Jewellery Trends for 2012 – a Sneak Peak

Want to get ahead on the jewellery trends for 2012? Like the idea of starting the New Year and starting a craze at the same time? Well, read on for a guide of what’s going to be hot on the jewellery front in 2012.

With tailoring being all about the cut for Spring/Sumer 2012, jewellery is likely to follow suit. Therefore, ask your local jeweller about modernist pieces in geometric shapes, such as boxy chokers and moulded cuffs. As an alternative to stark, clear-cut jewellery, why not visit your local jewellery shop for extravagant, decadent pieces to create a contrast with the sharp tailoring which will be in fashion?

Making Waves

The ocean, and everything associated with it, will play a big part in 2012 fashions, and you can expect jewellery trends to get in on the act. Your local jeweller will be able to provide you with beautiful, ocean-coloured pieces using stones such as lapis, sapphire, tourmaline, emerald, malachite and jade. Oceanographic shapes will also make their way into 2012 jewellery pieces – look out for starfish, conch and sea-horse motifs for necklaces and earrings, and also lots of jewellery using real shells. Ask your local independent jeweller about ethnic and tribal inspired pieces too, as these will also work well with this trend.

Lady-Like

Femininity will once again return to the jewellery front in 2012; expect everything from ladylike beads through to long, flowing earrings. Jewellery will also revisit pearls as we see a resurgence of 1920s flapper inspired pieces – why not ask your local jeweller about an exquisite freshwater pearl necklace? As an opposite idea to this, we will also see both car and mechanical inspired pieces, gothic jewellery and variations on metal ‘lace’; your local independent jeweller will also be able to advise on these slightly more boyish trends in 2012 jewellery.

There are lots of new and exciting themes coming to the catwalk and a local jewellery shop near you in 2012. Remember your local jeweller will be able to advise on what will suit you best, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, why not think about commissioning a truly unique piece? By visiting your local jewellery shop you can certainly guarantee you’ll be on trend.

How to Sell Gold Safely: Beware the Risks

We’ve all seen those TV adverts encouraging us to boost our coffers by selling our unwanted gold, but if you’re not selling via your local jeweller and using a postal service instead, how do you know you’re selling to a trustworthy source who will give you the best available price?

Should we really be sending something so valuable away in the post to a company we’ve not had much dealings with? Here’s why you’re often better off selling your unwanted gold and broken gold jewellery to your local independent jeweller:

There’s no doubt about it, gold prices have gone through the roof, and in these unstable economic times, it has been seen as a safe investment. Even scrap gold is worth a bob or two, as it can be melted down and turned into bullion. This has meant, however, that a plethora of sites have popped up, who buy gold on the cheap and sell it on, and as many people, quite understandably, don’t know how much their gold is worth, these sites can, unfortunately, sometimes be unscrupulous and offer a price much lower than its actual worth.

One way of checking how much your unwanted gold is worth is to visit your local jewellery shop, as they will be able to advise on the carat (which indicates purity) and the weight, and your local jeweller should also be able to give you a benchmark price which you should be aiming for when selling your gold. More often than not, your local independent jeweller will also offer a much more competitive price for your unwanted gold jewellery than postal gold services.

The gold industry is unregulated, so when you sell to a website or via a postal service, you just don’t know who you’re dealing with – not so when using your local jewellery shop; not only will they give you a fair price for your scrap gold, but they’ll give you top service too. After all, your local jeweller is not just after your unwanted gold; they’ll also want your repeat business for any new pieces you may be looking to buy and your recommendations to friends and family too!

Furthermore, even if you sell your gold to a website or postal service that offers the option to reject their monetary offer and have your gold returned, it can sometimes be a struggle to get your gold back, or you could be charged postage for the return. As a worst case scenario, your gold could even have been melted down before you’ve had the chance to reject the offer! This would never be the case with your local independent jeweller, as you wouldn’t be asked to part with your gold in this way before they give you an offer for your unwanted jewellery.

It’s also worth bearing in mind that not all jewellery should be sold as scrap – scrap should be just that: unwanted trinkets, broken items of jewellery and odds and ends such as gold butterfly clips from earrings. Your local independent jeweller will be able to tell you whether your jewellery is scrap or more valuable than that; for example, fashion items such as branded jewellery are often worth more when sold on whole rather than melted down for bullion, and jewellery with gemstones included could be worth a lot more than a gold site tells you it’s worth. Your local jewellery shop will be able to offer a valuation on any piece of jewellery you’re thinking of selling.

As with most things in life, it’s always nicer and more reliable to be dealing with someone face to face; your local independent jeweller will be able to give you the best possible advice when it comes to selling your gold, and most likely the best price too!

Is your Cherished Jewellery Safe When Being Repaired?

Many Jewellers offer a repair service, but is your jewellery always in safe hands when being repaired? Your local independent jeweller will often repair on the premises. Many jewellers – especially high street chains – don't. So what happens to your precious jewellery if it's not being repaired on the premises? Where exactly will it be repaired if it's not being repaired on site, as a local jewellery shop often would? How do you know that your precious jewellery will be looked after? Well, here's a few things to bear in mind when thinking about having your jewellery repaired:

First of all, it's important to find out exactly where your jewellery will be repaired. As mentioned above, quite often jewellers, especially high street chains, will send jewellery away to be repaired, rather than repairing it on site like a local jeweller normally would. If repairs aren't carried out on site, your cherished jewellery will often travel to its destination by post, which is a great risk for your precious pieces.

Can you imagine the horror of being told that your beautiful engagement ring, selected by your fiancé and full of sentimental value, has been lost in the post and may never be returned to you? Or a precious family heirloom, which is one of a kind and has been handed down for generations, has been mislaid during transit? If these scenarios fill you with dread, ask your local independent jeweller about their repair services. A local jewellery shop will often have experts on site, and they may very well carry out repairs on their premises. Not only will this be less risky as your jewellery will not need to be transported anywhere, but by asking your local jeweller to carry out a repair, it will often be quicker too.

Similarly, check where your jewellery will be kept whilst being repaired. Will your piece be held in a safe place, and is there adequate insurance in place? Your local independent jeweller should be very able to reassure you in this respect, by keeping your jewellery in a locked safe at all times and by ensuring that they have enough insurance cover in place in the unlikely event of anything going wrong. For your piece of mind and as proof of ownership, always make sure that you receive a receipt for your item of jewellery - your local jewellery shop will be happy to provide a receipt if entrusted with your piece. You should also make sure that you choose a jeweller with long term expertise and experience; high street chains may not have as much experience as a local independent jeweller who has been in the business for years, so it's worth checking this out.

Be aware also that there are, unfortunately, unscrupulous chains who will tell you that your jewellery cannot be repaired and suggest you buy a new piece instead; a local independent jeweller will always do their best to repair your piece if possible, or may suggest remodelling the piece if it's not possible to repair it. At least this way, if the item of jewellery was a gift or an heirloom, you'll have your original piece to keep as part of the remodelled design.

Jewellery is so precious and sentimental, it's important to know that it will be safe if it's ever in need of a repair. Your local independent jeweller knows the importance of your jewellery (after all, they work with jewellery every day and know what your jewellery means to you!) and they will always do their very best to care for your pieces and repair them if possible. Therefore, if you've got a treasured item of jewellery that's in need of repair, why not seek out a reputable local jewellery shop? That way, your beautiful jewellery will be in safe hands!