Jewellery World News

Is jewellery Business a dangerous affair?

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:40:24 +0000

Jewellery business suffers not only from high gold prices and recession, but from a real physical danger. The story we are going to tell may be an extreme but many of the UK wholesales have been a subject to violent attacks and robberies.
Last week UK travelling diamond jeweller who is a regular visitor to EIRE and travels around the country for business deals with local jewellers has been brutally attacked in Dublin and robbed of €1m of precious stones and diamond jewellery.
The jeweller was staying in his Travelodge Hotel room, Ballymun at around 12.15am on 30.01.10 when the three masked raiders, armed with a gun and a hammer forced their way in, battering him on the head with a hammer as he tackled one of them, and chased them into the street before they turned into Coultry Road.
Despite the effort, diamond jeweller failed to prevent the men from escaping and taking his suitcase containing diamonds and rubies and lost his life savings because the jewels were not insured.
Gardai believes he was the victim of opportunistic local criminals who became aware that he was carrying a valuable haul in his suitcase and kept watch on his movements until they established where he was staying. It is assumed that the raiders had no idea of the value of their haul and could now become the focus of more serious players in the crime world who are looking for a slice of the fortune, especially since the jewels are unmarked in any way, and therefore easier to “fence”, because they are not traceable.
Investigators are also tracing all known contacts of the jeweller since he arrived in Dublin to try and establish how the gang knew that the contents of the case were so valuable.
After Gardai arrived at the scene he was taken to the Mater Hospital for treatment for lacerations to his head. He was later discharged.
Last year a very similar story has happened in Manchester where criminals attacked the jeweller in his car, breaking his door window, slicing his hand with a machete and disappearing with his stock.
When we are talking about ethical jewellery it is important to remember that bloody gold and diamonds are not only coming from conflict zones- they are also coming from UK and Ireland. Much of the stolen jewellery will end up in the UK and Ireland stores with or without conscious knowledge of the retailers.
If we are to tackle the issue of bloody diamonds and gold we should start at home.
Visit www.GoldandSilverJewelleryShop.com for ethically sourced jewellery.

Behind The Glitters of Jewellery

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:19:45 +0000

Gold and silver, diamonds and precious gemstones Jewellery mining industry has always been one of the most profitable industries influencing lives of many people and creating and serving the rich, famous and elite. Gold and diamond jewellery is very popular with affluent people as a status of wealth and power. And even diamonds have been quoted as women’s best friend, for it has driven desire and passion.
But, behind the shimmer and glitter of gold, silver and diamond jewellery hides a very shocking reality, a reality that most of us are unaware of. The jewellery industry faces perilous problems that affect not only the people in the gold and diamond industry but also our environment. And the question that we need to ask ourselves is “Are the prices of our gold and silver jewellery and diamonds worth the cost of the lives and environmental damage caused by the jewellery mining industry?”
A lot of researches have been conducted on the gold and diamond industry since the issues of “Dirty Gold Mining” and “Blood Diamonds” have been raised. Gold mining has been associated with violence and conflict and became one of the dirtiest industries in the world because of the environmental and human rights violations, land and waterways toxicity, displacing many people from their land and livelihoods. This does not only happen in the gold mining industry it also applies to the diamond industry. Perhaps one of the most popular ethical issues in the jewellery industry was in Zimbabwe regarding the so called “blood diamonds” which have referred to by International inspectors because of the human rights abuses it caused to miners in this country.
It is our social responsibility to do business in accordance with human rights and environmental awareness. Thus, jewellery retailers over the world initiated campaigns against malpractices in gold and diamond mining industry and pledged to source gold and diamonds jewellery in accordance with human rights, social and environmental standards and guidelines. However, the effectiveness of the programme still depends on the efficiency and benevolence of the governments, police and the forces across all the territories in which it operates.
Jewellers and retailers will suffer the consequences of unethical and irresponsible practices in the jewellery mining industry If consumers see them in complicit with unethical and irresponsible practices in the trading and sourcing of “blood diamonds” or “dirty gold”. One of the International programmes that promotes ethical and responsible trading and sourcing of gold and diamond jewellery is the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC). The council initiates and sets guidelines and standards in giving certification on looking after the issues on environmental performance, social aspects, labour, human rights and business ethics.
We too can help in cleaning up the gold and diamond jewellery industry by not buying from jewellers who patronise dirty gold and blood diamonds mining. It is our own small way to make a big contribution in improving the quality of the gold and diamond jewellery industry and the lives behind the dazzling and shimmering gold, silver and diamond jewellery that you wear.
But how will you know that your favourite jeweller does not patronise dirty gold and blood diamonds? At the present it is impossible to know the real source of gold. Gold jewellery comes from various sources: two-thirds of the metal comes from gold mining and the rest from recycling with around twenty percent coming from old stock and thirteen percent from banks. The Responsible Jewellery Council is an international, not-for-profit organisation established to reinforce consumer confidence in the jewellery industry by advancing responsible business practices throughout the diamond and gold jewellery supply chain.
And with the case of diamonds, there is what they called the Kimberly Process Certification that monitors diamond mining and gives the assurance that the diamonds were not mined under abusive conditions. This refers not only to labour, human rights or social conditions but environmental performance as well. As a consumer, one way you can avoid buying and patronising blood diamonds is by requesting information about the source of the diamond from the jeweller, and by refusing to purchase diamond jewellery that sourced from Zimbabwe or mined under abusive conditions.
There are a lot of online jewellery store that sells high quality gold and silver jewellery and diamonds. Gold and Silver Jewellery Shop supports ethical jewellery trade practices and does not patronise abusive sourcing and mining of gold and diamonds. You can make a change in cleaning up the malpractices in the jewellery industry while enjoying the satisfaction and feeling of confidence, power and beauty with gold and silver jewellery and diamonds.

