Last week some of us at fabulous were lucky enough to visit Brown and Newirth, the company who make our fabulous forever wedding and engagement rings.

We were invited to choose a ring design that we could follow through the entire manufacturing process and at the end of the day we were kindly allowed to keep them, which was a lovely surprise!

What we found most impressive was that every ring is hand made! And each person in their maze of a workshop (!) specialises in one particular part of the manufacturing process, many of whom travel over an hour to work every day because there are so few jobs requiring their unique skills in the country. Meeting all these very skilled people made us feel a bit useless! It was so interesting to see a company whose foundations are built on the history of British design and manufacture.

We learnt how every ring starts life as a “doughnut” of metal and then is subjected to high temperatures and pressure to size the ring as required. This means – as cheesy as it sounds – that the wedding rings they produce are an endless band of love! There are no seams to the bands and so they are also much more visually pleasing.

During the next stage we saw how the design of the ring was implemented – most of us chose a ring that had a diamond cut pattern on it, which created a super sparkly effect. One of the girls chose a design which had a heart pattern, so in order to see this take shape we visited the lasering room, which houses very expensive and rare equipment – it houses one of only two machines in the whole of the UK! It is so special because it can create very intricate designs, and the team will take on any pattern given to them by a customer. We admired some of their sample rings, and they were all very unusual!

After our rings had been made, the final process they went through was rhodium plating, to give them a shiny polished finish. Our rings were made in Sterling Silver and the rhodium will help to stop them tarnishing as quickly as non-plated Sterling Silver might do.

We really enjoyed our workshop tour and getting to meet the people who make our fabulous forever range – it’s always good to put some faces to names! Everyone there was so friendly and nothing was too much trouble, from fetching us more biscuits to completing bespoke wedding and engagement rings! Brown and Newirth’s tagline is “A Dedication to Perfection”, and after our visit we totally understood why.

Take a look at the fabulous forever range here.

• Statement jewellery reigns supreme

A trend which continues from last season is statement jewellery; but think more sculptural and eye catching than last season to complement your Spring Summer wardrobe. Most importantly, Spring 2012 sees the return of the earring, with extravagant drop styles usually saved for the evening making a break for day time. They don’t have to be bold and obvious though, quirky details will make people do a double take! Dolce and Gabbana mixed pasta shapes with religious icons, Marni created colourful 60s optic styles and Salvatore Ferragamo had an ocean theme with seahorse shaped drop earrings. In short, the more unusual the better for this season.

• Prints – be brave and embrace these!

According to Elle magazine, print is the season’s ultimate statement. The roots of this trend come fromLondon’s digitally talented designers, and it will no doubt feature heavily on the high street. Be brave and go for a print which resembles a collage of sharp vivid images like Mary Katrantzou’s flower and ribbon dress. Even though this lady has a difficult surname, it’s one you should learn off by heart, as she is one of THE up and coming British designers, and her dresses have been sported by many an A List celebrity on the red carpet since last fashion week. Don’t forget, prints don’t have to be garish, and can also come in muted or classic hues which can easily be incorporated into work wear.

• Colours

It is Spring Summer, so you should have expected that bright colours would be a mainstay! Choose an outrageous colour and wear it with aplomb – either head to toe, see Mulberry’s neon yellow skirt suit and Rocksander Ilincic’s dresses – or as a fun accessory like the hot pink sports bag at Marc by Marc Jacobs. Make sure the material of your techni-colour item is as luxe as you can afford to keep it looking chic rather than fancy dress!

• 1950s – the shapes and styles that broke the mould in the mid-century

We can guarantee you’ll see A LOT of Prada’s 1950s car inspired stilettos in the fashion glossies this season – the heels have little red break lights! A defined silhouette is key, so cinch in your waist – or bare it with an on trend crop top if you dare – and choose pastel colours which will maintain a modern edge. Accessorise with cat’s eye sunglasses, headscarves and ladylike gloves. Add petticoats to taste!

