Get Organised – it’s Nearly Valentine’s Day!

There’s no better way of showing that special someone just how much you love them this Valentine’s day than with a beautiful piece of jewellery. But why buy something from a high street chain that has the potential of being spotted on every wife, husband or girlfriend the world over when you could buy a unique, individual piece from your local independent jeweller? Show someone just how special they are to you this Valentine’s day by taking a visit to your local jewellery shop and choosing a piece they’ll treasure forever! Here are a few gift ideas to get you thinking:

Watches
A classic present for all ages, watches make great choices for valentine’s day. If you’re looking for a top quality watch, your local independent jeweller will be able to offer a great range and lots of advice to go with it. There’s a huge amount of choice available too; select from gold, silver, stainless steel or plated metal pieces, or even diamond set watches! Your local jeweller will also be able to offer a range of straps to suit the taste of the recipient – and once they’ve helped you to make your choice, the strap can be fitted right there and then, in your local jewellery shop, while you wait! And don’t forget the man in your life: watches are perfect for male valentine’s gifts – ask your local independent jeweller about their range of men’s watches and treat your husband or boyfriend this valentine’s day!

A Custom Piece of Jewellery
For a truly unique and special gift this year, ask your local jeweller about a custom made piece of jewellery. What could be more special than giving your loved one an item of jewellery which no one else owns, is truly one of a kind and has been designed with thought and love in mind?! Similarly, if your special someone has a treasured piece of jewellery which has seen better days, how about getting it fixed by your local jewellery shop? For example, if your wife is no longer wearing her engagement ring because the stones need to be re-set, why not get it repaired for her? The thought that’s behind doing something like this for the person you love will earn you major brownie points – it’ll be like getting engaged all over again!

A special ring: the Ultimate Symbol of love!
If you really want to show someone how much they mean to you this Valentine’s day and are ready to pop the question, a local jewellery shop will be able to provide you with a truly exclusive selection of engagement rings – after all, you don’t want your fiancée to be wearing a ring that everyone else is wearing, do you?! And even if you’re already engaged or even married, your local jewellery shop is the perfect place to buy that special ring – beautifully unique wedding rings for romantic valentine’s day weddings and gorgeous eternity rings to show your wife just how much you love her!

It’s easy to see that your local jewellery shop is the place to go this Valentine’s day. You’ll find that your local jeweller can offer lots of choice, unique pieces and friendly advice, and all at very competitive prices. So what are you waiting for? Show that someone special in your life that you love them this Valentine’s day with a piece of jewellery from your local independent jeweller!

We Three Kings ... The Gift of Gold

Gold has always been precious, and this is exactly the reason that it was given as one of the gifts in the Nativity story by the Three Kings to the baby Jesus. Of gold, frankincense and myrrh, gold is the only one of the three that’s still given as a gift today, and that’s because it’s still recognised as something special. You too can enjoy the gift of gold this year, and there’s no better place to go to buy a gold jewellery piece than your local independent jeweller.

Throughout the world on January 6th, or Epiphany as it’s also known, the Three Kings celebration takes place, and gold often takes a starring role in the celebrations, even today. For example, Cansaulim in South Goa, India, is famous for its Three Kings festival whereby three boys are selected from the neighbouring villages to present the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh in a procession.

In Poland, people take small boxes containing a gold ring, incense and a piece of amber to the Church to be blessed, and in Spain, children (and even many adults!) polish their shoes and leave them ready for the Kings to leave presents underneath, reminiscent of the gifts bought by the Three Kings to the baby Jesus. If you’re celebrating the Three Kings festival this year, why not ask your local jewellery shop about a gold jewellery piece for your loved one?

After all, gold is extremely versatile, and your local jeweller will be able to help you to pick a piece that’s right for you and for the occasion. The gold traditionally associated with the Three Kings’ gift is yellow gold, and this still remains very popular today. However, white gold and rose gold are also increasing in popularity and the different colours can be combined within one piece to create something truly unique.

If you’re not sure what’s best for you, your local jeweller will be able to offer their advice and help you to choose. The colour difference is determined by different metal alloys mixed with the gold, and it’s worth bearing in mind that if you choose white gold, you will need to have the rhodium plating replaced over time. However, there’s no need to worry about this as your local independent jeweller is likely to offer this service on their premises, making your beautiful white gold jewellery take on the brilliant-silver colour again that it’s associated with!

