Embrace the cool tones with the second instalment of our Natural Stones collection. An extension of our SS24 offering, this curated lineup showcases White Topaz, Peridot and Light Blue Topaz gems encased in recycled sterling silver.
Each attachable silver birthstone charm seamlessly integrates with a selection of Modern Deco inspired chains, bracelets, and earrings.
With our roots in elevating everyday style, this collection allows each piece to transform into a bespoke creation for the wearer, intended to resonate with their individual style and celebrate the beauty of nature’s rare gems.
The Natural Stones Collection is an elevated take on birthstone jewellery. The collection is a fusion of organic elements and refined modern deco design; where geometric octagon cut gemstones like lapis, topaz, citrine and peridot, seamlessly integrate as charms set on 18ct gold vermeil carrier chains, bracelets, and earrings. We loved having both new and familiar faces with us to celebrate.
In case you missed out, here’s what we got up to…
SHOP THE COLLECTION]]>
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Add a personal touch with engravable forever jewels.
Our new-in range of birthstone charms, made to attach to chains and hoops, is sure to win you brownie points as the favourite sibling.
Gift her a little piece of luxury with our white topaz set jewels.
You can’t go wrong with an all-time favourite style - especially not when our best sellers look this good.
The launch of our shop-in-shop at Fortnum & Mason is a homecoming of sorts. Since embarking on our journey a decade ago, Fortnum & Mason was among V’s earliest supporters. This prestigious establishment, renowned for its commitment to quality and tradition, recognized the unique charm and sophistication embedded in our jewellery designs. Over the years, this enduring partnership is a testament to the shared values of both brands; passion for craftsmanship, dedication to quality, and a commitment to offering customers something truly exceptional.
Our new shop-in-shop is an immersive experience showcasing a variety of V’s bestsellers alongside our brand new Natural Stones Collection. Yhe space is designed to reflect V’s essence - timeless, sophisticated, and distinctive.
As we embark on this new chapter with Fortnum & Mason, we are filled with gratitude for the unwavering support received over the past decade. The V by Laura Vann shop-in-shop at Fortnum & Mason is not just a retail space, it's a celebration of a remarkable partnership that has flourished over the last ten years. We invite you to join us in this journey at the heart of one of London's most iconic establishments.
We believe that jewellery should encapsulate a personal narrative, empowering you to wear it your way. Our collection, meticulously embodying raw and organic elements inspired by nature's precious rarities, invites you to either embrace or transcend the traditional boundaries of birth month or astrological sign.
Perhaps curating a bespoke lineup, be it for cultivating luck, courage or wisdom, or one that whispers sentimental tales for those you hold dear. This collection is your playground to express your unique power.
During the design process for this collection, we looked to the history and heritage behind each individual gemstone. We drew inspiration from tales of ancient civilisations weaving these stones into the most important aspects of their lives, be it for their perceived celestial connections or adorning themselves in gems under the belief that doing so would enhance powers and energies.
Each attachable gemstone charm seamlessly integrates with a selection of Modern Deco inspired chains, bracelets, and earrings. With our roots in elevating everyday style, this collection allows each piece to transform into a bespoke creation for the wearer, intended to resonate with their individual style and celebrate the beauty of nature’s rare gems.
We loved meeting everybody that stopped by, and in true festive spirit, we even spent an evening celebrating with some friends of V over mulled wine and mince pies.
Here’s a little look at what we got up to…
The collection features an array of solid recycled silver, 18ct gold vermeil and white topaz.
For Laura, creating this collection has been particularly special as she feels as if she is sharing a part of herself, as the design process echoes such a significant piece of her own personal jewellery.
“Working alongside my dad, I remember the first time he took me to a jewellery exhibition. It was in Hong Kong, and I spent my whole time exploring the vintage halls, amazed at the craftsmanship and playful use of mixed cut stones, coloured gemstones and clever use of negative space in the antique pieces. Those trips with my dad played a huge role in the creation of V and the style of design inspired my own engagement and wedding rings which have gone on to define a large part of the V signature style and indeed this collection.”
- Laura Vann (Founder and Designer)
Shop the collection HERE.
