If you’ve been planning an original piece of jewellery, don’t let the lockdown get in the way. We are still designing jewellery for customers all over the world, and we’d love to help you make progress with your design.
Here, we share our top tips for finding jewellery inspiration during the lockdown.
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All diamonds are awarded a monetary value according to points scored when measured against the 4 Cs of diamond quality.
This is a conversation we often have with clients who come to us seeking a diamond ring, bracelet, pendant, brooch or earrings, whether custom-made by us for them, or selected from our range of European jewellery designers.
The 4 Cs are: Clarity, Cut, Colour and Carat weight. Together these combine to deliver a 5th C – Cost.
Establishing a uniform way in which to quantify the value of a diamond didn’t happen until the middle of the 20th century, which is really quite recent in the history of diamond.
Now, the 4Cs of Diamond Quality is the method used worldwide for measuring the quality of any diamond, antique or new, anywhere in the world. This is massively important, as it means that anybody who wishes to purchase a diamond is able to know exactly what they are purchasing, and receive a certificate of proof.
First, let’s take a look at the meaning of CLARITYClarity, in formal terms, means ‘the absence of inclusions or blemishes.’ Diamonds, as you no doubt already know, are formed by the application of immense pressure and heat to carbon deposits deep below the surface of the earth. In any natural process, perfection is rare. Inclusions are tiny fissures or splits in the molecular make-up of the internal part of the stone, while blemishes are marks found on the outside of the stone.
Diamonds are evaluated according to the number, size, nature and position of any blemishes or inclusions and how great an effect they have on the way the stone looks to the naked eye. No diamond is ever 100% pure, but the closer it gets, the higher it scores.
The Gemological Institure of America Diamond Clarity Scale (the globally accepted scale) has six categories, divided into a total of 11 grades.
Starting at the bottom, we have:
6: Included (I1, I2, and I3) Inclusions are obvious under 10x magnification which may affect transparency and brilliance.
5: Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) Inclusions are noticeable under 10x magnification
4: Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) Inclusions are observed with effort under 10x magnification, but can be characterized as minor
3: Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) Inclusions so slight they are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification
2: Internally Flawless (IF) No inclusions visible under 10x magnification
1: Flawless (FL) No inclusions and no blemishes visible under 10x magnification
In any fine diamond inclusions and blemishes are too tiny to be seen by anyone other than a trained diamond grader. To the naked eye, a VVS2 and an IF diamond will look exactly the same, but the two diamonds are quite different in terms of Clarity quality and this will be reflected in their assigned monetary value – all other Cs being equal, of course.
4Cs of Diamond Quality: COLOUREssentially, when looking at ‘white’ diamonds, what this actually means is lack of colour. Again, the natural process of diamond formation, the conversion of carbon in one form to another, means that the range of colours produced is enormous, affected by the addition of other minerals or chemicals during the millennia-long process. A perfectly clear diamond is the rarest type and the closer you get, the higher the grade.
Clarity is graded from D to Z, with D being the purest and Z being the least pure of colour. Think of D as being as pure and clear as a dewdrop on a leaf, while Z is a splash from a puddle on the pavement. They’re essentially the same, but we value dew more than grubby drips any day of the week! It’s important to understand here that we’re not talking at all about ‘fancy coloured diamonds – the rarest pink, yellow, blue or even red stones so sought after.
The third C is CUTDiamonds are adored and treasured for their sparkle, for their ability to capture the light and throw splinters of rainbow back out with every tremble of the hand. When people choose a diamond, they often see the Cut as being no more than the shape. But, that shape was chosen by a master craftsman as being the best cut to show off the diamond’s ability to sparkle. It’s a true skill and precision and artistry, and a true understanding of a diamond’s nature, are necessary to create a finished stone that reaches its full potential.
The cut of every diamond is graded in five steps, from Excellent through Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Each grade is a summary of how the cut affects three key measures:
It’s a common belief that the bigger the stone, the greater its value. Diamonds are measured not in width or depth, but in weight. A ‘carat’ is equivalent to 200milligrams, and is split into 100 parts, known as ‘points.’ So when your jeweller tells you that your chosen stone weighs in at 0.73c, he or she means that it has 73 points, or is 73% of one carat. A stone coming in a 2.65 carats has 265 points, etc.
All things being equal (see Clarity, above!) the heavier the stone – the higher the carat weight – the more valuable it is, as large stones are more rare. However, don’t forget everything detailed above – a diamond’s final value is determined by a combination of all of the 4Cs, not simply the last one.
How to choose your diamondThis is where the skill and experience of your jeweller comes in. He or she will have an intimate understanding of diamond valuation – or jolly well should. If you visit a jeweller who seems a little less sure than you feel comfortable with, find a new one!
If you want a big one, you may need to sacrifice colour and clarity to some degree to remain within budget. If size is less important than sheer sparkle, then ask about the different cuts available.
Whatever you do, don’t just point at the first ring that falls into your budget parameters and leave it at that.
The joy of the four Cs is that it means that you can find a diamond that meets all your requirements, including the fifth! Go on a journey of discovery and find the perfect stone for you.
The birthstone for March is the aquamarine. This delicate blue gemstone has an ancient lineage, with a history going back to classical Greece or beyond.
Named for the sea, inspired by colours in which it is found, aquamarine is believed to have been worn by sailors to help prevent sea-sickness. Both the Greeks and the Romans believed that wearing aquamarines would ensure a safe journey across the sea and that it would render soldiers invincible. I have to ask – surely this belief would have become immediately apparent as misplaced?!
Aquamarine is also a gemstone of romance. Roman bridegrooms gave the gem to their new brides, in the belief that the stone would absorb the atmosphere of their young love and carry it into their relationship for the rest of their lives.
