We are excited to attend the upcoming Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair on 18 September! Held at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, the fair features over 2000 jewellery exhibitors and is a great gem sourcing platform.
We will be looking to bring our customers new and interesting accessories, so do watch this space as we update on the new items after we return. This trip will also be an eye opener because Hong Kong is a premier trading hub for jewellery trading - there is no duties or restrictions imposed on precious jewellery products.
If you ever felt like a plain jane in your OOTD, why not try wearing a statement necklace to add some oomph to your outfit? It can be as casual as a walk down your neighbourhood shopping street or for that important presentation in office.
No matter the occasion, the many versatiles styles and lengths can be designed with other gemstones or materials to give you a whole new look!
Have you ever been in a dilemma as to what setting to choose for the precious diamond you have ordered for your proposal? You might think that white gold diamond ring is the default choice, since that is what every bride-to-be is wearing and flaunting to her girlfriends.
Do you know that you can enhance the appearance of your chosen diamond even with the colour of metal used in setting your ring?
A clear and white diamond should ideally be held in white metal like white gold, platinum or palladium. If you prefer something in yellow gold to stand out from the rest yet not give your diamond a yellowish tint, you can have your ring be made with a yellow gold shank (the part of the ring around your finger) and a white gold head to hold the diamond. On the other hand, if you have got a diamond of a off white colour, mounting it in yellow gold may make it appear whiter in contrast to the strong yellow of the gold.
Having said all these, at the end of the day beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Whatever setting you choose to match your diamond will ultimately be what brings the most admiration and satisfaction to your future soulmate!
Adapted from Engagement and Wedding Rings by Antoinette Matlins and Antonio Bonanno
We all know the 4Cs- colour, cut, clarity and carat when selecting a diamond engagement ring, but what should I consider when you decide to break from the norm and pick some other coloured gemstones such as a ruby ring for your sweetheart?
Essentially there are 4Cs that determine value in coloured gems and they are: colour, colour, colour and colour! There are many variables that can affect the colour we see in gemstones and many elements to take into consideration when evaluating colour. These include:
Hue - the precise spectral colour, to what extent is there any undertone of another colour
Intensity - the brightness or vividness of the colour
Tone - how light or dark the stone is
Distribution- the even distribution of the colour
Both intensity and tone of colour can be significantly affected by the proportioning of the cut. In other words, a good lapidary (gemstone cutter) working with a fine stone will try his best to bring out the inherent beauty of the stone, making it very desirable.
In general, stones that are very pale or very dark sell for less per carat. There seems to be a common belief that the darker the stone, the better. This is only true to a certain extent. Something that is rich and deep is desirable, but not a depth of colour approaching black. It is only through much shopping around then can you train your eyes to differentiate a stone with a nice depth of colour and one that is too dark.
As a general rule, the closer a stone's colour is to the pure spectral hue- that is, having no "undertone" of any colour diluting its purity- the better the colour is considered to be; the closer it comes to a pure hue, the rarer and more valuable. For example, if we are considering a red stone like ruby, fine Burmese rubies are perhaps the most coveted rubies in the world, primarily because it come closest to being a pure red coupled with its scarcity. Thai rubies on the other hand can vary tremendously in hue and tone, varying from light to dark red with certain degree of blue undertone, giving them a purplish cast that sometimes makes them resemble a cheaper stone like garnet.
Having said all these, of course the other 3Cs- carat, cut and clarity do have a role to play in determining value in coloured gems, but they are certainly no where close to colour in influencing the worth of a coloured gem and how big a hole is created in the groom-to-be's pockets.
So start gathering experience as you accustomed your eyes to the plethora of colours out there in the world of coloured gems. A helpful tip to always remember when looking at a coloured stone would be to view it under different lightings! If possible, examine it under sunlight; look under a normal houselamp; view under long fluorescent light commonly used in offices. You will be surprise how the same stone can appear so different in a different environment, so make sure you examine coloured gems in at least the type of light you will most often be wearing them!
