So a little while back, after years of uhming and ahing I've decided to take the plunge and by myself an engraving machine.
The reason I've been putting it off is because they just cost SUCH a lot of money, but I think it's going to be worth it (🤞).
This new workshop buddy of mine is called Derek and he will allow me to engrave names, dates, phrases onto things rather than having to rely soley on hand stamping.
Stamping is using a steel stamp and hammer to impress each letter into the metal, so the metal gets squished and distorted a little. Then you line up the next letter next to it and repeat - (which often means the letters aren't exactly aligned). Engraving on the other hand describes using a sharp tool (in this case a diamond tipped engraver) to carve the words or pattern into the metal.
It's a much more sophisticated look, not quite as wonky as my hand stamping (which I must admit I still love, and will still offer for those who prefer it!) But I think it will work lots better in flush set stone rings, and in wedding bands - and designs which need the metal stay perfect, and not distorted.
BUT in addition to the obvious personalisation options I can now offer some new designs (and this is the reason I splashed out).
I can now engrave fingerprints onto my jewellery, soundwave patterns, and even some simple maps and pictures. Look out for lots of lovely new things coming very soon!
I really hope you like them.
]]>I always recommend it!
Let me talk you through some of the textures I offer here;
A smooth polished finish is a traditional, neat look for any ring band. This is basically free of any added texture, and I just polish the silver up to a high shine using a range of sandpaper from rough, to super fine to remove any scratches and marks on the silver. After that I use a polishing compound to add that extra shine.
A hammered finish is my favourite look. I basically gently hammer the silver with a special hammer to give a random, textured look to the silver. I love the slightly less neat look of this finish. I go through the steps as above for the smooth finish, and then do the hammering, and this means that the finished effect is nice and shiny. As light hits the ring it bounces off at different angles which makes it seem more sparkly than a smooth ring. The other advantage of the hammered finish (and the one which appeals to me most) is that the everyday dings and scratches that inevitably occur when you wear your rings day in and day out are disguised by the purposefully added dings!
I often suggest in a ring stack having these two finishes together - so for a stack of three having the middle one as a smooth band, and the two outer ones as the hammered finish. This adds a lovely bit of extra detail to the stacking set, but also means that any dings will tend to hit the outer rings and be absorbed into the finish.
Now don't get me wrong I absolutely LOVE the look of a satin finish, but I tend not to recommend it for everyday rings as the finish does fade over time. As the ring is worn the delicate satin effect is gently rubbed away. This can take weeks, months or years depending on how much you wear the item. But it is not a permanent finish.
I'm always happy to re-finish any satin effect bands I have made though if you'd like to send it back to me. There are a few ways to create the satin finish. I have a frosting wheel which I attach to my pendant motor - this honestly is like a torture instrument. I'm always careful to keep my hands away from it as much as possible as the spikey sharp still pins rotate super fast and can tear into metal (and therefore my fingers) with ease. I am also careful to wear safety glasses for this one because if one of those little pins came loose 🙈.
Ahhh this is a lovely one to make and to wear. Reminiscent of the markings of bark this random vertical texture is created using a special hammer. The wider the ring band the more random and bark like the texture is - for slimmer bands it can look more like a stripey texture.
I also have what I call the Flora band, which is a swirly flower pattern across the band. It's a really lovely way to add more texture and detail in to a ring stack and I often use it as a spacer band in a stacking set.
The dotty band is made up of little silver (or gold) balls - the thinner the band the more delicate it can be in terms of bending the band leading it to snap, but as long as you don't take the ring off and twist and bend it there shouldn't be any problems with it.
]]>I love making pieces with what I think of as THE perfect stone for summer.
Every time I make something with this stone - I have visions in my head of white sandy beaches, and palm trees. Also, one of those fancy cocktails with pineapple and coconut or something (which doesn’t really appeal taste wise but looks great in my daydream).
If you've followed me on instagram or on my facebook page for a while you might already know what I’m talking about because I go on and on (and on) about it every summer. But if not, let me introduce you to Sea Blue Agate.
It’s one of those gorgeous stones, a bit like white moonstone, in which the colour seems to swirl around like mist and change a little in the light.
I think this may have just overtaken Turquoise as the stone of summer in my mind. I’d love to know what you think.
Which is the right ring band for me? This is a question that often crops up; especially with wedding rings which ideally we'd like to be wearing for a very long time. When it comes to choosing a ring, be it a stacking ring, or a wedding band there are a number of band styles to choose from.
Below is a description of the main styles of band I offer, but please be aware that on the website not all of the band styles are listed for each ring. This is purely because there are so many options I couldn't add them all on to my system! It just doesn't allow for that number of variation; so do get in touch and I will advise you of any cost differences and how to order 😊.
What is a D-shaped band?
Before I start I should say that all of the bands are circular. I think I sometimes confuse people when I start talking about D shaped bands but what i'm talking about here is the shape of the cross section of the band not the band itself which is most definitely circular.
So the D shaped band is the band shape I most often use, and which is listed for most of my stacking rings. You can see an example in the picture above.
So what is a D-shaped band?
This is a real classic. It's flat on the inside and curved on the outside. If you were to cut the band, the edge of it would like a bit like a capital letter D. This curve adds a satisfying weight to the ring, and it's profile often means that is sits well with an engagement ring.
