where do you shop for your jewels? Can you tell me where you go to find your treasures? We are going to dish the secrets and break it down for you, where and how to shop for your jewels and what we look for when we shop. As self confessed curators, magpies and keepers of history, its safe to say we know a thing or two about shopping for the best of the best. It goes without saying that we consider ourselves to be up there with your top jewellery shopping destinations, but we understand that variety is the spice of the life and we want to share with you some of our favourite haunts for treasure seekers. We are also going to be giving you a few pointers on how to efficiently and and carefully shop with a keen eye, but also just as importantly how to ensure that you remain safe while you shop. Online Treasure Hunting Over the last two decades the online shopping world has become a force to be reckoned with. There are a few online places that we enjoy perusing both professionally as well as personally, and there is no better place than to start with Etsy. Etsy Etsy is an online selling platform that brings together sellers across the world, you can find sellers in every country offering vintage and antique goods which can be purchased instantly. We ourselves also sell on etsy, and find it to be a unique platform that has an pleasing aesthetic and easy to navigate search bar. A word of caution about using Etsy however, is their fee structure. Seller's may choose to inflate their prices to cover the very high fees charged by Etsy which can mean you are paying slightly over the odds when shopping on this platform. Etsy also does not guarantee the authenticity of their seller's items, and it is possible to be duped or purchase items that are not as described. We would always recommend carefully reading the descriptions, examining photos and ensuring you are confident in the seller's experience and knowledge before you purchase. Ebay Ebay can be a wonderful place to pick up treasures as bargain prices. The calibre of Ebay's market place has dwindled over the years, and it can take some time to sift through to find the gems, but there are still good purchases to be made. Essential things to look out for when using ebay is descriptions, photos and reviews. We ourselves occasionally shop on ebay to find pieces to add to our shop, and we are confident using this platform due to our experience testing jewellery. Ebay is the number one place where we return items more than any of places we shop from, and it is down to items not being as described, or sellers trying to pass items off as pieces they aren't. A good background in jewellery and being able to test your metals and gemstones is essential for shopping on eBay, to avoid getting duped or realising what you purchased as a diamond ring, is actually a white sapphire. Auctioneers Online auctioneers are another great option for those who prefer to shop online for their jewellery. This world can be a bit harder and more daunting to navigate, so here are a few of our top tips. The main thing to keep in mind when using an online auctioneer is the VAT premiums and platform fees; a piece that sells at the hammer price of £150, sounds initially like a great price, but many have been caught out by the additional fees which can range from 25%-35% on the hammer price. A piece of jewellery that might be worth £150 and feel like a well purchased buy, can quickly become overpriced at £195 if the fees are 30%, which is an average premium. You also should be aware of steep postage fees which can range from the cost of royal mail special delivery right up to £50 just for one item. You can see quite quickly that you could be paying almost £100 more on top of a piece that was originally a fair price. It takes experience, a bit of risk and getting used to each auctioneer to start picking up some proper wins . In person Treasure Hunting We have a couple of favourite places we love visiting in person to hunt for jewellery, and they may be places you are already familiar with . Brighton Lanes The Brighton Lanes will always be top on our list of treasure seeker's destinations. Oldy woldy lanes tucked out of sight, not an easy find, and just getting to the lanes feels like a treasure hunt in itself. You will find here, many jewellery shops offering vintage, antique, designer, new items and all with window displays that will have the jewel addict's head in a spin. Our only note about the lanes would be the pricing and clever layout of the window displays; You need to be very savvy to shop in this tourist destination as the prices are going to be steep. When we visit here, we go with the expectation of finding something rare, but not walking away with a bag full of gems. You may also note that brand new vintage 'style' pieces are sitting side by side the real deal, and it can be hard to distinguish which is which when faced with such a layout. Portobello Market Portobello market has always been a well known destination to discover vintage treasure, and have a day out in London antiques hunting. With a long stretch of road with sellers both outside directly in the street and also within the galleries and emporiums, you are guaranteed to see some exquisite pieces and get a feel for what its really like to treasure hunt. Antiques Centres Antiques centres are also well worth a visit! Dotted around the UK you will probably stumble across these by chance and you should always pop in for a rummage. Filled with glass cabinets that sport an array of curios alongside jewels, this style of treasure hunting is slightly less uniform that heading directly to a jewellery dealer's stall at a market, but promises the chances to find pieces tucked away that the seller likely has undervalued for their worth. Pawn Shops Pawn shops can be fabulous for finding a deal, they offer a huge range so it requires some sifting through the modern pandora pieces to find anything close to worth looking at, but a worthy pursuit nonetheless. Solid gold chains can be found here, alongside gold charms and lovely vintage rings. While you may be hard pushed to find antique items, they will always have vintage and secondhand items for offer. The risk with buying vintage & Antique Jewellery All deals carry a certain amount of risk, but we are here to help you make an informed choice and limit that risk when shopping for jewellery. The risk is there whether you shop online or in person, although one offers a bit more protection for a purchase gone wrong than the other. Online When you shop online you need to be aware that not all sellers will be honest about what they are offering. There are sellers out there that will leave out important details regarding the item, whether intentionally or they simply lack the knowledge and experience to spot these things. It is really important that who you are purchasing from is a trusted member of the jewellery community and has good policies in place to protect their buyers. Some encouraging things to look our for is a solid return policy, if a seller states they do not accept returns and that sales are final we would steer clear. Why does this seller not accept returns? Any serious jewellery retailer would