Costume Pavé Drops

In May of 2012 Kate donned this teal Jenny Packham gown for a pre-Olympic concert held at Royal Albert Hall.  (For my original post on that gown, see here.)

She chose to accessorise her custom designer gown with an up-do that showed off her minimal jewelry,   namely a set of pavé drop earrings.

While the exact brand of the earrings remains unknown, the eagle eyed jewelry spotter over at DianasJewels.net determined that due to their construction they were most definitely costume jewelry.

Image via StyleBistro.

Here are a few more angles and close-ups.  I'm glad Kate wore her hair up for a change instead of down which tends to cover her jewelry and thus negate the whole purpose of wearing any!

     

Above Left and Right via Zimbio.

What we have are very simple drops inexpensive in construction, and materials.  The design is very simple, an elongated tear drop with inset pavé synthetic crystals serves to lengthen her features and neckline without detracting from the dress.  Personally I prefer a bit more interest but Kate tends toward the streamlined and unfussy for her jewelry.

A pair of pavé drops aren't too difficult to come across but I stumbled upon this version by Charming Charlie.

This pair retails for approximately $15 USD.

Charming Charlie - "Twinkling Lights" pavé drops.

For you non-earring wearers or those who like their jewelry in sets, it also comes as a necklace pendant for approximately $10 USD.

Charming Charlie - pavé drop pendant necklace.

Links of London "Hope Egg" earrings

First, congrats to the Cambridges on the arrival of little Prince George!

I'll admit that I had to take a bit of a breather there.  Honestly the media frenzy surrounding the bun in that oven was just a tad much for me, but I'm glad the Cambridge family and more importantly the baby is doing well, and above all that the whole hoopla is finally over.

I decided to come back with a jewelry post update I've been working on, which happens to be appropriately timed.

We come to the subject of Kate's engagement photo earrings, a pair of white topaz pavé drops.  Though she has apparently worn them for a number of  years (as early as 2008) they had a bit of an "official" debut in the engagement photos in 2010 as she wore them for both the formal and casual versions.  I find it interesting how many "neutral" stones she has managed to mix and match with the iconic sapphire and diamond ring.  Not even the Duchess wears diamonds all the time!
Kate has continued to wear these earrings regularly since then, mostly for less formal but still professional occasions such as the 2011 Canadan tour.

The sterling teardrop earrings with pavé white topaz setting are by Links of London.  Named the "Hope Egg" earrings, the shape which is said to symbolize "hope and new life" is actually Russian in origin.  

So as you see, very appropriate given the birth of the little prince.
The Links of London website currently has the "Hope Egg" earrings in plain sterling silver only, retailing for approximately $195 U.S., and the "Hope" white topaz pendant necklace, currently retailing at approximately $375 U.S.
Since I can't find a listing of the exact product my personal price estimate for the earrings lies closer to the pendant's price, slightly higher no doubt.

Links of London - "Hope Egg" white topaz earrings, via DianasJewels.net.

Fortunately a design this classic with plain earwires isn't terribly difficult to locate, with a slight variation in shape of course.

Fossil has a pair of pavé teardrop duplicates at approximately $48 U.S. currently on sale at $29.99 U.S. These are silver-tone with crystal.

Fossil - pavé teardrop earrings.

Next up in scale are these teardrops from J.C. Penny has a pair pf in silver plate and crystal.

These were approximately $26 U.S., currently on sale at approximately $19.50 U.S.

J.C. Penney - silver plated pavé crystal teardrop earrings.

Higher up on the quality totem pole are these diamond and sterling silver teardrops from Kohl's.
While they originally retailed for approximately $275 U.S. they too are currently on sale at approximately $109.99 U.S.

Kohl's - 1/4 ct diamond and sterling silver teardrop earrings.

Colors by the Yard Engagement Necklace

On the morning of November 16, 2010 William and Kate ended months of speculation by finally, officially announcing their engagement.

Kate wore a stunning blue Issa long sleeved wrap dress to go with the new-to-her blue sapphire and diamond heirloom engagement ring.  She also wore a blue gemstone and diamond earring and necklace set.  This is most of the world's first image of Kate, and what an iconic image it was.

