Welcome to Jewellery In London!

January 24th, 2011

You may be thinking that this is an odd name for a website? But this site has been designed for your jewellery needs and Jewellery In London was what you searched for right?

If, like us, you have a passion for Gold, Silver Diamonds and Gems then you have come to the right place.

With London’s size, population, history and diversity in culture mixed with with our passion for collecting jewellery of all types there is no surprise that we have every type of bracelet, necklace, ring for both costume and the “real deal” that this great city has to offer.

So here at Jewellery In London we figured that it was time to share our love with others who also buy and collect jewellery.

We are romantics at heart and when romance is in the air there is no other way to express your love than through jewellery. Jewellery In London focuses on a lot of engagement rings and wedding rings for men and women.

We also love watches! And have reviewed all of the top brands and models that are available on the shop shelves right now. We know that times are hard and jewellery/watches is quite a luxury these days, but do not fear! Jewellery In London has found where you can buy them at the very best prices available.

We have been to nearly every jewellery store in the London area, which is a lot! Searching for the best pieces at the right prices to add to our collection. During this time we have been fortunate enough to get well acquainted with the local jewellery store owners and will talk about them on here too. Some are far more helpful and accommodating than others.

When searching we tend to shy away from the big retailers like H Samuel and Ernest Jones and went off the beaten track to find more original pieces of jewellery for even better prices. If we do see something in a large retailer then we will be sure to let you know about it.

So where do we venture to in London when looking for just the right bridal set, journey pendant or whimsical children’s anklet.

Here are a few shops in the local London area that we always love to check out and we recommend that you do too!

Hatton Garden is one our firm favourites which sells exquisite pieces and is also the location of the UK Diamond Centre. Kabiri in Covent Garden has some beautiful women’s jewellery. For some good deals on some fine pieces in the most unlikely place have a look at bidz.com.

Whatever you are searching for and what ever the occasion be it pearls, loose diamonds, precious gem stones or perhaps lab created and costume are your style, it doesn’t matter., it all sparkles and has its rightful place in any woman’s jewellery box. It can all be found here at Jewellery In London, so check it out!

Men’s Watches

February 1st, 2011

If you were to walk into any pub/bar in London and ask a group of men what they think is the most important fashion accessory for them to have, You can bet that most of them would say a watch and it has to be good quality.

For men, women and even some children owning a watch is one of the ultimate style statements. Keeping this in mind it is always good to have a few points to keep in mind before heading out to the shops in search of men’s watches.

The Lifestyle Choice

Its is always good to have a look at the would be watch owners lifestyle before making your choice. It is often the case that different watches for work and play are a good option as these can be very different environments. If you are going for a formal watch then you should always look for watches that have class but are also well made that can stand the test of time in terms of durability and style.

If your are picking a watch for a certain occasion then it should go with out saying that a model that has a compass, digital display and measures heights is not suitable for a formal party or formal occasion. Such watches are best used for non formal occasions such as outdoor activities or casual wear. It has to be said that lifestyle will dictate your choice of watch and might be the only thing that will make you decide.

Having a Stainless Steel Bracelet

If a person is looking for a mix of class and practicality then a stainless steel bracelet is always a good option. It is a more practical option to a leather strap as it is stronger and also oozes class. A watch with a stainless steel bracelet can be used for casual and formal wear.

If you have the money or the watch is a important gift for someone then a gold strap is a very good option, but it foes portray a very different image and that is something you should always take into consideration.

Face to Face.

Watch faces come in many different sizes and the size of the face must be in relation to the wearers wrist. If you have a man’s wrist that is big then even a standard watch face will look too small. These days there are multiple options when it comes to choosing your watch face and its size. Make sure that the watch face is in sync with the wearers wrist.

Fortunately for the big wristed people watches with big face have become very fashionable now and even small wrists are getting in on the action with every one have a watch face that is looking larger than it should on show. Whatever the case, these watches always catch the eye and are great to look at.

Water Resistant Watches

A water resistant tag is pretty much standard on all watches these days. It is always good practice to check just how water resistant your watch is. Some of the lesser known watch brands have been known to be lacking in this department. Which means that even though the label says “water resistant it could only be splash proof.

Its is always best to be aware of this and keep your watch away from water as much as possible just to be on the safe side.

The selection of men’s watches on the market today is enough to fry your brain and can leave you feeling a little overwhelmed. You must be style conscious and price conscious. When buying a watch as gift always keep the per on you are buying it for in mind. I know this might sound obvious but it is all to easy to see a watch that you like and not something that would be suited to the receiver. Try to put yourself in his shoes which I know is sometimes hard. Maybe taking a friend or relative to confide in may also help. Only make your choice when you are sure and be sure to keep a receipt.

