Jewel Tree London

Handmade bracelets, handmade rings, handmade earrings. Handmade jewellery is the trend of 2021 and if you haven’t topped up your collection yet, now is your chance. Within the sphere of handcrafted accessories, we’ve whittled down the leading handmade jewellery trends for 2021. All you need to do is choose your favourite and, for the best handcrafted jewellery, London is the place to go.

Stackable Rings

Why wear one handcrafted ring when you can wear five? Or nine? Stackable rings are one of the most creative ways to update your look for 2021. You can raid your current collection or hit the shops to pick out some new treasures. Strive for balance when working this handmade jewellery trend but don’t be afraid to mix up different metals, shapes, and colours.

Charm Bracelets

One thing that will never go out of style is handmade bracelets bedecked with beautiful charms. Charms are set to be huge this summer and what we love about them is that it gives you so much potential to create your own style and share your own story. Choose an elegant base band made from a robust quality metal and you can look forward to decorating it for years to come

Mismatched Earrings

If 2020 was the year of the solo earring, 2021 is the year of mismatched earrings. Give your lobes permission to rebel by pairing two outrageously different trinkets. You can buy sets of mismatched earrings, or head to your local boutique or craft fair and carve your own path.

Beaded Jewellery

A long standing trend within accessories, beads are back for 2021 and this year they’re bigger and brighter than ever. Whether you want handmade bracelets or necklaces, you’ll find every colour under the sun and in a variety of sizes. Equally fabulous for in person hang outs and Zoom dates.

Gold Vermeil

As the sun strengthens, use its rays to skyrocket your jewellery to the next tier. Handmade jewellery makers are relying on gold vermeil which encourages your accessories to shimmer in the summer sunshine, besides many years of wear. Choose a gold vermeil handcrafted ring encrusted with a jewel in your favourite hue and you’re ready to rock one of the season’s hottest looks.

Modern Pearls

That timeless classic is doing its rounds again and artisanal jewellery makers can’t get enough of the quintessential pearl. Choose between earrings, necklaces and rings - pearls are readily available at leading jewellery boutiques this year. And as any jewellery maker will tell you, there is no reason to save your peals for special occasions. Use them to dress up your work or casual wardrobe.

Statement Pendants

It’s time to layer up your hands with this year’s defining fashion, stackable rings. As one of the most creative and wearable trends, stack rings put the power in your hands to assert your own unique style. If you need some inspiration, we’ve rounded up 10 tips on how to stack rings like a pro whether for work or play.

Size ‘em up

Before you get started with stacking your rings, you should refer to a free ring sizer to ensure that any new bands you purchase fit perfectly. When it comes to stacking your rings, the placement of every ring matters.

Scheme of things

Consider your colour scheme when stacking your rings. One cool way to approach this style is to select gemstones in different hues of the same colour. Mix up a green onyx ring with an emerald, jade or green amethyst, or pull together turquoise with sapphire and lapis lazuli jewels.

It’s cool to clash

That being said, you shouldn’t fear splashing together colours that create contrast! Channel a swingin’ sixties vibe with a selection of primary colours or tangle up your favourite shades of pastel coloured stones.

Mix your metals

This former fashion faux pas is now fashion gold, literally! Weave together silver and gold vermeil rings (not forgetting rose gold) to create a splendid unity of metals. Our tip is that you twist the colours together rather than adorning each hand in a different metal hue.

Sparkle like you mean it

Don your most glittering diamonds and other shiny gemstones for a special occasion or formal event. Opt for miniscule rocks when stacking your rings to keep this approach more subtle and refined. If you have a diamond engagement ring, use this as your base.

Texturise

As well as experimenting with coloured gemstones and metals, do play around with different shapes and band thicknesses. Mix a couple of chunky bands with some slender, minimalist rings to create a dynamic look. In order to strike the balance just right, you can refer to a ring size guide and note that for thicker bands it is often beneficial to select one measurement above your normal ring size.

Old & new

Get imaginative with your choices and merge your eras. Rummage through your jewellery box to retrieve one of two antiques or family heirlooms and pair these with some fresh gold vermeil rings to form a unique style of antique chic meets modern sass.

Stop the show

Make a show stopping statement with a token ring paired with one or two smaller bands. Avoid wearing more than one grandiose band in one go as it can overdo this trend.

Throw some shapes

Embrace contemporary ring design and bring together different geometric cuts and shapes. Pair a sleek and refined green onyx ring with a striking modern silhouette and introduce rectangular cuts alongside circles, diamonds, and beyond. The sky’s the limit!

