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Grant and Kyron were presented with the award at a glittering award ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London where the glamorous Lisa Snowdon presented them with the award.

Now in its 18th year, the UK Jewellery Awards celebrates the very best that the country has to offer with over 600 key figures from the jewellery industry in attendance to celebrate a year of success and hard work.

To top it all off, the woman knows how to accessorise. Check her out rocking chunky statement bangles, a gorgeous disco ball ring and a dainty little love heart necklace… we love her look (and wish we had washboard stomachs like her too!)

You can recreate J-Lo’s look with the Thomas Sabo Black Disco Ball Ring, stacked ROX Silver bead bracelets, our adorable diamond love heart pendant and our large gold plated hoop earrings.

Thomas Sabo Silver Black Disco Ball ring	ROX Silver and Gold Plated Large Hoop earrings	ROX Diamonds White Gold Diamond Heart pendant
£169	£275	£175

ROX Silver Bead bracelets

£25 each

Et voila… La Lopez look without breaking the bank.

*J-Lo Image courtesy of Daily Mail

]]> http://www.rox.co.uk/blog/jewellery/steal-j-los-style/feed/ 0 http://www.rox.co.uk/blog/interviews/rox-talks-to-monica-vinader/ http://www.rox.co.uk/blog/interviews/rox-talks-to-monica-vinader/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:15:25 +0000 admin http://www.rox.co.uk/blog/?p=678

Monica Vinader

Monica Vinader is now a regular in glossy magazines such as Vogue, Harpers and Grazia, with a celebrity following including Cameron Diaz, Keira Knightly and Cheryl Cole.

We talk the award winning jewellery designer about the inspiration behind her collection, success and what motivates her.

How long have you been designing jewellery for?

I started working in the jewellery industry straight after graduating from Art School in London. From then I went on to design bespoke collections, and set up my brand 5 years ago.

What motivates you?

My family and my surroundings motivate me. I am always full of ideas, often more than I can execute! I’m a perfectionist and am motivated by doing things to the best of my ability

Would you say your designs reflect you personal style?

Absolutely. I have a very busy lifestyle and as well as the business, have a 4 year old daughter, so I like to wear simple, chic clothing, and add a touch of decadence with lots of colourful jewellery.

Please explain the design process in creating a piece of Monica Vinader jewellery?

My designs are based on semi-precious stones, which are bespoke cut for us and I often start by finding a beautiful cut of stone, then working round that to find a design that will showcase it to it’s best. I carry my sketchbook with me wherever I go and am inspired by art, nature and architecture, so my designs are often developments of sketches I may have done the week before at my home in Norfolk, or the year before on holiday!

You already have a celebrity following from Cheryl Cole, Dannii Minogue and Keira Knightly, who else would you like to see wearing Monica Vinader?

I would absolutely love for my pieces to be worn on the red carpet. Penelope Cruz is a favourite of mine and I would love to see Sarah Jessica Parker adorned in Monica Vinader!

What makes a woman stylish?

I think being comfortable and confident with your look is the key. Style is not always about following the latest trend. A woman who mixes her clothing and accessories, wears pieces she has picked up over the years and wears them in a way that reflects her personality is often a more stylish woman than one dressed head to toe straight off the catwalk.

What is your favourite piece of jewellery and why?

My engagement ring. I designed it with my husband and we very much wanted to make a fantastic piece that would suit my lifestyle and that I could wear all the time. I have worn it every day since and it get many compliments!

What are the key jewellery Trends for A/w 2010?In our AW 10 collections, the focus is on soft shapes and as always, striking colours. Our Nugget Collection incorporates organic shaped, multifaceted stones, encased in Sterling Silver or 18ct Gold Vermeil with a gentle hammered finish.

And friendship bracelets are proving to be THE thing to wear. Our Fiji and Rio Bracelets have become phenomenally successful and we have extended the collection with new Metallic colours and the introduction of the Mini Fiji Bracelet. Each comes with their own meaning and are a fantastic gift!

What are your style rules for wearing Monica Vinader?

There are no rules! If you love a piece of jewellery it should be worn however and wherever you like. Our customer is generally women who are not afraid of enjoying their jewellery every day, not just special occasions: on holiday, at parties, collecting kids from school or going to work.

5 things we should know about Monica Vinader?

1. I’m Spanish born but have travelled the world and lived in various countries including Mexico and Argentina.
2. We are opening our 3^rd Monica Vinader store in Spain in the coming weeks! 
3. I have a beautiful daughter Scarlett, who inspires me everyday. 
4. I used to run a fishing lodge with my husband! 
5. We won UK Jewellery Brand of the Year in 2009.

What can we expect to see from Monica Vinader for S/S2011?

We have big plans! We have just rebranded and are currently in the process of launching our new look across stores and will be re-launching a new and improved website in the coming weeks. 2011 is also the year we plan to open our first London Store which I am incredibly excited about.

Luckily, there plenty of routes you could go down when it comes to choosing jewellery. You might like to go for earrings, bracelets, necklaces or rings, for example, and upping the ante to diamonds would be well worth considering for something extra special.

And, no matter what style your recipient prefers, there’ll be jewellery to suit. Classic designs are always going to be in fashion, or if you’re after something more contemporary you’ll be able to find it. The options are endless, and you’re bound to find just the piece that you’re looking for.

