It was huge, it was sparkly and when I was a child it lived in a safety deposit box in a bank to which my mother made her twice annual pilgrimage, only to take it out, look at it and then put it back again. Occasionally she’d wear it and let me gaze at its glory, promising me that one day it would be mine. I refer to my Great Grandmother’s engagement ring. It was four carats and from the moment I saw it I fell in love. I asked my mother why she didn’t wear it all the time, she wore other diamonds, so why not this one?
Trying to explain to a five year old that some diamonds are for special occasions made no sense to me at all, as far as I was concerned everyday was special, but then I also believed I was a Fairy Princess.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
As I got older, I was told that one day I would meet Prince Charming and he would buy me my own diamonds. Hmmmm, Fairytales. By a certain age I decided to invest in some glittering diamonds for myself, but like any other girl I’m not going to say no to the gift of diamonds, and nor will any man; after all this is the season to celebrate, to rejoice in all things beautiful and to hope and pray that your loved one buys you a present which lets you know how special you are. Let’s face it, we all hope that the perfect gift will speak a thousand words, shine brighter than a star and be synonymous with perfection, and we all know that nothing, and absolutely nothing, spells it out quite like the gift of diamonds.
Bedazzled
Ladies and gentleman prepare to be dazzled. I am so excited to be telling you this, I can hardly contain myself, because, (drum roll please), Hearts On Fire, the Bostonian company which in recent years has established a new industry standard for diamond cutting perfection, and is the world’s fastest growing diamond brand, (sales in 31 countries is no mean feat) has opened it’s first ever UK boutique here at Bicester Village.
The World’s Most Perfectly Cut Diamond®
Let me tell you why this is so exciting. Hearts On Fire are the brand creators of The World’s Most Perfectly Cut Diamond®. Not only are these diamonds extraordinary, brilliant works of art, only 1% of the world’s rough diamonds are pure enough to be part of their collections and there are only 400 artisans worldwide qualified to cut these diamonds to meet the Hearts On Fire standard. Not to bore you with technicalities, but if you’re someone who expects more and wants to give more (note to self, leave this article in BF’s briefcase) then a diamond, cut and polished at 100X magnification, 10 times the industry standard, is particularly special indeed.
Seeing Is Believing
Is it little wonder why popping by the boutique, face stuck to the glass, has become my daily obsession? This is after all the company that has dressed the likes of Liv Tyler, Lauren Conrad and Marcia Cross for the red carpet and created the famous Hearts On Fire Diamond Chandelier in honor of the 60th Diamond Anniversary of the Emmy® Awards and to launch their new Architectural Collection.
The $10 million Hearts On Fire Diamond Chandelier
All I can say is lucky people in the Architectural Digest Green Room at the Emmy’s because I am told to see is to believe and three tiers of 3,300 individual Hearts On Fire diamonds totalling more than 1,000 carats, plated in liquid platinum and valued at $10 million is worth seeing. Alas it is not here at Bicester Village, we can but dream.
So what can you expect from the Hearts On Fire boutique? Aside from being blinded by the magnificent radiance you only get from a perfectly cut diamond, (cut being the only of the 4C’s under human control and the most important attribute to reveal a diamond’s beauty), you will find glorious diamonds that in all seriousness reflect light in luminous white and all seven colors of the rainbow, and glisten and sparkle, and gleam and glitter more than any other diamonds I have ever seen.
Magpie Heaven
Statement pieces, conversational pieces, wearable art, it’s all here. Pendants, earrings, bracelets, cufflinks, men’s and women’s right-hand rings and bands are designed in the most unique and modern settings.
The standard retail prices are approximately £800 to £85,000 but most of the pieces in the Hearts On Fire boutique at Bicester Village are priced at between 30% and 40% less than this.
Charms from £390 Pendants from £580
Circles in Motion earrings & Fluid #1 pendant
The majority of the collection here is under £2000. Affordable Charms start at £390 (50% off), Heart Pendants are from £580 and there is a delightful range called “My First Collection” for diamond newbies, starting at £260. These are all great gift ideas for Christmas and beyond.
About a quarter of the boutique contains pieces slightly further up the price range, these are the pieces that really make a statement.
I have a penchant for pendants and adore both the Fragrant Pendant and the Fluid #1 Pendant (both approx. £3,000).
I also love the Circles in Motion Earrings (from £2,000) and the Divine Gothic Cross Pendant (from £1,395). Oh decisions. One should be so lucky to have them all!
Make a Statement
Botanics Sandblast Brooch & Pave Earrings
Prestige Dream cufflinks & Applause ring
At the top end of the spectrum there are those to-die-for red carpet pieces.
My favourite is the Botanica Collection, as worn by Marcia Cross. The Botanica Sandblast Brooch starts at £2,075 and the matching Pave Earrings are around £7,075.
Other key red carpet pieces are the Poise Earrings (from £7,145), the Prestige Dream Cufflinks (from £9,285) and the Applause Right Hand Ring (from £8,930). If you really want get noticed then wear one of these conversational pieces, each one speaks a thousand words.
Sometimes You Just Know it When You See It
On a final note, as I must go now and plan my own Christmas shopping - If you’re lucky enough to be the recipient of any of these pieces, never, ever (I could not stress this more) let the bearer of such a gift out of your sight because diamonds like these come with a message of love. If you’re buying Hearts On Fire diamonds for someone else then be assured your message will come through loud and clear. And if you’re treating yourself, well good for you!!!
These uniquely cut diamonds are for those who live intensely and love intensely, and Hearts On Fire diamonds are just like love at first sight, sometimes you just know it when you see it.