comply with the consumer regulations and offer their buyers a safe purchasing experience. Online reviews are also encouraging to see, real words from real people that advocate for this seller and their brand are great to help you when deciding if this seller can be trusted. The odd negative review from a disgruntled customer isn't a reason to run for the hills, but if several unhappy customers are expressing concern or there are no reviews at all, this can be a warning that you may want to look elsewhere to shop. Clear photography and descriptions help you make a decision on your purchase, if a seller lacks these basic things we would recommend asking for additional images, videos, or leaving the purchase all together. We include condition reports and full specifications on all our listings as standard, something a lot of other dealers also offer which is great to see when shopping online. In Person Buying in person is a completely different experience to shopping online, and requires a certain amount of confidence and ability to spot when you are being lied to. We all have that common image that springs to mind when you say the word wheeler dealer; A dodgy dealer flogging items to the unaware general public that are unfortunately, about to get stung ! The first thing to note is you have much less protection when shopping at an antiques market compared to online or a physical retail shop. You could pick up an item, get home and discover it is not as described - It can be tricky finding the same dealer again if the market isn't a monthly regular occurring event. By shopping online you have a clear trail from start to finish of who you purchased from, the cost and even paypal or credit card protection. You will encounter dealers that with all the confidence in the world, tell you a ring is solid 18ct gold and they can tell by the colour, only to grab a closer look with a jewellers loupe and you discover a clear stamp inside for 9ct gold. A final thing to note with in person shopping is the potential for theft and pick pocketing. Antiques markets are a prime environment for theft to occur, and we hear about it every time we shop. You also need to be aware of your surroundings and make sure nobody is following you, or keeping an eye on what you are purchasing It does happen, where dealers are followed home after markets and become a victim of theft or mugging. Going with a friend is ideal, and being discreet with what you are picking up. ........................................................... We hope you enjoyed this guide to shopping for jewels! It can be such a fun day out to shop in person but definitely comes with some risks, what are your thoughts - Do you prefer to shop in person for your jewels or online? Let us know in the comment section.

Image source; The Royal Collection Trust During the short reign of King Edward VII from 1901-1910, the Edwardian era was born. Known for lavish and luxury, the King’s frivolity had a major influence on jewellery styles. There was a huge demand for elaborate jewellery as the king was known for hosting regular events and parties, as well as having an exceptionally OTT coronation. In Edwardian society, it was common for the wealthy to display their riches through their materialistic purchases. An overriding style of jewellery from the Edwardian era is luxe designs. Handcrafted techniques were favoured over the previous Victorian styles produced from the industrial revolution. Long-lasting materials such as diamonds and platinum were the first choice for materials due to their value. Platinum was favoured due to its lightweight yet strong properties, to be made into delicate pieces featuring techniques such as filigree. Diamonds were widely available so also more affordable, with diamond mining really booming in this era. It was common to find multiple diamonds and cuts in individual pieces due to new gemstone cuts constantly evolving. A lot of the jewellery was very feminine, this time era fell within the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts movements, which had a heavy influence on the design of jewellery. Bows, florals, lace, and frills were motifs across all jewel styles making this time a very romantic era for jewellery. Pearls were worn as a symbol of status during the Edwardian era. At the time they were more valuable than diamonds, with the size and quality being an indicator to how wealthy the person wearing them was. Those at the top of the wealth pyramid would wear jewellery that featured both pearls and diamonds. Filigree Image source; Market Square Jewellers. An example of open work filigree, made using platinum. Whilst the technique of filigree was first created in around 5,000BC in Mesopotamia and Ancient Greece, the Edwardians really pulled it into popularity due to its extensive technique and lavish appearance. It’s a form of intricate metalwork, where delicate pieces of metal wire are twisted and manipulated into a design. It can be achieved with an open back so that the metal design sits open, or the wire designs can be metal supported where a sheet of thin metal is used as a backing, this is often used for more intricate filigree pieces to add support to the intricate design. Edwardian Ladies Image source; victorian-era.org. A big stylistic change from Victorian to Edwardian jewellery is the neckline of a woman. The Victorians were seen as quite conservative, so the Edwardian ladies brought plunging and revealing necklines to their gowns. Dog collars and chokers with large pendants were a hugely popular style, quite often a ribbon would be used to thread a large pendant or even a brooch. These would be large in style, worn layered with various lengths to fill the open neckline. Image source; Left - Katie Callahan & Co. Queen Alexandra of Denmark adorning multiple necklaces, including a choker-style collar. Right - Charlie Luxe Vintage. Two examples of lavalier style pendants and brooches. The double pendant lavalier necklace was another popular style of necklace, a pendant would often feature a small gemstone hanging from the base which made good use of the much lower necklines. Image source; Charlie Luxe Vintage. Impressive Edwardian 18ct Gold Diamond & Tourmaline Cluster Ring Rings were also an equally popular jewellery item. Made predominately from platinum and diamond but would often feature a halo of diamonds to surround a gemstone. It’s this halo or cluster style which today is a very popular design to wear as an engagement ring, with the gemstone in the centre often being significant to the wearer. Due to the high availability of diamonds, they quickly became the stone to have for an engagement ring. Whilst the Edwardian era was one that was short, it still had major influence on future jewellery styles which still remain timeless today. After King Edward VII died in 1910, many believe that the Edwardian era still continued until 1919, when design styles really shifted due to the First World War and the beginning of the Art Deco era. Our favourite jewellery style to come from the Edwardian era is undoubtably the halo and cluster rings. Would you choose an Edwardian ring as your engagement ring? Let us know in the comments below!

