Price: $ 57,000 One of the most remarkable Visconti pens is the Ripple H.R.H. Limited Edition fountain pen. Made of 18K white gold and diamonds and with two-tone 18K gold nib, it costs $57,000.00. It has double reservoir filling system and is sold in two variations – white gold and black.
4. Omas Phoenix Platinum Fountain Pen Luxury Limited Edition with Diamonds
Price: $60,000
With an overwhelming price tag of $60,000, this truncated cone shaped pen is a true embodiment of fact and fancy. Made with 950 platinum and yellow enamel with considerable length and diameter, 18K gold rhodium plated engraving nib.
3. La Modernista Diamonds Caran d’Ache
Price: $265,000 La Modernista Diamonds was made by the Swiss company Caran d’Ache in 1999 in homage to Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926), the most famous of Modernist architects. This amazing fountain pen was sold in Harrods, London, for $265,000, becoming the most expensive pen in GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS in 2001. La Modernista Diamonds is made of rhodium-plated solid silver components. It boasts of an 18-carat rhodium-plated gold nib and is set with a total of 5,072 Wessel ton diamonds weighing in at 20-carats, as well as 96 rubies totaling 32-carats. The pen was hand-made by master jeweler Robert Perron taking him six months to complete this true masterpiece of writing instruments.
2. Mystery Masterpiece Mont Blanc and Van Cleef & Arpels Limited Edition
Price: $730,000 To commemorate the centenary of these two renowned brands, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels have collaborated on this fine, limited edition Mystery Masterpiece. Three individual editions, each set with rubies, sapphires or emeralds has been crafted. Using the Mystery Setting technique for the gemstones, these intricate writing instruments are set to stun with their extravagant design, and equally-extravagant price. At US$730,000 each, they are truly a fitting homage to a century of each brands respective history.
1. Aurora Diamante fountain pen
Price: $1,470,600 The Aurora Diamante is the most expensive writing instrument to date. Only one is for sale per year. The Aurora Diamante contains over 30 carats of De Beers diamonds on a solid platinum barrel. It has a two-tone, rhodium-treated, 18KT solid gold nib and is personalized with a coat of arms, signature or portrait. Aurora Pens says it is the only over 30 carat pen in the world.
TIBALDI Pens CREW 60TH are a landmark in pen making history with Bentley, the automobile giant creating its own handcrafted pen sets in association with the worlds best Italian luxury designer pen maker, Tebaldi.
These expensive Tebaldi for Bentley pens have a two-tone 18-carat yellow gold nib covered in rhodium and ruthenium. The pen’s barrel has the fine finish identical to Bentley’s dashboard. This finish was first used in Bentley’s earliest car with a technique called engine tuning. The pens cap, upper and lower barrel parts are knurled for a good grip while writing for the executive. You can see the level of ink through the transparent window of the Tebaldi for Bentley pens. A handmade tie shaped clip on the pen marks Tebaldi’s signature. The Tebaldi for Bentley Crew 60th white gold fountain pen collection is a limited edition of 40 solid white gold fountain pens
9. Gaia High Luxury Omas Fountain Pens
Price: $43,000 Gaia high Luxury fountain pens and roller ball pens by Omas are a glimpse into the dark and deep recesses of the earth. The impenetrable inner core of the earth has inspired wonder, curiosity and interest in man since creation. A miscellany of precious materials such as the white and yellow 18K gold, the Onyx, the Crystal rock, the hematite and the vegetal resin has been utilized into the making of this mystic model by Omas.
Gaia high Luxury fountain pens and roller ball pens are a presentation in the celebration of Jules Vernes futuristic vision of the world. It also commemorates the one hundredth death anniversary. Depicting geographical wonders of the world, the pen absolutely differs from pens that reflect the classic essence of history. The dark grey colour of the metal that it is made of, symbolizes the trip to the dark interior of the earth. The body of the pen from top to toe features the engraved images of gigantic spiders, carnivorous plants, and water beasts. The blend of fear and wonder in the engraving of these horrors makes this particular model different from a range of pen collections.
8. MARTE Omas Fountain Pen
Price: $43,000
Omas Fountain Pen MARTE is part of the Viaggi dellUomo, Travel of Man, Masterpieces collection of custom design fountain pens, roller ball pens and pen sets. The Marte (Italian for Mars) is actually a map of Mars made from classic rose gold to represent the pink-red hue of the planet. Deserts, mountains and craters are all featured on the barrel of this pen with four rubies to mark the landing points of the Russian and American probes. The cap is encrusted with 2K of small diamonds reminiscent of the polar ice caps and the clip details astronomer Tycho Brahes Mural Quadrant. Even the rose gold nib is engraved with a representation of the Greek God Mars! There are just 30 of these fountain pens in circulation, so they are perfect for the pen collector to add to his expensive pen collections or for the executive who enjoys writing with designer pens.
7. Visconti The Forbidden City H.R.H. Fountain Pen
Price: $50,500 The Visconti brand is known for best quality, style and creativity. This distinguished Visconti pen is the Forbidden City H.R.H. Limited Edition fountain Pen. Made of black resin, 18K gold and diamonds and boasting of Power Filler innovative filling system invented by Visconti, it is sold for $50,500.
6. Visconti Alchemy H.R.H. Fountain Pens
Price: $ 57,000
The beautifully handcrafted Alchemy HRH by Visconti is part of the HRH collection of handmade fountain pens and roller ball pens from this fine pen maker. This luxury pen, unlike other fountain pens, has two nibs, two ink reservoirs and is trimmed with two different metals – exquisite gold and silver vermeil. Both nibs are of the best 18K gold and come in different sizes to suit every writing style. Even those used to writing with roller ball pens will love using the Alchemy.
