Category: Designer Jewellery

1. Bespoke Jewellery - The stages of how we made this bespoke fox pendant

   Posted on 10:30am Tuesday 14th Jul 2015

   A Bespoke Fox Pendant

   We had a couple of weeks to make a bespoke fox pendant for a customer, below is his very impressive sketch that we worked from.

   The front view was fine but the customers technical drawing of the side profile wasn't correct and match the from vie so we had to fine tune it. To make the fox we decided to work in wax, because it's softer and easier to carve than metal and keeps the cost down for the customer. When faced with a block of wax it is much like a blank canvas, you have to map out perspective lines and mark where you need to take away the wax.

   Below you can see the marked lines where we started to sculpt the head, trying to keep it perfectly even and symmetrical on each side is very tricky when creating geometric designs like this one. It is essential to take a little piece away at a time to slowly see how it will look in 3D.

   After the initial form is made it becomes easier to see how the fox is going to look, we now start to even up all the edges and sharpen them up so that they are clear, precise and geometric, even a line that is a tiny bit curved is very noticeable when the fox is made into metal. When creating a piece of jewellery in wax you have to completely finish it how you would in metal because any dust, scratches or holes will be even more difficult to get out in silver. Now the fox head has been carved it is time to get it cast.

   Once the fox had been made into silver we cleaned and polished it up, and took it to the platers where they added a layer of 18ct rose gold vermeil, we then added a diamond cut geometric chain to finish it off. We think he is fab and would love to make some different geometric animal heads.

   For more inspiration take a look at our bespoke jewellery page...

    

2. Quirky Engagement Rings at Nude Jewelllery London

   Posted on 10:30am Thursday 25th Sep 2014

   Here at Nude Jewellery, London we are passionate about unusual jewellery and that includes unusual engagement rings. Why settle for normal when you can showcase your individuality in a piece of jewellery you are going to wear every day for the rest of your life. To offer some inspiration here is a small selection from some off the most inspiring celebrity engagement rings.

   Halle Berry - A beautiful emerald engagement ring set with diamonds in yellow gold.

   Angelina Jolie - baguette Diamonds, modern yet vintage

   Jackie O - Toi Et Moi Emerald and diamond ring

   If you don't quite have the budget of the likes of Angelina Jolie (and let's face it, who does?!) Here is  a new selection of our new unusual engagement rings, beautiful, sparkly and quirky that wont break the bank......

   The butterfly - Amethyst, pink sapphire and diamond unusual engagement ring.

   Asymmetrical unusual diamond engagement ring a twist on a modern classic....

   Green agate and diamond ring - an elegant and unusual engagement ring.

   Diamond and tanzanite white gold engagement ring

   Quirky diamond flower engagement ring....

   Unusual citrine and diamond engagement ring.....

   Quirky and vibrant green garnet and diamond unusual engagement ring...

   To view the full collection of our unusual engagement rings click here.

    

3. What you need to know about the 4c's...

   Posted on 1:02pm Tuesday 13th Aug 2013

    

   

   The 4c's are a universal grading system for diamonds that is in place to keep consistency within the diamond industry. Developed by the Gemmological Institute of America (GIA), diamonds purchased within jewellers often come with a GIA certificate describing the diamond in terms of the 4c's.

   Colour

   

   • The less colour, the higher the value

   This of course refers to 'colourless' diamonds and not to fancy-coloured diamonds (pinks and blues) that lie outside of the colour scale discussed here. The scale refers to body colour of the diamond which may be completely lacking in colour (the ideal) or may feature hints of yellow or brown. The scale runs from D to Z, with D being completely colourless and Z exhibiting light colour. Even though the colour difference may be subtle it does have a profound impact on the value of the stone.

   Clarity

   

   • Natural imperfections

   Diamonds are formed within the mantle of the earth and pushed to the surface during volcanic eruptions. A diamond completely free from inclusions or blemishes is quite rare and the clarity grade refers to the size, nature and location of these imperfections.

   Flawless-Internally Flawless (FL - IF) no inclusions are visible using a 10x lens, very rare

   Very, very slight inclusions (VVS1 – VVS2) difficult to see inclusions with 10x lens, excellent quality

   Very slight inclusions (VS1 – VS2) difficult to see inclusions with 10x lens
   

   Slight inclusions (SI1 – SI2) easy to find with 10x lens but difficult to see with naked eye
   

   Inclusions (I1 – I3) may be seen by naked eye

   

   Carat

   • 1 carat = 0.2 grams

   Carat is the unit of weight that is used for diamonds, it is not necessarily representative of it's size.  A small difference in carat weight can greatly affect the price of the diamond.

   Cut

   • The cut for a diamond has been mathematically pre-determined

   Diamonds have a complex relationship with light, cut too shallow the light falls straight through, cut too deep and the light struggles to reflect back to the eye, generally moving out of the side of the stone. Diamonds have optimum angles that they must be cut at to produce maximum brilliance and dispersion – this is what gives them their sparkle!

   Cut grades are classified as:

   Excellent - Very Good - Good – Fair - Poor

    

   At Nude Jewellery we can source a variety of diamonds for your bespoke commission.  For information on bespoke diamond pieces or for general advice regarding diamonds please call our customer service advisors on 07957 371 254