The man of the moment is most definitely Mr Harry Styles. 2022 is certainly his year; new album, world tour, awards and blockbuster film releases. One thing that can be noted about him whether you are a fan or not, is that he seems to have an incredible collection of jewellery that we are so intrigued by. In particular we adore his signature ring stacking, so we've taken a dive into what jewels he is currently wearing, and what options we have if you're looking to recreate Harrys Hands. The Infamous Ring Stack When you think of Harry Styles' jewellery, we're fairly sure that his 'H' & 'S' initial rings are the first thing that will pop into your mind. But he rarely wears them alone and after some quick digging, we have discovered that he will often change up the combination of rings he wears. Above he is pictured with a remarkable micromosaic ring, a pearl ring and an array of dreamy gothic gemstone beauties. He's also been spotted wearing unusual bands and signet rings. One things that is for sure, the rings will always have an interesting take, statement masculine and chunky seem to be the choice when dressing his fingers. These looks can be easily recreated with antique and vintage pieces. You are guaranteed that unique one-of-a-kind stack when shopping secondhand, adding to the allure of wearing a curated hand. Beautiful Beads Most recently Styles has been sporting chunky beaded necklaces. We haven't been keeping count but we're fairly sure he's worn every colour of the rainbow, always being paired to match the rest of his outfit perfectly. Our Carved Agate Beaded necklace is so perfect for recreating this look, we think it could slot right into Harry Styles' jewellery collection. The Single Earring Earrings don't tend to be a regular feature for Mr Styles, however we loved when Harry featured this single pearl earring. It's a wonderful nod to femininity, but still super stylish. These Dendritic Agate earrings have the same drop style to the pearl earring if you're looking to recreate this look. Don't Worry Darling Is anyone else excited for the release of his latest film 'Don't Worry Darling'? It's set in the 1950's so we're expecting to see lots of fabulous vintage jewels. We've already spotted a gorgeous signet ring being worn by Harry. At the premier for 'Don't Worry Darling' Styles is seen wearing two Gucci looks. Whilst the jewellery is kept minimal to just his signature rings, we think both looks would work well featuring a statement heavy necklace. The Masonic Edwardian watch chain would look great layered with the silk scarf, or worn over the shirt but under the collar for an interesting layered moment. We will surely be keeping a close eye on what other jewels Harry Styles decides to sport, whatever trend it may be, the rest of the world will be sure to follow. Will you be taking inspiration from any of his looks, whether it's the full hand stack or a single item of jewellery, let us know in the comments!