The body is made from a classic, rich, red resin and the gold and silver trim is decorated with expensive 4K diamonds and rubies. One cap has gold trim, the other silver and these trims interlace to create a cosmic map with alchemic symbols stunning!
There was a time that it was popular for men to save every cent of their hard-earned money to secretly buy an engagement ring while believing they were concocting the perfect surprise. After hiding the brand new, dazzling wedding ring set in their jacket pocket for a couple of weeks, they would then plan a romantic date, the next hour was filled with stuttering and nervous fidgeting before finally bending down on one knee and giving his fiancé the surprise of her life: A marriage proposal.
Ironically, since females tend to have a lie detector implanted in their brain at birth, covering up surprises isn’t the easiest feat to pull off. Because of this, women feign their surprise and reply with, ‘How did you-when did you-I swear I had no idea!’ before bursting into tears. In all actuality, it’s the true emotion of being proposed to that turns their tear ducts into waterfalls and causes shouts of joy and unfortunately, not the element of surprise.
As this cat was slowly let out of the bag, men and women began picking out their wedding rings together. When the emotional aspect of the proposal was over, it was discovered that when looking down at their new engagement ring, most women didn’t fancy their wedding ring set at all. It became a taboo subject to broach since it sounded entirely ungrateful of all the hard work that their beloved went into finding what they believed to be the perfect ring; but, to wear something intended to be worn for a lifetime – well, that’s just a fashion catastrophe for a woman!
As more and more couples are beginning to pick out their wedding ring sets together, the ‘surprise’ wedding rings purchased have dropped down to a mere 19% as of 2007,[1] changing the proposal scenario a little bit. While men may still try to scheme the perfect proposal, the ring part of this performance is saved for when both partners can go ring shopping together.
Going to shop for a ring together may sound as though the woman will choose her wedding ring while the man chooses his wedding ring. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Call it old-fashioned but men enjoy having a large amount of their choice being included with the final cut (pun intended) of which wedding ring his fiancé chooses.
Women, not to be outdone, also enjoy getting to have her thoughts and ideas incorporated into her significant other’s wedding ring. After all, it’s what says to her; ‘You’re mine – now and forever,’ allowing her to always be reminded of its significance.
Because the newly-engaged pair’s thoughts and feelings lie within the wedding rings, it’s important to understand how each of their ideas can be integrated while keeping each other’s needs in mind.
Ladies first:
Tips On Choosing Wedding Rings For Women – The Men’s Guide:
Find Your Inner Fashion
That’s awful sounding to a man but its intent was to get your attention! The real ploy is to take notice of the colour metal your fiancé wears most often. If she wears silver toned jewellery a lot, the obvious choice would be a platinum wedding set. For yellow gold, then stick with yellow gold. Simple enough, right?
The trickier part is helping to decide what type of wedding and engagement ring design to go with. When noticing which metal your fiancé favours, also notice the style in which she’s wearing jewellery: Is it a lot of dangly jewellery, chunky jewellery or simple studs, gemstones and fragile looking chains?
For women who wear dangly jewellery, this can be incorporated into the wedding ring set by the amount of stones and the settings in which they’re placed in. She’ll already know exactly the style she’s looking for so don’t stress out too much!
Women who like wearing over-the-top, big jewellery then obviously, the size of the diamond (or precious gemstone) they’ll be looking for will follow suit. If the cost is too high, both you and your woman may be able to compromise on distributing some of the stones into a multiple stone cluster setting rather than a single high carat gemstone.
Then there is the simple woman who wears just enough jewellery to subtly enhance her features. A simple diamond or coloured gemstone will suffice, along with a smooth, metal band.
Find The Right Sized Ring
How many times has your girlfriend-turned-fiancé come asking for your opinion on how something makes her look? Chances are, she most definitely has. It’s not to be confused with low self-confidence, rather, that your thoughts are the thoughts that count and matter the most to her.
This is the reason why your input for her wedding and engagement ring is so important to her. The ring your sweetheart finally chooses will be something that she’ll want to display to make a statement of the man she’s marrying. Your fiancé may want to wear something large to show off to friends and family but it may not look the best on her. It’s up to you to rein the excitement in and help her choose a wedding ring set that flatters her, not outweighs her.
Women’s hands are much smaller than men’s hands meaning that her wedding bands should remain a smaller width than his. There are generally four shapes female fingers go by:
Long Fingers – For women with long fingers, keep away from marquis and oval shaped cuts. Other than that, any sized stone and band width will do. Just keep in mind that going too large can weigh the hand down while going too small will appear even smaller.
Wide Fingers – If your fiancé has wide fingers (never say this aloud to a woman, I guarantee you she’s aware!), stay away from round and rectangular cut stones since this can make fingers look even shorter. Nudge her in the right direction of wearing elongated stones such as teardrop cuts, marquis cuts and pear shaped stones to lengthen the finger by giving it a slimmer shape.
Narrow Fingers – Much like long fingers, narrow fingers are more forgiving to any shape or width of wedding and engagement rings. With narrow fingers, big stones look stunning! Cluster rings, which have become extremely popular lately, go perfectly on narrow fingers because it leaves little skin showing on either side, maintaining a full sense of balance.
Find A Sense Of Patience
Women are sentimental and emotional creatures. Already on cloud 9 from a near impending marriage on the horizon, they will take their time looking at and inspecting ALL wedding and engagement rings. It will need to be the perfect size, perfect metal and perfect design since this will be the most valuable possession she’ll treasure for the rest of her life.
Putting aside the shopping aspect, now your gal gets to tell everyone her story of how she got engaged while introducing her new fiancé to everyone within eyesight. The time spent together shopping for wedding rings will not only be cherished but stored away into her mental lockbox. Impatience can bring out the strongest of emotions and allow your soon-to-be-bride to break down into tears or worse, cause a quarrel that will forever change this historical memory of a great experience.
