Falling in Love with Satine: The Moulin Rouge Necklace

June 11, 2013 · 0 comments

Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 motion picture musical smash Moulin Rouge received excellent reviews worldwide. Audiences flocked to see Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor as they cavorted about on gorgeous sound stages, singing beautiful, tender love songs to one another. And they didn’t just sound great, they looked positively gorgeous in their Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie designed costumes, for which the designers won an Oscar.

Perhaps the very best of the movie’s costuming, however, wasn’t anything sporting a zipper, fabric or hem.

Stefano Canturi, a Sydney-based jewellery designer who began his career at age 17, is a bona fide rock star in the jewellery design world. For more than a quarter of a century, he’s created works of art of astonishing beauty and unmatched craftsmanship. Over the years, Canturi has collected an impressive stable of famous clients including Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Minogue, Katy Perry, and Melissa George.

It was almost a natural fit that he was hired by producers to create Nicole Kidman’s breathtaking diamond necklace, “Satine” (after her Moulin Rouge character). When a necklace has a name, you know it’s going to be impressive!

After drawing and painting innumerable designs for the diamond necklace, Canturi set to work on constructing what was to become his masterpiece. Countless hours went into the crafting of the diamond and platinum “Satine” necklace, which was certified by The Guinness Book of World Records as the single most expensive piece of jewellery ever created specifically for a motion picture. This incredible necklace contains 1308 diamonds, tipping the scales at a whopping 134 carats. No simple little bauble this!

“Satine” was fashioned after the garland-style necklace that was so popular with the elite of Europe in the late 1800s and early 1900s. This decadent fashion represented nearly inexhaustible wealth for those who could afford it.

The diamond necklace, itself almost a character in the film, also plays a huge symbolic role. Satine is being courted by the evil Duke of Monroth, who has recognised her love of (and therefore weakness for) diamonds. He bestows upon her this magnificent necklace as a “token” of his affection. Satine, who’s sick with tuberculosis, wears the diamond necklace like a heavy yoke, however, as she’s forced pretend to be loyal to the Duke while truly loving only Christian (McGregor).

She eventually chooses Christian (and love) over The Duke’s riches, adhering to the Bohemian ethos that “love conquers all.” The only trouble is that she dies shortly thereafter and no one, neither evil diamond necklace-giver nor earnest, loving Christian, can have her in the end. I’m not sure why anyone put their long-term faith in a tubercular chorus girl, but such is movie magic!

“Satine” was expected to sell for between $750,000 and $1 million (U.S.) at a New York jewellery auction, but the treasure was withdrawn from sale at the last minute as Canturi was loath to part with it. He requested that the diamond necklace be removed from the auction as he’d come to the realisation that some things simply have no price. Canturi loved the piece too much.

Further proof that love really does conquer all – even where one of the most amazing diamond necklaces in the world is concerned!

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Occasions to Buy Diamonds

June 3, 2013 · 0 comments

Diamond Necklace from Eskae Jewellery Boutique

Diamonds are a gift that remains perfect for any occasion. A spouse, loved one, or friend will always light up with joy at the sight of a beautiful and well-crafted diamond. The precious stone has forever been considered “a girl’s best friend,” and even though they are a present that should not be given lightly, diamonds continue to be a timeless gift.

There are many types of diamonds that can be given as gifts, and they range from something as small as cuff links all the way to necklaces, brooches, and engagement rings. These precious gems may look priceless (and some of the most extravagant ones probably cost more than your house!), but there are also many affordable diamonds out there that are also quite high in quality. In fact, there’s a huge range in prices even for every good diamonds. A quality diamond can be found as low as $100 dollars and can, of course, go deep into the million-dollar range.

Now, there are no “wrong” times to give a diamond – how many times have you heard of a loved one or friend turning one down? – but if you are looking for the right moment to surprise a special person in your life with a beautiful piece of diamond jewellery, here are a few occasions that might be perfect.