We are currently in secondhand September, a worthy campaign designed to encourage us all to try shopping secondhand instead of buying brand new. The campaign is designed to inspire and encourage you to address the way we shop and find ways to be kinder to the planet in the process. We are here to show you just how fun it can be to shop and thrift for your jewels and opt for pieces that have been adored before. Read on to see if we can encourage you to swap and opt for a treasured secondhand jewel instead of buying new. Why Shop Secondhand For Your Jewels? There is nothing quite as fun as a treasure hunt, and the excitement of what you could find. When you shop brand new from a high street shop or online with a larger jewellery retailer, you will notice that the range can be quite main stream and you are going to see the same piece or variation of, across multiple websites, multiple stores and also, worn by multiple people. We are here to show you that jewellery should be special, it can be interesting and unusual. We love to find coveted pieces and add jewels into our own collections that speak for themselves with their rarity, items you are unlikely to see elsewhere anytime soon. The quality can also not be underestimated ; Jewellery that has been designed to last and has endured for long enough to be qualified as vintage, or even lasted well over a century and into the antique category. Mass manufactured pieces will be unable to make these same claims, and the artistic element is also lost. Jewellery is art and a reflection of your personal style, shopping secondhand allows you to have fun with this and really begin a collection unique to you. The sustainability aspect should also not be down played, much the same as the clothing industry has an impact on the planet so does the jewellery industry. Mining gemstones and jewellery manufacturing can produce waste, and gemstones are not a finite resource. Here are our top 5 swaps that you can make to your jewellery box . Antique, Vintage & Estate Rings From gold to silver, and from diamonds to emeralds, shopping secondhand has never been easier for rings. You can opt for a ring with your birthstone of choice for a truly symbolic jewellery match, or the ever classic diamond. The diamond industry has had it's fair share of negative press with ethical concerns raised around mining practices and even lab-grown diamonds can carry their own question marks over how sustainable they truly are. To skip all of that and be sure that you are wearing you values proudly on your hand, a secondhand ring is the way to go. We try to pick up a range of eras, tastes and gemstones to ensure you are never short on rings to peruse. You can shop our twinkling rings here. Antique & Vintage Solid Gold Chains This is always where I suggest people start if they are new to the world of antique & vintage jewellery. A solid gold chain is the perfect introduction to secondhand jewels, and are also a worthy investment. Chains are timeless pieces that work hard in a jewellery collection, paired down for a minimal look or layered to create an eye catching arrangement across the chest. You can dress them down or dress them up, and they are the perfect backdrop for adding a pendant. We stock an excellent selection of beautiful secondhand chains and the quality of them is always spectacular, even with the finer trace styles that can appear more delicate, are always extremely well crafted and stand the test of time. If you want to invest, a heavier watch chain style piece is the way to go, or if you are looking for something more budget friendly and wearable with daintier pendants, a slimmer style on link is going to be your choice. You can shop our chains on our website here. Vintage & Antique Gold Charms We absolutely adore charms at Charlie Luxe ! We have been collecting and hunting out gorgeous vintage charms since our business first began nearly 10 years ago . They remain to be a great piece of jewellery, and they are also some of the rarest gems to curate. The mass produced charms of todays offerings are woefully underwhelming for a jewel addict, when there are delights to be found in the novelty articulated gems of the 60s, sweet love token coins from the Victorian era, and exquisite enamel jewels from the Art Nouveau period. Conversational pieces and miniature works of art, there is meaning and significance in a charm collection. Our charm shop is forever changing, we are always adding new finds here and if you are ready to add a vintage charm or two to your bracelet or wear as a pendant, we have got you covered. Find our charms here. Solid Gold Vintage & Antique Bracelets Just like secondhand chains, you will see such beautiful variation and range if you choose to look into the past for your arm candy. We find stunning pieces with delicately engraved links, dreamy heart padlocks clasps and impressive weights when looking for bracelets to stock in our curation. You can use your bracelet as a stand alone piece, stack it with other bracelets, or use it as as the foundation to a great charm bracelet. You can find our luxury solid gold bracelets here. Antique & Vintage Gemstones To create a brand new piece of jewellery using gem quality stones, there are significant costs involved. The costs are higher and so the end retail price for the customer is also going to be higher, in comparison to the same piece that you can pick up secondhand. Not only are you able to dip into the magic of secondhand, but you can also access gemstones that may be priced out of your budget when purchasing brand new. Diamond rings are a great examples of this, as is jade, opals and emeralds. These beautiful gemstones today are going to be pricy to purchase as an exceptional gemstone, but you may be in luck and spot a treasure with a gorgeous stone for half the price of what you are expecting by shopping secondhand. There are also gemstones which are illegal to farm today, such as coral. Coral is under protection laws and with good reason, and so unless it is being sold unscrupulously brand new, to own a piece of coral jewellery will require some second hand shopping. Victorian era jewellery sees' some absolutely stunning carved coral pieces, and there are also some very exceptional retro jewels to peruse too. Will you be considering trying a beautiful piece of our vintage and antique jewellery this September ? If you do, make sure to tag us in photos and comment below !