Court Shape/ Comfort fit
This style is flat on the edges but has a gentle curve on both the inside and the outside of the band. This makes it really comfortable both to wear and to take off. Apparently this ring profile is especially good to get over knuckles and sit more comfortably. Another classic shape.
Flat band
Now this is probably a bit more obvious; the band profile is flat on both sides (see pic above), so in this case, the cross section would be rectangular. I think a slim flat band is especially good for people who aren't used to wearing rings, or who find them uncomfortble sitting against other fingers. It's a bit like wearing flip flops, you get used to it pretty quickly, but for some people it's just never feels right.
Flat band comfort fit
This (for me) is just the reverse of the D shape band. So in this case it has the contemporary look of the flat band on the outer edge, but the rounded side is on the inside, making it super comfy to wear and take on and off.
Round
Obviously I couldn't not include a round profile ring on here too. These rings are made from round silver or gold wire. They are best suited to smaller rings, up to about 2mm to sit comfortably on the hand next to other fingers. I do love round profile rings as slim stackers.
Hope that helps describe and show the difference a little bit - just get in touch if you'd like more info or advice.
You might have noticed in some of my product descriptions that I use eco-friendly sterling silver where possible. So, I thought you might like a bit more information about what I mean by that.
Silver ore is mined in underground and open pit mines in, which can be problematic in terms of the working conditions, and in the use of child labour (in Africa and Asia children as young as 5 are involved in the mines). In addition the environmental impact of mining is huge, and toxic substances can pollute the air and water sources in the area of the mine.
The silver is extracted from the ore using either a smelting, or chemical leaching process which again can cause massive problems with pollution.
So, instead of using traditional silver, I always opt for the eco-friendly sterling silver option where possible. I source my certified eco-friendly recycled silver from reputable suppliers. This is basically using scrap jewellery, medical equipment, electronics and giftware which is melted, cleaned and tested for purity before being formed into wire, or sheet ready to use for making jewellery.
I also use my own silver scraps to create pieces of jewellery, melting the scraps into little balls for decoration on certain pieces, or in the case of my bubble studs (below), they form the piece itself!
The recycled silver is a touch more expensive, but to me, it’s so worth it.
It was also thought to be the treasure of mermaids and was used by sailors as a talisman of good luck, fearlessness and protection. Today it is still used to protect all who travel by, over or near water.
As well as being the birthstone for March, aquamarine is the stone for 19th wedding anniversaries.
It's a great stone to wear everyday, as it is pretty hardwearing, so it's perfect in birthstone stacking rings and bracelets which get bashed around quite a bit with daily wear.
From light pinkish violet to a deep dark purple, its often said that the Greeks believed these beautiful stones could prevent intoxication hence the name; the word amethyst comes from the Greek word “amethystos” meaning “not intoxicated”!
I'm not sure you'd want to rely on this particular property of the stone on a night out though.
I don't think they were just referring to the booze - rather thinking of amethyst as an amulet to keep yourself from going overboard in any aspect of your life.
Helping you keep that balance in your life.
Living rather than just existing.
Crystal healers say that amethyst has a high vibration which can help block negative energies and promote wisdom and tranquility.
Amethyst is perfect for:
Because of their beautiful colour and relative hardness, amethysts have been used in jewellery for many hundreds of years, in fact beads of amethyst have been found in Anglo-Saxon graves.
But although it is quite a hard stone it's still only 1/15 the strength of a diamond.
You can clean your amethyst safely with warm (not hot) soapy water, with a rub of a microfibre cloth or air dry.
Garnet is the beautiful deep red birthstone for January. Perfect for this time of year, the rich warm glow of a traditional red garnet really brightens up the grey January days.
The name garnet comes from “granatus” which means pomegranate in Latin - a reference to that juicy red colour of the gemstone which looks like a pomegranate pip.
Garnet has been used in jewellery since the Bronze age and they have been found in pieces from ancient Egypt (the pharaohs wore necklaces studded with garnets) and ancient Rome (in signet rings used to stamp the wax seals of important documents amongst other things)
Garnets are hard too, so any garnet material which doesn’t make the grade to be cut into a gemstone is often used in abrasives.
Most garnets I use in my birthstone jewellery are the traditional red colour that you probably associate with the name garnet. I prefer this rich deep red colour (which could be because it reminds me of red wine, my favourite tipple), but I also use some stones with a pinkish red hue, and occasionally an orange red tone. Garnet is also found in yellow, purple and vibrant green but these are much less common and I must admit I haven’t come across any!
The rich red garnets I use most often come from India.
The different colour garnets each have slightly different chemical compositions, which vary according to the location of the mine. They are usually formed when sedimentary rock, like shale, undergoes huge structural change - for example when tectonic plates converge leading to changes in temperature and pressure. These conditions cause the minerals to recrystallize into more stable forms and some of these new structures are garnet.
Traditionally garnets were thought to protect travellers and heal heart and blood problems. Garnet is also thought to help eliminate negative feelings and emotions (depression, guilt) and support self confidence and clear thinking.
It signifies love, and permanence.
They are really just three simple bands, which are interlocked but the tricky bit is the shaping of each ring and the sizing. Aaaah the sizing!! That really took me way too long (and too much silver) to figure out. 😂
Obviously these aren't all the steps just some little clips along the way but it gives you the idea of how I make them.