This belief that the aquamarine was imbued with love carried through into the Middle Ages, when couples seeking to re-ignite their romance would wear the gemstone. Larger stones would often be cut into crystal balls as it was believed to help focus the mind of those who sought to see the future.
The stone’s popularity as a healing crystal was strengthened by the belief that wearing the stone would endow the owner with foresight, courage, intelligence and youthfulness.
We’re not sure about all that, but we do know it makes the most beautiful jewellery and as the birthstone for March, is quite a popular choice at this time of year!
This fabulous gemstone comes in a range of shades from an almost colourless pale blue to a deep, rich tropical sea-green. In previous centuries, the most sought-after colour was sea green, though today it is the tropical sea-blue that is most desired.
Most aquamarines are cut to sparkle, some are polished to create a cabochon, and this can lead to the gemstone displaying the cat’s eye effect. This shows as what seems to be a living star, buried just below the surface of the gem, flashing and dashing as you move it around. This unusual effects is quite captivating and can bewitch you for hours.
If this is your birthstone, you’re very lucky indeed, as it is without doubt one of our favourite stones to work with and, as you can see here, we have had the joy of creating some beautiful and unusual rings.
If you think an aquamarine all of your very own is something you really need to do, call us or call in, we’re reasy and able to inspire and delight.
Engagement ring…wedding ring….suffering? Have you developed a rash around your wedding ring that’s itchy and uncomfortable? Wedding ring rash (also known as wedding ring dermatitis) is most common in married women, but in fact anyone wearing any ring for prolonged periods of time can develop an allergic skin reaction.
Quite often we see ladies here who are experiencing skin irritation under their engagement, wedding or eternity rings and want to know what might be causing it.
In the past, we would look at the type of metal and check for nickel content, as this often caused allergic reactions in wearers, but now that nickel no longer forms a part of most jewellery metal alloys, we’ve discovered that the ring design itself is often the culprit.
Often gemstones are set into rings leaving small holes beneath, the theory being that this enhances the sparkle of your precious gem by allowing the light to travel through – this isn’t actually the case however. Many rings are so constructed because it means they are lighter in weight and so cost less. However, the small holes allow soap and debris to build up inside and this can often lead to mild, or very occasionally, severe dermatitis. Itchy, scaly, red and swollen skin is no fun, so what to do?
Bring your ring to us and we can work to solve your problem. We an re-make your ring so that there is no longer any opportunity for detergent or dirt to build up and cause the reaction in future. We can check for nickel content and if necessary replace the metal with new, nickel-free, metal too.
It’s a quick and simple process and we can leave you with a ring that looks the same as the one you originally chose, but no longer has the elements that are most likely to cause irritation.
Call either of our stores for an appointment or simply pop in! We look forward to meeting you.
There can’t be a single bride who can’t tell you, in great detail, exactly how her new husband proposed. In fact, “How did he propose?” is almost always the next question asked after “Can I see the ring?”
Unsurprisingly therefore, the actual proposal is almost as important as the wedding day for many women. In fact, a survey undertaken in America found that 25 per cent of women saw the proposal as MORE important than the wedding ceremony…but the US is the first home of the Bridezilla!
Here are a couple of do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when considering how to propose:
DO: go down on one knee. It’s corny, but effective. You can’t go wrong with the classics!
DO NOT: propose on Facebook, Twitter or any other form of social media. You may actually have met online and live a significant proportion of your life there, but this is a serious no-no. Your intended needs to know way before anybody else!
DO: Keep it simple. A romantic dinner in your favourite restaurant, a picnic in the park, a weekend break at a boutique hotel…all these set the scene for you. When your plan is uncomplicated, you can be sure the proposal will be too.
DO NOT: forget to ask her father’s permission first. Yes, it’s old fashioned. Yes, it’s potentially embarrassing. But it’s respectful and will please your bride (and your father-in-law to be, which is always helpful!)
DO: think about the ring. In the survey over 50 per cent of women said that they’d rather their partner committed his funds to the ring than the proposal. You don’t actually have to have the ring with you, of course. Today more and more couples are choosing a bespoke engagement ring. This way you can control the budget and the design, and create something wholly unique to celebrate a love that’s wholly unique. Nobody loves you like she does, so make sure you acknowledge that with an extra special engagement ring.
Christopher Evans is a wedding ring designer in Cheshire who has put the cherry on the cake for many, many couples in love. Pop in to see him in Poynton or Stockton Heath, with or without your bride-to-be, and together you can create something amazing.
Dealing with unusual requests isn’t that unusual for the design team at Christopher Evans. When people decide to have jewellery custom made, or a bespoke piece created from bequeathed or unworn jewellery, it’s because they want something a little different from the norm, but you’d think that unusual engagement rings were a less common request – yes? No!
You’d be surprised, but more often than not our blushing brides come to us because they’re seeking something unusual, out of the ordinary, not to be found on the high street.
The sapphire and diamond ring above doesn’t fit the usual ‘solitaire diamond’ approach you see most often, does it?! Not that we think there’s anything wrong with a solitaire…there’s a very good reason they remain so enduringly popular!
But, for those seeking something unusual and unique – as unique as their relationship indeed – then having your engagement ring and or your wedding bands custom made, to your own wishes, is the perfect solution.
Christopher Evans and his team of goldsmiths, based at Poynton and Stockton Heath, in Cheshire, are more than familiar with unusual requests and in fact relish them. So, if you’re seeking an unsual cut of gemstone, an unusual gemstone colour, an unusual design or way to link your two rings – come and see the experts.
It’s not unusual!