Image source; Charlie Luxe Vintage. We absolutely adore love heart jewellery, it is almost a guarantee that we will have sourced some heart shaped jewels to have stocked on our store. It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the heart became a symbol for love in jewellery, the earliest known examples appear to have been from the late medieval period, where rings and brooches were often inscribed with short love poems, with the jewellery being gifted as a token of love. Image sources; The V&A Museum. Left - The inscription on this brooch, meaning 'without being parted' invokes both the themes of infedility and love' Circa 1400-1425. Right - "Gold ring, (the) hoop engraved inside with a heart pierced by an arrow" Circa 1600. The Start of Love Heart Jewellery Love heart jewellery grew in popularity in the 16th century, being used to symbolise love and affection. In the 17th century in Scotland, a twist on typical love heart jewellery evolved into ‘witch's hearts’ or ‘Luckenbooth’, a type of brooch used as a talisman against evil spirits. By the 18th century it was typical for a witch's heart to feature garnets, with the meaning changing to ‘bewitched by love’. Image source; Charlie Luxe Vintage sold archive. Antique 9ct Gold Witch's Heart Pendant. Victorian Love It is no surprise that love heart jewellery was hugely popular during the Georgian and Victorian eras, growing ever more popular during the reign of Queen Victoria. Known for being the ‘Age of Sentiment’, love hearts quickly became one of the favourite motifs of the time appearing in all forms of jewellery, from necklaces and rings, and more prominently, charms. We know how much Queen Victoria loved her jewellery, owning several forms of love heart pieces in her collection, all with huge amounts of romanticism and sentiment. Her most famous item of love heart jewellery is the gold charm bracelet featuring 9 heart shaped lockets, one for the birth of each of her children. Each locket was filled with a lock of hair and inscribed with a name and date of birth. Image source; The Royal Collection Trust. "This simple chain and locket bracelet is typical of the sentimental items Prince Albert gave to the Queen. The hearts record the birth of the children as follows: pink for Princess Victoria, turquoise blue for Albert, red for Princess Alice, dark blue for Alfred, translucent white for Helena, dark green for Louise, mid blue for Arthur, opaque white for Leopold and light green for Beatrice." Other forms of love heart jewellery that the Victorians adored were heart-shaped padlocks, most notably padlock bracelets. The bracelet would be gifted to women from their partner who would be away for a long time. As a symbol for devotion, commitment and affection, the bracelet would stay locked on the women’s wrist until her partner returned with the key to unlock the padlock. Image source; Charlie Luxe Vintage sold archive. Victorian 9ct Gold Engraved Link Bracelet With Floral Padlock ( 12.85g, 7" ) Modern Love Today, love heart jewellery still feels modern to wear. A timeless style of jewellery that has such a high level of wearability, it is a popular choice for many avid jewellery wearers. From high street through to vintage, antique and high-end designers you don’t have far to search to find heart shaped jewellery. Image source; Charlie Luxe Vintage sold archive. An array of heart and love themed jewels, featuring all types of jewellery, from rings to earrings and charms. Here at CLV, you know how much we champion shopping sustainably and secondhand, we believe that antique love heart pieces wouldn’t look out of place being worn in the 21st century. We love the idea of pairing a Victorian heart padlock with a modern chain, worn with a t-shirt and jeans to make a perfect, classic outfit. Image source; Charlie Luxe Vintage. Here we have layered multiple heart shaped padlocks with chic, modern chains. Whether you decide to wear 1, 2 or more heart shaped jewels at once, we think they are an excellent place to start your vintage and antique jewellery collection. We particularly think padlocks are the perfect collectors first item, as they range in affordability, and are oh so versatile to wear along with other pieces you may already own. Why not mix them with jewels featuring pearls, diamonds or rubies like we have in the above image, making for a dreamy combination. Click here to view our jewellery collection, and see what love themed pieces we have up for grabs.

Image source: Wikiofthrones.com If you have recently seen the latest adaptation of George R.R. Martins fantastic world of Westeros on your must-see-list, no doubt you have spotted the fabulous jewellery House of Targaryen is dripping in. From the glitziest Russian-esque tiaras through to Persian style neck pieces, we are utterly obsessed with the costume department's styling! While we can't guarantee you a seat at the Targaryen table, we can absolutely point you in the direction of some of our tantalizing gems that we are sure will give you the same old world magic glamour and feel, as we know we get watching these gems twinkle and sway across the screen. A first look at Alicent Hightower's jewellery game and its safe to say we are impressed. She is adorned with exquisite feminine chokers, collar grazing necklaces and dainty drops in her ears. Not forgetting the hands, with a single ring on each that ensues her look is elegant without being overpowering. We particularly love the delicate gold band on her index, featuring what looks a coral coloured gemstone solitaire which is striking against her pale blue robes. Paired with a bolder piece on the other hand, it works so well! Her whole look is feminine and faintly flowery, while still a regal and imperial vogue. For Alicent's look, try pairing a few of our pieces below ; Rhaenyra Targaryen's jewellery is a lot more heavy, designed to add impact and presence. Her necklaces and earrings feel royal, with an Etruscan revival vibe on some pieces and a necklace collar so sleek it could be dragon scales. Her Valyrian steel necklace photographed above, gifted by her uncle Daemon Targaryen, is the perfect colour clash against those vivid buttery gold earrings - what a way to mix those metals ! If you would like to take your inspiration from Dragon rider Rhaenyra, you will need a focus on heavier impactful pieces with jewel tones and drama. Gun metal greys are a must, as is high carat butter yellow gold. See our choices below ; ................................................................ Image source : Vanity Fair Have you been tuning into House of the Dragon ? We are three episodes in and cannot wait to see more jewellery looks as the series moves forward. What pieces on our leading ladies inspire you the most ? What are you hoping to see on future episodes? Tell us below in the comments and we will tell you our thoughts back.