But, it needn’t just be for women. Men are just as likely to appreciate a few carefully-chosen pieces, and thanks to the huge range available for men these days you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding something to suit. Rings could be on the cards, as could diamond bracelets or necklaces, or play it safe and go for gents watches instead.

No matter who you’re buying for or what style you need, jewellery can really make the perfect gift. If you think it’s time to get shopping to surprise that special someone, make sure to come to us here at ROX for a truly fantastic selection of pieces and get ready to impress.

A glittering diamond cluster ring or sparkling trilogy ring is a wonderful symbol of engagement. The way diamond engagement rings of any style rests on that significant fourth finger on the left hand is truly an emblem of love. But how has so much meaning become attached to that particular finger?

To think about love and marriage symbolically is imperative. Think about love and one of the first symbols encountered is… the heart. An ancient western-based belief developed that the fourth finger was directly linked to the heart, thus making it the most meaningful finger in matters of the heart.

An ancient Chinese explanation for the fourth finger rule is this – when you place your palms together and fold in your two middle fingers (keep all of your other fingers touching their counterpart), try to separate the two ring fingers… it can’t be done! This is symbolic of husband and wife being bound together, inseparable through life.

Hand preference seems to be just that – personal preference, be it religious, cultural or practical. Furthermore, and in the spirit of bending tradition, why not indulge the recent fashion for “mengagement” rings (diamond engagement rings for men) – there’s no tradition yet so be as creative as you like!

They say “time waits for no man” (or woman), so the best we can do is keep track of it. Mobile timepieces have become a mainstay of our culture. The first “clock-watches” to be worn were around in the 1500’s, though these were magnificently heavy and inaccurate, and tended to serve more as ornamental jewellery than anything – very different to the range ROX can offer you online!

Gents Watches

The wristwatch holds court as the most commonplace item of everyday jewellery for many men. Covering the bases of fashion and practicality, classic designer watches can last a lifetime. One of the main decisions you make will be strap material. Most popular are leather, stainless steel, canvas or rubber.

Ladies Watches

A woman may own thirty eight pairs of shoes, but she probably only wears one watch regularly. A well-chosen watch by one of our partners, for example, Armani jewellery, is a beautiful symbol to enjoy every day. Think carefully about her lifestyle and taste before you buy, and if in doubt go for something classic.

After all, who wouldn’t like to keep a favourite present in sight round the clock!

Choosing the Ring

For a start, the right diamond engagement rings don’t have to be a total surprise. This is something a woman will wear for her lifetime – slipping it on and off to take a shower, retelling the story of how you became engaged while she gently spins the sentimental jewellery on her finger.

Many couples find choosing diamond engagement rings together to be an affirmation of why they’re choosing to marry one another.

The Price of True Love

The question of who pays for this epic diamond jewellery is, in this day and age, one for discussion. The common opinion seems to be that a real gentleman would (at least offer to) foot the bill.

Father Knows Best

The notion of asking parental “permission” is nowadays one of respect rather than authorisation. This tradition finds its historical roots in an accord being reached between father and suitor, but the more modern approach is simply about a future son-in-law displaying good manners. Remember, these people will be family soon so do everything you can to make the right impression!

Simply relying on your homeowner or renter insurance may not be enough to sufficiently cover more valuable pieces adequately. Check your policy thoroughly to clarify the exact parameters of what your current policy will cover.

Taking out a specific insurance policy for your collection need not be complicated. The three most common types of policy are Valued At, Actual Value and Market Value Replacement.

Valued At policies are less common due to their expense. Say your diamond necklace is worth £1000 but of great sentimental value, the insurer will accept your own valuation, for example £1500, to cover the added cost of emotional upset. You can see why these policies are expensive!

An Actual Value policy is the most common and economically viable. This policy will reimburse you in cash, however the amount will be the current market value of the piece (which could mean depreciation) rather than its original value.

Market Value Replacement policies are essentially the same as Actual Value, though, as the name suggests, your lovely diamond earrings would be replaced with a pair at the current market value rather than compensating you in cash.

Here are some key points to check:

* What are the terms with regard to storage of your pieces?

* Are basic repairs covered by the policy?

* Is your jewellery covered in transit and abroad?

Cut

Contrary to popular belief, the ‘cut’ of a diamond refers to its reflective qualities rather than its shape. The brilliance of a diamond depends heavily on its cut, so the angles and finish of any diamond are the key factors in its ability to negotiate light. A good cut gives a diamond that magical brightness that seems to emanate from deep inside itself.

Clarity

Most diamonds contain some minor imperfections that have occurred during their formation. Industry experts call these imperfections ‘inclusions’.  The number, size and visibility of these inclusions are what determine the overall clarity of a diamond. Diamonds rings which are free of inclusions are fantastically brilliant and so are very highly sought after.

Colour

A colourless diamond allows more light to pass through it than a coloured diamond and so creates a greater sparkle. Completely colourless diamonds are rare so the more “white” a diamond’s colour is, the greater its value.

Carat Weight

A carat is the unit of weight by which diamond jewellery is measured, with one carat being equal to 0.2 grams (200 milligrams). Larger diamonds have a greater value per carat as they are discovered much less frequently than smaller diamonds.