Founded in 1896, the French jewellery house, Van Cleef & Arpels, first came to prominence in the late 1920s. It distinguishied itself through the technical creation of the ‘The Mystery Setting’ that enabled gemstones to be snugly set against each other, whilst concealing the setting beneath. The end result is one of unbroken colour without the...
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Wishes and dreams very often come true and Christmas is that time of year, so don’t just leave it to the little people to dream of their heart’s desires. Get chummy with the Christmas fairy. Check out suggestions for your wish list or mistletoe dreams. Each of our categories highlights a dream or a wish to...
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The arrival of the flapper in the mid 1920s not only changed the social status of women, but it had a profound influence on fashion and style that continues to resonate today. Politically, women pushed for equal rights, they experienced the freedom of working outside the home and enjoyed greater mobility and disposable income. With...
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Diamonds aren’t always considered ‘a girl’s best friend’ – in the case of the Hope Diamond, it was long believed to hold mystical powers and bring grief. Excavated from the Kollur mine in Golconda, India in 1642, the diamond was part of the famous Tavernier blue diamond (a whopping 115.16 carats the equivalent of 23 gms!). It...
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On 6 August 2015, The Johnson Collection is featuring a lecture by Jeweller, Adrian Dickens, which explores the history of the Queen’s diamonds and the stories and history behind the Russian tiaras, the political role of Queen Victoria’s diadem, and how the Queen, Camilla and now Kate, use diamonds to express political power. This crown was commissioned...
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