skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Kester Black or rather, the designer of Kester Black, New Zealander Anna Ross has been gracious enough to bless us with another collection from her jewellery label in the spirit of silver, recognisable patterns and words as well as raw crystal. There's a more teenage and best friends appeal in this collection, which I was a little affronted and let down by but I do rather like the use of unusual crystal glimmering in colours for each cut surface. This collection, presumably for 2012 in the Spring/ Summer season has a greater focus for silver as well as clean white enamel and pure, semi-precious stones such as pearls and crystal.
I've never really payed a lot of attention to commemorative jewellery for platonic friendships- it's all very elementary school age and juvenile, but if you are that way inclined then at the very least you could buy a metal you can clean after tarnishing. These 'Forever Friends' rings come with a flat face and fancy scripted writing fit for two people, may as a parting gift and a memento/ reminder to keep in contact with one another. My mother and her best friend, whom I refer to fondly as my Aunt have been friends since high school in Malaysia despite my mother now living in Australia and my Auntie Gwen living in Vancouver.
My second favourite piece in the collection and favourite necklace is this piece above, known affectionately as the 'Northern Lights Flower Necklace' in the shape of a folded tulip made of silver and a pollen centre of a crystal. I have seen this affect achieved with Dichrotic glass, but even if this is a lower grade quality type of crystal quartz I am still drawn to the mysticism of this piece as well as the pure white and blue tones of the stone. When worn and seen from afar it can look like a rather simple pendant but when inspected more closely with gentle fingertips it's prepossessing nature can be discovered by any person.
My first choice of piece in the Thick as Thieves collection by Kester Black is of course an ornate ring with thick silver band and face inscribed detail and another crystal of unusual colour at the centre. It reminds me so much of cheap movie affects and lasers shot from the foreheads of fortune tellers and psychics- it must be the strong floral petal and claw setting around this jewel. I would love to see more fine detail in the inscribed shoulder detail on the ring and the lines brought out by the use of oxidation to highlight the design.
My personal preference of the Northern Lights Flower Necklace over the Pearl Flower Necklace is more to do with my love for the quirky, weird and unusual. I have a pearl necklace and bracelet gifted to my for my eighteenth birthday from my boyfriend's mother. It's a nice combination, the silver and the pearl but still I admire the twinkling of the crystal stone held in the petals of an open flower and should you be desperate enough, it's a secret place for you to put your chewed gum- thought I would personally discourage this and scowl at anyone eager to attempt such a manoeuvre.
We've seen nuggets of stone before which chose to imitate raw crystal and stone alike from Kester Black but this collection has a more polished and bubbly effect to it. Many of the necklaces whether they be long or or small little chunks have been named 'Mother Earth' in reference to the life giving nature and beauty of out planet (some speculation from myself). It's not really the Kester Black style that I've come to know and love- I adore the roughness and edge of raw crystal and oddly cut stones instead with oil slick colours bouncing off the edges od her pieces.
Many a month ago I recall seeing something of this whimsical and fantastic calibre on the blog of fashion blogger Susie Bubble of the Style Bubble! I can't believe Gala Curios (a brand I have previously covered) have created such diverse pieces in terms of design as well as the materials used. The necklaces you see before you are made from lace covered in enamel for a hardened look on a thin and chic silver chain. I love the minimalist chain which doesn't detract attention away from the large and feminine pendants- only recently I received my Stolen Girlfriends Club ring in silver with a bow motif and I already want to get the gold plated ring as well! Bows are such a great feminine statement, and when done well I think they look brilliant but when done wrong they make jewellery look cheap and tacky and clothing becomes childish rather than chic.
If you don't like the lace effect as well as perforated nature of the material then there's also the ribbon necklace covered in enamel which is the perfect size and shape for a large statement bow on a silver chain. I can't wait to get my hands on one of these enamel bow necklaces from Gala Curios for myself, especially in my favourite colour, lilac. The knot at the centre of the bow shown above looks a little neater than the lace bow but for both types of necklaces the bow loops and end sashes look great being a little larger and spreading out towards the ends.
If you have the money to splash around, maybe the lace bib necklace in aqua blue would be worn layered upon another necklaces, such as the lilac bow necklace which I believe has a bit of a longer chain to it. I've been in a bit of a fantasy mood lately- it must come from staying up a little too late and scouring Etsy for some of the coolest clothes and jewellery. If I had to choose between the bow necklaces and the small lace bib necklace I would choose bows since I like a longer chain but that's not to detract from the beautiful colour of this piece. Also, with different coloured enamel lace and bows there's contrasting chains in either rose gold, silver and yellow gold which are all pre-determined.
I've tracked down a website that sells these necklaces for just under $100 each so as soon as my term-deposit clears, I sort out the laptop situation for university endeavours as well as selling a few more bits and pieces on eBay I should be all clear to get my hands on a piece from Gala Curios! I love their jewellery, there's a statement and dramatic theatre approach to their designs but they use great materials such as precious metals as well as leather and lace dripping with enamel. The bow necklaces are a great way to add a statement to a plain dress and since I'm in love with my resin rose necklace, why not add another feminine motif and fragile necklace to my collection?
Kester Black or rather, the designer of Kester Black, New Zealander Anna Ross has been gracious enough to bless us with another collection from her jewellery label in the spirit of silver, recognisable patterns and words as well as raw crystal. There's a more teenage and best friends appeal in this collection, which I was a little affronted and let down by but I do rather like the use of unusual crystal glimmering in colours for each cut surface. This collection, presumably for 2012 in the Spring/ Summer season has a greater focus for silver as well as clean white enamel and pure, semi-precious stones such as pearls and crystal.
My first choice of piece in the Thick as Thieves collection by Kester Black is of course an ornate ring with thick silver band and face inscribed detail and another crystal of unusual colour at the centre. It reminds me so much of cheap movie affects and lasers shot from the foreheads of fortune tellers and psychics- it must be the strong floral petal and claw setting around this jewel. I would love to see more fine detail in the inscribed shoulder detail on the ring and the lines brought out by the use of oxidation to highlight the design.
We've seen nuggets of stone before which chose to imitate raw crystal and stone alike from Kester Black but this collection has a more polished and bubbly effect to it. Many of the necklaces whether they be long or or small little chunks have been named 'Mother Earth' in reference to the life giving nature and beauty of out planet (some speculation from myself). It's not really the Kester Black style that I've come to know and love- I adore the roughness and edge of raw crystal and oddly cut stones instead with oil slick colours bouncing off the edges od her pieces.