I personally think she hit it out of the ball park.  She's never looked better, her hair was fantastic and never looked better, and everything about the outfit was just great.  

Image via StyleBistro.

I am particularly admired here of her choice in jewelry.  It is so dainty and subtle that at first glance I didn't even really notice the necklace, much less the matching earring set (I blame the way she likes to wear her hair, which tends to overshadow her neckline.)  But upon closer inspection I find it definitely has a wow factor.
It was understated enough so as not to take attention away from "the ring" - as if that was possible! - and stay on color theme but also subtly adding a bit of extra sparkle and just hint at the low neckline.  The stone lands squarely in the hollow of her clavicle and the dress is low cut, but she still managed to come across as classy and elegant.
And I find it interesting that this was not the "debut" of the necklace and earrings set, both jewelry and dress were items she owned for years prior so you gotta love that the girl can bust out some oldies from her closet and rock it the same as she would a new outfit.

Image via StyleBistro.

The necklace is part of the Elsa Peretti "Color by the Yard" collection from Tiffany & Co. jewelry.  It consists of a solitaire cabochon lapis lazuli gemstone flanked by two brilliant cut diamonds in 18K gold 18" link.  Cabochon refers to a type of stone that is not cut into facets but rather smoothed into a rounded dome.  While Kate's necklace photographs as looking more oblong or oval, this is just due to the placement of the round stone against her neckline.

Some Kate websites have ID'd the center stone of her necklace as being a sapphire, while the Tiffany listing describes a lapis gemstone.  I'm going to have to go with the Tiffany description and say that Kate's version is the original lapis gemstone as well since it is clearly the same item.  A sapphire is a more precious gemstone than lapis and would be faceted to bring out the brilliance of the stone.  So Kate mixed gemstones but it worked out for the best.

Kate also wears the matching earring set consisting of diamond studs with a cabochon lapis lazuli drop, both of which match the stones and cuts on the necklace. However the only matching earrings available on the Tiffany website are lapis studs.

This necklace retails for approximately $1,150 USD.

Tiffany & Co. - Elsa Peretti "Color by the Yard" necklace

18K gold with lapis lazuli cabochon and two brilliant cut diamonds.

What I was looking for in repliKates was something equally dainty in a similar color theme and similar stone/link placement.  And of course it would not be an affordable replica if it didn't sub in imitation stones for the real deal!

This first one is by Stella & Dot, a solitaire bezeled lapis lazuli ("bezeled" means the gemstone has facets cut into it to catch the light) on a gold tone link.  It lacks the extra diamonds but it is a very affordable and on theme look-a-like.

Stella & Dot - stone solitaire pendant necklace in navy.
Hand-cut bezel lapis, plated gold.

Here is a side angle of the same necklace and you can see it has just about the same placement as Kate's.  It is 16" in length with a 2" extender.
While it is missing a bit of the extra sparkle of Kate's original, I think it's a perfectly spot on look-a-like.
This piece retails for approximately $39 USD.

This necklace from Emitations is another good contender, with a single faceted false sapphire on a silver tone adjustable link from 16" to 18" in length.
I think this look-a-like mimics the daintiness and subtly of Kate's version.  This necklace retails for approximately $35 USD.
If you are further interested, Emitatons has a line cheekily called "CZs by the Yard" which features  necklaces with a solitaire center stone and two side stones (all falsies of course).

Emitations - Jessica's faux sapphire necklace.
Sterling silver and cubic zirconia bezel sapphire.

This version by Swarovski features their high quality crystal solitaire made to resemble the laps lazuli gemstone in a smoothed cabochon style.  This stone is framed in a colored crystal pavé setting and flanked by two crystal pavé teardrops.  The link is 14 7/8" in length.

I think this is look-a-like is the one that is most in the style of Kate's with just a little variation.

This necklace retails for approximately $80 USD.

Swarovski - "Thessa" necklace.
Lapis lazuli colored acrylic glass, crystal, and rhodium plated.