Sanding and polishing is the bit that takes a loooooong time so I didn't show much of that at all - I figure that's boring to watch, but basically each ring has to be sanded with lots of different grades of wheel (in the above snapshot), from rough to get out any deep scratches, gradually getting finer and finer until it's nice and shiny and scratch free. Then comes the actual polishing with a couple of different polishing compounds.
]]>Simplicity can be beautiful - choose a name, date, or place (a town, postcode, or latitude/ longitude,). Or just a words like Mum, sister, best friend.
Choose a favourite lyric, or quote from a film or tv show.
I can even engrave fingerprints, soundwaves (!), symbols, emojis....let your imagination run wild.
BUT sometimes it's hard to find just the right words to add to that special piece of jewellery.
Whether it's a gift for someone, or a keepsake for yourself I've collated some perfect words for every occasion below (there's always room for more ideas - so do let me know if you any I should add in!)
I can engrave your words onto bangles, rings, pendants - if there is not an option to add engraving on a particular product on the website - just get in touch. It could be that it's possible but I've not been organised enough to add it on there just yet.
*********************
AFFIRMATIONS
Words:
Dream, Begin, Sparkle, Shine Bright, Believe, Love, Breathe, Happy, Free, Grow, Always, Hope, Friendship,
Phrases:
ENGRAVING IDEAS FOR GRADUATION GIFTS
Phrases:
ENGRAVING IDEAS FOR ENGAGEMENTS
WEDDINGS/ ANNIVERSARIES
ENGRAVING IDEAS FOR MUMS
ENGRAVING IDEAS FOR DADS
I'm always looking for more lovely ideas so I'm planning on updating this post often. Please do contact me if you have any suggestions to add.
]]>Previously I'd only been able to hand stamp names and dates inside my rings, but I'm hoping this will open up a whole world of design possibilities. A new way to personalise and add extra layers of meaning to your jewellery.
Stamping involves a steel punch or stamp with the letter on it which is lined up and then hit with a hammer to impress that shape into the metal. Each letter needs to be lined up individually, and when hit the metal spreads out which can cause a slight distortion in the item being stamped.
Engraving is more a case of removing the excess metal using a sharp tool. More like carving the letters into the item than impressing them. It gives a neater finish as there is no lining up of punches and there are lots more options in style/ font.
Basically stamping is a little less polished, and handmade looking whilst engraving has a more finished, neater look. Don't worry if you prefer the stamped look - I am definitely still able to offer this if that's what you prefer.
Engraving can be done after the ring is made - for stamping it's the first step before the ring is formed. So this means as well as new pieces, if you have an existing Becky Pearce Designs item which you would like to have engraved I'd love to help! So if your stacking rings are in need of an extra personal touch, just message me.
The cost will be £20 for the first item or £40 for two or more pieces. Just get in touch.
I love making jewellery that is personal and unique and this is really going to enhance what I can offer. Not only words, but new designs - like my new birth flower collection.
]]>
I’ve been really trying to make my jewellery business (along with the rest of my life) more sustainable and eco-friendly.
So in terms of my packaging here are some of the things I do:
As well as the Jiffy Green mailers, I also recycled bubble mailers I have recieved from my suppliers. Again, not as pretty as a shiny new envelope, but I think people understand and appreciate why.
To reseal the recycled mailers, and also make the new ones more secure I used to use sellotape, but I’ve recently invested in some plastic free tape. I didn’t really twig how much we use sellotape but it comes on pretty much every package I get - and most of it ends up in landfill, so the paper tape is very welcome! It also sticks really well. I’d definitely recommend it.
So far, I think the P&P department of my little biz is doing okay in reducing the impact on the planet. I’d love to hear any other tips/ advice from you on how to be more sustainable and eco-friendly.
I’m slowly working my way through my other processes and materials to see what other changes I can make….it’s a bit of a minefield but I’ll get there - one sheet of recycled sterling at a time
A cabochon stone is cut with a flat back and a domed top.
The back of the gem sits flat against the setting and the dome rises above it giving it a curved top profile.
This cut is traditionally used for opaque stones, but of course can be used on the transparent gems too.
These beauties are my favourite. Take the cabochon stone I described above; with the flat back and curved top. And then add little facet cuts to the dome. These little flat facets allow the light to bounce off the stone at lots of different angles, meaning the stone is sparkly and the light can get into the stone to bring out the colour.
The peridot in the picture above has been faceted in a rose cut pattern. And the checkerboard has a slightly different design of cuts.
Yes, I know, I know the rose cut stones I just talked about are theoretically faceted stones, but these ones are a whole new category. These are the kind of stones you think about when you think of a diamond. They are pointed at the back, with a flatter top and are faceted in various ways around this to allow the light to bounce around and show off the stone and it’s colouring to it’s best.
These stones are set in prong, or basket settings, or quite often in tube settings. (More of which in a later blog post!)
Here’s one of my cubic zirconia stones (which look fabulously diamond-like) in a tube setting. This kind of setting is perfect for my birthstone stacking sets, so it’s the one I do most of at the moment.
Well that’s my run through of the basic stone cuts. Within each of these categories, the stones can be all sorts of different shapes too. Trillion, round, square, oval, pear…. and on and on. I’ll be doing a blog post about all of the many, many shapes I can offer shortly!