  • Birthdays—It may not be the first occasion that comes to mind when you think of a situation to give diamonds as a gift, but what better way for a person that you care about to celebrate another year of life than with a sparking diamond?
  • Valentine’s Day—Yes, you can give your love a diamond engagement ring, but that’s not the only option—especially you have only been dating for a short time. There are many other pieces of diamond jewellery that you can get that special someone on that special day. A diamond necklace or earrings that match in the same theme as her engagement ring are perfect Valentine’s gifts. However, if you are ready to pop the question, then Valentine’s Day would be the perfect occasion.
  • Christmas—This is another great time of year to surprise a loved one or significant other with diamond jewellery. The holidays are filled with opportunities to dress up and attend events, so diamond bracelets or brooches might be the perfect type of gift. Just remember that Christmas is also the time of year where many couples get engaged, so do not get a diamond ring for your significant other unless it’s your way of popping the question. You wouldn’t want any confusion or disappointment to come from your special gift.
  • Anniversary or Mother’s Day—Both of these occasions are great times to surprise the person that you love the most with a beautiful diamond. Again, necklaces, earrings, or rings make a great gift idea. The standard has always been that diamonds are not given until the 60th wedding anniversary, but times have changed and many people no longer adhere to that rule.

Diamond Ring from Eskae Jewellery Boutique

  • Graduation—Want to surprise and congratulate your child or sibling on their accomplishment? Do it with a set of diamond pieces that will help accessorize suits or other pieces of wardrobe for those soon-to-be job interviews or cocktail parties that come with moving into adulthood. Diamond cufflinks, earrings, or necklaces make the best gifts. A diamond watch could even be perfect for the occasion.

As you can see, diamonds are appropriate for far more than just engagements and wedding anniversaries. The beautiful and well-crated stones can be the highlight of any event, and turn a special occasion into a truly memorable one for your family members and friends. The next time you are looking for a truly special gift to really spice up an occasion, remember that the right kind of diamond could be just what you were looking for.

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A Diamond Heist Straight Out of the Movies

April 29, 2013 · 0 comments

Recently, a group of thieves pulled off a diamond heist so elaborate and well-planned that the robbery resembled something out of Ocean’s Eleven more than an actual crime scene.

Diamonds (Source: Kim Alaniz)

The robbery, which took place last month in a Brussels airport, lasted only three minutes according to a spokeswoman for Antwerp World Diamond Centre, and was also one of the biggest jewel heists in history.

The criminals in question cut through a fence at a Brussels airport, drove right up to a Swiss airplane heading to Zurich, and robbed them at gunpoint. They were carrying automatic weapons, but no shots were fired. A spokeswoman for the prosecution in Brussels said that the thieves, who were masked and wearing police uniforms, drove up to the airplane in two separate vehicles and took over 120 packages of diamonds—which was only a partial haul from the shipment. Still, the thieves were able to take US$50 million worth of rough and cut diamonds. “We are pursuing all lines of enquiry” the Brussels spokeswoman said “This was not a random robbery, it was well-prepared—these were professionals.”

Experts believe that the thieves will sell the stolen diamonds to separate sets of people. The rough diamonds will attract a certain set of clientele while the cut diamonds will go to another. “They obviously know who to sell them to. The rough would go to possibly one note of people and the polished would go to another set of people,” noted a Brussels jewel expert “I imagine that if they get 20 per cent of the value that has been stated that they would have done very, very well.” Experts believe that most of the diamonds will eventually be turned into designer jewellery and bridal jewellery.

The Brussels’ airport is one of the busiest hubs in Europe, and the huge security breach is a disconcerting situation for an airport that services over 90 million people per year. The airport itself conducted an internal investigation in order prevent another diamond robbery from happening again.

