The Laings Journal
The Designs of Excellence Exhibition comes to Laings of Glasgow to showcase the best in British jewellery design. Unique collections from award winning designers such as Rachel Galley, Charmian Beaton and Arabel Lebrusan will be on show in the luxurious surrounding of Laings upstairs Designer Gallery from Friday 31st May – Friday 7th June and Wednesday 14th August – Tuesday 27th August.
Read more here about some of the most hotly anticipated creations from some of the finest jewellery designers in the U.K. today...
Charmian Beaton is a wonderful Scottish home-grown talent; she originates from Fife and now works from her own studio based in Maidstone in Kent. She specialises in contemporary diamond and gem set jewellery, and has just been named the winner of the annual Houlden Designer of Excellence 2013.
Her pieces are a sensation of modern, geometric design, crafted in white gold/metal and using precious gems. The beauty of the designer elements mixed with the fashion forward touches are key to the wear-ability of her jewellery. To take the example of the Mariposa Cocktail Pendant - you can see the fashion forward, designer elements by way of the inverted stud detail, she has reversed the outward prominence of the stud to create a triangular bowl effect. This softens this high fashion look, and while maintaining the contemporary style which allows for a timeless flavour. Her Mariposa range is unlikely to date, and will effortlessly out-live any current trend.
Frosted Sterling Silver Mariposa Mini Cocktail Pendant - £226
Rachel Galley is renowned as one the U.K’s premier jewellery designers, with accolades from UK Retailer Jewellery Awards she was winner of catwalk jewellery of the year 2012 and has been shortlisted for this year’s designer of the year.
Her work is at the cutting edge of fashion while also being fun to wear, with the ability to turn heads on the catwalk and also translate flawlessly into a commercial line. She uses predominantly her signature lattice work which make her designs instantly recognisable and contemporary but with a timeless elegance and sophistication. Her clever open-work ornamentation allows her non-gem set jewellery to reflect the light and sparkle as if set with diamonds. Her designs this year are some of the most decorative and glamorous pieces of the Designs of Excellence offering - The Satellite Pave Diamond Ring is a nothing short of showstopper, created in radiant 18CT White Gold with a generous scattering of exquisite Diamonds, it is a true statement piece.
18CT White Gold & Diamond Satellite Ring - £6,950
(If you would like to shop Rachel Galley jewellery, please click the link to visit our sister store Robert Stewart - http://www.robert-stewart.com/rachel-galley-m9 )
Arabel Lebrusan is an award-winning Spanish-born designer and recipient of the Celebration of Life Jewellery Design Awards 2007, and has been shortlisted as "New Designer" in the year 2010 and 2011 at the same event. She was Creative Director of Leblas jewellery, the first Ethical Jewellery Boutique in the famous Sloane street, London but she now works under her own name, and is commercialising these already iconic pieces which are worn by the likes of Princess Letizia of Spain and Sienna and Savannah Miller.
In her designs you will see fabulous, complex filigree work displayed by the poetic, flowing intricate detail throughout the pieces. They are hand-crafted in 100% recycled in Sterling Silver with yellow gold layered on top. Although the filigree technique harks back to an older time, you can see the modern designer touches coming through, particularly apparent in the Golden Heart bracelet, it has an overall simplistic design with just one central element. The simplicity of the chain link bracelet focuses the eye on the beautifully carved ribbons of golden metal, intertwined to enhance the heart centre. On practical note this piece also takes comfort into account and includes the wear-ability of the extended closure which allows the wearer the flexibility of a bracelet length that will suit most wrist sizes.
Filigree Friendship Heart Bracelet - £110
Please feel free to come and visit this stunning exhibition at anytime while the collection is with us - Laings of Glasgow, 46/50 Argyll Arcade, Glasgow.
No advance booking required, but please ring 0141 226 4088 if you have any questions...see you soon!
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