Ethical & Sustainable Jewellery Blog

Notes from the bench
Commissioning a Bespoke Engagement Ring

Commissioning a Bespoke Engagement Ring

I often get asked what the process is to commission a bespoke engagement ring, so I thought it'd be useful to write about it here. So first up, ring, email or make an appointment for a chat. I'll want to hear your thoughts on what you want to create. If you're...

Precious Metal Alloys

Precious Metal Alloys

Did you know, pure gold isn't often used for jewellery as it's so soft? We know pure gold as 24ct and it's bright yellow in colour. When we make jewellery we alloy pure gold (or silver, platinum or palladium) with other metals to create precious metals with different...

Shopping for Ethical and Sustainable Jewellery

Shopping for Ethical and Sustainable Jewellery

It's difficult to know what you should be asking when you're shopping for ethical and sustainable jewellery.  Whether you buy from me, or someone else, here's what you should be asking: Where does this gemstone or diamond come from?  Can you trace it back to the mine?...

Ethical Emeralds

Ethical Emeralds

Emeralds are tipped to be the gemstone of 2022. Here's 5 emerald facts: 1.  Emerald is the bluish green to green variety of beryl, a mineral species that includes aquamarine. 2.  Emerald is the birthstone for the month of May. 3.  The world's oldest emeralds come from...

Rhodium Plating

Rhodium Plating

Rhodium Plating - those of you who've bought shiny white rings that have started looking patchy 6 months down the line, will know exactly what this is.  Plating is a way of adding a very thin layer of colour to the surface of metal.  Think your granny's silver plated...

Sustainable Jewellery

Sustainable Jewellery

,,Sustainability:"the quality of causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time" (Cambridge Dictionary)   I wanted to share some thoughts (long post alert) about environment and sustainability in the jewellery...