Jewellery Design Using CAD Technology

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:20:00 +0000

You may be surprised to hear that most wholesale jewellery today is designed on computers using advanced design software called CAD.
What is CAD?
CAD is a Computer aided design software used to create jewellery items. CAD does not completely replaces traditional techniques of making masters by hand but rather used in jewellery manufacturing to cut the costs, to create masters of jewellery items that have been hollowed out to cut gold content (otherwise their manufacturing would be almost impossible) and to save gold wastage created by filling and off cuts.
But there are other reasons as well. CAD produces images in a number of different angles as well as the rendered image allowing both the designer and the customer to visualise the final design and make necessary alterations before any manufacturing is started.
From CAD to life
Once the design has been approved by the customer it will be printed in wax using 3D printer, a form of additive manufacturing technology where a three dimensional object is created by successive layers of material, in this case wax.
This wax model is then used to cast the jewellery item in the required metal and the correct size.
The item then filled, buffed and pre-polished to a high standard. After being hallmarked will be stone set (if necessary) and given a final polish.
(Based on Jewellery Focus Magazine)

Gold Jewellery Facts and Buying Guide

admin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:01:18 +0000

Since ancient times people have recognised and cherished gold as a precious commodity. Gold jewellery never goes out of fashion. Unlike many other metals pure gold does not react with other elements to create a residue that accumulates on some of them before transferring to your skin as stain. There are people who are allergic or have staining problems with metals combined with gold, but gold itself is rarely a problem. Gold can be worked into any shape you want even into tiny strands and it does not break easily. One ounce of gold can be hammered and flatten into an ultra thin sheet that is ten feet square.
In the past, gold jewellery was worn only by wealthy people. But during the industrialisation period people of lower social classes became able to afford more than a gold wedding band. Today, people many people around the world are wearing beautiful gold jewellery pieces that their ancestors would have never dreamt of ever owning.
Today gold jewellery is considered to be an important investment for some people. Gold has different types and varieties, thus, it is vital to know how to distinguish between them. What is it with gold jewellery that differentiate a piece from another and why is it so much cheaper similar than similar items? Let us all begin with caratage. Gold carat weight is not the actual weight of gold such as it is with gemstones but the proportion of gold in gold jewellery.
24 carat gold is 100% pure gold and it has a very rich gold colour. Gold jewellery is almost never made from 24 carat gold for one simple reason- 24 carat gold is far too soft and will dent and scratch easily. Often 24 carat gold is used in decorating tableware and wine glasses.
On the other hand 9 carat gold is only 37.5% gold and it contains other metals such as silver and copper that makes up the rest 62.5%. Thus, 9 carat gold looks a little lighter in colour and much less expensive.
Mixing different metals with gold can give it different colours and shades as well. Rich yellow is the original colour of gold. When mixed with white metals such as rhodium and titanium gold jewellery has a white gleam which is similar to platinum. Gold and copper mix turns gold into pinkish hue that is known as rose gold. Traditionally, only yellow gold and rose gold (Eastern Europe) was used but in recent times white gold has become very popular.
When buying gold jewellery, look for the Hallmark stamp of authenticity. This is different from the stamp of the jeweller or manufacturer and it is globally accepted gold authentication stamp that certifies the caratage of gold in jewellery piece.
And while shopping for gold jewellery it is important to choose a jeweller that you can trust. Check the gold prices on different stores before purchasing to establish an average prices of gold item you are after. You might see a gold jewellery piece in another store having almost the same style and type but with less or more expensive. It is important to remember that the price should complement the quality. You cannot get the highest quality piece of gold jewellery at a very cheap price.
Buying gold jewellery online can be great idea too if you have verified the details of the online seller, and it is best if you have already made a purchase from them. It is one way that you can trust the jeweller. In case of online gold purchase look for trust seals on the website and to be sure you might want to contact the certifying organizations.