• Ultra-girlie

This trend is all about the delicacy of the look; sheer flowing chiffons, silk slips, fragile lace, frivolous sequins, frills and simple lines. Broderie Anglaise is having a revival – see the Peter Pan collars by Louis Vuitton for the ultimate in girliness. However, the models at Alexander McQueen wore lace headdresses and at Nina Ricci sheer dresses, so although this trend is all about femininity, it’s definitely not for the faint hearted.

Images from style.com

Swatch - Colour Code Bracelets

These patent leather wrap bracelets are bestsellers and are very popular as gifts for younger girls. They are available in a variety of colours and each come with different coloured bands on them which can be arranged and re-arranged to create a totally individual look. Regardless of colour, these bracelets are £17.

Nomination

Nomination is a charm bracelet concept with a twist – the bracelets are stretchy and made up of Stainless Steel links similar to a watch strap. The majority of the charms are flat. This means that they are ideal for children because they are so easy to wear and very durable. What’s more, the range of charms is huge, and Nomination have really thought of everything – how about an enamel “Pizza Slice” charm or 18ct Gold “Princess” charm? There are also lots of Christmas charms available. Charms start at £16 and the Starter Bracelets (including one charm) start at £25.

Thomas Sabo

This ever popular designer range includes some lovely bracelets suitable for younger girls. These include the silk cord wrap bracelet, which can also be worn as a necklace, and the drawstring love knot bracelets, which are adjustable – a great feature meaning that they won’t be outgrown quickly. As for charms, the Disney characters always prove popular with younger fans, especially Nemo from Finding Nemo and Bambi.

Pandora

If you’re looking for a keepsake gift, Pandora’s “My First Bracelet” fits the bill perfectly. You can choose from any size of bracelet – the most popular size for a child is 17cm, and it comes complete with two clips (which stay in place and help to segment the bracelet) and a glass bead. The “My First Bracelet” is £99, which gives you a saving of £46 compared to if you purchased the pieces separately.

To snap these fun pieces up before Christmas, be sure to pop into one of our stores, order online (excluding Pandora) or call 0845 450 9334. While stocks last.

I really have a top 5 list of jewellery I’m desperate to get my hands on at fabulous.

I like to look smart and a nice pair of cufflinks always helps complete a look. These Fred Bennett Black Resin Cufflinks will definitely be on my list, and at £39.99, I’m sure my wife won’t mind too much either.

Thomas Sabo is one of my favourite designers with such an inspiring and unique collection of jewellery, so their range of leather bracelets go down well with me. Coming in 3 different colours, black, brown and tan will make for a difficult decision though.

The black Cubic Zirconia Cross Necklace by Fred Bennett looks great with an open shirt or a low Vneck t-shirt and helps create that smart casual look!

The Tresor Paris St Germain bracelet, as worn by Lewis Hamilton, has also caught my eye, fingers crossed.

With a huge love of watches, our new Bering range has to be top of my wishlist. I’ve spent what seems like hours, looking at the whole collection both in-store and on-line trying to pick a favourite, but it’s a very tough call. I’m torn between the Ceramic Crocodile Style Leather Black Watch and the Ceramic Blue Dial Watch, but may have to just settle for both!

Well thank you James, we hope Santa brings you what you want. Remember if you want to create a wish list to send to a friend or a loved one you can create one on-line here and email it to them.

All of these items are available to purchase either on-line or in our stores. Or you can call 0845 450 9334 and our helpful team will take your order!

For the first time, Pandora has put together a starter bracelet called ‘My First Pandora’, to give you a headstart with your bracelet. It includes a classic Silver Pandora bracelet with Pandora clasp, in the length of your choice, with a red and pink heart Murano glass charm, and two clips – of either the ridged or the plain Silver design.

For as long as I can remember, customers have asked if we sell a starter bracelet to make it easier to begin building up a bracelet, so it’s great news that ‘My First Bracelet’ has been launched in time for Christmas.