But I hope that was helpful and if you have any jewellery questions, just let me know.
So why buy handmade gifts this Christmas? Well, I’m glad you asked…
There’s nothing quite like the quality and care that goes into making handmade gifts. Unlike items made in large factories for large corporations, handmade items are made to last. Each piece has been lovingly designed and handcrafted in order to bring happiness and joy to the recipient.
Sadly, we live in a throwaway culture, so there’s nothing better than buying something you know will last a long time. With jewellery, these could well be pieces that are passed down through generations.
‘Shop local’ and ‘Support Small Business’ have become popular features on social media, and for good reason. Supporting local businesses does wonders for the business owners themselves and also the local economy.
Many small business owners who specialise in handmade gifts were hobbyists, who quickly found a demand for their pieces. Knowing you’re supporting someone’s vision and desire to build their business from the ground up is a fantastic feeling. It also enables them to do something they love whilst supporting themselves and their families.
When buying handmade gifts, you can rest assured that crafters care where their materials come from. Many choose to use recycled packaging or locally sourced materials to avoid items travelling from miles away.
Handmade pieces are often the result of hours of careful planning and creation, sometimes from a crafter’s kitchen table or garden studio.
Where ever possible I use recycled sterling silver and gold. I use lab made stones as well as mined stones, and my packaging is plastic free.
And I have recently linked with a company called Ecologi, to plant a tree for each and every order on the website.
I've still got more to do, but I am working on it.
No big factories and mass production. Just unique gifts and pieces for you to enjoy.
In a world of machinery and computer programmes that create thousands of pieces at a time, we’re in danger of losing some of the skills from the past. Handmade products keep those skills alive, allowing the next generation to learn and refine them further.
It also means there’s a demand for education too - with craftspeople offering workshops and courses for others who wish to learn new skills and begin making their own pieces.
There’s nothing better than receiving a handmade piece. Something so unique that you know there’s no one else in the world who has one exactly like yours. It shows how thoughtful someone has been when thinking of you and what would bring you happiness. It shows you they care.
Not only that, handmade gifts spark conversations. Admirers want to know where you got the piece and when. Not only making you feel great but also providing more referrals and customers for a small business owner.
So if you want to give your loved ones a special gift this Christmas, why not buy handmade? You can be guaranteed it’s made with love and you’ll be supporting a small business too.
Ooooh and of course, if you’re interested in purchasing jewellery, why not take a look at my designs?
]]>It is thought to expand the awareness and tap into the subconscious mind.
It's also said to release mental tension and restore balance within the body. To stimulate concentration and bring lightness and joy - yes please!
Sapphires have been prized for centuries but gem grade corundum (which includes sapphires and rubies) is actually much rarer than diamond.
So it was exciting news when over a hundred years ago, a French scientist discovered that it was possible to create both rubies and sapphires in labs - basically by melting the core components of the stone together at high temperatures.
I do completely get that lots of people who love nature, would prefer to wear a natural stone - a real treasure of the natural world; but lab made stones are actually real Sapphires I promise. They both have the same components and characteristics - the difference is only that one take millions of years of heat and pressure underground to form, and one is created in a fraction of the time in a lab. The only real difference is the point of origin.
And in terms of the environmental impact, lab grown gems are undoubtably the better option. Ground mining involves moving a lot of earth which can disrupt habitats and pollute water sources. Whilst it's obviously not zero impact on the environment - the overall carbon impact of lab gems is hugely less than mined gemstones.
I use lab sapphires in my designs as standard, but can source natural stones as required - just get in touch with me for more details.
I tend to get my natural sapphires from Australia where possible, because of the standards of working condititions required for the workers there and the hope that the governement and mining companies are working together on lessening the environmental impact.
Sapphires have always symbolised wisdom, truth, nobility, sincerity and faithfulness, so they have a long history of different uses in different cultures.
In both Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, leaders believed that wearing sapphire stones would protect them from envy and harm, so it was common for members of the monarchy and authority to wear the gemstone.
In the Middle Ages, members of the clergy saw sapphires as something that linked them to heaven, so sapphires became very popular as a decoration, although they were extremely expensive. Sapphires also have an important role in religions that practice spirituality, particularly because of their links to honesty and faithfulness.
Star sapphires are a particularly lovely form of the gem, with a star pattern that shines as the light catches; perfectly symmetrical and glowing from within. I use lab made star sapphires - which are an option in the cabochon cuts of the stones. So in the oval and round cabochon birthstone rings.
The most famous star sapphire stone is The Star of India (pic above from the wiki page).
The sapphire is an astonishing 563 carats (and about the size of a golf ball) and is estimated to be over 2 billion years old.
]]>
]]>
When you first wear your silver jewellery, it's bright, shiny and beautiful, but over time silver tarnishes, from the interaction of silver and sulfides in the air.
Tarnish is that dark, dull coating on the surface of the silver.
Sterling silver is a mixed metal, combining pure silver (92.5%) and copper (7.5%) and it is the copper in the silver that reacts with moisture and sulphur in the air to create the tarnish.
Pure silver - which isn't mixed with other metals is called fine silver and although it doesn't have such tarnish issues isn't great for everyday jewellery as it is much softer than sterling. That copper mix is very necessary to give the silver it's strength!
