SUMMER BLACK

Diamond and Tahitian Pearl Earrings in 18k White Gold, £699

Diamond and Tahitian Pearl Earrings in Platinum, £999

Diamond and Tahitian Pearl Pendant in 18k White Gold, £399

Diamond and Tahitian Pearl Pendant in Platinum, £1199

We’re back with another drool-worthy fashion story! Tahitian pearls are like the edgy younger sister to Freshwater and Akoya pearl varieties. As the weather is heating up (well, just a tad) we looked at the unexpected Summer Black trend.

Layering black on black means you can truly pay attention to texture; gleaming pearls add just the right amount of shine whilst still ensuring you’ve got the stylish ‘London look’. Rock chick or glamour puss, Tahitian pearls can tick all the right boxes when styled up or down.

Don’t forget to check back soon to see what the next Vashi.com theme will be. Like or love? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter…

Vashi Dominguez’s Top Summer Weddings

Okay, okay… so this post may be a little premature! But here at Vashi.com HQ, the sun is just peeking in through our window blinds, we walked to work in our sunnies (well, no one was stopping us!) and it’s officially spring, apparently. To that end, Vashi looked to the fabulous celebrity weddings that took place during summertime and picked his faves! Feast your eyes on this lot…

KATE MOSS AND JAMIE HINCE, 1ST JULY 2011

The Cotswolds may not be the most exotic of wedding destinations but the countryside retreat looked heavenly in the July sunshine. Vashi told us: “Kate’s sparkling custom-made John Galliano wedding dress looked truly mesmerising. On the day, Jamie and Kate exchanged sleek simple yellow gold wedding bands, which Kate wears alongside her engagement ring (worth $80,000), which was inspired by 1920s party girl Zelda Fitzgerald’s art deco ring. I adore engagement rings with a story behind them!”

MEGAN FOX AND BRIAN AUSTIN GREEN, 24TH JUNE 2010

A cinematic setting just perfect for an actress – Megan and Brian wed on a Hawaiian beach. “The couple both wore white Armani, with Megan’s flowing gown and long veil floating in the breeze,” Vashi remembered. “It was a very intimate wedding with only one witness (Brian’s young son) and it looked idyllic. Meghan wears a 3 carat radiant cut diamond ring set in a platinum collar (valued approximately at $80,000) plus a platinum and diamond eternity band (worth $20,000).” Maximum sparkle indeed!

ALICIA KEYS AND SWIZZ BEATZ, 31ST JULY 2010

Vashi recalls: “Alicia Keys had a visible baby bump for her summer wedding, which was flattered by her beautiful one-shouldered Vera Wang silk gown. The stunning Mediterranean sea off Corsica glimmered nearly as much as her 7 carat yellow diamond ring! Smaller side stones adorn the ring, which also had a sparkly halo setting.” Alicia held traditional purple calla lilies, which add extra vivid colour – lovely!

KEIRA KNIGHTLEY AND JAMES RIGHTON, 4TH MAY 2013

“I can’t help but smile when I look back at images of Keira on her summer wedding day,” muses Vashi. “Rocking sunglasses and a pretty Chanel dress and bucle jacket for the occassion, her engagement ring was a more classic choice. Keira wears a solid platinum band with a brilliant cut solitaire 2 carat diamond, which cost around $40,000.”

KATE BOSWORTH AND MICHAEL POLISH, 31ST AUGUST 2013

Undeniably a style icon herself, Kate Bosworth’s wedding didn’t disappoint in the style stakes either. “The pair celebrated with a romantic ranch ceremony and Kate wore an elegant Oscar de la Renta dress,” admires Vashi. “Kate even arrived in a horse-drawn carriage!” Kate stated: “The design of the wedding band is based off the design of the engagement ring, which is a 1920s art deco design. There are two delicate baguettes supporting the main diamond. We wanted to create a wedding band that incorporated 12 of these diamond baguettes for each month of the year.” Wow!

NATALIE PORTMAN AND BENJAMIN MILLEPIED, 4TH AUGUST 2012

Vashi recalls, “Natalie enjoyed a summer evening wedding, which looked like it was straight out of a fairy-tale. A girly, Princess-like dress, ballet pumps and loosely waved hair with a dainty floral headband added to the magic. Natalie’s engagement ring has a value of around $35,000 and is eco-friendly. The striking ring includes recycled platinum, accenting conflict-free pavé diamonds and a huge antique centre stone.”

Have you enjoyed a summer wedding… or perhaps you’re planning one after being inspired by these celebrity examples? Tell us over on Twitter and Facebook.

 

Get the Look – Kristin Cavallari’s Wedding Band

Kristin Cavallari and Jay Cutler are officially husband and wife.

The 26-year-old former “Laguna Beach” and  “The Hills” star married Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, 30, on Friday in Nashville, Tennessee in front of 150 of their closest friends and family.

In January 2012, they announced they were expecting a baby. The couple welcomed their son Camden Jack in August 2012.