Adapted from: 'Engagement and Wedding Rings: The Definitive Buying Guide for People in Love'
A special gem for someone as special as our Mums! After more than a month of preparation, our unique Mother Day’s Aquamarine collection is finally in store for sale. Every item is limited in stock and unique in design. Whether she is a modern day career woman or someone who has a little grey in her hair, a Mother who is also a wife to her husband and a daughter to her beloved parents, we are sure that she will be thoroughly thrilled by what we have lovingly created for her.
So what is so special about Aquamarine?
The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. The serene color of aquamarine is said to cool the temper and allow the wearer to remain calm. Its pale, cool color easily complements the summer wardrobe and brightens up every mum’s day.
More interesting facts about this gemstone, which I bet you have never known before:
Aquamarine jewelry is also a popular gift for 16th and 19th wedding anniversaries.
It is also said to help in overcoming depression, grief and phobias.
Aquamarine is also believed to help cure insomnia.
The largest known aquamarine was found in Brazil in 1920. It was 19 inches long, 16 inches wide and weighed 243 pounds. This amazing specimen was greenish on the outside, blue on the inside, and so transparent that objects were clearly visible through its length. A green 13-pound uncut piece of the outer portion of the crystal resides in the American Museum of Natural History.
Aquamarine is the official stone of the state of Colorado.
Aquamarine is heated to bring out the clarity – so care should be taken not to overheat the gem-quality pieces.
Gem dealers have never been able to successfully duplicate or synthesize aquamarine
Stay tuned as we unveil our Mother Day’s collection soon…
Gold and diamonds continue to dominate the global gemstone and jewellery market, according to theGlobal Gems & Jewelry Market Forecast & Opportunitiesreport publishedrecently by TechSci Research.
Although gold jewellery had the highest share in revenue terms in 2013, diamond jewellery is expected to further make gains at least in the next five years, driven by demand from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Japan, China and India. Global gemstone and jewellery market revenues are forecast to record a compound annual growth rate of 6 percent from 2014 to 2019, the report said.
The study also revealed that the global gemstone and jewellery market is primarily led by the Asia-Pacific region, with China and India as its main growth engines. In 2013, the US topped the jewellery market in revenue terms, it added.
Industry players are facing stiff competition from the unorganised segment of the market due to lack of brand awareness among consumers, said Karan Chechi, research director of TechSci Research.
Thank you for your strong support to The Four Loves. Many of our items in the estate collection were sold within the week. As a budding enterprise, we are really humbled by the experience thus far. New estate items will be launched soon so do stay tuned!
With increasing demand for gold, here is another reason why now is the time to pamper yourself with beautiful jewellery and diversify your investment portfolio.
China’s gold consumption in 2013 exceeded 1,000 tonnes for the first time to 1,176.4 tonnes, a 41.36 percent increase over the previous year. Its production rose 6.23 percent to 428.163 tonnes in the same year, making the country the world’s biggest gold producer for seven consecutive years, China Gold Association said recently.
Its gold jewellery demand climbed 42.52 percent year on year to 716.5 tonnes and its gold bar demand reached 375.73 tonnes, a 56.57 percent increase over 2012, the association said.
Xiao Lei, a gold market senior researcher, toldChinese official newspaper People’s Daily that the surge in the two categories was a result of last year’s gold buying spree spurred by the precious metal’s price drops.
However, Xiao said there is still room for jewellery growth in the country. The average possession of gold in China is less than one-fifth of the global average and less than one-tenth of the average in developed countries. -Copyright JNA
To keep your precious gemstones sparkling, just give them a quick soak in warm, soapy water and then gently brushing away dust and dirt with a soft toothbrush.
Rinse well under running water, with the plug in the sink just in case the jewellery slips from your grasp.
Dry with a soft cloth, and you are ready to wear and admire them once again.