“Airport security is organized internationally. There are very strict rules and regulations on airport navigation security and we comply to all of those,” said a Brussels airport representative. “What has happened has happened, and now there is an inquiry to see how this could have happened and what could be done to avoid it in the future.” Airport representatives believe that passengers will continue to be safe while flying in and out of Brussels (though some may – understandably – be less inclined to bring their diamonds or other expensive jewellery with them on flights).

Diamond Ring (Photo Source: JeffreyBeall)

Diamond Ring (Photo Source: JeffreyBeall)

European airports have been the targets of robberies before, but none have reached the magnitude of the Brussels robbery. In 2004, thieves were able steal to $1.75 million pounds, or $2.2 million U.S. dollars from an airport heist. This latest robbery has caused jitters amongst diamond dealers not only in Belgium, but around the world, since the country is the centre of the global diamond trade.

The Brussels police investigation is still on-going, but there is no word as of yet to the outcome. However, police officials believe that the thieves will eventual slip up and get caught as they try and sell the diamonds on the black market over the next few months.

Brussels airport officials are just glad that no one was harmed during the diamond heist.

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Diamond Karma!

April 16, 2013 · 0 comments

Engagement Ring by Eskae Jeweller

Engagement Ring by Eskae Jeweller

It has been said that a good deed never goes unrewarded. That adage may have never been truer than in the case of Billy Ray Harris, a Kansas City, Missouri homeless man who looked into his donation cup and was shocked to find a diamond engagement ring.

Harris, a Kansas City, Missouri resident, gave the diamond ring back to its owner, Sarah Darling, the next day when she came looking for it. And what happened next was something straight out of a Hollywood movie.

Darling went home and set up a fundraising page at an online donation site, and the campaign spread like a wildfire. The page, with the help of social media and the internet, instantly went viral and has raised well over $100,000 from 3,800 online donations. The money, which will be given to Harris in full, is enough to get him back on his feet after years of living on the streets.

“The [diamond] ring was so big I knew it was real, it had to be expensive” Harris told KCTV, a local Kansas City news station “My grandfather was a reverend. He raised me from the time I was 6 months old, and thank the good lord, it’s a blessing, but I do still have some character.”

Darling, who said that she was crushed after realizing that she had lost her engagement ring, went back and tried to find Harris, Despite an unsuccessful first attempt, she kept at it and eventually tracked him down in the original location.

“I asked him…’I don’t know if you remember me, but I think I gave you something very precious to me,’ and he says, ‘Was it a ring? Yeah, I have it. I kept it for you.’” Darling told the news station, “I actually feel like I’m especially lucky to have this engagement ring now. I loved it before. I loved it so much, but I love it so much more now. I feel like it has such great karma.”

Engagement Ring by Eskae Jeweller

Engagement Ring by Eskae Jeweller

Harris, who spent his nights sleeping under a bridge, has found a place to stay for the time being, and plans to buy his own place with the money raised for him. The donations, which are nearing the $200,000 mark, will be presented to Harris after the 90-day donation period is over with.

Harris has been appreciative of the attention that he has received for returning the diamond ring to its owner, but does not believe that he has done anything out of the ordinary. “I like it, but I don’t think I deserve it,” said Harris. “What I actually feel like is, ‘what has the world come to where a person who returns something that doesn’t belong to him and all this happens?’”

Darling, however, doesn’t feel that Harris’ good deed with her diamond engagement ring was an ordinary act. “It seemed like a miracle. I thought for sure there was no way I would get it back,” she said.

Returning the diamond ring wasn’t the first time Harris has been involved in a high-profile lost and found story. Many years ago during an NFL football game where the Raiders played the Chiefs, Harris found a lost Super Bowl ring and walked it over to the Intercontinental Hotel in Kansas City. The desk clerk returned the ring, and Harris was given a generous reward as well as a three-night stay at the Rafael Hotel.

Harris and Darling are simply happy that the story ended with a returned diamond ring, and a generous reward for an honest man. And both can appreciate that there are still honest and giving people left in the world.

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What Makes Pink Diamonds Pink?