So if that dark coating of tarnish is caused by the reaction of copper in the metal with moisture you can see how the tarnish is produced more quickly in areas with high humidity - like swimming pools, or if it's often left on the side in the bathroom. All jewellery and particularly silver rings with lots of handwashing and sanitising going on, are prone to tarnishing.
The tarnish will also happen with different speeds on different people, due to the differing body chemistry effecting the oils on the skin, and the environments they live in.
First the tarnish will take on a golden hue, which changes to grey and eventually, it will turn the piece black.
There are things you can do to avoid that grey;
1) USE a soft cotton cloth to polish away light tarnishing. Regular buffing in this way should keep your jewellery shiny. A special silver polishing cloth makes the job a lot easier and faster.
2) If the tarnish does not come off, try WASHING the piece in soapy water using a soft bristled brush (like a toothbrush). This should prove effective in most cases.
3) AVOID - wearing your jewellery in swimming pools - silver and chlorine do not mix well. And be careful when handling chlorine cleaning products and bleaches. What better excuse not to clean the bathroom !!
4) Finally when you're not wearing your item - STORE it in a sealed bag or similar to stop the reaction with the air.
But if your silver has already gone past this point - what next?
If you don't fancy watching me faff around for 5 minutes the steps are really easy:
1) line a shallow dish with aluminium foil - shiny side up
2) put jewellery in (be mindful of stones which shouldn't get submerged in water - turquoise, opal etc..)
3) sprinkle on some bicarbonate of soda
4) cover with boiling water
5) leave for 1 or 2 mins
6) remove jewellery and dry with a clean cloth
7) buff with a silver polishing cloth for a better shine
You might see a yellowy tinge in the water, and the shiny foil is now more dull as the suplur has trasferred off the silver.
You can just recycle the foil in your household recycling as usual (apparently wrapping foil together into a large ball makes it easier for the recycling machines to separate).
I think the easiest solution is to keep the tarnish at bay by getting a silver polishing cloth, and giving them a quick rub every day when you take them off. By keeping the tarnish down in that way, it should never build up to a problem level.
Hope this all helps - if you have any top tips for cleaning jewellery without resorting to silver dip I'd love to hear it!
]]>
Peridot comes in beautiful fresh green hues - the colour of new leaves in spring. It's so full of life and potential, and in a stacking ring set it really adds a zing!
Peridot (pronounced Perry-dot not Perry-doh) is believed to be as old as the solar system (over 4.5 billion years). In the 1700s, fragments of peridot that were large enough to be turned into jewellery were discovered on a hilltop in Siberia and are believed to have arrived on earth inside a meteor over 14 million years ago.
It's also formed in molton rock deep underground - only rising to the earths surface through a volcanic erruption or earthquake.
Peridot is associated with strength and balance, believed to bring peace and good health and to soothe both emotionally and physically.
Joyful, harmonious, opens the heart and attracts abundance.
Thought to help with peaceful sleep.
A fairly tough stone (about 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale of gemstone hardness). It is suitable to wear as an everyday ring, but you just need to be a little careful of it as it can get scratched if knocked.
* August birthdays
* As a 16th anniversary gift
* For a special sibling
]]>
Rubies are the traditional birthstone for July and are known for their eye-catching colours, which usually range from pinks to deep blood-reds.
The colour of the gemstone can often vary depending on where the ruby was formed. For example, rubies found in Africa are often more pink in hue, whereas Asian rubies are often a darker reddish pink.
But in general, they are a lot pinker than people think!
Occasionally people order a birthtone ruby ring from me expecting a deep red stone and are suprised when it's a lot pinker - "Ruby Red" is a common phrase, so we expect rubies, to be...well, red.
Do have a look at the pictures on the listings, or get in touch if you'd like a photo of your ruby before you purchase.
Both natural rubies and artificial rubies are used in jewellery, as the stone can easily be produced in labs and without any noticeable differences from natural rubies.
The first synthetic ruby was created in 1837, using the very complex process of fusing potassium aluminium sulfate with chronium as a pigment. In 1903, a man called Verneuil began to create artificial rubies at a commercial scale, using a flame fusion process. By 1910, Verneuil had a 30 furnace facility that he used to mass produce his rubies, primarily to be used in jewellery. In my own work I use both natural and lab-made rubies - most of the cabochon stones, and rose cuts are natural, and I use lab made for the faceted stones. I can source facet cut natural rubies, but they are much, much more expensive!
The history behind rubies dates back to ancient times, with rubies being mentioned in historical texts such as the Old Testament of the Bible and having been very popular in Ancient China and other areas of Asia.
Both India and China are known to have used rubies to decorate armor for their noblemen and rubies were even used in the structure of buildings, in order to bless that particular building with good fortune.
Impressive and expensive collections include rubies, such as the collection at The Louvre and the British Crown Jewels, particularly in the Coronation rings.
One of the most famous rubies is the Liberty Bell Ruby, which is a sculpture carved from the largest ruby mined. The ruby itself was found in East Africa in the 1950s and later turned into the sculpture in 1976. Unfortunately, the stone was stolen from a jewellery store during a 2011 heist and, although the thieves were prosecuted, police suspect that there is little hope that the stone will ever be recovered.