Gold Earrings

February 1st, 2011

If there is one thing that gold earrings can hold bragging rights to is that they have always been timeless pieces of jewellery that are constantly in style. They are not only wear-friendly, but beautiful too. Also they do not tarnish which cant be said for sterling silver. People who have a problem with staining metals or who have allergies to certain metals that have been mixed with gold don’t have a that problem with gold itself.

Gold is one of the most versatile metals around and can be bent, moulded or worked into any shape desired. Whether it be sturdy and small or strands to thin sheets. If in the right hands just one ounce of gold can be hammered out to a sheet measuring around ten square feet! It is considered a delight to work with, having the ability of being formed into almost any shape required, which is excellent when making gold earrings.

When choosing gold earrings you need to look at the gold’s karat factor. Different karat numbers are what describe just how much pure gold is in the earrings. The percentage of gold in the earrings is higher when the karat number is higher.

For example, 24K earrings are pure gold, 18K is 75% gold with 18 parts of gold and 6 parts of another metal, 14K, the most common, is 58.3% gold with 14 parts of gold and 10 parts of another metal, 12K is 50% gold with 12 parts of gold and 12 parts of another metal, and, lastly, 10K, the minimum karat that can be described as gold, is a mere 41.7% gold with 10 parts gold and 14 parts of another metal.

Gold earrings made in Europe will have different markings. For example, 18K will be marked as 750, 14K will be marked as 585, and 12 K will be marked as 417. These marking stand for the percentage of gold the earrings contain.

Most gold earrings aren’t made of pure gold since it can be quite soft and not very practical for daily wear. In most cases, other metals will have been mixed with the gold in order to heighten the durability, as well as lower the price.

When metallurgists add other metals to gold it allows them to change the gold’s colour. To create white gold Palladium, also known as nickel, is added. The addition of copper products creates a rose/pink colour, while adding silver can give gold a greenish tint.

When choosing the type of gold earrings that is right for you, you must decide how often you will wear them and what type of karat number will fit this need. If you are allergic to such metals as nickel, you should choose gold earrings that have a higher gold content. This means that gold earrings marked with 18K or 22K are best for you.

If you plan to wear your earrings only on occasion, and don’t necessarily have to have the best gold there is, then you have the option of choosing gold earrings that are gold filled or even gold plated. This would not be a good choice if you do plan to wear the gold earrings on a daily basis since a lot of use will reduce the gold layer, therefore exposing the metal that is underneath and possibly causing staining or even an allergic reaction.

If you plan to purchase gold earrings that you want to last a very long time, then make sure you buy a high quality item.

Men’s Wedding Rings

February 1st, 2011

Men’s wedding rings have not really been common until very recently. Women have been wearing there wedding rings for hundreds of years but men have not. The use of wedding rings is something that symbolises everlasting love between to people in marriage. This goes back for thousands of years but not so much for men.
It was as recent as the second world war that men began to wear wedding rings and it became more common place. ( Please note that men wedding bands and men’s wedding rings both mean the same thing.)

It became the custom for US soldiers going to war to publicise their marital status by the wearing of a man’s wedding ring. They were happy to make public their commitment to their wife by the wearing of a public symbol that declared that commitment to all. Given that this habit of wearing men’s wedding bands was reasonably new it was all the more creditable that these men were willing to forego the marital obscurity available to them from not wearing a ring and actively chose to make a public statement about their choice.

Men’s wedding rings have become increasingly more common since that time. Today it is probably as common for a newly married man to wear a ring as not. This may be due to several factors. The modern man may consider it his duty to choose to make the same public marital statement as his wife will. And his wife may well consider it a condition of the marriage that he do so. After all, in these days of equality, if she is prepared to make a statement then should he not do so as well?

Despite the fact that the wearing of a ring by a woman is a matter of choice, it is in fact almost obligatory due to the fact that it is so common. Many women do not even consider the possibility of not wearing one. Often, however, a man usually considers the wearing of a man wedding ring very carefully.

There are a number of issues to consider. Firstly, is he concerned about a public display of his marital status? Some men, whether rightly or wrongly, are threatened by this. Others are not in the least concerned.

Secondly whilst the wearing of jewellery by women is so common as to go unremarked that is not necessarily the case for men. For many men the wearing of men’s wedding bands is just a case of being asked to wear jewellery. Men often do not feel comfortable wearing jewellery and in many cases have never done so before. Whilst some men see their wedding band as different to wearing ordinary jewellery, others feel just the same as if they were being asked to wear ear rings. “It’s just not done by men”. The author, for example, wears a man wedding band, but would never consider wearing any other form of jewellery.