It’s absolutely perfect as a Christmas gift – the new heart Murano charm is so pretty, and pink and red are two of the most popular colour themes that ladies choose for their bracelet. Also the clips are essential for keeping your charms in place and allowing you to spread them evenly around the bracelet, so it is great that these come as part of the set.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about treating yourself to a Pandora bracelet for a while, but haven’t been sure where to start – there is so much to choose from and at first it can be overwhelming! ‘My First Bracelet’ is a brilliant base from which you can create a very personal piece of jewellery, which will ultimately represent all your unforgettable moments.

And even more exciting – the RRP of the total set is £145.00, however you can purchase it from fabulous for £99.00! As it’s such a fantastic offer, we’re sure you’ll understand that it is a Limited Edition offer which will run only while stocks last.

Call 0845 450 9334 to order now, or pop into one of our three stores in Leamington Spa, Solihull or Bath to snap one up.

Have you been feeling a bit uninspired about what to buy your nearest and dearest for Christmas?

Just in case we’ve put together a guide to which fabulous pieces of jewellery your girlfriend, wife, Mum or best friend would just love to unwrap on Christmas morning!

Pandora

• The new five clip bracelet

The original style of this Pandora bracelet, brand new for AW11, is delicate yet eye catching. You can choose which five clips you wish to add to the bracelet from the now extensive range, or just choose one or two to start the bracelet off and afterwards the lucky lady you bought it for can enjoy completing it to her own design. Bracelet is £65 and clips start at £25.

• The new flower pendant

Inspired by gothic lace and intricate wrought iron designs, this flower pendant is the stand out piece from Pandora’s new jewellery range. It’s a versatile length and would suit lots of different outfits. The necklace costs £165.

Swarovski

• Poison pendant and ring

This striking design, emulating a rough cut crystal only polished on the one side creates a tough look whilst retaining the sophisticated sparkle that epitomises Swarovski. One of these pieces would make the perfect gift for a lady who loves modern and unusual jewellery. Prices start at £107.

Missoma

• Evil Eye pendant

Missoma’s designs are undoubtedly modern but with a throwback to the Deco styles of the 1930s, particularly with this beautiful Evil Eye necklace. Available in Sterling Silver or 18ct Gold vermeil its multi pendant design complements the current trend for charm necklaces. Missoma has been spotted on celebs such as Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Biel, so this necklace would be the perfect present for a chic fashionista! Prices start at £149.

Thomas Sabo

The feather pieces in the latest jewellery collection by Thomas Sabo have gone straight to the top of everyone’s Wish List and are extremely classic with only a hint of boho. The drop earrings with clear Cubic Zirconia are already proving to be a hit with stylish ladies of all ages. Prices start at £86.

• CZ Mask

This stunning Cubic Zirconia encrusted mask jewellery charm is available in black or clear stones and would add drama and mystery to any evening outfit. It will be irresistible to any Sabo collector and can be clipped onto any kind of Thomas Sabo carrier and chain. If you’re not sure whether your intended recipient has these pieces already, you can purchase them from fabulous. Prices start at £8.95.

Tresor Paris

The bracelets that have been taking the fashion and celebrity worlds by storm, and now high street shoppers too, are an ideal Christmas gift for anyone who enjoys some sparkle! The ultimate by Tresor Paris is the white crystal without the visible cord, which reminds us of a magical Winter Wonderland! Bracelets start from £25.

Azuni

Always a favourite for special gifts, the delicate and detailed designs of the Azuni Sterling Silver collection are very feminine. The faceted heart necklace in Smokey Quartz combined with a pink freshwater pearl and rose charm, creates the perfect “Wintery” accessory imbued with natural beauty. The necklace costs £86.

All of these items are available to purchase either online or in our stores. Or you can call 0845 450 9334 and our helpful team will take your order!

What a week!! Having started working at fabulous only a week before the shop refurbishment, with three days of training under my belt, it has been pretty hectic, but exciting too!

Saturday 29^th Excitement is in the air.

The much awaited shop expansion and re-fit is imminent, and everyone is working hard to move the stock to its temporary home in our new office space just round the corner from the Royal Priors Centre. No longer will our manager, Gill, be working out the back of the shop – where it’s a bit cold, but will instead have the lovely new (and pink, of course) office to work in!

