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]]> http://www.martnerandmowat.com/couturelab-an-insiders-look/feed/ 0 http://www.martnerandmowat.com/5-year-anniversary/ http://www.martnerandmowat.com/5-year-anniversary/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2012 09:00:50 +0000 alyson http://www.martnerandmowat.com/?p=717 Simon and I celebrated five magical five years together at Bob Bob Ricard in Soho earlier this month.

Simon surprised me with a beautiful pair of Crop Circle Hoop Earrings, from the award winning SHO Fine Jewellery collection. I have had my eye on these beauties for quite some time and felt like the bees knees wearing them out for the first time that evening.

There was the usual fabulously stylish crowd, designers, bloggers and press. Wonderful cocktails, great music and hostess with the mostess, Sibylle kept the guests entertained into the wee hours. What an amazing accomplishment for owners George and Henry Graham!

Photo by Chris James.

Working within the jewellery industry, the pressure was on to find the perfect ring. In initial discussions with our chosen designer, Sassalina founder and Creative Director, Sarah Freeman, we were determined to focus on the design of the ring rather than the stone.

Working out a story for the piece, to include romantic notions of my union with Simon, became over-complicated and contrived but Sarah’s patient and supportive approach gave us the opportunity to explore the avenues we needed.

Then one day she rang me to say that she had some stones she had selected with me in mind and would Simon and I like to join her for a glass of champagne at her home in Balham so that she could talk us through them.

We happily obliged and, looking back now, I was in no way prepared for the delightful experience that followed. A confection of precious stones; yellow and blue diamonds, chocolate coloured spinels, mossy sapphires and delicious emeralds awaited us.

Sarah is a fellow of the Gemmological Association of Great Britain, which involves passing rigorous exams and having a very scientific brain.  The amazing thing about Sarah though is that despite being able to source the most beautiful stones and having the ability to discuss minutiae of how it came into being, Sarah intuitively understands people, and is quick to associate stones with personalities and desires.

When presented with the beautiful, bold sapphire that now glints happily on my ring finger, my initial reaction was: ‘Am I allowed it?’, quickly followed by: ‘Am I brave enough?’

In order to answer the first question, she assured us that it was within our budget – Sarah never puts us in the position where we feel stretched beyond what we initially discussed. And, in response to the second question, it did take a little soul searching, but in the end I did decide I was brave enough and on the days when I do not feel as brave as I did then, it just takes a quick glance down at my left hand to fill me with the fierce fire that emanates from its yellow centre.

Here she is…

If you would like to get in touch with Sarah her email address is sarah@sassalina.com

We love getting feedback and requests from our clients, so took the decision recently to recruit a hand and neck model to work with us every Friday (something you thought, would be very useful).

Model shots compliment your product photography and help customers to understand scale when they purchase online. An opportunity not to be missed once a customer has clicked on an item of jewellery they like but are not sure how it will look against the skin, how to wear it or how big it will be.

We charge these shots at our silver level.

Do get in touch if you would like to book in some time on a Friday.

Claudia Bradby Jewellery worn by model.

We enjoyed visiting the beautiful Kabiri King’s Road store to celebrate the launch of JADA Fine Jewellery’s Mira collection. Ceyda and Nathalie were wonderful hosts and it was great to try on some beautiful pieces.

Simon has been putting together some footage he filmed there, so watch this space for the launch video… a great way of creating interest online.

We are back from an amazing weekend of surfing, sangria and sunshine. It was Simon’s 30th while we were away and what better way to celebrate. That’s him surfing on the right.

We have been shooting award-winning shoe designer Michael Lewis’s beautiful creations over the past few years and is always a treat to hang out with him in his studio and catch up on all his exciting projects and news.

Michael has worked for Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs and Burberry. His own label is sold internationally and he was recently made Versace’s design director of shoes. Here are some of his collection mood shots… swoon.