Men's Jewellery - Libertine Collection by William Cheshire

Thorn Jewellery chat with William Cheshire

The eagerly anticipated launch of William Cheshire's Libertine collection including multiwrap mens bracelet and Libertine Mens Rings offer a new dimension of the highest designer quality to the Thorn Jewellery online range. Mark Ungar, Slaes and Marketting Director of Thorn caught up with William at his Hatton Cross basement studio to talk about his inspirations for the collection:

"For this Mens Jewellery collection I considered the Libertine, a true free thinker of wildly hedonistic charisma. The Libertine Mens Rings are perfectly suited to the little finger, a signal of a secret London society and dusky lit rendevous, while the Libertine mens silver bracelet has a distinctive and bold feel, yet comfortable with waxed cotton multiwraps binding the wrist with silver and gold toggle pulls to tighten the fitting. Slashes across the toggles represent cuts from swordfights in the name of free love."

Thorn Jewellery are official stockists of William Cheshire Jewellery and specialist mens jewellery retailers.

Christina Aguilera hosts the launch of Stephen Webster's 2009 Collection

31st May, Las Vegas: World class jewellery designer Stephen Webster and Grammy award winning signer, Christina Aguilera, who is the face of Stephen Webster Jewellery launched the brands latest 2009 collection at TAO Las Vegas in a spectacular event sponsored by Bombay Sapphire last night.

Christina wore unique items from Webster's couture jewellery selection including a black and white diamond collar and cuff which are designs from his Vortex Collection and a diamond pave and onyx ring from his Fly by Night Collection. Her stunning and glamorous look was topped with two tone diamond earrings from the Jewels Verne collection. Stephen himself was dressed to the nines with a two tone blazer and men's jewellery including silver cross necklaces from his London Calling Collection and his classic sex drugs and rock n roll ring with diamond pave.

Thorn are official stockists of Stephen Webster Jewellery and specialise in contemporary mens jewellery design.

Designer Shaun Leane becomes Visiting Professor

21st May 2009, London: The ‘University of the Arts London’, has given Shaun Leane a visiting professorship, in response to his great contribution to UK jewellery design.

Being considered as among the finest jewellery designers in the world today, Shaun will join the teaching staff at the University as a visiting lecturer to teach and inspire a new generation of world beating designers and artists.

The 5 colleges which make up the “University of the Arts London” have over the years nurtured and developed some of the biggest names in classical art, design, media, fashion, and the performing arts, such as: Stella McCartney, Jefferson Hack and Alexander McQueen who himself works closely with Shaun Leane to give his catwalk shows the wow! factor.

Thorn Jewellery shortlisted for UK Jewellery Award

London, 15th May 2009: Thorn Jewellery is extremely proud to be shortlisted for the “Jewellery Website of the Year” at the UK Jewellery Awards 2009.

The winners will be announced at the prestigious awards presentation on Thursday 16 July 2009 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London to an audience of celebrities, industry heavyweights and hopeful newcomers.

In only the second year that jewellery websites have been included as an award category, Thorn Jewellery displayed sufficient design quality and other attributes in its unique mens jewellery website to be placed among the six finalists. Other category nominees included a mix of high street chains, independent designer makers and other retail specialists alike.

Thorn was among the finalists because it met with clear selection criteria. “What every one of the websites shortlisted has are really well-designed websites, and this was ultimately the deciding factor in them making the shortlist.” Frances Murch, Deputy Editor, Retail Jeweller, 15 May 2009.

Shaun Leane's Queen of the Night

London, 29th April 2009: Shaun Leane invited close friends Alexander McQueen, Duncan James of Blue, Tamara Palmer-Tomkinson, Vanessa Feltz as well as industry leaders to the Metropolitan Hotel in London for a first public showing of his necklace Queen of the Night which is part of a collaberation with Boucheron. His latest collection Cherry Blossom was also on show.

From the jewellery industry, attendees included our favourite men's designer jewellery retailer Thorn, Northampton's retailer Steffans, Swarovski crystal, Wave, head designer Leo De Vroomen, Joanna Hardy of Sotheby’s, Saunders Shepherd and London designer William Cheshire a true star in the making.

While the new Cherry Blossom collection doesn't cater for the men's jewellery market, Shaun Leane continues to offer such classics as Horn, Tusk and Sabre Tooth Jewellery to his mens jewelry customers.

Vivienne Westwood Continues to Push Fashion Boundaries

Even before her punk days Westwood was driven by an anarchic and rebellious attitude which she brought to the fashion industry in 1977 with an explosive power we haven't seen the likes of which since. Now, she herself has become the elder stateswoman of UK fashion, but her non-conformity is still plain to see and her 2009 spring / summer men's jewellery collection is no exception when it comes to style, themes and materials.

A recent example of non-conformity is Vivienne's choice of models. She has always ridden contrary to the skinny industry stereotypes and even this month former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson was used as a Westwood model at the PARIS show on March 9. A sizzling display indeed. Anderson took three outings onto the runway, oozing sex at a fall 2009-winter 2010 display that dripped with campy sensuality.