Tips On Choosing Wedding Rings For Men – The Women’s Guide:
Find A Manly Ring
This doesn’t mean picking the biggest and heaviest wedding ring out on the market. Men worry about their looks just as much as women do; they’re just quieter about it and jewellery isn’t a rule to that exception!
Because rings can easily look too feminine or too gaudy on a man’s hand, take some time to get familiar with the size and shapes of his hands and fingers. If your fiancé has smaller shaped hands with lean fingers, think proportional – not too small and not too wide. Going on the heavier side of the ring will weigh the hand down; going too small will make the hand look overtly feminine – which is never a good thing for a man!
For men with heavy palms and thick fingers, thinner wedding rings are better . Without going too small in the band width, keep it on the slimmer side of measurement. A neat trick-of-the-trade is if choosing a diamond or coloured gemstone to place into his wedding band, have the stone set in vertically which also helps lengthen the finger!
Men with medium sized hands and long fingers should opt for a heavier, thick or average-sized wedding band that will help keep a balanced look.
Find The Right Level Of Comfort
Comfort is a MUST for men, whether it’s clothes, shoes or jewellery – especially for men who don’t like wearing jewellery in the first place, such as, active men who play sports or men who work with their hands. Wearing a wedding ring that has the feeling of impending normal physical activity can cause annoyance and cause wedding rings to be found on the bathroom sink or left on dressers.
To determine the correct level of comfort, there are several factors to take into consideration:
The edge of the wedding ring – Different wedding ring designs call for different styles of edges. The best option is having a ring with a soft curve on the inside edges of the ring for maximum comfort level. While this edge is more commonly found in yellow gold wedding rings, it can also be placed in other rings with different metals used or different designs. Another option is having a comfort curve placed on the inside of the ring. Talk with your jeweller about options available to soften the wedding ring’s curve so that your guy is getting both the style and the comfortable feeling he’s looking for.
The width of the ring – Although wedding band width can vary in size according to men’s tastes, the average size of the width is between 5mm and 7mm.[2] Obviously, the smaller you go, the more comfort he’ll feel but remember, going too small can make the ring appear too feminine on a man’s hand!
The depth of the ring – This part of the ring is known as the ‘wall thickness’ defining the distance from the inside of the ring to the outside of the ring.[3] Because the depth of the ring determines the weight of the wedding ring, this is considered as more of a comfort to your fiancé’s bank account but it can also factor in the overall feeling of his wedding band.
Find His Fashion Sense
With new styles of male wedding rings more present than ever, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the selections available. While yellow gold was always the most popular choice of metal for men, platinum, tungsten carbide and titanium has risen to meet its match.
Not only is there a bigger selection of precious metals to choose from, there’s also the choice of designer work, engraving and precious gemstones to add to the assortment. Have your fiancé share his ideas with you before going shopping together for that stylish wedding ring. Portray his ideas to your jeweller, who can then present both of you with an array of wedding rings as described, minimizing your fiancé’s stress level.
Keep Emotions In Check
Picking out wedding sets can generate excessive tears and emotional swings between stress and happiness. Remember that your soon-to-be-husband may not necessarily enjoy shopping as much as you do and by remaining calm, he’ll participate more and have as much fun picking out your ring, as you do his.
Also, because you’ll most likely be choosing two rings instead of one, planning ahead on which style to look for or perhaps looking up different styles online from home before heading to your jewellers will decrease his amount of time spent wedding ring shopping.
It’s natural for most people to automatically associate women with jewellery because women are generally dainty creatures who love wearing beautiful diamonds and gems which enhance their femininity. While most men won’t always be as flamboyant about their love of jewellery, it doesn’t mean they don’t admire and appreciate jewellery just as much as women do.
Many times, when all a man wants to do is slip on a ring, he feels self conscious because whether it’s talked about or not, most men feel certain stigmas about wearing jewellery. They think other men may find it too feminine, perhaps it looks too flashy or the simple fact of just not knowing how to wear it properly will make them look gaudy.
Saying that, it may be hard for some folks to imagine that men’s designer rings are, in fact, the most booming area in men’s jewellery today! Some might not believe this to be true but herein is where the stereotype lies: Just because men are not as vocal about displaying their jewellery as women are (putting aside our bling-flaunting rappers) doesn’t mean they aren’t collectors and admirers of exquisite jewellery, especially rings. Men and designer rings have quite the history together for the simple fact that rings were initially worn to display wealth and status. As time went on and jewellery progressed, women started to wear them more fashionably for social acceptance and less representative of familial status whereas men continue to this very day, to keep rings as a symbol of accomplishment and manhood. Just to give a few examples – aside from wedding rings – of other men’s designer rings include:
Masonic rings
High school sports rings
College rings
Rings that represent countries, i.e., Super Bowl rings, Armed Forces rings
Signet rings
Unlike women, the majority of men aren’t window shoppers and instead, tend to go straight to the jeweller to have their rings designed for them. Because men do heavier lifting and more physical work than most women, their rings tend to carry the brunt of misfortunes making a simple gold ring an easy target of daily wear and tear. Instead, durable, precious metals like platinum, titanium, palladium and tungsten are used to endure dings and scratched surfaces. Diamonds and gemstones are channel set into the ring to forego claws breaking or bending for the same reason. As always, how men wear jewellery is all about style and execution. Because wearing rings on certain fingers can look more feminine than others, it’s important to know the significance each finger represents. The commonly known international reasons for what wearing rings on each finger symbolizes goes a little something like this:
Thumb – Generally no ring
Index Finger – Means he/she is unmarried but looking for a steady relationship
Middle Finger – Shows he/she is in love with a fixed person
Ring Finger – Means he/she is engaged or married
Pinky Finger – Shows his/her determination for avoiding marriage from the cradle to the grave
For women, this formula can be applied since wearing designer rings is more sentimental and is usually based upon feelings and love. However, in ways that men’s rings are created differently than women’s rings, men wear their designer rings for different significant reasons which then changes this theory of wearing rings to a more updated, masculine formula:
Thumb – Historically worn on both, nowadays worn on one which allows the designer ring to portray a statement of self, sexuality or fashion
Index Finger – Wearing your designer ring here shows dominance, energy and power
Middle Finger – Similar to what showing the middle finger implies, wearing a designer ring on this finger shows rebellion, decadence and irreverence
Ring Finger – Universally shows marriage
Pinky Finger – Historically used to imprint their signet ring on a stamp or seal, nowadays is most commonly worn to show fashion; although some men also choose the pinky finger to beef up the gangster/mafia look or to show reference to gambling
Most men don’t wear rings on index and middle fingers but to each person, goes their own style. Wearing a ring on the pinky finger is commonly seen and recommended by all jewellers since it’s the fashionable and proper way for men to wear designer rings. Not to mention that it brings out one of a man’s most attractive features! It’s a well know fact that studies prove one of the most attractive physical traits women find in men aretheir hands.
