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Alison Murray
29th July 2008 15:32

Anniversary gifts

 

We all know how hard it can to buy anniversary gifts that are original and appropriate, so we've put together a few suggestions below. The following list of anniversary numbers and materials is far too often just associated with wedding anniversaries. However, they apply equally to any anniversary, from a person’s birthday to the age of a company. Ruby jewellery is now often given to a woman on her 40th birthday and some firms give their employees a small silver gift after 25 years of service.

1st. Paper Perhaps a gift voucher, or a piece of jewellery that comes with a paper guarantee or certificate, such as a watch or a nice diamond!

2nd. Cotton

3rd.Leather Leather jewellery box?

4th.Fruit Silver or crystal fruit bowl, or servers or spoons. Perhaps a crystal ornamental stone or silver ornament shaped like a piece of fruit, or a pendant or brooch in a fruit shape.

5th.Wood Many clocks have wooden cases. Some shops keep other wooden ornaments in stock like jewellery boxes or wine coasters.

6th.Confectionery Perhaps a silver sweet dish or a sugar caster, bowl or tongs.

7th.Copper rose gold

8th.Bronze bronze coloured shell pearl

9th.Pottery Many shops stock china and porcelain gift items like figurines or tableware or our porcelain rose earrings or porcelain roses

10th.Tin/PewterMany shops stock pewter gift items, tankards or animal models are good ideas.

11th.Steel Stainless steel jewellery

12th.Silk

13th.Coral/Jade Jewellery, pendants, rings or earrings set with either, or perhaps beads.http://www.purple-label.com/search/web/stone/jade

14th.Ivory Ivory was the traditional gift, but its trade is now restricted by international treaty. How about ivory coloured pearls?http://www.purple-label.com/search/web/stone/ivory

15th. Crystal- Swarovski crystals http://www.purple-label.com/search/web/stone/Swarovski-Crystal

20th. China See 9th anniversary.

25th.Silver Jewellery,

30th.Pearl Earrings or necklaceshttp://www.purple-label.com/search/web/stone/Pearl

35th. Platinum The most precious of precious metals, jewellers now stock a wide range of platinum jeweller; we work on it by hand to craft amazing individual pieces.

40th. Ruby- traditionally a ruby ring http://www.hkjewellery.co. uk/web/page/engagementrings-ruby

45th.Sapphire Any colour of sapphire, set into a ring or pendant or earrings http://www.hkjewellery.co. uk/web/page/engagementrings-sapphire

50 Gold A huge choice, earrings, brooches, pendants, rings, necklets and watches to name but a few.

55th.Emerald Are very brittle so how about suggesting an emerald cut stone? http://www.hkjewellery.co. uk/web/page/engagementrings-emerald

60th.Diamond A MASSIVE diamond ring is a must!

There are no official 65th or 70th anniversary gifts, but jewellers will sometimes receive enquiries for such things. More diamonds have been suggested!!!

Alison Murray
 
Katie Brown
23rd July 2008 16:27

The Meaning of Om

 

Hello!

A lot of people come into our showrooms and fall in love with our beautiful “Om”pendants (I actually have one myself). For sale both online and in our showrooms we have the following two designs and in the past we have also commissioned some 9ct yellow and rose gold Om pendants. I find we get a lot of enquiries about the actual meaning on this symbol so I thought I’d let you all know in more detail, what this piece actually means…

The Om pendant is a representation of the Aum symbol which symbolises the infinite Brahman (absolute reality) and the very essence of the Universe itself. It is a very important symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikh and Jainism as well as many other religions and followings. The symbol is used in many mantras. A description of the meaning Aum can be found here: http://www.omsakthi.org

The symbol itself consists of three curves, a semi circle and a dot. The lower curve represents the waking state, the upper curve symbolises deep sleep, and the right side curve signifies the dream state. The dot symbolises the Absolute- illuminating the other three states.

In modern society, Aum has become important to people from all cultures and religions. In the Western world it has come to mean “Peace” and while this doesn’t hold its entirely true meaning, it allows Buddhism and Hinduism to be represented through Om and therefore portrays that Peace can be found through these religious paths.

Katie x

Katie Brown
 
Alice Rochester
23rd July 2008 11:44

The Pros and Cons of Buying Gold

 

I found an interesting article on MSN a couple of days ago about the pros and cons of buying gold as an investment. It’s something I’ve been asked about a few times so I thought other people might be interested too! I’m not sure how comprehensive it is, but it certainly made things a little clearer:

http://money.uk.msn.com/investing/articles/morecommentary/article.aspx?cp-documentid=8793230

Alice Rochester
 
Harriet Kelsall
18th July 2008 12:15

British Gold Mine

 

A British gold mine is set to be reopened within the next few weeks - this has become viable due to the dramatic rise in gold prices recently.