April 11, 2013 · 0 comments

Pink Diamond (Photo Credit: FancyDiamonds.net)

If you’re into designer jewellery and gemstones at all, there’s a good chance that you know a pretty decent amount about pink diamonds.

It would be hard not to know at least a little something with how popular they’ve become in recent years – especially with celebrities. Everyone from the likes of Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears to Helena Christiansen and Beyonce is sporting them, and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down.

You probably know how rare they are. Compared to white diamonds, the number of pink diamonds that are mined each year is miniscule, and this makes them incredibly valuable. If you have a white and a pink diamond that are comparable in terms of size and quality, it’s not uncommon for the pink diamond to cost 20 times more!

Some of you out there may even know that Australia is responsible for the vast majority of pink diamonds that exist in the world (90 percent!), with most of those coming from Western Australia’s Argyle diamond mine. Or that many experts believe that pink diamonds could be 400 million years old.

But what no one has really been able to research until recently is the most obvious question of all about pink diamonds: why are they pink? We know that yellow diamonds get their colour from nitrogen atoms, and that blue diamonds come from boron impurities, but pink diamonds are still a mystery.

The Science of Diamonds

Generally speaking, what gives a coloured diamond its beautiful hue is a specific kind of defect at the centre. Normal, colourless diamonds are created by carbon atoms that bond with each other to form a perfect crystalline lattice. Because it doesn’t absorb any light, these diamonds look clear to us.

The defect in coloured diamonds is that the lattice is either missing one or more carbon atoms or another element has replaced one of these atoms, as is the case with nitrogen atoms in yellow diamonds. Pink diamonds, however, don’t seem to follow this pattern.

Why Pink Diamonds are Different

Pink Diamond (Photo Credit: FancyDiamonds.net)

How pink diamonds get their gorgeous hue is a puzzle that scientists and gemmologists are still trying to unlock. Pink diamonds still have defect centres, but their properties are completely different from diamonds of other colours. Despite the fact that scientists have been able to uncover how most other diamond colours come into existence, what specifically makes pink diamonds appear pink is yet to be uncovered.

A recently published study from the University of Western Australia does, however, bring all of us a little bit closer to understanding. By using specialized beams of light, researchers were able to determine that they could remove the colour from pink diamonds with lights of narrow frequencies.

Studies are still ongoing and the researchers hope to understand how the process works more clearly. By learning which kinds and frequencies of light bleach away and return the diamonds’ colour, scientists hope to gain insight into the structure of pink diamonds. Only by discovering what the specific differences are in pink diamonds’ atomic structure will they ever be able determine where the colour comes from.

Until then, you can think of the mystery surrounding pink diamonds as just one more thing that adds to their value and allure.

 

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This Easter, Hunt for a Different Egg – an Exquisite Jewelled Fabergé Egg!

April 6, 2013 · 0 comments

Jewelled Faberge Egg (Photo Source: ctj71081)

Most of us have probably heard of Fabergé eggs and the brand Fabergé. A quick tour of their website will tell you that Fabergé specializes in a wide variety of high end designer jewellery, bridal jewellery and art deco jewellery. But do you have any idea where the name Fabergé comes from or what it used to mean?

The House of Fabergé was home to Russian jewellers who became renowned for the gorgeous and incredibly intricate large jewelled eggs that they created for Russian royalty from 1885 to 1917. Decorative miniature eggs were also made for the general populace to wear on necklaces during Easter, becoming the designer jewellery of the time, but their real fame came from a special kind of “Easter Egg” — the Imperial Fabergé eggs!

Imperial Fabergé Eggs: A Sign of Power and Extravagance

Of course, it’s no new idea for the ruling class to show off their wealth and power through precious jewellery, but the Imperial Fabergé eggs were special even in this rarified company, uniformly considered to be masterworks of jewellery.

So exactly why are they so special? Each of the eggs consists of an outer “shell” made using precious metals or hard stones that are decorated with gemstones and enamel, but that’s just the beginning. To truly understand the craftsmanship that went into each of these eggs, you have to think about Russian matryoshka dolls.

