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Ready to wear: Sunken treasure

Annalisa Barbieri
Sunday 10 December 1995 00:02 GMT
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Costume jewellery came in about 200 years ago, mostly for reasons of security - the rich would wear their copies while travelling (these were the days of highwaymen). Today, costume jewellery is still going strong,allowing us to wear big baubles at little cost. In the Eighties silver took over from gold which was left mostly for those who wanted to flash their wealth. The contemporary jewellers Jess James opened in 1988 and helped launch the careers of jewellery designers such as Jacqueline Rabun, Dinny Hall, Malcolm Betts and Tom Binns. Before this, going into a jewellers was associated with being rich, or buying an engagement ring. Now it is possible to buy beautiful pieces without spending a month's wages and engagement and wedding rings are replaced with "betrothal" and "life partner" rings. Next year gold will make a big comeback, so watch out for ankle chains and waist chains worn with bikinis.

CLOCKWISE FROM MAIN PICTURE

Picture one (fuschia pink dress): Pink 'swim' dress, pounds 250, La Perla at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, SW1 and Harrods, Knightsbridge, SW1. Silver necklace, pounds 213 and silver choker (worn as armband), pounds 213 both Harriet Russell at Jess James, 3 Newburgh Street, W1. Silver bangle, pounds 145, Van Peterson Designs, 194/196 Walton Street, SW3. Silver 'worry' ring (on left hand), approx pounds 85, Diana Porter at Jess James and to order on 0117 941 4953. 'Purple Heart' ring (on right hand), pounds 150, Wright & Teague from Liberty, Regent Street, W1; Sheila Miller Designer Jewellery, Unit 26, Princes Square, Buchanan Street, Glasgow; The Talisman Gallery at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, SW1.

Picture two (slip dress): Plum slip dress, pounds 125, Ghost from Harrods, Knightsbridge, SW3; Hudson & Hudson, 3 Capital Exchange, Queen Street, Cardiff. Shorter necklace, approx pounds 30, Agatha, 4 South Molton Street, W1. Longer gilt necklace, pounds 320, gilt linked bracelet, from a selection and gilt and amethyst drop earrings, pounds 125 all Van Peterson Designs, 194/196 Walton Street, SW3. Gilt cuff, pounds 320, Robert Lee Morris from Van Peterson as before. 'Purple Heart' ring, pounds 150 and gilt crest ring, pounds 60, Wright & Teague from Liberty, Regent Street, W1; Sheila Miller Designer Jewellery, Unit 26, Princes Square, Buchanan Street, Glasgow; The Talisman Gallery at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, SW1.

Picture three (red swimsuit): Red swimsuit, pounds 89, Calvin Klein, Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, SW1. Shorter necklace, pounds 200, Sian Evans at Jess James, 3 Newburgh Street, W1. Longer necklace, approx pounds 20, Diana Porter at Jess James and to order on 0117 941 4953. Silver large link bracelet, pounds 120, Van Peterson Designs, 194/196 Walton Street, SW3. Fine link bracelet, pounds 16, Oasis branches tel: 0171 436 0474. Rings: left hand: 'Dalek' ring, pounds 300, Sian Evans as before. Right hand: silver band, pounds 4.99, Oasis as before; 'worry' ring, approx pounds 85, Diana Porter as before; wide band, pounds 118, Wright & Teague as before.

Picture four (close up of hands): Shorter necklace, approx pounds 30, Agatha, 4 South Molton Street, W1. Longer gilt necklace, pounds 320, Van Peterson Designs, 194/196 Walton Street, SW3. Rings: left hand from top: 'worry' ring, approx pounds 85, Diana Porter; 'Dalek' ring, pounds 300, Sian Evans; band with cubic zircona, approx pounds 100, Diana Porter. Right hand from top: 'Purple Hearts' ring, pounds 150, Wright & Teague; blue topaz ring, pounds 583, Tom McEwan at Jess James as before.

photographs by mark plummer

STYLING BY RACHEL COLLINS

HAIR AND MAKE-UP BY JO GILLINGWATER AT GSM; MODEL: GEORGE VERE AT MODELS 1

Many thanks to the following:

Shot underwater using the Nikonos RS Autofocus Underwater SLR camera, from approx pounds 3,500.

The Porchester Centre, Queensway, London W2 in whose pool this was shot. Facilities include 2 swimming pools, squash courts, Courtneys gym, a dance studio, sunbed suite and The Spa which provides body and beauty treatments. For a free information pack and details of membership and complimentary aerobics classes in the new studio please call, 0171-792 1372/2265.

Sub Total Diving School for their expert tuition and diving equipment. For information on scuba diving lessons and holidays, contact them on: 0181-908 0973.

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