An interesting trend that’s recently been on the rise is women proposing to their boyfriends with male engagement rings. Before your mind stereotypically wanders off, remember that it’s a man’s ring! It won’t hold a high diamond setting with lots of frilly highlighted details; it will be a customised thick band sometimes including a channel diamond, etching or even a two-toned band for those who wish to add some pizzazz. While men and their rings have a lengthy history together, the mindset is changing as more and more men are accepting designer rings, not only as a form of symbolism or another trophy to add to their collection, but as a fashionable statement of self that’s shows confidence and class. The bottom line is that designer rings are as equally desirable for men as they are for women and there’s nothing stereotypical about that!
People get older, women have children and accidents occur that sometimes permanently changes sizes and/or appearances. For some people, nature cruelly creeps into genetics on the day of conception – it’s an unstoppable force. You can love it, hate it or EMBRACE it!
Studies show attractive people tend to fare better in the corporate world because good looks appear to go hand-in-hand with self confidence which matters A LOT in the workplace. People are walking advertisements of themselves which is portrayed by the way they dress and present themselves.
When people aren’t confident about themselves, they tend to go into ‘hiding’, which instead, creates the opposite effect. Those who want to hide excess weight might wear baggy clothes making them appear even bigger than before. Men who miss long, lost strands of hair on top of their head may hide behind hats or a comb-over, which has yet to make the Top 10 Fashion list. Women who are self conscious of teenage acne scars might hide behind excessive makeup creating a clown-like resemblance. These are all ways that many people try to cover their flaws when, as you might have noticed, more attention is being drawn to them.
Appearing ‘corporately attractive’ (meaning tall, well dressed and good-looking) may sound discriminating and be a controversial subject to broach but you can’t change certain stereotypes. You can, however, create attractive illusions by learning how to subtly hide flaws by creating an overall balance.
While wearing the right type of jewellery won’t magically lose those extra pounds or gain those couple of inches, it WILL trick the human eye at first glance, helping you add a couple of beauty points overall.
Try applying these Jewellery Do’s and Don’ts to your business attire and see if you don’t feel more confident, look better and receive tons of compliments!
Jewellery Do’s and Don’ts:
Do’s
Do think vertically- Perhaps the most famous rule of any fashion guru is to never wear stripes horizontally because it adds pounds. This applies to all aspects of apparel and isn’t limited only to stripes. Wearing jewellery that drapes downward rather than hugging your body can have a slimming effect. Make jewellery and accessories work for you, not against you!
Do use symmetry – The highest emphasis on what deems a person as good-looking is held within the facial features. Symmetry is more important in the face, rather than the body as a whole, because it gives the appearance of good and psychological health. Wearing single stud earrings or single pearl earrings adds to the overall effect of symmetry, oftentimes drawing attention out at evenly, rather than pinpointing specific areas of the face.
Do wear big jewellery if overweight – Chunky jewellery, big stone pendants or collarettes help balance weight without weighing the body down. While wide bracelets make wrists appear thinner, there is one exception to this is for people who carry extra weight on a small body frames. Because wrists are the dead giveaway of frame size, they’re the one area of the body that won’t pack on the pounds, in which case, nix the bracelets and stick to only earrings, necklaces and rings.
Do wear long jewellery to add height – When lengthening height, the last thing you want to do is bog it down with excessive amounts of jewellery and accessories. Keep jewellery long but keep it simple. Choosing long chain and opera necklaces with matching dangle or drop earrings will perfect your illusion of supermodel height!
Don’ts
Don’t wear loud jewellery – In an office, especially a small office, wearing loud, jingly jewellery is just as annoying as someone wearing excessive perfume to the point of knocking people unconscious. While it may be trendy, it’s certainly unprofessional and distracting, drawing ALL of the positive attention away from the amazing look you worked so hard to achieve.
Don’t over-accessorize – Sure, most people have many favourite pieces of jewellery or a lot of jewellery containing their favourite gemstones that they feel they must wear all at once but that doesn’t mean you should.. For those who insist on wearing a lot of jewellery, remember that in the office, it’s very distracting and even worse, others might actually perceive you as superficial. Choose either one matching jewellery set or keep it toned down to one pair of earrings, one bracelet, one necklace and one ring on each hand.
Don’t ‘over-match’ your jewellery – Jewellery should hold its own while emphasizing physical features and attire. If you’re wearing an all black business suit, why not create your own fashion trends by adding colourful gemstones that pop?