Cavallari broke the news via Twitter on Friday, sharing this photo of their wedding bands.

Kristen Cavallari and Jay Cutler’s Wedding Rings. Picture: Kristen Cavallari via Twittwer

Get the Look with Diamond Manufacturer’s gorgeous channel set diamond bands in Platinum or 18ct White Gold.

Channel Set Diamond Wedding Ring in Platinum – 1 carat £1999

Channel Set Diamond Wedding Ring in Platinum – 0.5 carat £1199

Bridal Jewellery; Pendant Picks

This stunning Spiral design pendant is pave set with 31 diamonds and comes complete with a 18 inch 18k White Gold chain, ready to be worn £599

 

The big day is nearly here, the dress has been altered, the flowers ordered, the champagne is almost on ice.

Here are a few finishing touches to complete your look for your wedding day with some timeless pieces of classic bridal jewellery, today we’re giving you pretty pendants.

Designs which can be fondly worn again and again, ideal presents from your husband-to-be for your wedding morning, ideas to tick off ‘something new’ and even ‘something blue’ in one go, simply by adding a dash of Sapphire.

Nineteen pave set, round brilliant cut diamonds feature in this gorgeous floral pendant. The perfect piece of sparkle for any bride. £899

This dainty diamond pendant features 1 round diamond with a total carat weight of 0.10ct. A jewellery box staple and a fantastic gift idea £259

This stunning diamond and Akoya pearl pendant features 1 round brilliant diamond with a total carat weight of 0.10ct.

Our diamond and blue sapphire pendant features 4 marquise diamonds with a total carat weight of 0.20ct.
The diamonds are beautifully complemented by 1 medium dark blue Sapphire.
This pendant comes complete with an 18 inch Cable chain.

Chelsea Flower Show – Petals and Diamonds

Garden gnomes, one of which designed by British musician Elton John (C), are seen during the Chelsea Flower Show press day in London on May 20, 2013. Picture: AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALLBEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images

Heralding in the summer season, it wouldn’t be summer in London without May’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Perhaps the most famous horticultural show in the world, every year, come rain or shine, thousands of people flock to Chelsea from all over the world. Visitors see boutique gardens designed by leading names in horticulture and design as well as feature gardens for urban spaces.

Marc Quinn at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Picture: Getty Images via Daily Mail

Famous faces flocked to the Chelsea Flower Show yesterday for the opening and press preview day where artist Marc Quinn unveiled his work of a giant orchid as part of the show. Zara Phillips was the first of the royal family present for the show before today’s grand opening and cut the 100th birthday cake for the festival, marking it centenary this year.

With the English country garden continuing as the top trend for UK weddings, take a peek at our summer floral collection featuring beautiful pave set diamond pendants, floral bridal jewellery, diamond wedding bands and matching diamond jewellery in classic styles which will last longer that the famously short English summertime.

Fleur Diamond Earrings in White Gold

These stunning Fleur diamond earrings feature 40 bezel set round brilliant diamond side stones encased in 18 carat White Gold  with a total carat weight of 0.50ct, the pair totals an entire carat. The perfect ‘something new’ for a summer wedding.

£999 18ct White Gold

 

Diamond Floral Pendant in Platinum

This beautifully delicate, honeycomb floral pendant is set with 19 round diamonds with a carat weight of 0.5. Pave set, this eyecatching piece somes complete with an 18 inch Platinum chain.

£1299 Platinum

£899 White Gold

Fleur Diamond Pendant in Platinum

This stunning pendant comprises a prong set round brilliant 0.5 carat centre diamond encased in Platinum and surrounded by 20 round bezel set diamonds. The Fleur Diamond Pendant comes complete with

an 18 inch Platinum chain.

£999 in Platinum

£599 18ct White Gold SOLD OUT – Call or email us to order

Congratulations! Olympian Jessica Ennis weds

Jessica Ennis and husband Andy Hill. Picture: PA via Daily Mail

 

This weekend saw Champion Olympic hepathlete Jessica Ennis wed her childhood sweetheart in Derbyshire.

The 27 year old heptathlete tied the knot with fiance Andy Hill after eight years, meeting at school in King Ecbert School in Dore, Sheffield. Their wedding took place at the picturesque St Michael and All Angels Church in Hathersage. The bride was accompanied by four bridesmaids and wore a sleeveless ivory ruffled gown. Jessica carried a simple hand-tied bouquet of pink and cream roses. The groom and groomsmen wore mid-grey morning suits accessorized with a pink pocket square and a single cream rose as a boutonniere.

Jessica Ennis’ wedding ring and engagement ring. Picture: PA via Daily Mail

Jessica’s bridal jewellery was a simple diamond pendant and solitaire style earrings which perfectly complemented her exquisite diamond-set Platinum bridal band which was worn alone for the ceremony, with her Platinum solitaire engagement ring worn on her right hand. The groom’s ring is a classic and simple band of white metal.