And as many men have never worn any form of jewellery before they have no idea what it will feel like to have something permanently on the finger. Is it heavy? Does it rub? Silly as it may seem to women this can be of concern to some men.

(If this genuinely is of concern it is quite possible to find a cheap jewellery shop, buy the cheapest ring available and wear it for a while. See exactly what it feels like. And find out your size at the same time.)

Men’s wedding rings are, in the eyes of some men, effeminate. “Real men” don’t wear rings or jewellery at all. This is becoming less of an issue as the wearing of a man’s wedding ring becomes more common, but is still an issue with many men.

Culture is also a consideration. In many cultures the wearing of wedding rings by men would never be considered. Men must think about how their particular culture, and also their religion, would view the wearing of a wedding band.

There are also practical considerations. Many men are engaged in trades where the wearing of a man wedding band would be downright dangerous. Although unlikely it is quite possible for a ring to get caught in machinery. In some jobs a ring cannot be worn on the job, and must be removed. This can also apply to women.

Ultimately though, the wearing of a men’s ring is just one of the many choices the man will have to make once he makes the commitment to marry. And it is often a choice made by the couple together, maybe one of the first they make in conjunction about their wedding.

Which finger is the ring worn on, and why?
Generally a man’s wedding band is worn on the ring finger, the same as for women. The ring finger, for those unmarried men not familiar with the concept, is the fourth finger of the left hand. This is considered to be the finger closest to the heart.

This notion came originally from the ancient Greeks who believed that this finger had an artery which flowed straight to the heart. Whilst anatomically incorrect this makes for good fable.

So you have both decided that he will wear a men’s wedding ring!
Once the man or couple have made the decision to purchase a men’s wedding ring for him there are still choices to make. Do they want to wear a matching set? Or does he prefer that his ring looks quite different to his wife’s. It is perfectly possible for a couple to buy a ring set where the style of the rings match perfectly, or even with matching engraved messages of love.

Generally though, even where the couple are to wear a matching ring set, the two rings are different. It is more common for the man’s wedding ring to be wider than the woman’s. This is because men’s hands and women’s hands are different. A woman usually has narrower finer fingers, and so a narrower band suits her hand. A man on the other hand has wider chunkier fingers and so a wider man wedding band is more suited.

This often results in the man’s ring costing more than the woman’s ring even with matching styles, as the man’s ring uses more, often expensive, material.

There are many innovative styles available now. Many men prefer a simple unadorned band, however others enjoy highly decorated styles which make a loud statement. The wearing of, for example, very wide and highly adorned Celtic rings is becoming much more common.

When considering the styles of men’s wedding rings it is well worth thinking about the personality of the individual. While different men have very different personalities different rings will suit different personalities as well. A loud outgoing man, for example, can wear a loud outgoing unique men’s ring.

There are many different ring materials which also reflect the personality of the individual. Titanium or Platinum are both becoming much more popular. Whilst diamonds are not, of course, as popular with men as with women, they do make a clear statement which pleases some men who choose them. Diamond men’s rings clearly say “I can afford it” or at least the big ones do. But it can be a brave man who chooses to wear a large diamond band.

Ultimately there are no rules about choosing a man wedding band. It is up to either the man or the couple together to make a decision. Will he or won’t he. There are a variety of considerations. First, will he wear one? Once that decision is made in the affirmative then there is a whole world of choice about styles, widths, materials and the type of statement the ring makes, both for the man and the woman.

But once he has his ring on it is rare that he decides that he doesn’t like it. And even if he doesn’t, it is rare that the woman will let him take it off!

Tips For Choosing Diamonds

January 24th, 2011

Jewellery In London’s Facts on Diamonds

Diamonds were being mined in India more than 2800 years ago. Diamonds are a lot older than most people know. The majority of diamonds found today are at the very least nine hundred million years old! The oldest diamond on record is believed by experts to be around 3.2 billion years old. Every diamond that is mined is completely unique. If you know what you are looking for you would quickly see that no two diamonds are the same.

There are many things to consider before purchasing a diamond. Here at Jewellery In London we strongly believe that buying a diamond is something that should never be rushed into. The correct research should be done if not for any other reason than to establish a diamonds true value and learn how they are priced.