It’s all rosey

Want to strike a balance between showing off your fabulous jewellery and keeping your daily look streamlined? By day, we don’t want our choice of jewellery to mask our personality but we do need to curate our office look with consideration. Here are what leading ​London jewellery brands​​ have to say about everyday jewellery pieces and how to style them. 

1. A simple pendant 

A sophisticated pendant chain will look mindfully stylish. To dress up your neck, you could consider layering two or three simple chains. Try a short chain that skirts your shoulder blades paired with a chain that plunges to your lower rib cage. Choose the same shade of metal and keep the colours neutral to achieve a refined everyday look. A classic ​gold bar necklace garnished with your favourite stone works for both work and play! 

2. A dainty bracelet

An arm laced with bangles and charms makes quite the statement when you’re off-duty, but it might not be the most practical for work or popping to the shops. To achieve a wearable look, opt for a single, subtle bracelet that won’t get in the way of your day to day. A feminine ​rose gold bracelet​​ dotted with some simple icons is a tasteful choice. You could team your bracelet with a coordinating necklace or pair of earrings to present a professional image. 

3. One ring to rule... 

During the day, go big by adorning a solo finger with a beautifully bold band. Awaken your style with a ​gold statement ring​​ in an eye-catching, geometric pattern that adds texture to your work wardrobe. Alternatively, choose a simple band set with an enchanting stone. Timeless black onyx or mesmerising lapis lazuli can set an outfit alight. If you make a splash with your ring, keep your wrists bare and pair with only a simple necklace or pair of studs, so as not to overtip the balance.

4. Striking stud earrings

If you’re addicted to necklaces or can't leave the house with naked fingers, this one's for you! Stud earrings are the easiest way to balance out an ensemble that’s on the verge of being busy. If you have a vibrant necklace, choose simple studs in the same hue as the metal of your chain. If you wear your hair short or swept back from your face, choose a pair of ​unique silver earrings​​ which will command your co-workers' respect.

5. Sophisticated drop earrings

If you keep the rest of your look subtle, swap your studs for a fetching pair of drop earrings. The brighter the jewels or the longer the drop, the more you should minimise the rest of your jewellery. Keep your everyday drop earrings slender - and again, wear your hair back to show them off! Once you finish work, you can slick on a coat of lipstick and transform into your evening look!

Gold is available in multiple hues, the most typical being rose, yellow and white. When shopping for a new ​gold bar necklace​​ or ​gold statement ring​, deciding which gold tone is best for you might be challenging. Is one a better choice? Let’s find out. 

Rose gold v Gold: is one more special? 

Traditionally, yellow gold was used for engagement and wedding bands. In modern times, white and rose are increasing in popularity. Therefore you needn’t feel restricted.

You can wear any gold during the day or save it for special occasions. But, bear in mind that less durable gold will need extra care.

Which gold is the most durable? 

The higher the number of karats in the piece of gold, the purer the gold. But, a 24-karat gold statement ring ​will be much softer than its 14-karat gold equivalent, and therefore less durable.

In general, rose gold rings are considered more durable due to the copper content the gold is alloyed with.

Which gold is the cheapest?

A burning question for those on a budget! The price of gold jewellery is usually based on many karats are in the piece. A 20-karat ​rose gold bracelet ​will often cost more than a 16-karat yellow​ gold bar necklace​.

Note that some jewellers price rose gold cheaper due to the presence of copper alloys.

Which gold is best for sensitive skin?

As a rule of thumb, the higher the gold content in a ring the less likely are allergic reactions. When comparing rose and yellow gold, as well as white gold then yellow gold is the most hypoallergenic of all three.

Because copper is not hypoallergenic, rose gold may cause a skin reaction. Got ​your heart set on a designer ​rose gold necklace for women​? You’ll want to do a skin test with copper prior!

Which shade of gold matches your skin tone? 

One way to decide which gold to choose it to assess your skin tone. 

Fair skin with red undertones - We advise avoiding rose gold. It can look make you look, well, too rosy! We encourage white gold as your number one choice.

Fair skin with pale undertones - You’ll have more luck with rose and yellow gold. However, white gold will still be the most ideal with your skin tone.

Olive or Mediterranean skin - Lucky you! You can wear either yellow, rose or white gold! The world (of jewellery) is your oyster. So you can go out and find your perfect rose gold necklace for women.

Arabic, fair African and dark African skin - Rose gold and yellow gold look particularly stunning on your skin tone. White gold is an option too.

Asian skin - Yellow gold is perfect for you, but you can get away with rose and white gold.

Rose gold vs yellow gold: in summary