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...our AW23 collection goes back to our core style which is rooted in 1930s architectural design. Our inspiration spans across Modernism and Art Deco, both of which were prominent around the same time, and architects like Le Corbusier teetered the line between the two design styles much like we do with our jewellery.
Embracing the past, we looked to historical, artisanal methods to create contemporary pieces which elevate, complement and layer into modern life. Styling with contemporary structured fabrics and simple colour blocking allows our jewels to act as the enhancer; achieving the perfect balance of grandeur and utility and keeping to our intention of creating head turning jewellery that is recognisably V.
Shop the collection here.
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Before you zip up your carry-on, here are a few of our top tips for styling these iridescent beauties…
LET THE PEARLS DO THE TALKING
SWAP GOLD FOR SILVER
PERFECT PAIRINGS
The bespoke process begins with a personal consultation with designer and founder, Laura, who will then draw up initial sketches of your piece.
Whether you're looking for a bespoke sapphire engagement ring, a characterful emerald or a flawless diamond, Laura will personally source your perfect stones before our experienced craftsmen in Birmingham's iconic Jewellery Quarter finish your piece with unparalleled precision.
Still need convincing? Read on...
We hope to see you there soon - but if you’re too far from London, don’t worry! You can also shop the full collection on our website here.
Harvey Nichols, 109-125 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RJ
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Those of you lucky enough to be born in this month (hey, Gemini and Cancer friends) have one of the most coveted and stylish birthstones: the pearl.
These precious jewels are believed to bring love, luck, wisdom and peace, and are a classic choice for brides on their big day. However, as they truly stand the test of time, pearls look just as beautiful when worn as part of your daily rotation.
So, even if it’s not your birthday, you can still turn heads in your pearl stack.
We loved seeing both new and familiar faces at the event and we’re so excited to be officially stocked by Amare. In case you missed out on the weekend’s fun, here’s what we got up to…
Last month we hosted our first Breakfast Club since pre-Covid where we celebrated the launch of our brand new collection, Extraordinary Jewels. Breakfast Club is a chance for us to bring together our friends and family to show them our newest collection and say thank you. Thank you for the advice, the support, the legal help, the connections, the website help, the help with photoshoots, the recommendations to a friend, every little bit of help that is unpaid and done because they have genuine love for V.
So, we wanted to say a huge thank you to all of our V friends far and wide who are championing us without want of recognition. We wouldn’t be where we are today without you.
We loved seeing everybody enjoy a first look at Extraordinary Jewels and wanted to share some of our favourite snaps from the day!
Our Bridal collection reflects our signature Art Deco inspirations and sees materials such as baroque and freshwater pearls sit alongside step cut gemstones, hand-painted white enamel and 18ct gold vermeil.
The collection includes earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets, and offers gemstones ranging from vintage-inspired green, celebratory champagne to the traditional ‘something blue’ in the form of blue topaz.
We hope that the collection becomes a part of your special day.
Here they are with their V top picks!
Laura x
"My go-to V piece is the Vintage Link Gold Heavy Chain. I love the weight of it and how heavy it feels when I wear it. I’ve found that it is the perfect day-to-night piece and works just as well when worn casually or more dressed up."
— Eve
"I love the creativity that was demonstrated in The Bling Ring project! So many different points of view and beautiful jewels were created."
— Kerry
"The Coco Pearl Earrings are my absolute go-to pair for wedding season. They add the perfect finishing touch to elevate any wedding outfit and feel really special."
— Aisling
"Named after my Grandma Matilda and engraved with M for my baby Marlowe, how can The Tilly 9ct Signet Ring not be my favourite piece!"
— Laura
"The Sara Stone Set Gypsy Ring is my favourite staple piece. I love rings which I can wear every day, and this works perfectly. I especially love the green stones as I think they sit so well alongside the gold."
— Scarlett
"I wear mini hoops and huggies every day, so I love making a statement with the Anne Earrings, even when I pair them with an everyday jeans and t-shirt look."
— Erin
"My favourite V piece is the Audrey Green Ring. Although it is an everyday ring, it makes a big statement with its vibrant green and gold tones."
— Sikki
"I wear my set of Coco Pearl Drop Earrings all the time. I think they’re so elegant and timeless, and I love the texture and colour."