Don’t limit jewellery to just women – Men can also wear jewellery and accessorize in ways that show masculinity! Choosing the right wristwatch or ring can show power and stamina, as long as it’s not too flashy and matches body proportions.
While these tricks are great for boosting your confidence and enhancing your attractiveness, the most important thing you can do for yourself is to continue taking the utmost care of your body. Get enough sleep to get rid of your dark circles, stop drinking large amounts of caffeine and if you’re a smoker, stop smoking to rejuvenate your skin, get on a healthy diet to remove pesky zits and exercise to stay healthy.
When you feel great, you look great! Everyone CAN look attractive in their own way; it’s just a matter of emphasizing the nice parts and hiding the flaws so that you can put yourself on display in the corporate spotlight!
Another fun filled week at Eskae Private Jeweller. I learnt many jewellery making techniques this week, including; the process of rhodium plating and putting a matte or satin finish on jewellery.
I also practiced some other techniques I had learnt over the past month including; polishing, annealing, drawing wire, rolling out metal and filing.
I would have to say that learning how to rhodium plate a piece of jewellery would have to be one of the most important techniques I learnt this week. Rhodium plating if you don’t know, is a technique jewellers use to plate metal to make it look whiter and brighter, for example it is used most commonly on white gold, and even silver, because the natural state of these metals is quite grey as opposed to white and bright like platinum is. The rhodium plating helps to enhance the stones, especially diamonds and the design of the ring.
The other important process I learnt this week was applying a matte/satin finish onto the cufflinks I designed and made in the previous weeks. After finishing the cufflinks off by giving them a good shiney polish, I decided that to add interest to the cufflinks I would only apply the matte/satin finish to certain sections of the design. To do this you need to block out the other parts of the design so the finish is not applied to them. A neat trick to do this is to tape over the front of the cufflinks with masking tape. Then using a scalpel, I cut through some of the masking tape in the sections I wanted to apply the matte finish to. Then I used the hand polisher with a course scotchbrite type brush to apply the finish. I was quite nervous about this process as I needed to make sure I held the polisher perfectly straight up against the cufflinks, so that the satin lines which make up the finish are all vertically straight on all parts of the un-masked sections of the cufflinks.
Cuff links
As you can see in the photo of my cufflinks, the finish has turned out very nicely. The finish adds masculinity, definition and interest to the cufflinks, as well as creating some contrast for the eye to follow in and around the design of the cuff link.
Another proud achievement, made on my jewellery making journey.
Claw setting – is a setting made from either gold or platinum with prongs or wire like structure to hold your diamond secure
Bezel setting – is a setting which fully surrounds the diamond or gemstone in place with gold or platinum being “rubbed over” the edge of the stone
Half bezel setting – the same as above but where only half of the diamond or gemstone is covered
Bead setting –Tiny beads are raised by pushing gold or platinum over the edges of the diamond
Thread setting – a series of diamonds are set generally in a line down the shoulder of the ring using the same technique as the above
Pave setting – is a style of setting multiple diamonds using the same technique as a bead setting. This is generally used in a blanket effect with small diamonds
Channel setting – a channel is opened to fit exactly the size diamond and then a groove is cut to allow the diamond to sit inside the channel. Once the diamond sits correctly the gold is pushed over the girdle of the diamond to hold it secure
Shank – the jewellery term for the band component of a ring
Shoulder – the part of a ring that is between the shank and the setting, generally there are diamonds set into the shoulder to enhance the beauty and sparkle of the centre diamond
Setting – the component of a ring that holds the diamond or gemstone in place
Platinum – a precious metal used in jewellery manufacturing which exhibits a superior whiteness and brightness compared to white gold
Palladium – a natural element from the platinum family of elements, generally used in the alloy when making premium grade white gold to help improve the whiteness and brightness of the gold
Rhodium – a natural element found in the platinum group of elements.
Rhodium plating – a liquid solution that coats the white gold through a process called electrolysis and makes it whiter and brighter compared to its natural state which is considered grey compared to platinum
24ct gold – pure gold with no other metal or element being added to it
18ct gold – a 75% pure alloy of gold silver and copper. Considered the perfect mix for working in gold, it retains most of the inherent shine, strength and other properties that gold has compared to the other metals it is alloyed with.
9ct gold – a 37.5% pure alloy of gold, silver and copper. Is a more commercially affordable alloy of gold because the actual content of gold is less than 50% in the mix. Because of the amount of extra alloy being added to create 9ct gold, it makes the alloy particularly brittle and can be prone to stress fractures and breaks, often mistaken as being stronger than 18ct gold.
Ring mandrel – a rod of steel used to measure the correct finger size when making a ring
Gold plating – a liquid solution that coats most precious metals with gold through a process called electrolysis
Enamel – comes in two types
Vitreous enamel – which is in a powder form when raw, once applied to the gold or platinum and then heated, it forms a glass like layer of colour in the area it was applied to. This can be colour blended and produces a very high lustre similar to that of glass
Cold mould enamel – is more like a plastic acrylic. It goes on like a paint and once cured it forms a high lustre finish where applied
Solder – an alloy of gold to the same carat but mixed with various elements to reduce the melting point so that when heated the gold solder will liquidise
Hard soldering – the process of heating up a piece of jewellery and applying silver, gold or platinum solder to a join between two or more pieces.
Soft soldering – the process of heating up two separate pieces of metal, not necessarily silver gold or platinum, and then applying a lead based type of solder. The melting point for the solder is considerably lower with this type of soldering than it is with hard soldering
Ring re-sizing – the process where your ring is either increased or decreased in finger size
Re-tipping – the process of repairing any worn out claws on a setting, by adding new strips of gold to the setting
Laser welding – a relatively new technology in the jewellery industry which allows us to use lasers which is super heated beams of light to spot weld two or more pieces of gold or platinum together. This process allows a far greater level of accuracy and cleanliness, than the traditional hard soldering technique.