Round Cut 0.75 Carat G/SI1 Platinum Diamond Engagement Ring
£1,999

Channel Set Diamond Wedding Ring in Platinum
£799

4mm Court Shape Platinum Wedding Ring
£609

4mm Court Shape Platinum Wedding Ring £609

Channel Set Diamond Wedding Ring in Platinum £799

Round Cut 0.75 Carat G/SI1 Platinum Diamond Engagement Ring £1,999

Spiral Diamond Pendant in 18k White Gold £599

1 Carat Spiral Diamond Stud Earrings in 18k White Gold with Push Backs £899

Roaring Twenties; vintage-inspired glamour

With the impending arrival onto the silver screen of Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, you may have noticed a distinct and swift rise in the trend for all things Twenties.

Set in 1922, the Great Gatsby features an envious amount of show stopping, breath-taking jewellery; from Daisy Buchanan’s enormous engagement ring to Jordan Baker’s stunning pearl earrings, the film is a heady whirl of diamonds and pearls.

In smoky lounges, jazz music blossomed among cocktails, pearls and parties, the diamond-drenched ‘Roaring Twenties’ saw glamour taken to new heights with daring new emerging trends across the globe.

The organic shaped and lines of art nouveau sail into the clean elegant lines of art deco in our twenties collection of fine diamond and pearl jewellery pictured above.

Pearl earrings, gemstone pendants and a spectacular range of diamond bridal bands and unique engagement rings all feature in our vintage-inspired extravaganza.

The Twenties saw the emergence of a fashion for platinum set diamond jewellery and the introduction of white-gold to mainstream jewellery as a substitute for platinum, to meet rising demand. Our Twenties collection pieces are all finely worked in fine Platinum or dazzling 18 carat White Gold.

Round Cut 0.81 Carat Halo Engagement Ring with Side Stones

Platinum £2,299

18 ct White Gold £1799

This vintage style Octagon engagement ring harks back to the lines of the early 20^th century and beyond. On a 2.5mm Platinum or 18 carat White Gold band, a central, Round, Brilliant cut 0.45 carat diamond is surrounded by 36 individual pave set side stones in a stunning, original halo setting.

Total diamond weight is 0.81 carats, giving a radiant sparkle to this beautiful ring.

Round Cut 0.82 Carat Halo Engagement Ring with Side Stones

Platinum, £2,299.

18ct White Gold, £1799

Similar in style to those worn by Jessica Biel, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba, this square halo diamond engagement ring is a striking and uncommon design. On a 2.5mm band of Platinum or 18 carat White Gold, a central Round, Brilliant cut diamond is encircled by 44 side stones and has a total diamond weight of 0.82 carats. The halo remains the top choice for engagement rings; this one really stands out from the crowd.

Round Cut 0.61 Carat Halo Engagement Ring 

Platinum £2,399

18ct White Gold, £1699.

With a traditional 2.8mm band, this  unusual halo setting oozes vintage glamour. The centre stone is a Round brilliant, 0.45 Carat, G Colour, VS1 Clarity and Ideal cut, giving it a fantastic sparkle. The Halo setting contains 16 pave set stones, enhancing the fire and brilliance of the centre stone.

Round Cut 0.75 Carat Halo Engagement Ring with Side Stones

Platinum £2,499

18ct White Gold £1899 SOLD OUT – Call or email to order

This ring is the jewel in the crown of our vintage look collection. A spectacular fine Platinum band secures our grandest halo setting, surrounded with 46 pave set diamond side stones. The ultimate ring, this design sells out immediately every time  it’s in stock. The truly dazzling centre stone is Round Cut, 0.45 Carat, G Colour, VS1 Clarity and Ideal cut, giving it a superior sparkle.

Round Cut 0.95 Carat Halo Engagement Ring with Side Stones

Platinum £2,899

18ct White Gold £2199

One of our largest pre-set stone, a dazzling, round brilliant cut, G coloured 0.45ct centre stone is encircled by a 26 diamond prong set, split shoulder setting. Cast in Platinum of 18 carat White Gold, this beautiful 2.5mm band has glittering, vintage style with an enduring elegance.

Spiral Diamond Set – Pendant and Earrings

Platinum £999

18ct White Gold £599

This stunning Diamond Pendant comes with an 18 inch Platinum or 18 carat White Gold chain. With 31 pave set diamonds this breathtaking piece will glitter and shine forever. Complete the look with matching earrings; 1 carat, 62 round diamonds.

18 ct White Gold £899

Platinum £1299

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We also offer a bespoke jewellery service, if you have an antique engagement  ring design or heirloom family piece you would like to emulate using the latest in modern techniques and beautiful directly-sourced natural diamonds and precious metals, please get in touch to speak to one of our diamond experts using our live web chat, via old-fashioned telephone (to speak to a real person) on (+44) 0800 530 0541 or email us, service@diamondmanufacturers.co.uk