| What is a Goldsmith? |
Date: 1/2/2012 |
| Despite common usage, the definition of a “jeweller” is “a person who deals in or sells jewellery”. The term “goldsmith” goes right back to the 14th century when the Goldsmiths Hall was established in London, and by definition is “a person who is skilled in the art of crafting jewellery in gold and other precious metals”. The term “silversmith” was later used for those who fabricated large ornaments, cups, chalices etc, but not used for those who made jewellery in silver. Brian’s apprenticeship in Britain was as a “Goldsmith and Diamond Mounter”. He is Chairman of the Goldsmiths Guild of New Zealand and is passionate about improving skills and giving recognition to high achievement within the trade. |
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| Lost Jewellery |
Date: 1/1/2012 |
A interesting exhibition of British jewellers was held in London in 2010. In an installation titled “Lost”, three displays – featuring a footprint in the sand, a footprint in the snow and a tyre track in the mud, each beside a different 18ct gold pendant – spelled out what so many of us know on an emotional level: jewellery is often defined by how it went missing. Another very common way to lose jewellery is to wear it while swimming – the combination of a cold finger and the power of the sea or a river can be disastrous if you are wearing a ring. The abysmal summer to date may have safeguarded many of you against losing a ring this way. We encourage you to treat your jewellery with the care it deserves and will help you with any queries you have. Enjoy the summer!
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| The Christmas Card |
Date: 1/12/2011 |
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 thank all our customers for their support and wish you all peace and happiness this Christmas and throughout 2012. – Helen and Brian
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| White Gold - Rhodium-Plating |
Date: 1/11/2011 |
Rhodium plating of white gold rings is a worldwide, industry-recognised practice in order to create the whitest possible appearance. The plating does wear away gradually; its lifetime is determined by the lifestyle of the wearer but also by the thickness of the plating applied by the manufacturer. Unfortunately some white gold jewellery sold in this country - predominantly imported items - is of a very yellow colour due to the cheap alloys used. This is not apparent when new if the item has been rhodium-plated. However, again in order to cut costs, the layer of rhodium-plating applied is often extremely thin, so it wears off within a very short time. In some cases yellow gold jewellery is rhodium plated on specific parts of a piece of jewellery such as the settings. This lowers the cost of the finished item markedly but is not good practice (two-tone rings should be made in two parts!) and the plating will wear off very quickly. That type of jewellery is inferior, and it saddens us to know that such a poor product is being sold in NZ. We pride ourselves on producing a top quality product, and on educating our customers so they can make an informed choice.
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| The Wedding Ring |
Date: 1/10/2011 |
The wedding ring has a long, widespread and mysterious history. Its beginnings lie in the deserts of North Africa, where the ancient Egyptian civilization sprang up along the fertile flood plains of the river Nile. This river was bringer of all fortune and life to the Pharaoh’s people and the first wedding rings were fashioned from plants growing on its banks. Sedges, rushes and reeds, growing alongside the well-known papyrus were twisted and braided into rings. The ring is, of course, a circle and this was the symbol of eternity for the Egyptians. They wore it like we do today, on the third finger of the left hand, because of a belief that the vein of that finger directly travelled from the heart. This legend was later taken up by the Greeks, when they conquered Egypt in 332 B.C. and from them passed onto the Romans. Ancient Roman wedding rings were made of iron and later in Rome a gold band came to symbolise purity, everlasting love and commitment in marriage. The practice of wearing a ring on the third finger of the left hand continued in medieval England through to the present day.
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