Image source; Pinterest Throughout history you will find details and stories of gemstones thought to be one thing turning out to be quite the other, famous historical dupes and accidental misidentification. The world of gemmology is fascinating, linked inextricably to the jewellery trade where at the retail point the consumer must place their confidence in the jeweller. So undoubtably, there are words and phrases that appear, often misused that mislead and also cause confusion both within the trade and to the public. This is usually not deliberate, gemmology being quite a complicated and scientific area that even has the most experienced of trades scratching their heads. Synthetic gemstones Diving right into the ever mystifying word 'synthetic' and what the true definition of this is . Having studied with Gem-A, we use and take their definitions as the standard and who we look to when explaining and guiding our customers. The Gemmological association of Great Britain defines 'synthetic' as the following ; " To be called synthetic, an artificial gemstone must have a natural mineral counterpart of the same composition and structure." -The Gemmological Association Of Great Britain ( Foundation In Gemmology ) 2008 In gemmology terms this is telling us that a 'synthetic ruby' for example ( a lab grown gemstone ), has the exact same chemical composition as a 'natural ruby' . There is no difference at the atomic level and chemical make up of a ruby that has been grown in a lab to one that has been mined from the Earth's crust. Image Source : Charlie Luxe Vintage 2022- Victorian flower crown ring with a central synthetic ruby gemstone surrounded by a halo of pearls. This is a really important distinction, the mention of identical chemical composition. You now know that when purchasing an item of jewellery with the gemstone described as 'synthetic', these gemstones should be the real deal but grown in a lab, and not an imitation. If the understanding is that a synthetic gemstone differs only from a natural gemstone in it's origin, which is reflected in the inclusions found within, sometimes the colour or appearance, and of course the pricing- what is a simulated gemstone? Imitation and Simulated gemstones Confusingly, a simulated gemstone can use natural, synthetic (lab grown), and even artificial materials to achieve the outcome of imitating the desired gemstone. So for clarity and clear understanding Gem-A's definition of a simulated gemstone is as follows ; " Natural or artificial materials that are used to imitate the effect, colour and appearance of other gem materials without possessing their chemical and physical properties." -The Gemmological Association Of Great Britain ( Foundation In Gemmology ) 2008 Image Source ; Stock images, To the left is a truncated step cut red quartz gemstone imitating ruby, to the right is a round brilliant cut red glass gemstone imitating a ruby A good example to demonstrate what this means in real terms, is the use of glass that has been coloured red to imitate a ruby ( a paste ruby ) , or a natural quartz gemstone that has then been dyed red to give the appearance of a ruby, but is lacking the chemical composition that a ruby possesses. The chemical composition is really important, it is what differentiates similarly coloured gemstones from each other, and it is also used to tell you that a synthetic gemstone is still the gemstone described. The chemical composition denotes the atomic structure and this is what gives you the different qualities of that gemstone such as lustre ( hardness, shinyness ), the inclusions seen within and the gemstone's toughness ; A glass ruby is no match for the real thing, less able to withstand scratching and hard knocks. Image Source: Charlie Luxe Vintage sold archives. From left to right- A real natural opal gemstone, An opal doublet where a real slice of opal has been glued to a an artificial plastic matrix base, and a constructed opal gemstone consisting of slices of real opal glued to an artificial plastic matrix. Within this category also exists composite materials and reconstructed materials. Something which you will have definitely been acquainted with, think of opal triplets and doublets where a thin slice of real opal is glued to or in-between other materials. The outcome of this construction is to achieve that look of a gorgeous real opal cabochon, without the price tag. Examples One of my favourite examples to help with my understanding between synthetic, imitation and simulant is " the Black Prince's Ruby" . The reason why this is such a great example is because it is one of the most famous dupes in history. Image Source: Wikipedia, an image of the Black Prince's 'Ruby'. The spinel sits at the front of the Imperial crown. The 'ruby' gifted to Edward of woodstock in the 14th century has turned out to in fact be a red spinel. Weighing in at a whopping 170 carats, it was not until 1783 when spinels gained their own definitive name different from a ruby because of their chemical composition. Image Source : Wikipedia, on the left sits a red spinel gemstone and on the right sits a red ruby gemstone. Both are unfashioned and in their crystal habit. Spinel's come in a huge range of colours both their natural and synthetic grown counterparts, they are quite notorious for deception and mistaken gemstone identity. Part of the problem lies with the geological occurence, because spinels grow in the same conditions as rubies. As we can see with this example, while the gemstones might look very similar, they are not because they differ chemically. Conclusion Just from a very small snippet of the gemmology world, you can see already the overlap between and why this causes so much confusion. The term synthetic with no prior gem knowledge absolutely suggests a gemstone that isn't 'real', and is pretending to be something else. What we actually discover when we take the time to explain the distinction is that we can help our customers to understand and empower them to be educated when buying jewellery, armed with the knowledge that a synthetic ruby is still a ruby.