Monday 1^st Fabulous closes!!

The two day refit to expand the shop begins today. There is lots to do in preparation for the launch party on Thursday. Everyone is in the office today, so the store team gets a rare chance to work alongside the fabulous web team and fabulous’ owner, Jo. We’re kept busy with gift wrapping – we need 85 presents for the launch party’s Luxury Lucky Dip! It’s fun to eye up all the prizes – there’s some really lovely jewellery up for grabs!

Tuesday 2^nd Tension mounts!

I was in the office again today but I had a cheeky peek at the shop – it looks a lot like a building site at the moment! Everyone has their fingers crossed it will be ready on time for the opening tomorrow… tension mounts! Still, the builders are working hard so we get to work handing out invitations across town to some local businesses; we want the launch party to be a success with lots of people checking out the new store. Everyone is discussing what outfits they will wear, looks like it’s dresses all the way!

Wednesday 3^rd The shop re–opens!

Today is all about our exciting new products! The whole team is bustling around getting the jewellery out of storage and into the display cabinets, ensuring it looks its very best! Everyone is excited about the new Tresor Paris bracelets, favoured by the stars of The Only Way is Essex and we had our first ever delivery of watches. Bering, the beautiful Danish watch brand, looks even better in the flesh than in the catalogue! I think everyone here has their eye on the limited edition design, which is not only stunning but also, 10% of its profits will be donated by Bering to support the protection of polar bears in the Arctic – so it’s a win-win situation! Unfortunately we found out the builders are a bit behind, so there is a last minute push to get everything sorted and we finally open at, a slightly later than planned, 3.30pm. Phew!

Thursday 3^rd Launch Day!!

Open for business as usual, we all familiarise ourselves with the new store whilst speedy preparations continue behind the scenes.

At 6.00pm, we open our doors, with the store looking it’s most fabulous ever! The launch is a big success with over 70 people turning up for a browse of the latest collections. with a glass of bubbly and a nibble on the delicious canapés. The atmosphere is buzzing and we all have smiles on our faces as we chat to the customers about their fabulous Wish Lists. The Wish Lists are a great way of making a note of all the things you have your eye on at fabulous, which we can then keep on file so when someone pops into store to buy you something special, they know just what you are hoping for! Until the end of November, everyone who completes a Wish List will be entered into a prize draw to win a gold Pandora bracelet!

All in all, I found the week hectic and challenging but really fun!

The staff have been great and have really made me feel part of the team, and the fabulous atmosphere is so welcoming, it’s a great place to work – and shop of course! So, despite a scary first week, I’m really glad to have been a part of it and am already looking forward to seeing you all in the new Leamington store soon!

Take a look at all the photos from the launch evening here.

Why introduce watches now, after 6 years?

It’s mainly due to customer demand. We have been asked consistently over the years whether we plan to introduce watches, and now feels like it’s the right time to do so. We are always looking for new brands and designers that we think will truly excite our customers, and currently, much that is new and exciting is in the world of watches. We already stock Pandora watches in our Bath store, so it seemed like a natural extension.

Why Bering?

The Managing Director of Bering came to see us specifically, as he felt that fabulous would be the perfect place to stock this new Danish brand, which is both design- and technology-led. As soon as we saw the watches, we agreed! They certainly fit in with our ethos to add a little bit of glamour to your life every day.

What makes Bering watches so special?

The combination of the elegance and simplicity of Danish design, with the advanced use of materials like ceramic, meant this brand had instant appeal to us. The watches are beautiful to look at especially as some are set with Swarovski crystals; but more importantly, the brand has credibility and technical excellence. Ceramic is highly scratch-resistant and extremely durable, only a diamond exceeding its hardness, and the watch faces are made out of Sapphire Crystal which is scratch resistant and very durable. These materials have been incorporated into designs that are so slim and beautiful, that you really are combining toughness with beauty.

What is Bering’s story?

