Stay on trend this autumn by visiting your Local Independent jeweller

As the days grow shorter and the temperature drops, it’s easy to retreat into big comfy jumpers, tried and tested jeans and warm boots. But a winter wardrobe doesn’t have to lack style; one of the easiest ways to glam up an autumn look is by visiting your local independent jeweller for unique and on-trend pieces to brighten the long days ahead.

Recently jewellery has been about expressing your personality and making a statement, and the trend for big and bold continues into the autumn. Think large metal cuffs and necklaces brimming with rough semi-precious stones. Many of these more daring pieces this autumn will also be walking on the wild side having been inspired by fierce creatures – large golden claws, animal shaped pieces and intricate feathers will feature heavily on the catwalks this autumn. If you have a creative eye and are after a specific item to go with a particular outfit, why not ask your local jeweller about commissioning a unique statement piece just for you? This trend doesn’t look like it’s going to go away any time soon, so what better way to invest in your style and personality?

An alternative way to make a statement is by layering lots of smaller pieces. Ask your local jeweller about fine gold or silver chains with small, funky, and most importantly unique, pendants on the end of each one. Equally, layering lots of small rings really makes an impact, and why not make yourself known at any event by announcing your presence with jangling wrists loaded with bangles?! Your local jeweller will be able to advise how and what to layer together – getting the balance right can be a fine art.

Charm bracelets in all their various guises will still be popular, and they make a great gift for a fashion-conscious friend – your local jewellery shop will be able to advise on what charms work best with which bracelets, and also point you in the direction of a charm to suit the recipient’s personality.

Pearls and vintage inspired pieces continue to be popular. If you have an old pearl necklace that needs restringing, or a much-loved family heirloom which perhaps isn’t so fashionable any more, your local independent jeweller will be able to bring your old pieces back to life – and back on trend.

There really is something for everyone this autumn, so there’s no excuse not to jazz up your autumnal look. And remember that if you’re not sure what trend will suit you, you only have to look as far as your local independent jeweller for advice.

Commemorate a special event with a keepsake they’ll treasure

It’s sometimes difficult to know what to give our loved ones for special occasions. For something like a wedding or christening, most people want to give something which will be treasured forever and kept as a memory of that special event. This is where your local independent jeweller can help you. Many stock a wide range of giftware which will show your friends and family the thought and love that has gone into your gift decision.

For special birthdays and anniversaries, why not ask your local jeweller about a porcelain figurine? This is a great way for a loved one to add a stylish new addition to their home, and also gives the option of someone else buying a complementing figurine, or another figure being bought on a different occasion, in order for the person receiving the gift to be able to start a valuable collection. Remember, your local independent jeweller will be able to guide you towards something to suit everyone’s taste.

Christenings are particularly difficult to buy a keepsake for, as the recipient is often too young to give something to which will stand the test of time. How about a special photoframe, which can be kept by the child’s parents as a keepsake for years to come? A local jewellery shop will often stock items such as beautiful silver photoframes, and many other pieces of giftware, which are very suitable for Christening keepsakes.

If you’re struggling to find something to give as a wedding present, your local independent jeweller could also help with this. Stocking clocks, figurines and other collectable pieces from recognised makers, your local jeweller will be able to find something to suit every newly married couple’s tastes. And don’t forget those closest to you; your local jewellery shop will also be able to help with buying a special piece of jewellery or a watch as a birthday or an anniversary present for your other half. After all, a traditional 5^th anniversary present is wood, so how about a new wooden clock? The 20^th anniversary is china, so why not buy a figurine? And not forgetting your 25^th anniversary (silver), 30^th anniversary (pearl) or 50^th anniversary (gold) which speak for themselves!

If you’ve got a special occasion coming up and you’re stuck for that unique gift, remember to try your local jewellery shop – their friendly staff will be happy to hunt down the perfect present for your loved one!

How Local Jewellers can make your Wedding day Jewellery Choices Simple

Buying your wedding rings is one of the most important and sentimental purchases that anyone will ever make. It's essential therefore that you make sure that your rings are right for you before committing yourself. A local independent jeweller could help to steer you in the right direction to make the best investment at such a special time in your life.