The “4 C’s”

When buying a diamond there are many factors to consider. Jewellers throughout the world use an established method in order to determine the value of a diamond. The method is commonly know as the “4 C’s” Knowing the 4 C’s will give you a throurgh understanding of a diamonds true value and contributes to determine this how much you should buy or sell.

The 4 C’s represent Cut, Clarity, Carats and Color

Buying a Diamond based on Cut: The cut of a diamond is a description of how the diamond maker angles the gemstone in such a way as to best reflect light through the diamond, resulting in the diamond’s sparkle. A high quality cut enhances the innate beauty of a diamond and increases its value. A poorly cut diamond isn’t as brilliant or shiny and, therefore, will be less valuable.

How to Buy a Diamond based on Clarity: The clarity of a diamond involves looking at how clear the diamond is when you look through it. Most diamonds have inclusions and flaws and it is rare to find a perfect diamond. Flaws, however, cannot usually be seen without magnification. When purchasing a diamond for clarity, look for the presence of dark spots inside the diamond.

How to Buy a Diamond based on Carats: Carat defines the size of the diamond. Larger diamonds (those of a higher carat) will cost more than a cluster of smaller diamonds, even if the total carats of the diamond cluster are the same. This means that a single one-carat diamond will cost you more than three diamonds set in a ring that add up to one carat. The reason behind this is that larger diamonds are rarer than smaller diamonds. Unfortunately, this is impacted by the fact that, when diamonds are cut, they lose about half their size.

How to Buy a Diamond based on Color: The color of diamond you choose is entirely based upon your personal preference. Diamonds that are colorless, however, are the rarest and therefore cost more than other diamonds. Colorless diamonds are known as white diamonds. Diamonds also come in a variety of different hues, including yellow, green, blue and pink. There are even diamonds known as “black diamonds”.

Certificates and Appraisals

While understanding the 4 C’s in determining how to buy a diamond, you should also learn how to read diamond certificates. These certificates describe in detail the facts about the diamond in its unmounted state. Perhaps you have a specific diamond you want to have professionally appraised by an independent organization. This is probably not best done by the jeweler you are buying the diamond from because they are often biased and may appraise the diamond at a slightly higher value than what it’s actually worth in order to receive more income from the sale of the diamond.

The Pearl Necklace – A Timeless Beauty

January 24th, 2011

Here at Jewellery In London we love pearls and strongly believe if a lady is going to own only a single piece of jewellery then a pearl necklace is something that all women should have. And that is no surprise as a pearl necklace epitomizes timeless elegance and classic sophistication. It is also a very flexible piece of jewellery catering for an assortment of outfits, from formal evening wear to casual day wear. Pearls come in a variety of colours and types which means that people of all ages from grandparents to the children can benefit from them.

What you will have to pay to get your hands on a pearl necklace depends on the quality of its pearls. Pearls from saltwater generally are more expensive as fresh water pearls are cultured. Other things that affect the price are the size and roundness of the pearls as well as sheen and thickness of the pearls nacre. On the market there are a variety colours for pearl necklaces. Light hues of blue and pink are usually recommended for young children, while ivory-toned pearls that appear more creamier are more preferred by older women. Black pearls are also available but are very rare making them extremely expensive to purchase and have as jewellery.

According to Chinese folklore, pearls are the tears of a dragon. In Roman mythology, they are the tears of Venus. Jewellery designers, in their tireless efforts to do justice to the legendary beauty of these gems, have been adding their own twists to the pearl necklace. Aside from the classic strand, the pearls used in necklaces are sometimes set in gold, silver or platinum. Some designers also mix pearls with other gems to create a unique effect. Extra ornaments, such as charms or a brooch, can also be attached to a pearl necklace to give it a personalized flair.

Caring for a pearl necklace does not involve a lot of fuss. The most advisable thing to do is to wear it often, because if it’s stored away for long periods of time, it will dry up and lose its sheen. The body’s natural oils will keep the pearls looking lustrous and fresh. It’s also important to avoid having the pearls come in contact with substances such as hair spray or body lotion, since these can also adversely affect the pearls’ condition.

The popularity of the pearl necklace has never waned both among ordinary people and society’s elite. The quintessential fashion plate, Queen Elizabeth, had a passion for pearls; so does actress Maria Berenson. Other celebrities often photographed wearing pearl necklaces are Michelle Pfeiffer, Sophia Loren, Jennifer Lopez and Paris Hilton. The versatility of pearls is such that fashion experts are even predicting an increase in the number of men who will start wearing pearl-accented dress accessories. For now, however, there is very little to surpass the elegance of the sight of a pearl necklace gracing the neckline of a woman, whether she’s a celebrity or not.