Memory of Azov Jewelled Egg (Photo Source: Sheb)

Matryoshka dolls are the famous figurines that fit inside of each other, smallest to largest. You start with what seems like a single, large figure, but when you open the outer casing, a smaller doll is inside. Open that, and you’ll find an even smaller doll. And so on. Fabergé used this same idea with the Imperial eggs – but in a far more intricate and stunning way!

The first ever Imperial Fabergé egg – the Hen egg – was a gift from Tsar Alexander III to his wife, the Empress Maria Fedorovna. The shell is crafted from gold, and opens to reveal a matte yellow gold yolk. But that was still just the beginning. Open the yolk and it would reveal a multi-coloured gold hen. Open that, and you would discover a minute replica of the Imperial Crown. It was made from diamond, and had a ruby pendant hanging from it. Try to top that Easter gift!

Uncover Layers of Russian Decadence with Imperial Fabergé Eggs

One jewelled egg like this would be a marvel, but the House of Fabergé crafted 52 of these wonders for the Tsars between 1885 and 1917! Of those, more than 40 have survived to give us some idea of the extravagance they represented.

 

Imperial Pelican Faberge Egg (Photo Source: Chuck Redden)

1898’s Imperial Pelican Egg – a gift from Nicholas II to his mother – consists of a shell of pearls, diamonds, and engraved red gold mounted by a pelican feeding her young in blue, gray, and pink enamel. It opens to reveal eight miniatures in ivory that represent charitable institutions patronized by the Dowager Empress of Russia.

Trans-Siberian Railway Faberge Egg (Photo Source: greenacre8)

1900’s Trans-Siberian Railway Egg – made of gold, silver, onyx, and quartz, with a Trans-Siberian Railway map on the shell – was a gift from Nicholas II to his wife. It is topped by a gold eagle with three heads that has the Imperial Crown. The inside is lined in velvet, and contains a gold and platinum clockwork replica of a locomotive with headlights of diamond and taillights of ruby. There’s even a gold key to wind the train up and let it run.

Moscow Kremlin Jewelled Egg (Photo Source: Stan Shebs)

The Moscow Kremlin Egg – created in 1906 – is exactly what it sounds like. Designed to look like the Cathedral of the Assumption in Moscow, where all Russian Tsars are crowned, this egg is by far the biggest of the Imperial eggs. It consists of a removable white cathedral dome that hides an impeccably remade replica of the church’s interior, complete with chiming clocks, High Alter, and carpets. And that’s not even the “surprise!” This egg also contains a gold music box at the base that plays traditional Easter hymns.

Constellation Jewelled Egg (Photo Source: shakko)

The last Fabergé egg ever made was Constellation in 1917. Due to the Russian Revolution, it was never finished or given to Nicholas II. Documentation from that time tells us that the egg had a base of crystal, stars that were marked by diamonds, and that the zodiac sign Leo was engraved on the blue glass of the shell (Nicholas’s son, Alexei, was a Leo, which might make this a kind of extravagant birthstone!). The egg also contained a unique clock mechanism.

 

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Birthstone of the Month: April – Diamond

April 1, 2013 · 0 comments

A gift of a birthstone is always appropriate for any occasion, adding a bit of meaning to any jewellery gift. Those born in April are luckier than most since their birthday is celebrated with the most timeless birthstone: the diamond! This beauty is considered the “king” of gemstones. (Though I can’t help but feel that “queen” might be a more appropriate title!) When properly faceted, it will sparkle with multi-coloured rays of light. Persian poet Hafiz is quoted as saying that “the rainbow is confined in it forever!”

The Origins of the Diamond

In order to form a natural diamond, there must be very specific conditions: the carbon must be exposed to high pressure, but at a comparatively low temperature (between 900–1300 °C). If you think it sounds like these conditions are tough to find, you would be right. There are only two places on Earth where these conditions are met: the lithospheric mantle below stable continental plates and at a meteorite strike site.

