| Budget for your Wedding Rings |
Date: 1/1/2010 |
| Let’s face it, weddings are expensive! No matter how well you think you have budgeted, those last minute costs creep up. Planning begins with the venue, the band, the dress, the suits, the photographer and the flowers. Quite often wedding rings are not thought about until a few weeks before the wedding when the funds have dwindled. Your rings are usually an integral part of the wedding ceremony, and they are an everlasting symbol of your union. You don’t want to buy a cheap, flimsy little ring that will easily be knocked out of shape. We urge you to budget for your wedding rings as a priority, and let us make you one that will truly reflect the quality of your relationship. |
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| The Christmas Card |
Date: 16/12/2009 |
A form of Christmas card first began in England when young boys practised their writing skills by creating Christmas greetings for their parents, but it is Sir Henry Cole who is credited with creating the first real Christmas card. The first director of London's Victoria and Albert Museum, Sir Henry found himself too busy in the Christmas season of 1843 to compose individual Christmas greetings for his friends. He commissioned artist John Calcott Horsley for the illustration. The card featured three panels, with the centre panel depicting a family enjoying Christmas festivities and the card was inscribed with the message "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You." Now many of us are sending messages by way of emails and websites. We wish all our customers peace and happiness this Christmas and throughout 2010. – Helen and Brian
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| Tax-Free Purchases |
Date: 1/12/2009 |
We offer tax-free purchases to overseas travellers and residents. Certain legal requirements must be met but we can advise you and we do the rest of the work.
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| Blood Diamonds |
Date: 1/11/2009 |
“Blood Diamonds or Conflict Diamonds” are rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. Countries such as Sierra Leone, Angola, Liberia, Guinea and Congo produce less than 5% of the world’s diamonds, and that 5% is predominantly industrial and “near gem” quality, ie they are unsuitable for jewellery. The Kimberley Process (to which NZ is a signatory) is a joint governments, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds. It ensures that every legally imported diamond will be from a verified and controlled source. The diamonds we supply are purchased from legitimate sources not involved in funding conflict.
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| Diamonds |
Date: 1/10/2009 |
The name “diamond” refers to its hardness (Greek - Adamus, unconquerable). There is nothing comparable to a diamond in hardness. Diamonds account for over 90% of the world’s total gem production, but only about 20% of all diamonds can be used for jewellery. Most of them are used in industry. The optical properties of gem diamonds are exceptional, and make the stone the king of gems. Their valuation requires expertise and experience, and takes into account the colour, clarity, cut and weight (carat). These “4 C’s” make up the value of a diamond.
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