The Georgian Era of 1714 – 1837 saw major changes which shaped the society and landscape of Britain. The era is known for being equal parts luxury and poverty, with the birth of industrialisation in the 1770’s developing new technologies and new jobs, which provided new levels of lavish whilst pushing the poor into further poverty with terrible working and living conditions. Society was shaped into a world of luxe and wealth due to the vast fortunes of those involved in the Industrial Revolution. Gone were the social rankings determined by birth, as wealthy and well-educated men led their families up the social ladder. Ladies had the freedom to travel and visit friends, with the expectation that they would be well versed in literature, art, music, and politics. Fashionable balls were laid on all over the country thanks to the invention of the steam train, making them the perfect place to show off a new set of evening jewels. Image source; The British Library. Lavish balls were held up and down Britain for the wealthy to attend. It was a great opportunity to meet future partners, dancing demanding dances with the balls known to last from dusk til dawn. Key Georgian Styles & Influences Georgian jewellery can be instantly recognisable due to a few features. Jewels would be hand-made by skilled artisans, gemstones and metalwork sometimes appear to look less neat compared to more recent eras. Styles were dramatic and ornate, with delicate and intricate techniques such as repousse and cannetille heavily forming the styles of jewellery from this era. Historical events all over Europe in France, Germany and Italy also had an influence Georgian jewellery style, whilst artists such as J.M.W Turner and John Constable led the Romantic movement, visualising the beauty of nature through their paintings. Authors like Jane Austin and Samuel Johnson further pushed the Romanticism era. With the advancements in societal and industrial life, how jewellery was made and where it was worn also had a significant impact on the style of jewellery. Image source ; The Royal Academy. 'The Leaping Horse' , 1825 John Constable. "Constable paid great attention to weather and he described this painting as ‘a lovely subject, of the canal kind, lively – & soothing – calm and exhilarating, fresh – & blowing.’" Day-to-Night The Georgian era was a time for social living, embracing country house living in the day and elegant salon life at night. This of course allowed the need for the wealthy to have a vast array of jewels and clothes to bring distinction between day and night. Daytime jewellery consisted of gold chains featuring watches, agate, or coral. Brooches and pins were used to fasten shawls, rings were kept dainty and often featured a coloured gemstone, sometimes a ring was worn on every finger. Bracelets were worn in pairs, but by the end of the 1820’s half a dozen were being worn. Earring styles began lightweight, evolving into drop styles which could be conveniently split to transform into an earring top that could be separated from its drop to suit the time of day. Image source; 'Georgian Jewellery' by Ginny Redington Dawes and Olivia Collings, 2007. An excellent book we love to reference when researching about jewels from the Georgian era. Night jewellery was as you can image very different to the day jewels. Diamonds featured heavily to dazzle at evening parties. The invention of foil backed gemstones helped to enhance coloured gems in a candlelit room. Diamonds, gemstones, and pearls were always cohesive of the evenings theme and wearers outfit, an essential for every woman in attendance. Necklaces cascaded down necklines filled with gems, whilst brooches equally heavily featured gemstones. They would often be motifs of floral influence, playing into the Romanticism style. Rings were larger with clusters of diamond and gemstone combinations, paired with the day-to-night earrings. Repousse This was a common metal work technique involving hammering metals into intricate designs and patterns, giving highly detailed shapes and patterns, often floral, to jewellery styles. Image source; Collectors Weekly. Georgian Pink Topaz Repousse Necklace Cannetille In around 1790, cannetille came into style in England, and then much later in France in 1815. The style consists of extremely exquisite gold wire work, flourishing as a popular style until the 1830’s. Gold wire was worked to make it look woven, featuring motifs such as scrolls, tendrils and rosettes. Image source; Wikimedia. Early 19th century cannetille work brooch with an oval mixed-cut citrine in a foiled closed back setting, within a scroll and burr cannetille surround. Foil Backed Foil backing gemstones was introduced as a method to brighten and intensify the colours of diamonds and gemstones. Sometimes even being used to enhance poorly cut gemstones or non-precious stones. A reflective foil would be placed underneath closed-set stones to increase the refraction of light, producing a magical lustre and shimmer. It is important to note that over time these foils will have faded or tarnished and must be kept away from water. Image source; Charlie Luxe Vintage. Georgian 15ct Gold Foiled Amethyst Gemstone Earrings. "By foiling the reverse, Georgian jeweller's were able to acheive what we achieve today with perfectly symmetrically cut gemstones. The foiling technique improves the optical performance of the stone, and creates a fabulous effect when peering into the stone." Cameos and Intaglios Cameos and Intaglios are a form of carving designs into hardstones such as agate, onyx or lapis. Cameos tend to be large and dramatic, being carved to stand out in relief from its background, whereas intaglios are sunken by being carved into the surface, they also would be smaller in size and more understated. Both styles originated from Italy, often including a carved portrait of a loved one or featuring a mythological or religious motif. Image source; Pinterest. A Rare Georgian Onyx Intaglio Roman Soldier Ring Mourning Jewellery The custom to wear jewels to commemorate a death started hundreds of years before the Georgian era, but because of the publication of the book ‘Night Thoughts on Life, Death and Immortality’ by Edward Young, a revival of mourning jewellery began in England, and then spread to the rest of Europe and America. Memorial rings were by far the most common type of mourning jewellery, being handed to anyone who could afford one. Image source; Charlie Luxe Vintage. Georgian Pendant. The Georgian era was a period that has gone down in history as a time for industrialisation and romanticism which in turn has had a huge impact on the development on all future jewellery styles. There are still plenty of Georgian treasures buried away to be rediscovered, however most of it has ended up in private collections or converted into new jewels. We love to hunt for Georgian jewels as the allure of their history and age always entices us. We'd love to know what you love the most about Georgian jewellery!