Important decisions

There are many things to consider when deciding upon this piece of jewellery, which will ultimately become symbolic of your love and commitment to your future husband or wife. The various options to bear in mind include material, width, engravings and whether the ring will be set with any stones. This can all seem quite daunting, particularly when wedding planning also involves one hundred and one other decisions to be made in such a short space of time, but a professional local jeweller will have the time and knowledge to guide you through these choices and help you to pick a piece of jewellery which will last a lifetime.

Unique pieces

Something to consider at this important time is having a custom ring made. By doing so, the piece will be truly unique. A local independent jeweller can make a wedding ring to fit around your engagement ring perfectly, eliminating gaps in between your rings caused by an ill-fitting wedding band. Similarly, a local jeweller could make a ring to match the same metal as your engagement ring. They can also often be customised with precious stones and an engraving. What could be more romantic than a declaration of love engraved on the inside of your beautiful ring?

Incorporate your own style

And don't forget to consider your special-day accessories; why not commission a truly unique piece of jewellery to be made to wear on your wedding day, either for you or your bridesmaids? This could include your own ideas and designs to truly fit the theme of your day. Alternatively, if you have a treasured piece of jewellery which maybe you've inherited but unfortunately isn't your style, or a piece of your own that was fashionable once but now feels dated, this could be remodelled by a local independent jeweller into something fresh and new – what better way to incorporate your 'something old' into your big-day style?

A local jeweller with a high level of knowledge and workmanship really is to be treasured when it comes to such an important purchase; their invaluable advice should result in your receiving a piece of jewellery which will hold its sentimental value forever.

Gold: The Classic Investment

You may or may not have seen the news recently which reported that the price of gold has hit new record highs. Whilst this is more concerned with the gold bars governments use for complicated economic transactions it does show one thing: gold is always in demand.

There are many other precious metals which are extremely popular in the jewellery trade, with silver and platinum right up there as well, but gold is and always will be a classic in every sense of the word. It is versatile, goes with so many looks, can be made into endless pieces and is a great investment.

Maintaining Value

By purchasing, for example, a gold necklace, not only will you get to wear it year after year after year, but once you decide on a change, you can actually recoup some of your investment by selling it for cash. What other similarly sized purchase would retain a percentage of its value a decade or so after you first bought it?

Here at EK Jewellers we are always busy with our buy gold service. Think of it as an investment. Buy something you like, then a few years down the line get something back for it to spend on another more modern item, or anything else you please. Now what other purchase would allow you to do this?

How Local Jewellers Can Provide You with Your Perfect Watch

As is the case with many major purchases, some people are not confident when buying watches. More often than not, a quality watch will be a relatively expensive purchase and nobody wants to spend money on a watch that is not right for them or does not suit their needs or taste.

But there is help at hand, in the form of a professional high street jeweller. By following advice from a reputable local jeweller, shoppers will be able to recognise quality watches, know what to look out for and what to avoid, leaving you with a watch perfect for your needs.

Know What You Want

There are many different types of watches, all of which have different purposes. Knowing what type of watch you prefer will allow you to sift through the inappropriate styles and models and focus solely on a watch that interests you.

Speak to your local jeweller about your specific requirements. If you want a watch for evening wear, a good jeweller will be able to show you a selection of high end quality watches that look classy and stylish. Alternatively, if you want a watch to wear during sports, your jeweller should point you in the direction of custom made tough and durable watches with strong straps.

A quality jeweller will be more than happy to help you find a watch with all the features that you require.

Get to Know the Terminology

When shopping for watches online, there are many technical terms that you will see appearing again and again. But what do these terms mean? Do they matter to the type of watch you are buying? What is the most important term to look out for? By actually speaking to a local jeweller he or she will be able to explain what these terms mean, what to look out for and whether the watch you want needs to have these features.

This type of intimate advice is simply not available online. A high street jeweller is a trained expert who knows the industry inside out. Trust their judgement and take their advice!

Purchasing Gold Jewellery: how to tell the Genuine from the Fake

Gold has been used to make jewellery for thousands of years and it’s easy to see why. This precious yellow metal is soft enough to be worked into the most intricate designs yet it is also durable and never tarnishes. Wearing a piece of beautiful gold jewellery has always been a desirable way of displaying status and wealth.

Unfortunately for purchasers, fake gold jewellery has been around for almost as long as the genuine thing. Although there’s nothing wrong with wearing a piece of imitation jewellery if you know that’s what it is, nobody wants to unwittingly buy fake gold that has been passed off as real, ‘solid gold’ that is only gold-plated, or 9 carat gold sold as 22 carat.