As can be seen from the Three Kings’ story, gold will always be in fashion. The different carats available ensure that there are different price-ranges to suit all budgets, and the variety of colours on offer means that there will be a piece to suit all tastes. If you’re not sure what would be best for you, ask your local independent jeweller for advice. After all, if it’s good enough for the Three Kings, it’s good enough for anyone!

New Year, New Jewellery? Or Maybe Remodel the Old!

The New Year is a time for looking forward: new hopes, new dreams, New Year’s resolutions ... but let’s not forget that it’s also a time for reminiscing and reflecting on times gone by. The same can be said when it comes to updating your look, too. The New Year is a great time to reinvent your style, and while new jewellery is an excellent way to do that, it doesn’t have to be out with the old and in with the new in 2012. Read on to find out how, by remodelling an old piece of jewellery this New Year, your local independent jeweller can help you to update your look in 2012!

Reinvent an Heirloom

You may have a piece of jewellery which you once loved but has now gone out of fashion. Maybe it has sentimental value, or maybe it’s a family heirloom, but it just doesn’t work with your style any more or isn’t quite right for you. There’s no point in letting something so beautiful and once so loved languish in a dark drawer somewhere when it could be worn; take it along to your local jewellery shop and your local jeweller will be able to advise on having the piece remodelled. Soon you’ll be the proud owner of something fresh and new (and different to the pieces you’ll find in the shops) but it will still have all of its original sentimental value – perfect!

Perhaps you’re not quite ready to have your old jewellery made into something completely different by your local independent jeweller, but if you have jewellery which is in need of repair, don’t forget that your local jewellery shop will be able to help with that too. Maybe a treasured chain or watch just needs repairing to make it wearable again, or perhaps you own a ring which you’d love to wear but haven’t been able to as it needs resetting? Maybe you have some white gold jewellery which needs to be re-rhodium plated to bring it back to its beautiful silver-white colour?

Whatever the condition of your jewellery, ask your local jeweller about their repair service as they’ll be able to bring your old and broken jewellery back to life. Furthermore, by using the repair service offered by your local independent jeweller rather than a high street chain, you can be sure that your jewellery will be fully insured and repaired on the premises, so you’re not running the potential risk of your jewellery being lost in transit.

New Year really is a great time for looking to the future and spring cleaning your wardrobe. Remodelling and repairing old jewellery is an excellent way of doing this, and your local independent jeweller will be happy to offer their advice and expertise in these matters. So this New Year, let’s see out the old and see in the old-made-new!

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!

Jewellery Valuations: The benefits and what you need to know

Jewellery is often amongst the most valuable and sentimental of a person’s possessions, and therefore it’s important to know how much it is worth for insurance purposes. Obviously, we all hope that no harm will come to our precious possessions, and an insurance premium is one of those things that you always trust will be a waste of money in the hope that you’ll never have to use it, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. And this is where your local independent jeweller can come to your rescue: a professional jewellery valuation carried out in a local jewellery shop will help you to be fully protected against loss or theft and make insurance claims quick and simple.

If the worst does happen, most insurance companies will ask for proof of ownership and a professional valuation to prove how much your treasured items were worth. They will also often ask for good quality photographs of the items and detailed descriptions. By asking a local jeweller to carry out a professional valuation of your jewellery, you will receive all of the above and more. During a valuation by your local jeweller, your watches and jewellery will be carefully examined and a detailed written report will be compiled, noting any distinguishing features, as well as documenting your items photographically, to provide you with a legal document fit for insurance purposes. Through the valuation from your local jewellery shop, you will be able to prove the value of your pieces for your insurer, and if any stolen items are recovered by the police, you will also have evidence that you are the rightful owner.

Lots of your items can also be SafeMarked by your local jewellery shop. This is a tiny, discreet mark which your local jeweller can apply in the same way as a hallmark would be applied. The SafeMark is then permanently recorded in a secure national database, giving you absolute proof that you are the owner. This means that if your jewellery is ever lost or stolen, by notifying SafeGuard the details will be put onto a constantly updated register, and if your jewellery is recovered, the police will be able to check the SafeMark against the register. Therefore, it’s definitely worth asking your local independent jeweller about this service!

Your local jewellery shop will either charge a fixed fee for the valuation, or a percentage of the value of the piece itself, so it’s important to find out up front how your local jeweller intends to charge you. Either way, however, your local independent jeweller will give excellent customer service and attention to detail, and the valuation fee will be a small price to pay if the worst does happen.