A special kind of diamond called carbonado may even have interstellar origins! These diamonds are found in South America and Africa and may have been deposited by an asteroid impact (but not formed by the impact) 3 billion years ago.

Mystical Properties of the Diamond

The diamond is the strongest of all the gemstones. In fact, it’s the hardest known natural material in existence! In ancient Greece, it was called “adamas” which meant invincible or indestructible. So it should be no surprise that astrologists regard the diamond as a stone of the Sun and Venus. It is believed to provide strength, courage, and invincibility in fights, but is also a symbol of purity, perfection, and innocence.

Many believe that the diamond protects its owner from evil spells – as well as fire, water, snakes, thieves, illnesses, predatory animals, sorcery, and poison. (And you thought your engagement ring only protected you from unwanted suitors!)

Gift Ideas for Diamond Birthstone Jewellery

Looking for a way to make a diamond birthstone gift even more meaningful? A traditional, clear diamond is always great, but consider finding a coloured diamond that symbolizes something special about your gift recipient. When you give the gift, you can explain the extra thought you put behind its selection.

Green Diamond (PhotoSource: FancyDiamonds.net)

Green Diamonds – Considered a symbol of motherhood. A great gift for a wife who is expecting or just became a mother – or for your own mother!

Pink Diamond (PhotoSource: FancyDiamonds.net)

Pink Diamonds – These are said to promote creative expression. Is your loved on an artist, a dancer, a writer? Foster their creativity with this special, rare gemstone. (Though you should also be aware that, because they are so rare, they are also very expensive.)

Blue Diamond (PhotoSource: FancyDiamonds.net)

Blue Diamonds – Symbolize peace and serenity – and also good health. It can be a great way to celebrate a new year in someone’s life, wishing them only the best.

Yellow Diamond (Photo Source: FancyDiamonds.net)

Yellow Diamonds – Is your loved one thoughtful and considerate? A yellow diamond lets them know that you feel that way.

Red Diamond (PhotoSource: FancyDiamonds.net)

Red Diamonds – Perfect for someone who is your “rock” – your source of strength. A red diamond represents stability in your life. It’s also said to help relieve stress, which means that it can be great for someone going through a major life change.

The great thing about diamond birthstones is that they are incredible versatile. As you already know from engagements, you can set them in a ring, but you can also use diamonds in pendants, bracelets, earrings – virtually anything you can think of! So don’t be afraid to get creative when designing or looking for diamond birthstone jewellery for a loved one.

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Today in Designer Jewellery News: Our Own Sam Kritsotakis!

March 29, 2013 · 0 comments

Sam's Designer Jewellery

Sam's Designer Jewellery

The latest designer jewellery fashions on display at the Oscars. Information on where famous art deco jewellery is going on display. How you can decide on the kind of diamond that’s right for you – before you buy.

We know that regular readers of this blog don’t care about any of that. What they’ve really been waiting for all this time is more information on the man who is Eskae Jewellers, Sam Kritsotakis.

We’re kidding, of course. We know you come to this site for information on diamonds, designer jewellery fashion trends, in-depth knowledge on gemstones, and the latest news in the world of jewellery, and hope that you allow us to continue to provide that for you.

Today, though, we have something a little bit different.

The Highlights of a Designer Jewellery Career That’s Just Beginning

Generally speaking, Sam’s not one to toot his own horn, but we thought it worth sharing that The Mosman Daily recently ran a nice article detailing how he became a jeweller and what makes him tick. You can show your love for Sam (and the Mosman Daily) by going to our Facebook page – Eskae Private Jeweller – and ‘Liking’ it.

