It is becoming increasingly common for couples to look more closely into the ethical credentials of their jewellery. Going the bespoke route can make people feel more comfortable about the provinence of their jewellery as there is often a strong relationship between an independent jeweller and their suppliers of metal and gemstones. One ethical route that some of the customers … Read More
Bespoke Horse Charm
It’s always exciting when I get asked to make something a little out of the ordinary, and David set me a fantastic challenge to design and make a custom charm for his wife Cathy’s charm bracelet. Cathy has a bucket list of experiences she is working through and top of the list was to ride a horse along the water’s … Read More
What is a hallmark?
A hallmark is an official mark on a piece of jewellery or item made from a precious metal. Hallmarks exist to protect consumers as they prove the type of metal and its quality, and also provide evidence of who made the piece and when. A full traditional hallmark is made up of five marks and looks like this: Sponsors’ (or … Read More
Why is my white gold tarnishing?
You’ve got a new beautiful white gold ring you have worn for a few months, but then you notice the metal around the back of the ring and the setting have changed colour. Patches of your ring are a totally different shade of white, and next to the bright silvery areas that remain, these patches almost look yellow. Is your … Read More
How to get the perfect ring size
Deciding on the perfect ring size sounds like an easy job, right? Well, sometimes it is, but quite often it can be a surprisingly tricky decision. Ultimately, it is a matter of personal preference but here are my tips and some tricks to get an accurate ring size you are happy with. What size is right? Your ring should feel comfortable … Read More
How to choose your wedding ring (for women)
In my experience, designing wedding rings for women is often a simpler job than it is for men. This is because the design is usually somewhat dictated by the engagement ring. The other difference is that the majority of women have worn jewellery before and therefore have an idea of their taste and style. However, regardless of this, it can … Read More
How to choose your wedding ring (for men)
Each time I have met a man who is in the planning stage of his wedding ring, there has been a sense of trepidation about him. This is completely understandable as the vast majority of men have not worn a ring before, making it alien territory. I try to encourage my clients to see the design process as a case … Read More
Make your own wedding rings
I had the pleasure of working with Jasmine and Cesare (Jas & Ces) to design and make their wedding rings. They wanted to do something extra special, and so I suggested they got involved in the actual production of their rings and they jumped at the idea! The engagement ring Ces proposed to Jas with his late Mother’s engagement ring while … Read More
Handmade vs Cast Jewellery
When buying jewellery, most people don’t think about how it has been made. They won’t, therefore, consider how the manner in which it was manufactured might affect the quality or value of the piece. The two most common methods of production in jewellery are casting and hand-making, both of which have their advantages. Read on to work out what is … Read More
Platinium Engagement Ring Resize
Lee and Charmaine needed a significant resize on Charmaine’s sparkly engagement ring he ordered from me in an average size M ready for his surprise Christmas proposal. Charmaine actually needed a tiny size I, so was unable to wear her stunning sparkly ring for fear of it falling off. Before coming back to me for the resize, they spoke to … Read More