CAD – a computerised designing system being introduced worldwide in the jewellery industry. It is the same idea as architectural CAD software.
Wax model – a wax mock up at 100% scale of a ring that will be created for you.
Fitting – an appointment with me that lets you look at the ring or piece of jewellery before any diamonds are set in it. I get the opportunity to make sure the size is 100% correct and that you are 100% happy with the look of the piece of jewellery
Engagement ring – a symbolic ring which represents the love and bright future a couple will share – given by the man to his lady love when he asks her to marry him.
Wedding ring – a ring presented to your fiancé on the day of your marriage. It is traditionally an unbroken circle representing “no end” in the relationship and everlasting love.
Eternity ring – a ring presented either at your 1st year anniversary or the birth of your first child – which ever happens first – it represents the fact that you are now wed for eternity
Wedding day Gift – traditionally this is a pair of earrings that match her engagement ring or a pair of cuff links that has some kind of family resemblance for him
Engraving – the process of marking gold or platinum with an inscription or pattern
Carat – the unit of measurement designed to measure the weight of diamonds and gemstones
Karat – the unit of measurement designed to measure the purity of gold
Can you believe it has been exactly one month since I began my journey of becoming a jeweller with Eskae Private Jeweller. I know I can’t! And what a fantastic 1st month it has been.
The most exciting activity I did this week was finishing the silver gents wedding ring I made and told you about in week one. All I needed to do was polish the ring and it would be finished. I would have to say that polishing is not as easy as it looks, Sam definitely threw me in the deep end by letting me create a not so simple wedding band. A plain wedding band would have been a lot easier to polish, as you would essentially need to polish the one area on the outside, but because the design I created had three edges to polish it was quite tricky. I enjoyed the challenge and it was fun to be able to learn polishing.
This was the most important lesson I learnt this week; the angle on which you must hold the ring, to enable you to only polish one particular part of the ring at the one time, and to not curve or smooth the lines I had created by putting a chamfered edge on each side of the ring. What this does is helps me keep the sharp or definite edges in the design of the ring, giving the finished ring more definition.
A chamfered edge is a design feature or technique where we put a 45 degree angle on the outside edge of the ring or any other piece of jewellery. In this piece I put the chamfered edge on to not only give interest and definition to the ring but to learn this essential technique of polishing different areas on a piece of jewellery while keeping the definite edge or line between the surfaces.
Wedding Ring with a Chamfered Edge
The goal here with learning to polish a chamfered piece of jewellery, is to keep the straight edges on the side and to keep the top flat.
I began using a hand polisher and then later used the big mops on the polishing machine. Each process is important to do correctly as it builds up to the next step which will give you the final look and finish.
My lines created with the chamfered edge are still nice and clean after polishing, so as you can imagine, I am very proud of myself as this technique I have been told is not so easy to do when you are an apprentice.
I am very happy that I was able to learn this technique so early on in my jewellery making journey, as I will now be able to apply this technique this week to the cufflinks which I have now finished making and are ready to be polished.
Until I speak to you next week, a very excited apprentice, who has just finished her very first ring, is signing off,
This couldn’t be truer than when going on a job interview. Attending an interview is the most important time to make the best first impression possible making it one time that books are definitely judged by their covers – contrary to popular adage of not doing so.
Did you know that when someone looks at you, an opinion is formed in the first 3 seconds and the lasting impression is formed within 8-30 seconds?[i] It’s true!
Here are the exact statistics of what your first impression makes:
55% of the first impression is made by how you dress, act and walk as soon as you enter the room
38% accounts for the quality of voice grammar
ONLY 7% of the first impression is made from what you actually say[ii]
Knowing that looks count as the major factor entering a job interview, how can you make the best, first impression to ensure you get the job position you desire?
That’s what I’m here to help you with. We’re going to take a look at what you can do to not only make you look your best but also make sure that position doesn’t go to anyone else but YOU!
Look The Part
Dress Attire
Dressing well to help make a good impression doesn’t mean taking a stroll down the catwalk – it means knowing how to appear as polished, presentable and as brilliant as your favourite piece of jewellery so that you can represent yourself in the highest regards as possible.
When getting dressed, think conservative: You’re not going on a date, you’re not going to a party but you are going to an interview, therefore, take the conservative path. According to a survey conducted by Management Recruiters International, more than 34.2% of executives believe that casual dress has gone too casual which in turn, shows employers a sign of disrespect.[iii]
For men and women, wearing solid, neutral-coloured conservative business suits work wonders for presenting your professional look. If you have too much going on with your clothes, such as patterns or textures, it can draw attention away from your face and distract from your overall professional appearance.
To head you in the right direction, here are some helpful tips:
Iron ALL parts of your clothing – It’s important to make sure clothes are ironed properly. Wrinkles can look like you don’t take the time to care for yourself which could end up portraying the wrong message of how you would care for your future position.
Assess your jewellery and accessories – Wedding rings and everyday-worn jewellery can especially take a lot of wear and tear. Keeping them sparkly clean shows pride in how you care for important and valuable items just as you would with company assets.
Check your clothing – Check for any holes, tears, stains or runaway wrinkles. Even the smallest stain can make you look sloppy and unkempt.
Polish your shoes – Scuff marks on shoes can completely ruin the most perfect of suits. If you’re dressed impeccably but your shoes are dirtied or scuffed, it sticks out like a sore thumb and as a result, spoils the rest of your ensemble.