Many professional jewellers and gold dealers develop a sixth sense that alerts them to suspicious items, but even experts can sometimes be fooled. The only certain way of proving something is made of gold, and determining the quality of that gold, is by scientific testing using acids or specialist electronic equipment.

So how can an inexperienced buyer tell the difference between genuine and fake gold jewellery? Here are a few signs you should look out for:

Hallmarks

In the UK all gold items offered for sale, and over 1 gram in weight, are legally required to be tested and hallmarked. This can be done by one of the UK’s four independent assay offices or by an assay office in one of the European countries that are recognised by the UK as having the same high standards.

A hallmark isn’t a guarantee of authenticity as a piece of fake jewellery can have a false hallmark, but if you familiarise yourself with genuine hallmarks you might be able to spot a fake.

To confuse the issue, if you are buying antique or second-hand jewellery the hallmark might have been worn away or removed during repair work. The lack of a hallmark could also indicate gold that was originally bought abroad.

Look and feel

Gold is a heavy metal so be suspicious of a piece that seems light for its size.

On second-hand jewellery small areas of gold plating might be rubbed away to reveal a different metal below.

A piece of jewellery that is attracted to a magnet is definitely not gold, but the magnet test is not 100% accurate as other metals including copper, silver and lead are also non-magnetic.

Workmanship

Good quality gold jewellery is usually made by skilled craftsmen. Rough edges, crude engraving or anything that looks as though it hasn’t been carefully finished could be a fake. Links in gold chains are always soldered shut so they cannot accidentally slip apart, and clasps are firmly attached.

Source

Who is selling the jewellery? With today’s high gold prices there are few genuine bargains around so beware of anyone offering very cheap gold jewellery. Be especially careful about buying at markets or car boot sales where the trader does not display any contact details. If you later find you have been sold a fake your chances of recovering your money are practically nil.

For complete peace of mind buy your gold jewellery from a reputable jeweller, preferably one that is a member of a recognised trade organisation such as the National Association of Goldsmiths. A professional jeweller will be happy to answer your questions and give advice if needed. Take your time to properly examine each piece. Purchasing genuine gold jewellery is not something to rush if you want to be sure of selecting a piece that is exactly right for you or the person you intend giving it to.

How Remodelling Can Give Your Old Jewellery New Life

Do you own some pieces of jewellery that you never wear? Perhaps you have a necklace that was fashionable when you bought it but now looks dated. Or you might have inherited a brooch or bracelet that has great sentimental value but simply isn’t your style. And what about all those bits and pieces: single earrings and cufflinks that have lost their partners, a ring with a missing stone, or a damaged pendant?

Instead of continuing to hide them away, or selling them for their scrap value, why not investigate the possibility of having unworn pieces of jewellery expertly remodelled into attractive new pieces?

A professional jeweller who offers a remodelling service will usually be able to suggest a number of ways in which the precious metals or gemstones in a piece of jewellery could be altered or rearranged. Most will also do their best to incorporate your own ideas into the new design.

Some ways in which old jewellery can be given a new lease of life include:

· taking precious stones from an old-fashioned setting and putting them into a more modern setting

· breaking up a large piece such as an ornate necklace or tiara to create several smaller pieces

· simplifying over fussy designs

· incorporating small ‘odd’ pieces into a new larger piece

· making a new piece from melted down damaged gold, silver or platinum

In today’s economic climate few people can afford to buy new jewellery just because they no longer like their old pieces. Recycling old jewellery by having it remodelled not only allows you to enjoy wearing something that would otherwise be discarded but the new piece will have the added advantage of being unique. For example, a fairly ordinary mass-produced pendant could be remodelled into a stunning one-off brooch or a pair of earrings that you won’t be able to find anywhere else. Or perhaps the new piece of jewellery could feature your initials or a symbol that has a special meaning for you to make it even more personal.

When someone admires your ‘new’ jewellery it will be up to you to decide whether or not to tell them you’ve had it for years!

For the best results look for a jeweller whose work you like and who is experienced in remodelling all types of jewellery. If your jewellery includes diamonds or other precious gems it’s important that you only entrust them to someone qualified to work with them.