Dinny's Jewellery TLC tips

 A little guide all about the precious metals we use ....

Platinum

The king of metals! Platinum will not oxidise at any temperature meaning it will not tarnish. Platinum is most commonly sourced from South Africa which produces 80% of the world's supply - although it can also be found on the MOON, it is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust! Without a valid hallmark no expert could tell the difference between platinum and white gold with a rhodium plate.

Platinum Hallmarks

850
900
950
999




White Gold
The raw colour of white gold is a gun metal shade and so most jewellers give it a rhodium plate (which is in platinum family) in order to attain its characteristic shiny cool white colour. It is tough and holds gemstones well but please note that all white gold products should be re-plated from time to time as the polish can get dull looking after much wear and tear.



Yellow Gold
The pure colour of gold is a bright yellow colour that keeps its luster as it does not tarnish in air or water so it needs little aftercare as it remains shiny and tough over time, although do be careful when using chemicals to avoid daily abrasions. No real need to clean or re-polish  over time - that's why we jewellers love using it so much. Carat is a unit of purity which is used to measure the pureness of gold alloys. Yellow Gold is usually mixed with copper (red hue) and silver (green hue) alloys to give the precious metal its signature warmth.

Gold Hallmark
585 - 14k - 58% pure gold
750 - 18k - 75% pure gold
916 - 22k - 91% pure gold
999 - 24k - purest gold



Rose gold
It is formed from gold and copper so there is no such thing as 'pure rose gold'. The colour differs the copper content in the metal - the more copper - the redder in colour the gold will be. Over the past year or so I have been producing more and more collections in rose gold and rose gold vermeil as I love the pink tones in the gold and copper alloy mix.


Gold Vermeil
Vermeil originates from a French word, meaning silver that is plated with a sufficiently thick layer of gold. For an item to be considered vermeil it must be coated in at least 10 carat gold and be 2.5 micrometers thick. Dust gold plated jewellery with a soft cloth or wash in warm soapy water, rinse and pat in gently dry. The original fire-guilding process of created a vermeil piece was banned in France in the 18th Century when artisans reported they had gone blind from using mercury in the process, nowadays we use electrolysis which is a very safe procedure.


Silver
A warm white loveable metal, which is very malleable but when worn is not so tough as gold, it doesn't hold gems well unless it has a chunky setting. Over time silver oxides and can go some odd shades under some particular conditions. Keep clean using silver dip or a silver polish cloth. Don't expect fine silver chains to last a lifetime!

Silver Hallmark

800
925
958
999

Shop our 14k and 18k Gold, Gold Vermeil, Rose Gold Vermeil and sterling silver.

 

 

October Opals

 

The Opal is Octobers traditional birthstone and also considered to be the Zodiac star sign Libra's birthstone symbolising love, hope and purity and sometimes associated with the sign of Scorpio too.

 Opals are mostly found in Australia, which produces 97% of the world's supply and has the gemstone as their national stone, but deposits can also be found in Mexico and South America too.  

Opal is a very unique gemstone, most commonly found in 'white' and are famous for their play of colours and flashing hues of the rainbow. The iridescent effect is due to the interference of light from the presence of thousands of tiny little scales. I don't use Opals very often in my own designs but I wish I could. I find them extremely beautiful and at times mesmerising; a truly exciting and mysterious gemstone.

 

Pear-cut Opal pendant and Earrings in 18 K Solid Gold

The 'bad luck' myth is the result of centuries of misinformation, superstition, wives' tales, and jealous diamond traders spreading rumours which as a result dramatically reduced the value of opals in the 1800's. This myth is said to have started by Sir Walter Scott when he published his novel "Anne of Geierstein" in which he used an opal to reflect the changing fortunes of the herion and amazingly this myth started by book critics so long ago still exists today.

 

You can find black and fire opals too, black opals still obtain the famous iridescent quality of the stone having a deep black base with an intense blue, where as in a fire opal there is no play in light except for the fact that there looks as if there is an inner brilliance of flame orange coming from within the stone. Top quality black opals can be worth more per carat the diamonds.

Care tip - Opals are known as a soft stone, so wear with care and although it is true that chemicals can harm them it is a total myth that if you place you opal jewellery in a damp environment whilst you aren't wearing the pieces the stones won't crack - Australian Opals are actually non-pourous and can't soak up any water, oil or anything other substance, unlike doublet and triplet opals that are non solid and water will damage these stones.

The Andamooka Opal

Queen Elizabeth was presented with the magnificent gift on March 23rd in 1954 on the occasion of her first visit to South Australia. This was an opal weighing 203 carats found at the Andamooka Opal Fields, west of Oodnadatta in 1949. It is said to be the finest-quality opal ever found in the Andamooka Fields, partly because of its extraordinary size, but also because of the intensity of the fire and the flashes of colour in the stone. The opal was then set in a palladium and diamond scrollwork necklace - doesn't she look absolutely stunning in the set!

V and A 80's Exhibition

The V and A's Club to Catwalk - 80's Fashion Exhibition is running until Feburary 2014.

I started my jewellery career during the height of the New Romantic era, this exhibition is bringing all those heady memories back!
For me the 80's was a time for experimenting with boundaries - playing with scale and unusual materials such as leather and wood or 'lace bobbins' which appeared in the form of earrings on the cover of Elle Magazine on none other then Christie Turlington.

I created pieces for the catwalks shows in New York and London for the best designer of the time - Rifat Ozbek. Seeing my creations being worn by such beautiful people was so exciting for me at such an early stage in my jewellery career.

What the 80's meant to me.

  

What was your fashion highlight in the 80's? Hands down my favourite 80's Fashion moment was going to NYC to do the jewellery for the Isaac Mizarahi show and meeting Christie Turlington, Linda Evangelista and Cindy Crawford after the show! I was so lucky to be able to go to New York during such an exciting time in fashion history, but high up on my list must be wearing my very first Azzedine Alaia outfit.

 

What was the best catwalk show you designed for? For me the 80's are an extremely remembable time for my catwalk designs for Rifat Ozbek, I still adore all the jewellery that I designed for him, all of his shows were so distinct and strong. – all of them. He inspired me to come up with ideas which I would not have though of otherwise. One of the most striking are the huge brass cuffs which I now use as candle shades as they give off such pretty light.

 

 

Your favourite piece you designed? Well I absolutely loved creating wild and wonderful earrings, I suppose earrings are my favourite item to design!

 

What did the 80's mean to you? All about ideas, creativity, innovation, freedom to express and mixing with the most creative people I have ever known but in a world which was changing irreversibly towards a money driven, big brands.

 

Whats your most memorable time during the 80's? Probably hanging out with Sam Mac Knight and having my own studio in Soho in Beak St (which had once been Canalettos studio!) I had such fun but I was working head - I had my jewellery selling in Liberty and Harvey Nichols in London and in Barneys and Bergdorfs in New York.

 

 

What was your favourite trend? My favourite fashion look of the decade must be Azzedine Alaia bodycon dresses, panelled and cut to perfection.

 

 

 

My Jewellery is now stocked in the V and A shop in the Jewellery Department!