Design Porn: Mona Mara jewellery

It's always pleasing when you find a new jewellery brand that's less full-on fashion than Topshop but isn't going to cost you the family jewels. That's why I'm loving the work of Mona Mara - UK designed and made, and great at hitting that tricky middle ground between the two.

The collection, only launched last year, also manages to achieve the balance between heartfelt and cool: your partner could give you one of the pieces and raise an awww or two (or three), but you won't get laughed at for wearing them by your friends in the playground. 

Case in point, this 'Seek and You Shall Find' necklace, £48. Made from plated gold over brass, this little arrow is not only extremely pretty but its long 76cm chain makes it suitable for casually slinging on when you're going out adventuring. 

Mona Mara love their keys and make them in varying degrees of ornateness and soppiness. This one offers the Key to My Heart but you can also discover the Key to My Happiness and the Key to Success, all for £48. The Key to My City, meanwhile, is currently reduced to £38.

There are some simpler stunning silhouette pieces too, like this gorgeous cat necklace. It's £40 or, you have a bit more money to spend, there's also a sterling silver version available.

Mona Mara is a London-based company and proud of it. I'd be (even more) proud of it too if I was bearing this London city skyline necklace about my person. Although it's out of stock at the moment, you can order it now for delivery in February (a Valentine's gift to self maybe?).

For rock chicks of whatever age, surely no band T-shirt is complete without this Peace hand sterling silver necklace? I'm also taking it as a rather obvious sign to give Mona Mara a hand for their excellent first collection - I'm very much looking forward to seeing what designs follow next.