An Engagement Ring by Sam

An Engagement Ring by Sam

It provides an interesting window onto Sam and what makes Eskae Jewellers so special. Just a few of the highlights include:

  • Sam knew he wanted to be a designer in high school; creating designer jewellery is a natural extension of that desire.
  • After high school, he studied detail drawing for jewellery and took an apprenticeship in the jewellery trade.
  • He comes from a family of artisans, with a sister in fashion design and grandparents that worked as a cobbler and seamstress, respectively.
  • Platinum and white gold are among his favourite metals to work with due to how malleable they are and the gorgeous shine of their finishes.
  • Though the look and versatility of diamonds make them his favourite stones, he also loves the intense purple hue of tanzanite.
  • Typically an engagement ring will take Sam anywhere from 8 to 12 hours to create.
  • The longest he ever took on a piece of jewellery was a particularly complex engagement ring for a client. By the time he was finished, he’d spent 127 hours on it!

It’s About Sam’s Love of Designer Jewellery

The main thing that really comes through in the piece is that Sam is someone who truly loves what he does. By actually creating individual pieces of designer jewellery for clients himself, he is able to utilize his artistic talents and go from a paper drawing all the way through to a finished, wearable piece of jewellery.

In the end, though, he knows it’s about coming up with the perfect piece of jewellery that matches the vision the customer has in their mind, as well as being a fit with their overall fashion and sense of personal style. It involves a lot of back and forth with the client to make sure that he understands what they want at each step along the way so that everything will be just right when it’s finally ready.

After all, anytime you’re giving or receiving custom-made designer jewellery, it’s a special occasion that requires the utmost love and care to be put into its creation!

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Why Is 18-Carat Gold Better Than 9-Carat Gold?

December 20, 2012 · 0 comments

Approximate colours of Gold, Silver, and Copper alloys used in making jewellery. (Photo Credit Aushulz)

If you head out to a jeweller (or watch shopping channels on TV), you’ll start to hear a lot of different carat values when people are talking about gold. 9-carat this. 18-carat that. Unfortunately, most people don’t actually explain what those numbers really mean, and why you might be more inclined to spend the extra money on designer jewellery where the carat value is higher… up to a point.

Essentially, carats are a way to measure the purity of gold, though the same equation has been expanded so that it can be used to measure platinum as well. The simplest way to explain it is that gold has 24 parts, so if something is 24-carat gold, it’s basically as close to 100 per cent gold as you can get. Lower numbers have less purity, so 18-carat gold is about 75 per cent pure, and 9-carat gold is nine parts gold and 15 parts another metal entirely.

Which would seem to make the answer to the original question simple – 18-carat gold is better than 9-carat gold because it is more pure. And that’s true, to a point, but it would also imply that 24-carat is the best, and that isn’t always the case. Why? Because as metals go, gold has some interesting properties for creating designer jewellery.

The Best Gold for Jewellery: Malleability Versus Hardness

18 Carat Gold Engagement Ring (Photo Credit: BongoVongo)

First, let’s talk about the low end of the carat spectrum. Gold itself is quite a soft metal, which makes it incredibly malleable. Great for shaping and designing jewellery, but not so wonderful after a piece has been made and the wearer needs it to retain its shape over a long period of time.

This would seem to argue that 9-carat gold would be better because it is less pure and therefore has less malleability, but the problem with that argument is that more alloys need to be added to less pure gold. In fact, there’s actually more silver and copper present in 9-carat gold jewellery than actual gold! Adding copper and silver as alloys makes the metal incredible tensile and far more brittle – basically, there’s a higher chance for gold jewellery of this carat level or lower to crack and break.

18 Carat Gold Amethyst, Ruby, and Diamond Necklace (Photo Credit: Sulla55)

But the problem at the high end of the carat spectrum is the opposite. The more pure the gold is, the easier it is to bend, chip, and just generally reshape. 24-carat gold might be the most pure, but lots of jewellers don’t like using it because it’s so incredibly soft. This means in order for 24-carat designer jewellery to hold its shape and remain durable over time, it needs to be bigger, thicker, and heavier. That may be great if you’re going for that Mr. T look, but most of us just want a nice ring, bracelet, or pair or earrings!