Camp is a big theme in the 2009 /2010 Westwood collection. Mens Jewellery pieces such as the Satyr on Penis is an obvious "camp" accessory, but the real question she's asking is to the straight guys. "Are you man enough to wear a penis pendant?", but don't worry if you're not, you will still be comforted by the by the fact that Westwood repeats her classic Orb, Safety Pin, Skull Rings and Bone pendant themes with each collection.

Stephen Webster Launches First Collection as Garrard's Creative Director

London, 18th March 2009: Stephen Webster hosted a star studded launch party for his Mummy Rocks collection at Garrard’s flagship store. Guests included Kate Moss, Orlando Bloom, Sadie Frost and Tamara Beckwith and everyone was treated to a rare performance by Mick Jones of the Clash. Over £50,000 was raised for Great Ormond Street Hospital with the sale of luxury jewellery and other pieces.

With a history dating back to 1735 Garrard's have been the preferred jeweller of generations of royals, famous people as well as the infamous and celebrities alike. Now with the appointment of Stephen Webster as Creative Director the sumptuous jewellery which is synonymous with the Garrard brand can be assured for another generation.

While the Webster Garrard’s collection doesn’t yet offer mens jewellery, their existing Knightrider range has a spectacularly regal pendants and unique cufflinks and if Webster’s own brand mens silver jewellery is anything to go by, then we are sure to be in for an impressive mens fine jewellery collection under the Garrard’s brand in the not too distant future.

Shaun Leane Jewellery "Antiques of the Future"

Revered for his romantic and elegantly crafted jewellery, Shaun Leane is one of the shining lights on the international jewellery stage.

Still manufactured in his workshop in London, every piece is a loving creation of the man himself, with unambiguous Leane style and perfection finishing.

As holder of the UK jeweller of the year award, Shaun is held in the highest regard amongst his piers and collectors alike. His pieces have been described by Sotheby’s, London’s number one auction house, as "antiques of the future"

Now with the launch of his 2009 men’s silver jewellery range "Gyspy Moth", comes your chance to buy a future classic. The range is available from online retailer Thorn Jewellery Limited, approved stockists of Shaun Leane Jewellery.

Contemporary Jewellery Store Jess James Closes After 20 Years Trading

21st January 2009: There is a sad loss in London's retail jewellery sector today, as Jess Canty announces closure of his contemporary jewellery store Jess James after 20 years of trading. Soaring costs and poor sales forced it's closure this month as the credit cruch bites luxury goods retail sector.

Jess James, located just off Carnaby Street, London was one of the first modern gallery style jewellery retailers, stocking top jewellery brands and leading UK designers such as Shaun Leane, Stephen Webster and Luke Rose. Jess said “For the past five years my running costs have soared whilst sales have not and I find myself spending the majority of my time balancing finances rather than designing and I’ve had it.”

Often regarded as a shining light in the industry, Jess has become one of the most outspoken and passionate supporters of ethical jewellery trade and his parting gift to us close followers of UK mens jewellery industry are some store recommendations from his website:

For commissions and to get a piece of Jess James Jewellery repaired - Luke Rose
For men's jewellery and cufflinks - Thorn Jewellery Limited
For creative jewellery - Dover Street Market, EC1, Kabiri, Liberty's, Selfridges

Idol London - Jewellery for Rock Stars

Not often does something new and exhilarating come to the mens jewellery market, something that rocks the foundations of current design trends and breaks away from the mainstream, but it happened in 2008 and Idol London is one of the brands which will set the pace for 2009.

Idol London is the latest brainchild from Jess Canty, and as co-founder and head designer at Jess James, London, he has become a renowned innovator and synonymous with contemporary jewellery design.

With his cleaver use of black sapphires and irradiated diamonds to bring dimension and brilliance to his pieces, using silver as the main body to create a heaviness to the rings and taking creative inspiration from fresh, bold and unique ideas, this range is absolutely designed with Rock Stars in mind. Looking at the pieces, it's easy to imagine yourself with an angel on your shoulder, opening the throttle of your Harley Davison to win in a race with the devil while sonic boom of loud guitar music is all around.

Jess says "I had plenty of great rings to choose from, but when I went out, I wanted to be sure I was wearing THE ring in the room. It had to be unique, bold, studded with diamonds, a real statement piece, but also something rugged enough to withstand a bit of motorcycle maintenance, the occasional stairwell shag and falling out of TGs at six in the morning"

The range offers pieces in equal measure to the mens designer jewellery market as well as ladies pieces. The Idol brand is still in it's infancy and relatively unheard of in the world of mainstream fashion. It's also sold extremely exclusively, so budding rock stars wishing bag themselves a unique jewellery design classic will need to seek out Jess's shop in London, one of only four stockists or visit the only online retailer of the range www.thornjewellery.co.uk.