It seems as if everybody wants to possess a ruby, as many other famous rubies have also been taken in heists.
In 1964, the Delong Star Ruby was also stolen, this time from a museum. Luckily, the stones were quickly recovered and are now on display at New York City’s Natural History Museum.
]]>It's not that I think birthstones have a special talismanic property to them. I know lots of people do, but for me it's not about that. It's that extra layer of meaning (and thoughtfulness) that the birthstones lend to a piece of jewellery that makes them special. The symbolism of the stone more than it's properties per se.
My love of birthstones came about as I wanted to design something that could hold a special meaning for the wearer. Some personal, and beautiful way of signifying the special people in your life. And hey presto my birthstone stacking rings were born. You can choose the shape and size of the stones to pick and mix your perfect set - they can be all round, or a mix of different shapes. So many combinations that it's rare for me to make two sets the same - which makes me very happy!
If you just want a tried and tested stacking set in terms of which stones sit together beautifully, I have now have some birthstone stacking ring sets for which you just need to choose which stone you'd like where. Easy!
My love of birthstones and their symbolism has now spread to all sorts of designs in my collection. I just can't get enough of them.
The stones I use for each month are below:
April - sorry I don't currently offer white diamonds, so I go for the alternatives of white topaz, or cz instead.
June - the traditional birthstone is pearl, which isn't hardwearing enough in my view to be used in everyday jewellery, so I use the alternative stone, which is moonstone. It's more hardwearing and is absolutely beautiful!
October - there are two stones for October, opal or tourmaline. I use opal the most - but it's not the most hardwearing of stones for everyday wear. The choice is yours!
November - the traditional stone is yellow topaz, but this is very hard to come by these days so I use the alternative which is citrine. Some people prefer to use a different topaz instead - there are lots of blue topaz to choose from.
December - there are a few stones that represent December. The key one is Turquoise, but the clear stones are tanzanite, london blue topaz, or swiss blue topaz.
If you're having trouble imagining how your stones will look together, please get in touch and I will hopefully have the stones you're interested in here, and can send you a picture or video.
I love the symbolism behind the different gemstones. I’ll be honest, I’m a bit of a history nerd and find the fokelore and history behind the different gems absolutely fascinating.
One idea that people have told me over the years that you shouldn’t wear opal if it’s not your birthstone, as it’s unlucky. But since ancient times opals have been considered a lucky stone; seen as second only to emerald as the stone of the kings. So how did their reputation change so dramatically?
It came about in 1829 because of a novel written by Sir Walter Scott. In this book, “Anne of Geiersteen”. In this story, a character called Lady Hermione wore a golden clasp with an opal in her hair. This opal had a fire in it which appeared to change to reflect her mood. On the day of her daughter’s christening some holy water accidentally splashed onto the opal which “shot out a brilliant spark like a falling star” and became instantly as colourless as a common pebble. A few hours later all that remained of Lady Hermione was a handful of ashes.
Gemstone cutters of the time were apparently quite pleased to promote the idea that opals were unlucky as they can be tricky to cut, and easily damaged in preparation.
So the fortune of this lucky stone was reversed because of a character in one novel 200 years ago.
Thankfully opals are well and truly having a revival, which is lucky for me as I love using them in my jewellery. I probably wouldn’t open an umbrella in doors, or purposefully walk under a ladder if I could help it, but I’m very very happy to wear all the opals!
I would argue that moonstone is probably one of the most unique looking birthstones. Although moonstone has a cloudy, neutral base colour light is diffracted and makes the stone look almost as if the moon’s rays have been trapped inside the stone- hence the name Moonstone. This illusion is created because of very small layers of crystal within the stone, that trap light and create a multicoloured effect.
This can sometimes make the stone shimmer with blue as the light catches it.
The use of the gemstone in jewellery can be traced back to the ancient civilisations of Rome and Greece. The Romans treasured these particular gems, as they believed that they were created from solidified moon rays and they therefore believed that these stones were very important.
Both the Romans and the Greeks also associated the stone with their lunar deities; the Gods and Goddesses of the moon. These ancient societies are believed to be the first to discover and name this particular birthstone.
Moonstones are also important within other cultures. People who practice spirituality often believe that moonstone has many healing properties and brings good fortune, especially in love and business. The stone represents a new beginning and supposedly helps to promote compassion, the healing of emotional trauma and the deflection of negativity. Therefore, many people choose to wear moonstones in an attempt to live a stress-free and positive life.
Although the ancient civilisations are known for their fascination with Moonstone, the gem became extremely popular during the late Victorian Era (1885-1901). Many Victorian women owned moonstone jewellery and, although it was not necessarily expensive or rare, it was perceived as valuable and important to upper-class society. This was primarily because of Queen Victoria’s own fascination with semi-precious stones, and moonstones quickly became popular because of the interest that she had shown in them.
In the Victorian era, Moonstones, Opals and Pearls were the only stones that were seen as appropriate to pair with jewellery that also consisted of diamonds, so therefore many jewellery collectors have large amounts of moonstone rings, necklaces and various other Victorian antiques that contain both moonstones and diamonds.
I like to pair Moonstone with gold which really gives a lovely glow to the stone.
]]>What is the Difference Between Hand-stamping and Engraving?
For me, the more personal a piece of jewellery is the better. I just love the stories behind each piece.