I have been in contact with their Chief exec who has said that they will be about 2 years from a point of being ready to sell the gold but that they will keep us up to date in the meantime.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Scotlands-Cononish-Gold-Mine-Set-To-Reopen-As-Metal-Price-Booms/Article/200807115024996?f=rss

Harriet Kelsall
 
Alison Murray
10th July 2008 11:22

Malachite

 

Hi

Here at Harriet Kelsall we are passionate about learning all we can about different and unusual stones. Below is some research that I did during my stone training on one of my favourite semi-precious stones - Malachite.

MALACHITE

HISTORY AND MYTH

Often found in massive form this beautiful mineral has been treasured for it's ornamental qualities for thousands of years and was notably sourced from the Ural Mountains in Russia. The name Malachite is derived from the Greek word "Malakhe" or marshmallow plant because of the startling green color. It was popular for ornamental use as far back as the ancient Egyptians who used it in both statues and adornments. They also ground it to a powder and, having mixed it with water, painted it on their eye lids. It was also used as a pigment for paint in Egyptian tomb paintings and much later in European art during the 15th century. The Romans used it to fashion amulets where it was known as Peacock stone and dedicated to the Goddess Juno. She was worshipped as a protector from the perils of natural disasters. There is evidence that Malachite was mined on the Sinai Peninsula as early as 4000 B C. Large deposits also existed in the Ural Mountains and Malachite was used to decorate the luxurious palaces of the Tsars. These showy specimens of fibrous crystals display from all sides and come from Zaire.

In metaphysical terms malachite is considered a stone of transformation and balance, assisting in ones spiritual journey. It is allegedly capable of stimulating ones intuition and insight whilst helping in recognizing and clearing past negative influences and experiences. It allows for insight into any emotional factors that may be manifesting as physical symptoms. It is also said to help unlock the meaning of dreams. Traditionally it was worn as a stone of protection.

STONE QUALITIES

Malachite’s banded light and dark green designs are one-of-a-kind, and give it a unique ornamental quality unlike that of any other stone. The light and dark green bands are so distinctive that malachite maybe one of the most easily recognized minerals by the general public.

Malachite is a copper bearing mineral, with as much as 58% copper content. The distinctive bright-green hydrous CARBONATE MINERAL malachite is a common but minor ore of copper. It is usually found in copper deposits associated with LIMESTONE, occurring with AZURITE as the weathering product of other copper ore minerals.

SOURCE

Large quantities of malachite have been mined in the Urals. It is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tsumeb, Namibia, Russia, Mexica, New South Wales. England and in the South Western US.

THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF MALACHITE:

Colour is banded light and dark green or (if crystalline), just dark green.

Luster is dull in massive forms and silky as crystals.

Transparency is opaque in massive form and translucent in crystalline forms.

Crystal System is monoclinic; 2/m.

Crystal Habits in its massive forms are botryoidal, stalactitic or globular. Crystals are acicular or fibrous and form in tufts and encrustations. Frequently found as pseudomorphs of azurite.

Cleavage is good in one direction but rarely seen.

Fracture is conchoidal to splintery.

Hardness is 3.5-4.

Specific Gravity is 3.9+ (slightly heavy).

Streak is green.

Other Characteristics: Weakly effervesces in acid.

USING MALACHITE IN JEWELLERY

Tumbled stones of malachite are possibly the most popular tumbled stones ever and are sold in rock shops around the world. Carvings and figurines of malachite are almost as common.

Malachite is also popular in jewellery, Native American South western jewellery especially. The stones inlayed in silver make a nice variance from the traditional turquoise jewellery. Instead of competing, the two green stones tend to compliment each other when placed together in the same settings. Other stones such as coral, mother-of-pearl, azurite, jasper and onyx used in the typically handcrafted jewellery also compliment malachite's green colours.

Although its massive carvable forms are well known, its crystalline forms are much rarer and only recently becoming widely available to the average mineral collector.

Many beautiful specimens of malachite contain special combinations with other minerals. Such combinations are some of the most colourful mineral assortments in the mineral world. They include such stunningly colourful minerals as dark blue azurite. So common is malachite that it is associated with almost every secondary copper mineral whether they are carbonate minerals or not.

Alison Murray
 

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  • Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design, North Barn, Fairclough Hall Farm, Halls Green, Weston, Hertfordshire, SG4 7DP, England
    Phone: +44 (0)1462 790565 Fax: +44 (0)1462 790140 enquiries@hkjewellery.co.uk
  • Harriet Kelsall Jewellery Design, 6/7 Green Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3JU, England.
    Phone: +44 (0)1223 461333 Fax: +44 (0)1223 365269 cambridge@hkjewellery.co.uk

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