Buying Jewellery Online

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:21:59 +0000

Internet is a huge shopping centre. You can find and purchase everything you need online including jewellery. A lot of people opted to purchase jewellery online for certain reasons. And one of the common reasons is that you can save as much as fifty percent on buying jewellery online. The reason behind it is that e-commerce retailers have lower overhead costs than your usual store. And buying jewellery online offers convenience to shoppers, ordering a perfect piece can be done in just a few clicks on the computer. The following are some guidelines in getting great deals and security in buying jewellery online.
First thing you need to do is to know what you are buying. Whether it is gold, silver or diamonds you need to know the basic things about it. You may search online on the various grades, quality and colours of the gold and silver jewellery you are purchasing. The Internet has all the information that you need. If you know your jewellery then you will less likely to be fooled by fake jewellery online. Search engines such as Google can help you in looking for reliable and established online jewellery shop. More often, top- ranked websites have been in business for a long time already and had attained a high ranking and contained references that placed them into the position.
When you have already chosen an online jewellery store, check out if they offer a guarantee or a return policy and that they are using a secure ordering system. With these, you can tell if they are the real deal. If you already have chosen an online jewellery store and had also checked if they are the real deal, now you are ready to make your order. Be sure that you have all the right options. Be wise with the sizes such as length of necklace and sizes of rings, other things that you need to consider are the stone type, stone cut, setting choices and colours. Most online jewellery stores categorise their products or they provide a search box to type what you are searching for, surfing the site will give you a better look at the piece of jewellery you want. It is better to ask in advance if you have any questions about the item or the process of ordering. It is the best way to ensure that what you have chosen is the right piece of jewellery rather than place an order and then return the item, wasting your time and shipping costs.
When making your purchase always follow the guidelines of the online store. Make sure you know how many days you have to return something if a need arises. And it is better to use your credit card rather than your debit card. These are just simple tips that you can use as a guide in buying jewellery online to ensure great deals and security.
Are you looking for jewelleries online? Check out some great deals on gold and silver jewelleries and brilliant designs of CZ jewellery at goldandsilverjewelleryshop.com.

Buying Gold Jewellery

admin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:18:11 +0000

Gold jewellery is a very popular accessory that we often see worn by a lot of people. Gold jewellery adds a touch of elegance and sophistication. And it is also one of the greatest gifts anyone can give and receive for any special occasion. But, there are several things that you need to consider when choosing and buying your jewellery. Check out the latest trends in fashion and look into what the celebrities are wearing and adapt it to suit you. You should consider the shape of your face, skin colour, the clothes you wear and your personality to make the jewellery to enhance your looks. Today, men’s jewellery is growing in popularity and a simple chain, bracelet or a ring can add a final touch of style.
The next thing that you need to consider is the colour of gold jewellery you want to wear. Pure gold is yellow in colour. However gold jewellery in other colours is also available on today’s market to suit your style. To attain a certain colour of gold jewellery, it is blended with different types and proportions of metals during the alloying process. White and rose coloured gold are increasingly popular in UK today, although your personal taste, your skin colour and the clothes you are wearing should be taken into consideration. Yellow gold jewellery is ideal with cream, camel and rustic colours. A blend of white or rose and yellow gold or two or three coloured gold makes very versatile jewellery. Other than yellow, one of the most popular colours of gold is white. White gold is made from a mixture of pure gold with other metals, such as silver and palladium. White gold in jewellery is actually off- white gold alloy and it is mostly enhanced by rhodium plating to have a highly reflective white surface.
Another factor that you need to consider in buying jewellery is its Caratage. Gold Caratage indicates the purity of the metal. The highest grade available is 24 karat gold. However, most people prefer 14 karat gold jewellery. The reason is quite simple- gold is a very soft metal, the purer t he softer it is. Hence pure gold jewellery is expensive but not durable. For greater durability it’s better to buy a lower caratage gold. 10 karat gold jewellery is often purchased for lifetime items such as wedding rings and engagement rings. In other hand, 24 karat gold jewellery is ideal for necklaces that will be worn occasionally. Preference for a certain Caratage is often based on cultural factors. In the UK, 9ct and 18ct are the most common, while in America its 14ct and in India, 22ct gold is preferred. 24ct gold is used for exchange and investment.
So, the next time when you plan to buy gold jewellery consider some of these tips and choose what looks good on you.

Rose Gold Jewellery

admin — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:24:41 +0000

I must say I always liked something really different whether we are talking about the clothes, jewellery, people or shoes. For me is very hard to understand why in the UK the jewellery fashion is very limited?
I know that the rose gold is back and does look fabulous in combination with diamonds and gem stones.
The main advantages are probably devolving from one simple reason- rose gold is available in many shades from lighter to richer therefore the beauty of the stone can be accentuated and increased.

Gold and Silver Jewellery Shop offers a limited yet stylish Rose Gold Jewellery as well as Multi tone gold jewellery collection where rose gold is combines with white and yellow gold to create really distinctive pieces.

Closer ties with EU especially with Eastern Europe led to increased popularity not just rose gold but 14Ct rose gold jewellery.

Write us what do you think about rose gold jewellery?