The brand is named after Vitus Bering who was a Danish sailor and is noted for being the first European to discover Alaska and its Aleutian Islands in 1728. The Bering Straits, the Bering Sea, Bering Island, Bering Glacier and the Bering Land Bridge all bear the explorer’s name. In fact the time zone for this area is even called Bering Time! A map of the area is on the reverse of the watch face on all but two Bering watches. The brand’s link to such a historic story of discovery echoes its innovative and unique design and manufacturing techniques; the perfect combination of extraordinarily hard materials and an extremely flat design, evoking a sense of the Arctic!

Can you tell us more about the charity watch in the collection?

Proving the brand has style and substance, there is one watch design which is limited edition and 10% of its sales goes to support the protection of polar bears in the Arctic. It is a fabulous white ceramic watch with gold edges, and is really stunning. It retails at £169.00.

Does fabulous plan to introduce any other watch brands?

In the New Year, we are thrilled to be introducing Thomas Sabo watches, which are super stylish and will complete our already extensive range of Thomas Sabo charms and jewellery. Plus, we are carefully considering a shortlist of exciting British and international brands that we may stock in 2012 – so watch this space for more news as the months go on!

Click to view slideshow.

The Bering collection of watches consists of both men’s and women’s styles, with prices starting at £99. You can shop Bering online or pop into our Leamington or Solihull stores.

“Who first comes to this world below,

In dreary November’s fog and snow,

Should prize the topaz amber hue,

Emblem of friends and lovers true.”

- November Poem

All About Topaz

The word Topaz is derived from Topazos, a small island in the Red Sea, where the Romans obtained a stone which they called by this name. Topaz is a mineral, occurring in rhombic prisms, generally yellowish and pellucid, also colourless, and of greenish, bluish, or brownish shades. It sometimes occurs massive and opaque.

Did You Know?

• The stunning November birthstone Topaz is commonly found in these countries: Brazil, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and China.
• The Topaz is commonly colourless, also light to medium Blue, Violet, Yellow, Pink, Peach, Gold, Green, Red and Brown. Topaz with Orange-red and Pink colours are rare and most valuable.
• The Topaz promotes individuality and creativity, while providing self-confidence in your own decisions.
• Yellow Topaz is also associated with Solar Plexus Chakra.

Gift Ideas

Yellow Topaz is a 23rd Anniversary gemstone and a Symbol for Good Luck and Protection.

The healing properties of the November birthstone are reputed to be effective for health problems relating to sanity, asthma, gout, blood disorders, tuberculosis and insomnia. The Topaz is also used to enhance spiritual rejuvenation and feelings of happiness. Gift this gem as a healing sentiment to show that you care. See our range of Birthstone jewellery at fabulous for ideas!

 How to Care for your Topaz Jewellery

• Like diamonds, topaz have the property of perfect cleavage – if struck from the right direction, they’ll split cleanly along the cleavage
  lines. For that reason, it’s important to take care not to strike the stone.
• Wear gloves (or remove rings) when doing dishes and household cleaning chores. Be careful not to get chlorine bleach on the stone or metal fittings.
• When it’s not being worn, store topaz jewellery in a protective envelope or cloth inside a jewellery box.
• Avoid exposing it to high temperatures and bright light for long periods of time, as it may darken the stone.
• Avoid harsh chemicals when cleaning topaz. You can soak the piece in warm water with a little dishwashing liquid added, then scrub gently with a soft toothbrush to loosen any remaining dirt before rinsing.

November’s Zodiac Signs:

Scorpio – 23rd October – 21st November

Passion, desire and power go hand in hand for Scorpios. Their biggest challenge and test in life is choosing between the power of love and the love of power, wise beyond the average, Scorpios often know all the answers.

Sagittarius - 22nd November – 25th December

Ruled by the benefic planet Jupiter, Sagittarians possess a natural exuberance, sense of adventure and love of life that makes them one of the most optimistic zodiac signs of all. Like their astrological symbol – the Archer – Sagittarians are renowned for aiming their sights towards whatever it is they find alluring – a love partner, dream job, vacation – and making it their own. They believe that anything is possible – and because of this belief system, Sagittarians are adept at seeking out their very own pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Happy Birthday to everyone born in November!