Even if you just choose a pair of earrings to go with a particular outfit; there's a story right there. About the outfit, the occasion, the planning and the looking forward to it. That's what makes jewellery so special to me.
So, I'm always delighted when I am asked to add a name, date, phrase, even song lyrics to a piece of jewellery - something that makes it even more unique.
Often there is an option to add this on the product page, but if not, just drop me a message and I'll let you know if the item is suitable for personalising in this way.
I add the words (or numbers) using a hand stamping technique. This is basically using a set of steel punches (I have a few different sizes). I line each character up on the piece of jewellery, and using a hammer, indent that character into the silver.
It's a rustic look. The characters aren't always lined up or spaced perfectly as each is done individually by hand, but personally I think that's where the charm lies. I love seeing the maker's touch on a piece they have created.
Engraving is a different technique completely, and unfortunately is not something I can currently offer. Engraving basically involves removing the metal using a sharp engraving tool to leave the character. This is most often done with an engraving machine these days rather than by hand, and can usually be done using lots of different computer fonts. Obviously, it is lined up and spaced perfectly by the machine so gives a much more perfect look.
If you prefer the look of engraving, you might like to get one of my items engraved independently at your local jewellers, as this can be done once the item is made.
One of the most popular set of items in my collection are the birthstone stacking rings.
The concept is really simple, but the details and choices can get a little confusing so I thought I would pop all of the information in one place (here) to help you make sense of it all.
You can buy each ring individually - as a pick n mix style build your own stacking ring set idea - for all of the individual rings you can check out my birthstone stacking rings product page.
Sometimes people like to choose from an existing set of shapes, and just pick which stone they'd like to see in each shape. Click here for the ready designed stacking sets.
The Idea Behind the Stacking Rings
The basic idea behind the stacking rings is to choose a set of rings to represent special people, or times (e.g. anniversaries) in your life. You can choose the birthstones of your children, your family, yourself and your partner. The choices are endless. As well as the birthstones I can make beautiful spacer rings, and gold and silver heart rings which stack beautifully with the stones.
Once you have decided what your rings will represent it's time to choose your stones. The list of stone options that represent each month are:
January - Garnet
February - Amethyst
March - Aquamarine or Sky blue topaz
April - Cubic zirconia (aka cz) or White topaz (both alternatives to diamond)
May - Emerald (I offer real and synthetic emeralds depending on the cut, most on the site are lab made.
June - Moonstone (alternative to pearl which I don't think is hard wearing enough for a ring)
July - Ruby (I offer real and synthetic rubies depending on the cut - please note rubies tend to be pink rather than red!)
August - Peridot
September - Sapphire (I offer real and synthetic sapphires depending on the cut but usually lab made.)
October - Opal ( I have white ones with flashes of colour, real and synthetic, and darker opals). Pink tourmaline is the alternative stone for October.
November - Citrine
December - Turquoise, Tanzanite, Swiss blue or London blue topaz
On my birthstone stacking rings product page you will see that I have a variety of stone cuts; e.g. rose-cut, trillion cabochon etc. There is another blog page with information about each product page for pictures and details. Please be aware I do not have all of the possible birthstones in each different cut. Some stones just aren't cut in a particular way, or I haven't found a good supply of them (yet).
I think about three quarters of the stacking ring sets I make are three ring stacks and these look great with a longer shaped stone e.g a pear, oval, octagon - with two smaller stones stacked together to one side.
This is why it really helps (but isn't vital) to order all of your stacking rings together at the same time, so I can enable as good a fit between the stones as possible.
One other thing to be aware of is that the square stones do look a little larger so I offer 4mm and 5mm options for those rather than 5mm and 6mm.
If you have any questions on whether certain stones would work together please get in touch. I'm always happy to help.
On the stacking rings I offer both a hammered finish and a smooth finish. In the gold heart stack above the middle ring holding the gold heart has the hammered finish whilst the others have been left smooth. A mix of the finishes gives a really nice contrast, and adds texture to the ring set.
I personally prefer the hammered look for myself as the finish hides the bangs and scratches I somehow manage to make on all my own rings, and also bounces the light making the ring more shiny.
Take a look at this blog post I wrote for more information on how to measure your ring size.
So you've decided to go for it and get a new ring - but have no idea what size to buy.
There are a few options, which I'll outline below - but if you need any help just let me know. I'll also add in some information on how to find out someone else's ring size - if you are hoping to surprise them with a ring!
The two most reliable methods are:
1) to use a finger sizer. These are those sets of metal rings that you try on in turn until you get to the perfect fit. You can pick up one of these for yourself on ebay or similar. Or just pop into a high street jewellery shop and get them to size your finger for you. They are usually quite happy to do this for you.
Or
2) you could measure an existing ring that fits you perfectly on a ring gauge, which again you can pick up cheaply or find in a local jewellery shop. I'm also really happy to do this for you if you'd like to send it to me. Just get in touch.
The third, slightly less accurate method, is to use a diy ring sizer. These are like little plastic belts that you pop around your finger and adjust until you have a perfect fit. I sell these in my shop. The results are usually absolutely fine, but they do feel slightly different to a ring which I think makes the fit a little harder to judge.
There are a couple of ways to get a less accurate measurement which I really would not recommend - these are:
1) measuring your finger with a piece of string or paper. The flimsiness of these materials will lead to a much less accurate measurement.