Another Swarovski version features a faceted solitaire crystal made to look like sapphire in a frame of pavé crystals.  It measures 15 5/8" in length.
I think the use of blue and clear stones mimics Kate's color theme, even if the overall look is a bit removed.
This necklace retails for approximately $85 USD.

Swarovski - "Angelic" sapphire pendant.
Sapphire crystal solitaire, clear crystal pave, and rhodium plated.\

RepliKate Jewels

While I was doing a bit of research on Kate's jewelry I came across this company called Cristalina Jewelry.  They specialize in "fine costume jewelry" using Swarovski crystals.

Interestingly enough they also feature a "Kate" collection inspired by the Duchess herself and composed of look-a-likes that are in the style of a few of her more trademark pieces.

For more info visit the Cristalina Jewelry website.

The "Kate" collection from Cristalina Jewelry.

What do you think of this repliKate jewelry collection?

In the style of... RepliKate Accessories Updates

I've been meaning to do this accessories update for a while and only now managed to find time.  And its great timing now that the Duchess has actually been working more often recently.

This patent cork wedge from C. Wonder is not an exact dupe.  However it is very much in the style of both Kate's L.K. Bennett patent espadrilles and the Stuart Weitzman cork wedges she debuted at the Olympics.  Its a mix of both actually and she has not worn either recently so those old posts will do for now.

C. Wonder - patent leather cork wedge pump in black.

Now a nude pump is a nude pump is a nude pump.  But Kate recently busted out her trusty signature L.K. Bennet nude pumps for a couple of her visits -- to Naomi House Children's Hospice (below left) and the Windsor Castle Scouts ceremony (below right).  She wore the neutral pumps with bright colors so many Kate followers heralded the outing of these shoes as her official debut to spring.
While I'm not feeling the minty green number, the peach is a nice color on her.
And I have to say I am not a fan of her recent thigh high hemline with stiletto heel pairings from a stability standpoint.  It would be embarrassing, not to mention hazardous, to have a repeat of the St. Patrick's day snafu in one of those recent short numbers as she is this far along and the Sledge heels are particularly high with an added platform.

Credits: Left, Right - Zimbio.

Anyway recent repliKates of the Sledge include these patent leather platform pumps in nude from C. Wonder.  Another spot-on dupe if you ask me!

C. Wonder - patent leather platform pump in nude.

This next item is an oldie but its a first for this blog because it features jewelry!

Kate has frequently (but not lately) been pictured wearing a pavé diamond "Button" pendant from Asprey.  Below is the best angle I could find from the 2011 Canada/USA tour but for better close-ups visit Diana's Jewels.

Via IBTimes.com.

It is a silver tone round pendant with pavé set diamonds and a center amethyst.  This pendant design has also been identified as resembling a variation of an "evil eye" pendant.  While simple in design, the necklace clocks in at $3,750 USD.

Asprey - 167 Button pendant.

So for the following keep in mind that these aren't exact dupes but rather they fall under the category of in the style of repliKates but all are well under $3,000.  They also all have pavé settings like Kate's and in this case the pattern is concentric circles around the center set stone.  Pavé means the stones are closely set, and the literal translation means "paved".

First up is this black and white diamond pendant from Kohl's.  It has a bit of extra colored stones on the outer rim however.  If Kate's pendant is a variation on the evil eye, this one would be an evil eye with a pop of eyeliner!

Kohl's - sterling silver black diamond accent round pendant.

This next pendant necklace from Target would be a pretty decent approximation since Kate's Asprey pendant also comes in gold, all save for the lack of a colored center stone.  I should note that while only the gold is available online,  I did see a silver tone version in store.

Target - gold over silver cubic zirconia circle necklace.

This colored pendant from Zales with purple tanzanite and diamonds is slightly the opposite of Kate's pendant with more color and less white diamond.  But is sure is a beauty.

Zales - tanzanite and diamond round frame pendant in sterling silver.

Finally this pendant also from Zales is the bling-iest of the bunch but it is the one that most matches the color ratio on Kate's pendant, with much more white in the surround and the bit of color in the center.

Zales - enhanced blue and white diamond circle frame pendant in sterling silver.