No hidden surprises – This generally applies to women: If in doubt, cover it. Shirts shouldn’t fall any lower than the collarbone and if wearing a skirt, it should at the very least, cover your thighs when sitting down.
The key is to not draw attention to your attire – if you’re remembered for your outfit, most likely it was a bad choice to have made for the interview.
Grooming
Grooming doesn’t only account for showering (although it should go without saying), it also includes taking the measures to care for your hair, nails, use of cologne/perfume and proper shaving to name a few.
Harris Interactive recently conducted a survey for Gillette which reports that 90% of HR professionals believe that being well groomed makes a stronger impression than a firm handshake does. Out of the 500 HR professionals they surveyed, 84% of them stated that neat, clean employees climb the corporate ladder much faster than employees who aren’t well groomed.[iv] The reason behind this is the fact that people who take the time to care for themselves often feel better about themselves, therefore, are able to portray confidence on a higher level.
Obviously, you don’t want to look like this when going for an interview:
Or this:
But perhaps, more like this:
And this:
Let’s see what measures men and women should take to properly groom for an interview:
Men:
Hair – Regardless of current style trends, hair should be neatly trimmed. Short and traditional is the best way to go. If it’s hard for you to accept this type of haircut, remember that hair does grow back and if you can part with your locks for a couple of weeks, by all means, do. If using a hair product, try to use a minimal amount so that it doesn’t appear greasy.
Shaving –Having a clean, shaven face looks classy on any man. The 5 o’clock shadow is all the rage for some people but never during an interview. Please note that shaving doesn’t just apply to only the beard and moustache areas. For those blessed with an abundance of hair, make sure to trim ear and nose hair. Believe it or not, it can be rather distracting toward an interview.
Cologne and aftershave – Smelling good is great but usually interviews are done in closed rooms making too much cologne and/or aftershave become overwhelming. Deodorant will do just fine, however, if you must wear an extra scent, choose either cologne or aftershave and do so sparingly.
Nails – Manicures are not just for women. It doesn’t necessarily mean book an appointment in a salon; it means learn how to groom your nails properly. Scrape all dirt from underneath your fingernails, push back your cuticles and file the ends of your nails if they’re ragged.
Women:
Hair – For women with long hair, the best look is to tie it back out of your face in a simple bun or ponytail. Hiding your face during an interview can come across as shyness and having low self-esteem. For those with short hair, you can clip your hair back with pins or a headband as long as it doesn’t draw attention to your hair. Try to keep hair products looking natural and not overdone.
Perfume/body spray – As with men, keep it to a minimum. One spray will do just fine in an enclosed room. You want to smell fresh while not sending an interviewer’s smell sensory into overdrive so stick to fruity or light musk scents.
Eyebrows – On a female, eyebrows that aren’t maintained can overpower the face. If you’re a woman who isn’t a fan of tweezing or waxing stray eyebrow hairs, remember that it’s only one day of having to do it and it can make all the difference in your overall appearance.
Makeup – Although you’re dressing to impress, keep your makeup light. You want to bring out your features, not cover them up with bright or dark colours.
Nails – Book that nail appointment! Having buffed, clean nails is the perfect look for your interview. If you choose to wear nail polish, keep it in tow with your makeup – neutral, light colours.
A little word of advice: If you’re a coffee drinker, be sure to carry mints with you and pop one in right before stepping into your interview. Bad breath can make conversation very awkward!
Accessories And Jewellery
Accessories can make or break an outfit. As with your dress attire and grooming etiquette, accessories should be worn in the same fashion - to match your overall appearance and not to divert attention away from it.
Accessories For Men:
To wear accessories properly, you must match all of your metals. This means if you have a belt with a gold buckle, then your wristwatch and cufflinks must also be gold. As with matching your metals, the same principle applies with matching your belt colour to your shoe colour. For example, if you’re wearing a black belt, then you should wear black shoes – brown belt and brown shoes.
As for rings, men should wear only one ring during an interview. The exception is if you’re wearing a wedding ring, then you can add one additional ring which should be worn on your right pinky finger.
A very stylish accessory that many men opt for is a tie clip (also called tie bars) which is a great look that implies sophistication. If haven’t worn a tie clip before, an interview is a great reason to get one!
In order to get the best look out of your tie clip, be sure that your tie is adjusted exactly the way it should be before placing the clip since you won’t be able to readjust it once you’ve attached it. While the latest style is to tilt the tie clip at a 45-degree downward angle higher up, the professional way of wearing it is to place it between the 4th and 5th button of your dress shirt horizontally.
The last accessory to top off your look is to bring along a crisp briefcase or business folder complete with your resume inside.
Accessories For Women:
When going on a job interview, wear your jewellery with class. Avoid flashy, jingly and oversized jewellery and aim for accessories that enhance the business look. Women can get away with wearing more accessories than men as long as it’s done the right way.
If you decide to wear a chunky necklace, then tone down your earrings by wearing studs. If you prefer dangly earrings, then nix the necklace and opt for single coloured chandelier earrings or teardrop earrings. For those that keep more than one piercing in each ear, take the extra earrings out and keep to wearing one pair of earrings.
Like men, women who love rings should also keep the number of rings down to 2 – one ring on each hand. Surely you have beautiful fingers but remember that you want to accentuate your business look, not overshadow it.
The same rule applies to bracelets – less is more. An interview is not the time to wear big, plastic bangles. Instead, wearing a delicate gold or platinum chain will keep the look traditional and yet elegant.
Act The Part
Now that you know how to look the part, it’s time to know how to act the part. Self-confidence is everything in an interview. Sometimes it can be hard to show it when nerves get in the way but by presenting your self confidently, no one will ever be able to tell the difference!
