Taylor & Hart's Blog

A jewellery historian and expert with an unmistakable flair for period and antique pieces, Beth Bernstein is a tour de force in the industry. Founder of the online magazine Bejeweled, Beth is a journalist that has focused on fine jewellery for the past 20 years. As a jewellery consultant, Beth is a tireless advocate of personalised jewellery with a story, as well as having a penchant for discovering new talents in the modern design world. For our next installment in our Jewellery Mavericks series we have asked Beth to share what excites her when it comes to custom designed pieces, and what are her most cherished bejeweled possessions.

Vintage cuts, brilliant cuts & step cut diamonds: What should I choose?

Diamond cutting has seen an evolution over centuries gone by, which has resulted in a range of different diamond appearances. Before machinery that emerged following the industrial revolution, diamonds were often cut by hand, using techniques that are rarely used today. These vintage cutting techniques resulted in diamonds that possessed shapes, facet structures and dimensions that captured the design trends of their respective eras.

People are always looking for ways to express their individuality, opting for something unique when designing an engagement ring. The strong, yet soft nature of both the princess-cut diamond and the cushion-cut diamond offers a contemporary, chic look. We explore the nature of both the princess cut and the cushion cut, and see how both cuts compare. Both diamond cuts are incredibly beautiful, but carry unique characteristics that may better suit someone’s style or personality!

We look at the background of the mining industry in Sri Lanka, the process of mining, and how one of our sapphire suppliers comes to procure gemstones.

As a company, we value craftsmanship and innovation. We’re always looking to create improved methods of bringing your ring ideas to life. The opaque jewellery making industry and its manufacturing processes haven’t changed for hundreds of years. It is only recently that the process been disrupted with the introduction of 3D printing, altering the traditional way of making jewellery, allowing for a plethora of possibilities and creativity.

Sakshi and Andy spent years together as friends before a whirlwind adventure gave them the alone time needed to fall in love. We chat with them about their love of travel and a pair of bespoke wedding bands that have the world on a string.