Jewellery & Fashion

Author: Drew

  • Understanding hallmarks on jewellery

    Often on jewellery you will see a series of numbers, letters and symbols which are there to show you what the item is made from, the year and where it was made. Some jewellery tells you all of this information others will just give part of it.

    The numbers on gold or silver jewellery state how pure the metal is and refer to the carat of the metal. For example 925 on silver equates to it being 92.5% pure. Each country may have its own hallmarking system meaning that if the jewellery is not form the UK the numbers may have a different meaning. When it comes to Gold, the purity ranges from 8 carat which is approximately 33% gold content to 24 carat which is 99.9% gold content. The minimum UK standard for gold is 9 carat and is recognised by the numbers 375 and has a gold content of 37.5%. Most jewellers will be able to look at the marks on your jewellery and tell you what it means.

  • Bespoke jewellery

    Sometimes you may want a piece of jewellery for your wedding day, present or just because and cannot seem to find anything that matches the idea you have. This is when it may be time to start looking in to having a bespoke piece made for you.

    People automatically assume that bespoke jewellery costs the earth, but that is not always true and often you can end up paying less than in a high street jewellers.

    Silver smiths will sketch out a design for your piece of jewellery and then make it for you using the materials you request.

    It may be that you have seen a piece of jewellery you like but it is in gold and you want it in silver, not only meaning you get what you want but also it may cost a little less.

    Many couples are opting to have bespoke jewellery made for their wedding rings, knowing that they can personalise them and no one else will have exactly the same rings.

  • Designer labels – worth the price tag?

    Designer clothes have been sort after by many people for years and years but with the expensive price tag they have often people are left unable to afford them or deciding that they are not worth the money.

    Designer clothes vary drastically in price depending on what the item is and more importantly who the designer is. Jimmy Choo for example, is a popular shoe designer and they can sell upwards of one thousand pounds.

    So by paying for a designer label are the quality of the shoes better and can you expect them to last longer? This is not really a yes or no answer as most designers use a better quality material to make the shoes from but often they are not designed for everyday use. You may find that they are more likely to assist you should you have an issues with the product outside the normal 28 day returns policy thou.

  • Finding the perfect swimsuit

    It’s that time of year again where we all try to get ‘beach-ready’ and start the hunt for the perfect swimwear for this season. But where do you start?! With so many different styles and designs all varying in price it can be a little bewildering.

    First it’s important to take a look at what sort of figure you have, there’s no point in pressurising yourself to lose 3 stone before your holiday in a few weeks’ time as it’s simply not going to happen.

    If you are conscious that you have a bit of a mummy-tummy or maybe you are more on the curvy side then you may prefer something like a tankini or a one piece that covers your tummy area, however there are some really great high-waisted bikinis in fashion at the moment that look great on curvy ladies too.

    If you have more of a boyish figure that is straight up and straight down then a small bandeau style bikini can look great and ones with lots of detail and maybe frilled material can create the illusion of curves.

    Whatever your figure you really can look great in swimwear it’s just a matter of find what’s right for you.

  • Where to go for unusual jewellery

    If you’re getting bored of the same old styles of jewellery that you can buy in mainstream high street fashion stores or in chains of jewellers then it may be time to consider looking somewhere new.

    A great place to find one off unique items is online stores that people set up to sell one off pieces that they have made at home. Websites such as eBay or Etsy are a great place to start, here you can search for a style of jewellery that you like and find original pieces that no one else will have.

    You can also usually find the sellers on there that would be willing to make an item to your specifications so that you can get exactly what you want without compromise.

    Another great place to try is local craft fairs as there you can often pick up fairly inexpensive items from artisan jewellers that make individual one-off items.