When you step into the interview room, pretend that you’ve already got the job. Instead of feeling like you’re in an interrogation room, you’ll feel more a part of the company team which will allow you to converse more freely. Remember, you’re obviously qualified for the position you’ve applied for, otherwise, they wouldn’t have called you in for a meeting!
You’ve made it in the door, what comes next? The famous handshake does.
You may not know the weight a handshake carries but it takes you quite far IF you know the proper way to confidently shake a future employer’s hand. Keeping eye contact while firmly shaking hands shows them you’re all courteous but at the same time, all business. Allow the interviewer however many shakes he or she wants while getting your own personal impression of what kind of manager you might be working for!
During the interview, certain questions might come up that you may know about ahead of time. If you aren’t quite sure how to answer, rehearse the question with a friend or family member to practise answering appropriately and confidently. Fred Pryor Organisation states that good preparation and rehearsal will reduce your nerves by 75% increasing the likelihood of avoiding errors to 95%.[v]
Since we know that employers judge more on voice tone and grammar rather than the words falling out of your mouth, keeping your voice steady and calm will give some flexibility when answering their questions. Maintain eye contact without staring and always remember to smile!
Be The Part
Applying the proper aesthetics to your entire business look will show confidence and put your book-judging cover on the top best-seller’s list!
Here’s a little secret I bet you didn’t know: Employers tend to hire a person based more on their personality rather than their technical skill. Now companies are beginning to jump on board to include personality testing within the workplace. Although there aren’t any hard statics yet, testing experts report that 40% of employers are now including it within employers’ initial evaluations.[vi]
By using all of these tips and topping it off with a great personality, who knows how far it will get you? You might just boost yourself all the way to the top of the entrepreneurial chain!
The cufflink is an interesting adornment rooted in tradition. Before cufflinks were ever conceived, buttons were used by tailors as decoration for clothing as a gentleman’s attire was typically held together by pins, laces and straps. The cufflink was not even a possibility until the worked buttonhole was developed during the Renaissance. This advancement drove the button to the mainstream as a means to fasten clothing.
The post-Renaissance era in the 1600s saw the birth of the cufflink, displayed as two ornate buttons, attached in the middle with a link of chain. Thus, the upper classes of Europe, Great Britain especially, had a unique way to customize a man’s clothing.
To meet a growing demand, jewellers created “sleeve buttons” with designs etched or stamped into silver or gold. Such buttons were often encrusted with previous stones and the mark of a gentleman was affixed in the wearing of the cufflink.
The London Gazette in 1684 featured one of the earliest descriptions of a cufflink, which included a pair of what was referred to as cuff buttons set with diamonds. In 1686, the same publication referred to cuff buttons made of golden enamel. Further evidence of cufflinks in the 17th century was found in Suffolk, England. A decorated gold single chain cufflink has been found that originated in that era.
While the history varies somewhat depending upon the source, the use of cufflinks on a consistent basis was not seen until the mid-nineteenth century. It was at this time that the ever-present ruffles on the shirt were replaced with minimal sleeves that allowed more functionality in the wear. In particular, the French Cuff arrived – also known as the Double Cuff, Poignet Mousquetaire and the Musketeer’s Cuff – creating the perfect platform for the introduction of the cufflink as a standard part of attire for first class gentlemen.
This piece of adornment was not meant only for the upper class, however. By the 1860s, the cufflink found a place in the mainstream. Credit can be given to jewellers such as Child & Child in London and Krementz & Co in New York as they both were responsible for introducing cufflinks within a price range and style that fit the budget and taste of the general public.
While the cufflink enjoyed widespread acceptance as a must-have adornment on the gentleman’s shirt, the industry suffered a setback in the late twentieth century when shirt manufacturers began to mass produce dress and tuxedo shirts with buttons on the cuff. Companies such as Tiffany and Cartier found this merely a distraction and instead created cufflinks that continue to appeal to the masses.
As personalization is one of the biggest trends at play today, cufflinks are the perfect way for you to personalize your attire. Whether you hope to demonstrate a tradition, match a suit or simply make a statement, cufflinks offer a world of possibilities that perfectly top any style today.
One of the most remarkable Visconti pens is the Ripple H.R.H. Limited Edition fountain pen. Made of 18K white gold and diamonds and with two-tone 18K gold nib, it costs $57,000.00. It has double reservoir filling system and is sold in two variations – white gold and black.
La Modernista Diamonds was made by the Swiss company Caran d’Ache in 1999 in homage to Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926), the most famous of Modernist architects. This amazing fountain pen was sold in Harrods, London, for $265,000, becoming the most expensive pen in GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS in 2001. La Modernista Diamonds is made of rhodium-plated solid silver components. It boasts of an 18-carat rhodium-plated gold nib and is set with a total of 5,072 Wessel ton diamonds weighing in at 20-carats, as well as 96 rubies totaling 32-carats. The pen was hand-made by master jeweler Robert Perron taking him six months to complete this true masterpiece of writing instruments.
To commemorate the centenary of these two renowned brands, Montblanc and Van Cleef & Arpels have collaborated on this fine, limited edition Mystery Masterpiece. Three individual editions, each set with rubies, sapphires or emeralds has been crafted. Using the Mystery Setting technique for the gemstones, these intricate writing instruments are set to stun with their extravagant design, and equally-extravagant price. At US$730,000 each, they are truly a fitting homage to a century of each brands respective history.
The Aurora Diamante is the most expensive writing instrument to date. Only one is for sale per year. The Aurora Diamante contains over 30 carats of De Beers diamonds on a solid platinum barrel. It has a two-tone, rhodium-treated, 18KT solid gold nib and is personalized with a coat of arms, signature or portrait. Aurora Pens says it is the only over 30 carat pen in the world.
