The 1st day

There are over 130 events going on this week with over 600 participants, so its going to be hard to decide what to go to but I've compiled a list of shows, exhibitions, parties and launches which I think displays the widest range the week has to offer as well as providing an exclusive look into the glitz and glamour you may not get to see yourself.

The first event I went to was the preview of the Orchid Collection at the well established Liberty on Regent Street, it was also the  launch of a new charity charm bracelet in conjunction with The World Land Trust. Worth going to see but leave the cameras at home as I was asked not to film in the exhibition room. The Orchid Collection are a fantastic piece of craftsmanship, precious metals are combined seamlessly with gems that sparkle the pieces to life. 

After this event I took a quick look around the Elizabeth Gage retrospective exhibition called The Unconventional Gage. It's an exhibition of work spanning over 40 years. The evolution in the designs are amazing, when you get in close and check out the detail you can see why she is such renowned jewellery artist. The collection included magnificent jewels that you wouldn't see normally as they are commissioned pieces for her clients as well as stunning pieces from her private collection. This is a definate must see event, its on till Sunday at 18 Albemarle Street in 'The Yellow Room' from 10am till 5pm.

I then had to make my way home to get ready for the evening event, the big one, SWAROVSKI RUNWAY ROCKS.

The week begins...

The official launch was last night (Tuesday), and new records were set with Swarovski entering the world records for displaying the most crystals in a fashion display. Hundreds of thousands of tiny sparkling drops of pure perfection adorned the creation and displayed just how much talent this week is going to expose!!

So here we are...

Ok it was a slow start to the blog but not to the week of June, celebrating and exhibiting one of London's oldest industries - Coutts London Jewellery Week.

Although the official launch to the event is the 11th there have been a few pre-event shindigs and showcases of which i've had the pleasure to attend.

The first on the list was the Shoes & Jewels event held at the Burlington Arcade. It was a collaboration of beautiful jewels from the arcade and the creative talent of London College of Fashion's Cordwainers. It was amazing! The models raised on pedestals were dressed, I say dressed I mean provocatively draped, in cashmere from the arcade but adorned with dazzling jewels and wore shoes provided by so of the Colleges illustrious alumni, such as Jimmy Choo and Linda (LK) Bennett.

The presentation was alight with creative talents, you could smell it in the air, I was lucky enough to have collected some of these thoughts on the event and the week ahead from some of the very prestigious guests: Fashion Designer Anna Konder, One of the World's top shoe designers Beatrix Ong, Head of London College of Fashion Dr Frances Croner, Luxury accessories designer and retailer Trevor Pickett and the Chairman of the British Fashion Council (and owner of Jaeger) Harold Tillman.

Burlington Arcade was transformed into a glamourous piazza where the beauty of the intricate jewellery designs and how they were displayed exceeded expectations and left me in anticipation of what the week holds.

Get lost in the photos below...

Following on from Shoes & Jewels, I made my way over to Mount Street Gardens for the Mount Street Rocks summer garden party. This event was held in the private gardens on Mount Street, while the swing band was playing, the Mayor of Westminster studied what looked like a fallen star. As soon as you enter the private party your eyes were drawn to a tower which appeared to be burning a white flame. As I got closer it became clear, it was a dress, a dress bejewelled by Hand & Lock hand embroidered Swarovski crystals. It was stunning, designed specifically for Coutts London Jewellery Week by the patron of the event - Ben de Lisi. Check it out...

Didn't stay long as the jewels were a bit thin on the ground, so I made way over to Boodles Wonderland Party which was held around the Hay Market Hotel Pool. As we sipped champagne and admired the photography some of Boodles finest pieces, ballerinas posed wearing the actual stunning pieces. They glistened as they eloquently hung of the dainty dancers and every time they moved the sparkles gave a slight chill to the air.