2) measuring the diameter of an existing well-fitting ring with a ruler or a printable size chart. I know this seems like a logical thing to do, but half a mm can mean a whole size difference so unless you are extra accurate in taking the measurement, it could result in a poor fit.
The thicker the ring, the tighter the fit, so if you choose a ring with a deep band width, you will likely need to go one size up. Likewise, if you're going for a set of stacking rings of three or more, go up half to a full size to take account of that.
The best time of day to measure is in the evening, when your fingers are largest. Avoid measuring when you’re cold, as fingers are at least half a size smaller.
All of the above methods are easy enough to measure your own ring size but what if the ring is a gift and you want to keep it secret?
Don't worry, there are some options.
The easiest one is to borrow a ring that fits the person in question really well.
Ideally you should borrow the ring for long enough to take it to a jewellers to get it measured on a ring gauge. Remember that each finger is different so if you are planning on purchasing an engagement ring as a surprise, don't take the ring size of a ring which fits the person's thumb, or second finger. You'll need to use a ring which fits well on the ring finger.
If you can't borrow the ring for long enough to take to a jewellers shop - again, you could buy your own ring gauge (i think you can get them for less than £5 on e-bay) or you could try the ring on your own finger, and make a mark where the ring sits. Then head to the jeweller and get the ring measurement that fits to that point on your finger.
Finally, and this one is probably a little obvious, but you could ask what ring size he/she is, either asking the person themselves, or phoning a friend or relative to see if they know.
It's important to get the size as accurate as possible, as all of my rings are handmade to your exact specification.
As a custom item I can't accept returns unless there is a fault with the ring.
But if the ring is a little too small I can usually help, as I have a tool which enables me to stretch the band of rings a little.
This would involve a small cost to cover my return p&p and time.
However, if the ring is too big I can't resize it. Reducing the size of the ring involves cutting through the band to remove some of the material, and then re-soldering. Unfortunately, the temperature involved in the re-soldering process is high, and flows round the band and into the stones causing heat damage; discolouration and cracking.
I think some high street jewellers are able to reduce the ring size for you, as they have special tools to restrict the heat, but I'm not able to recommend anyone specifically.
How do UK ring sizes differ to others
You will notice that on my website the ring sizes are letters, and this is the UK ring size system. If you have found your ring size in US sizing or European sizing which are both numerical just let me know as i can work with that. Some people might know their Pandora ring size too which I can translate into the standard UK size if you get in touch.
Click here for tips on how to choose your own set of birthstone stacking rings
I really hope that all helps, but if you have any problems or need some advice on sizing pop me an email, or leave a comment here.
When you're looking for a new bangle you will often find a few different size options, but you might not know which is right for you.
Small is 60mm diameter/ 18.9cm circumference
Medium is 65mm diameter/ 20.4cm circumference
Large is 70mm diameter/ 22cm circumference
But remember these are just the standard options. All of my bangles are made from scratch by me, so if when you work out your size (see below) you feel like you need a different size, just let me know.
The 2 best options to measure your bangle size are:
1) Measure an existing, well-fitting bangle
This is the easiest option - just find a bangle that fits you well, and measure the internal diameter (across from North to South straight through the middle of the bangle). Make sure it's the inside of the bangle you measure, don't reach to the outer edge of the bangle. Then choose the nearest size (bigger) from the choices above (or contact me if you'd like a bespoke size).
2) Measuring your hand with a tape
You'll need a measuring tape, or piece of string.
Bend your thumb as far as possible into your hand. The kind of position you would put your hand into if you were putting a bangle on, with the thumb reaching toward the little finger.
Then wrap the measuring tape around the widest part of your hand. Keep the tape tight, it shouldn't be loose - we are looking to get a measurement of the smallest you can make your wrist. It's always so tempting to leave a bit of wiggle room when measuring, but you don't want to do that!
Make a note of the size, or mark the string and measure against a ruler.
This measurement gives you the circumference (see the size guides above).
Bear in mind when choosing your size, that you will want to go for the next size up, rather than the nearest size down. If you've measured correctly you should have the circumference of the hand at its smallest, so anything smaller than that just will not go on.
Do bear in mind that all of my bangles are handmade for you, so if you find you need a different size, just let me know, I'll be happy to help.
If you're unsure, or are buying as a gift, I'd recommend going for the medium size 65mm diameter, which fits most people, and is by far the most common size in the UK.
Each piece of jewellery is sent in a gift box.
I get my boxes from the Tiny Box Company and I love working with them because they are passionate about recycling.
I went for the luxury boxes which are super sturdy so they’re perfect for storing your jewellery in for years to come, but if you prefer they can be easily recycled.
It was suprising to me that most of the gift box companies I looked at don’t supply recycled card boxes. I would have thought it would be more sought after these days.
The boxes are a matt deep grey colour with my new logo embossed in a matt silver.
As well as getting the new gift boxes for the jewellery, I also have some gift voucher boxes - for when you want the gift of shopping to feel a little more special!
These are matchbox style (i.e the main part of the box slides out) and are the perfect way to make the vouchers look that little bit more special for the recipient. They are available at a little extra to cover the cost of the boxes and postage (alternatively they can be sent in a white envelope for no extra cost).