Something Blue

Give wedding tradition a modern twist, with Brenda Harvey’s stunning bridal jewellery

Brenda Harvey, Project Designer

“These designs are very straightforward to make and you can choose from a wide selection of shades for the crystals and pearls so the end result will match your wedding colour scheme perfectly!”

It’s believed to be lucky if a bride wears blue in some form and she'll certainly feel fortunate to be crowned with this gorgeous tiara, fashioned from gleaming CRYSTALLIZED™ – Swarovski Elements and freshwater pearls. The delicate wire stems create a light, natural feel, completed by the matching necklace and earrings.

Drop Earrings

1. Thread your chosen selection of pearls and crystals onto a long silver head pin. Bend the wire above the top bead with round-nosed pliers to form a right angle and trim to 1cm. Holding the end between the tips of round-nosed pliers, turn to create a circular loop.
2. Join the dropper to an earwire by using two pairs of pliers to gently twist open the curl and hook it on. Then carefully close the two ends back together by reversing the twisting action. Repeat to make a pair.

Tiara

1. Cut a 30cm length of 0.4mm silverplated wire and wrap one end several times around a tiara band. Thread with a single clear crystal, fold the wire back on itself so that it sits alongside the gem and twist tightly. Continue winding so that the crystal sits on a stem 1cm in length.
2. Wrap the free end of the wire around the band twice and make another twisted stalk, this time with a natural pearl. Alternate crystals with pearls and vary the lengths of the stems. Continue until you have covered as much of the tiara band as desired (the beaded area of our band measures 14cm).
3. You will constantly need fresh sections of wire to work with, but resist the temptation to cut much longer pieces as it is far easier to use short ones. Once you have added the beaded stalks, neaten the tiara base by threading clear and sapphire crystals onto more wire and winding around the band, positioning the gems at the front..
4. Hide the ends of the wire by compressing them tightly against the band with flat-nosed pliers, so that they cannot scratch the wearer. When finished, arrange each of the beaded stems so that they sit at odd angles and form a modern, open effect.

Necklace

1. Cut two 60cm lengths of silver tiger tail wire. Thread one end of both strands into the centre of an open silver calotte, add a crimp bead and compress with flatnosed pliers. Trim the excess and close the finding gently around the crimp. Complete this end of the necklace by looping the protruding hook through a lobster clasp and close with round-nosed pliers.
2. Thread the other end of both wires with a clear crystal, followed by a sapphire bicone and another clear gem. Gently push this sequence along the wire so that they sit next to the calotte. Separate the two strands, then thread one with a single blue pearl and the other with two natural pearls. Bring both wires back together again and thread with the three crystals.
3. This forms one complete beading sequence; repeat until the necklace is 50cm long (add more if you wish). Thread both wires into the middle of an open calotte and add a crimp. Compress it very firmly with flatnosed pliers, snip the excess and close. Loop the protruding hook of the calotte through a closed ring and join it up with round-nosed pliers to complete.