The Charlie Luxe shop has seen so many fabulous jewels this year, its time to round up our favourites currently in the shop and our favourite pieces from the archive. THE ARCHIVE These are our favourite picks from what we have curated so far into 2022, it was hard narrowing it down and choosing between so many stunning items of antique jewellery. All of the pieces above have been chosen for their exceptional quality, rarity and beauty. The moonstone necklaces were particularly hard to find and pieces like this are always coveted and highly sought after. The characteristic 'blue sheen' that moonstone is so prized for is definitely a factor when picking out jewels such as the stunning treasures above. We can't wait to see what else we will find this year, how could we possible top the fabulous selection above? CURRENT GEMS All of these beautiful jewels are currently in stock and the pieces we are reaching for the most as a team. We have chosen jewel toned treasures and anything with a floral feminine vibe. The gorgeous blue hues in the rings stacked against the diamonds is summer perfection, and a fringe necklace over a white T-shirt feels like effortless chic when layering with a buttery high carat watch chain. .................................. What jewels are you wearing for the transition from spring to summer? Let us know below in the comments, we love hearing your thoughts!

You have probably encountered this style of jewellery before without even realising, a ring set with two gemstones either harmonious or opposing in colour, usually set opposite across the crown of the ring but can also sit side by side as shown above. Prior to collecting and selling antique jewellery, I would have appreciated the ring above purely for it's aesthetically pleasing appearance, without being aware of the particulars of it's historical significance. Toi Et Moi, You & Me The phrase toi et moi is French, translating to you and me. The wording alone, simple but effective, hints at the romantic symbolism tied into this style of ring and is quite literal with the placement of gemstones; Two gemstones side by side coiled around a band to represent the two people as one. The style is steeped in history and provenance while remaining a timeless and classic way to say be mine. Gemstones The gemstones used vary widely with taste and significance. A popular choice is using the intendeds birthstone coupled with a diamond for the ultimate in romance and bespoke personalisation. A modern take on the toi et moi is Megan Fox's ring designed by Machine Gun Kelly; Her ring features two pear cut gemstones, an emerald and a diamond, side by side. The emerald is her birthstone while the diamond is his birthstone. The use of the pear cut gemstones feels faintly familiar, looking back to the original toi et moi designed by Napoleon Bonparte and that ring also uses an arrangement of two pear cut gemstones on the crown of the ring. Image Source ; The Daily Mail, Machine Gun Kelly's engagement ring to Megan Fox Historically the style you are most likely to encounter is two different gemstones, set side by side, however styles do exist where the stones are both the same particularly in Art Deco era jewellery with two diamonds seen set together on a platinum band. Historical Toi Et Moi Rings There is no place better to start than with the fabulous and highly coveted original Toi Et Moi gifted to Empress Josephine by Napoleon Bonaparte himself on his proposal. In 1796 Napoleon Bonaparte used one of these very rings to propose, the ring in question featuring two pear shaped gemstones of Sapphire and diamond set into a gold band. Fast forward from the 18th century into the 19th, 20th and 21st, and these rings are still popularised and chosen for engagement rings. Image Source; Daily Mail, Napoleon Bonparte engagement ring gifted to Empress Josephine on their engagement. The ring features two pear cut gemstones, a sapphire and a diamond with the engraving with 'you and me forever' Another jewel that pushed the popularity of this ring style back into vogue was the ring given to Jacqueline Kennedy on her engagement to John Kennedy. The ring was a Van Cleef & Arpels design, consisting of a 2.84-carat emerald and a 2.88-carat diamond for the 'Toi et moi', while baguette-cut diamonds and emeralds featured on the shank. Image Source ; Vogue magazine. Jackie Kennedy's 'Toi et moi' engagement ring featuring an emerald and a diamond gemstone arrangement ..................................... The ring gifted from Napoleon Bonparte to Josephine is my favourite from the ones featured here, and also my favourite out of the jewels we've viewed for the article. The gorgeous setting around the pear shaped gemstones is completely swoonworthy, and the history behind it makes it all the more special. What do you think of Toi et moi rings ? Would you be happy to receive one as an engagement ring? Or are they best left as a sentiment rather than engagement ring? Let us know what you think in the comments below!