— Christine, Stock and Operations
"My favourite V piece is the Daphne Circle Necklace. It is the ideal statement piece. I love its colours and find it has a unique and unusual look. It looks beautiful when worn with its matching earrings, too!"
— Mandy, Dispatch
]]>I remember joining my dad’s existing jewellery business in 2012 and launching the first V collection in 2013. Instagram was a blossoming bud and our grainy #OOTD photos were transformed with the warm hues of the Valencia filter. Lunchtimes were spent justifying why I was “always on my phone” while clearing away box files to create a sliver of neutral photography space.
Fast forward to today—I’m still always on my phone and still fighting for photography space. But the need to justify has gone—we are achieving what we set out to do. We count Fortnums, Harvey Nichols and Selfridges as stockists. We have seen our jewels worn by some of the most influential people in the world. We have grown a community of customers who support us year on year. We have expanded our range from just demi-fine to pre-owned and now bespoke. And last year we created rings for some of the most creative talents in the UK.
We have so much to celebrate this year and we wouldn’t be where we are without you. So look out for invitations to pop-ups, parties, and above all else, new collection launches!
Let’s start this next decade off with a bang.
Laura x
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And while it might be our birthday, we come bearing gifts. For the clever crowds that pop in to our pop-up, you’ll get your hands on over 140 V styles including our best selling jewellery, exclusive designs and one off pieces of pre-loved jewels.
And for your final surprise - every Tuesday during the month of February, Laura will be holding in-person bespoke consultations so you can design your dream piece in the luxury of Fortnums (that includes Feb 14th for anyone feeling particularly soppy).
The Bling Ring. A curated group of incredible talent hand picked by Laura Vann to co-design their own bespoke diamond ring.
We're so excited reveal our first guest designer and her 18ct gold & lab-grown diamond ring. Watch Charlotte's Ring Story video and discover more Bespoke magic.
New designs dropped every fortnight.
]]>Throughout the last 9 years, many of our demi-fine customers have come to me wanting our signature Art Deco style transformed into bespoke rings. I have been privileged to design so many of your custom creations and during my maternity leave last year, I reflected on how much I love that part of my job. Producing dream rings, a piece imbued with sentimentality and character, has become my passion. And much like my work with our demi-fine collections, I want to change the face of bespoke jewellery, taking it away from elitist and often intimidating appointments and making them full of laughter and an enjoyable process for all.
…a behind the scenes look into the bespoke process at V as I co-design pieces with six incredibly talented people who together form The Bling Ring. Each guest designer’s creation is totally unique, showing the scope of what can be created with a seed of an idea, a good old chat and the amazing craftsmanship found in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
I’m so excited to share my introduction video with you all:
And keep an eye out on our socials, email and website as we reveal a new guest designer and their incredible bespoke creation every fortnight until Christmas!
MEET OUR NEXT GUEST DESIGNER]]>
The past few months have seen us use lab grown diamonds in our Bespoke creations more than ever before. So if you're thinking of creating your own custom piece and wondering if lab grown diamonds are the right choice for you, read on!
COST
Lab grown diamonds are vastly more affordable than their natural counterparts (typically about 50% cheaper). This allows customers to create bespoke pieces at a larger scale than if they were using natural diamonds.
EQUALITY
At V we are huge believers in jewellery being not just for forever, but for everyone and lab grown is democratising diamonds so that more people can enjoy larger scale stones.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The mining of natural diamonds is carbon intensive, often relying on diesel-run machinery. Excavation uses large amounts of water, energy, and earth.
THEY ARE CHEMICALLY IDENTICAL TO NATURAL DIAMONDS
Lab grown diamonds are made from carbon seeds, put under high pressure and high temperature - the same as in nature, only this time in a laboratory. Even diamond verification machines confirm their authenticity and in 2018 the FTC dropped the word ‘natural’ from the definition of the word ‘diamond’, meaning lab grown diamonds are recognised as authentic diamonds.
THE SEAL OF APPROVAL
Fans and wearers of lab grown diamonds include Meghan Markle, Emma Watson, Penelope Cruz and Lady Gaga, while Leonardo Dicaprio has also invested in the movement, being a large backer of a lab grown diamond supplier. One of the world’s largest diamond miners, De Beers, have also begun selling stones created in labs.