Much like Goldilocks with the three bears, 18-carat gold – smack dab in the middle – is just right. Not only is it pliable and malleable enough for designers to work with it when crafting jewellery, it has just enough of the other metals mixed in for even the thinnest, lightest piece of 18-carat gold to stay beautiful and strong over the long haul, without owners needing to worry about their designer jewellery getting tarnished or corroding. Plus, it’s still 75 per cent gold, which means that you’ll actually be getting the gorgeous metal that you want for the most part.

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The Many Colours of Pearl Designer Jewellery

December 13, 2012 · 0 comments

South Sea Pearls of Different Colours, Shapes, and Sizes (Photo Credit: Cliff1066)

Aren’t pearls just white? That’s certainly what popular culture has trained us to think. You see a white pearl necklace in the movies or around a star’s neck at some event and that becomes your idea of what pearls are.

But people who truly love the stones know that they come in a wide variety of hues as well as shapes. Now, some of these pearl colours are manufactured or enhanced, but many are natural, including whites, pinks, lavenders, silvers, and creams.

So how do pearls come to be in such a gorgeous rainbow? It has to do with how – and where – they are formed.

Oysters and Pearls: A Pair That Were Made for Each Other

Pink and White Diamond Set Black Pearl Pendant from Eskae Private Jeweller

Beyond the incorrect belief that they are “just white,” if the general public knows anything else about pearls, it’s probably that they come from oysters. Heck, many people think that fishermen simply catch oysters and they all magically have pearls in them, but this is simply not the case. The truth is that natural pearls are incredibly rare, so most pearls used in designer jewellery are cultured by humans.

That means that people actually implant beads inside of oysters so that they can be coated in proteins and minerals over time. These form layers over the bead called nacre, and the layers are essentially what make pearls look like pearls – they create both the colour and the beautiful lustre.

But it’s not quite that simple. There are both saltwater and freshwater pearls, as well as natural and cultured pearls, and each kind comes in different colours and shapes based on a number of factors. These include the type of mussel or mollusc (oyster) housing the pearl and what minerals and proteins it secretes, as well as the temperature of the water. And many freshwater pearls also receive manufactured colouring after being harvested by irradiating them, dyeing them, or treating them with chemicals. Manufactured pearl colours include yellow, red, blue, green, and brown – and many times natural colours such as pink, cream, and lavender are given a boost.

What Colour Pearl Should I Choose for My Designer Jewellery?

A Gray-Blue Pearl (Photo Source: Ryan Berry)

There is no definitive answer to which colour of pearl is right for you beyond the fact that you like it, but if you’re debating between colours, there are several different things to consider.

  • Your skin tone. Is your complexion lighter or darker? Generally speaking, for your pearls (and you!) to look best, you want something that is going to complement your skin tone.
  • Your attire. Do you tend to wear certain colours more than others, or is your wardrobe a rainbow that includes everything under the sun? Just like with your skin tone, you want the pearls to enhance and complement your attire. If you consider both of these things, you’ll be much more likely to find a stone that you can wear in a wide variety of occasions.

  • Dark Pearl Necklace (Photo Source: Liz Saldana)

    Your desire for rare or common. Cultured and manufactured pearls are becoming higher in their quality, but natural saltwater pearls are still considered to be more valuable – and it shows in their price! If this value and rarity is important to you, it will limit the number of colours you have to choose from, but give a stone that’s worth more and arguably looks better.

  • Your preferred shape. Naturally-occurring saltwater pearls tend to be far closer to perfect spheres, whereas freshwater pearls might be shaped like ovals, teardrops, or other variations of roundness that just aren’t quite spherical. If having a perfect, spherical pearl is important to you, again, your colour choices will be more limited.

The best way to decide what colour of pearl is right for you is to simply try several out and see what you think. You might surprise yourself by liking something you never would have expected.

 

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