FUTURE VALUE
As lab grown diamonds are new to the market, their investment value is yet to be proven. That said, many of our customers are undeterred by this as, in their words, they're "not looking to sell the bespoke creation".
NO INHERENT POSITIVE SOCIAL IMPACT
The mining of natural diamond supports entire economies. Walking away from responsible miners in poorer communities would affect tens of millions of people across the world.
THEY ARE A PRODUCT OF TECHNOLOGY
A manufactured product has infinite supply, whereas natural diamonds have a finite resource. For some, this rarity is necessary for an emotional purchase such as an engagement ring.
TAKEAWAY
There are pros and cons for both the use of lab grown and natural diamonds. There is space for both in the market and indeed, swinging one way or the other wouldn't be helpful from a socially responsible standpoint. By listing the above points you can decide which elements are most important to you before embarking on your bespoke journey! Find out more about our Bespoke Service here.
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In recent times the words ‘sustainable’ and ‘responsible’ seem to be nothing more than tick boxes for businesses to check off and keep in line with the environmentally conscious movement. This makes it hard to tell apart brands that genuinely care about the impact of their pieces on the planet and brands that are just using sustainability as a marketing spin to push sales.
So, on World Earth Day I wanted to clearly outline what we as a business are doing to work towards a more sustainable future at V.
OUR MANUFACTURERS ARE ETHICALLY APPROVED BY SMETA
We work with globally recognised ethical trading standard SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit). Their audits encompass all aspects of responsible business practice, covering four pillars of Labour, Health and Safety, Environment and Business Ethics. In recent anonymous interviews with employees it was noted that they feel their voices are heard and opinions are valued.
OUR SILVER IS SOURCED FROM HEREAUS
We sustainably source our silver from Hereaus which is one of the world’s largest refiners of precious metals. They take waste material and using their world class expertise and technology, isolate and purify precious metals from within it. Hereaus are also a certified member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.
WE ARE ANTI-TREND
This one hasn’t been an easy ride for us. While other brands have profited from selling thousands of on trend copycat designs, we’ve consciously avoided the overconsumption of throwaway fads and stayed true to our value of timelessness. This has no doubt resulted in slower sales which is what we actually want - conscious and considered purchases (that’s also why we don’t offer a free returns service)! And while being anti-trend may mean we’re not always first on everyone’s buy list, through designing with longevity we hope to be your last.
WE OFFER A REFURBISHMENT SERVICE
In order to make beautiful stone set jewellery accessible to all (not just the very wealthy), we have to work with affordable materials and this means plating with gold. The very nature of plating means it will eventually fade but thanks to our refurbishment service, we can restore faded/ damaged/ squashed/ dog chewed (you name it we’ll fix it!) jewels back to their original glory so you can truly wear them forever.
WE OFFER MINIMAL AND RECYCLED PACKAGING
While we understand that some orders require one box per piece, we also know that some of you simply don’t need all of that packaging. That’s why we introduced our minimal packaging option so that you can choose if you would like fewer of our boxes (which by the way are 90% made from recycled paper)!
WE MAKE IN SMALL BATCHES AND NEVER BURN STOCK
Rather than see their items go on sale, a shocking number of household brand names, including H&M, Urban Outfitters, Burberry and Nike have been accused of burning their stock. Call us frugal or call us kind, we would much rather see our customers enjoy a high discount than send our jewels to the smelter to protect our image. And to combat this dilemma altogether we keep a tight inventory and produce in small batches so we never have an unwarranted amount of excess stock.
HOW WE CAN IMPROVE—CAN YOU HELP?
Though we are trying our best, as a fashion brand there is no way we can operate while leaving no effect on the planet. We hold our hands up and admit that we still use plastic bags to keep our jewellery clean and separated. Though we have looked into biodegradable poly grip bags, due to our slower stock turn around there is a risk they may degrade prior to selling!
Similarly, shipping via sea is a much longer process and as we order in small batches we sometimes have to pull more stock in quickly, meaning we do have to use air transport for our jewellery. Our boxes take up the most room and these we do ship via sea! We are constantly on the lookout for ways we can improve and are always open to any advice any of you may have, like every other brand and consumer out there we’re still learning.
—Laura Vann, Founder & Managing Director