Buying guide

1. Why choose platinum?

Durability: It is a harder metal than that of gold or any other metal. You can wear it with less fear of scratching or general damage

Rare: There is considerably less platinum available compared to gold. The price reflects this.

Colour: It is naturally white, so there is no need to re-rhodium plate your jewellery like you will with white gold.

Purity: It is hypoallergenic – a benefit for many people.

2. Explanation of Hallmarks

The hallmarking act was passed in the UK in 1975 and it requires that all items (with a few exceptions of handmade jewellery and over a certain weight) of gold, silver, platinum and now palladium be assayed and hallmarked before they can be legally sold.

The assay offices are independent and have a strictly regulated system. Hallmarking exists to protect customers.

It is a series of stamps on the jewellery in a discreet place – generally it is lasered on.

It states the fineness – (how many parts per thousand there are in the alloy of the precious metal), which Assay Office tested the item (there are 4 Assay Offices in the UK. Birmingham, Sheffield, London and Edinburgh) and the manufacturer’s mark of the company which put forward the item for testing. Sometimes, there is a 4th mark which is a letter representing the year of hallmarking and a w many parts per thousand there are in the alloy of the precious metal), which Assay Office tested the item (there are 4 Assay Offices in the UK. Birmingham, Sheffield, London and Edinburgh) and the manufacturer’s m stating the traditional fineness mark.

3. How can two diamond rings that look the same be a different price?

Cut:

The cut is very important when it comes to technically analysing a stone. Diamonds transmit light and the cut determines how much of that light interacts with the facets in the stone.

The shape of a diamond : The cut of the shape makes all the difference. The better the symmetry and proportion, the better the stone.

An example is the brilliant round stone. The proportions of the facets are specifically calculated to determine how much light will shine through the stone.

Clarity:

When the natural diamond is exposed to pressure and heat while still buried deep in the earth, blemishes and inclusions may result. Inclusions are on the inside of the stone, blemishes are on the outside. These can sometimes be seen with the naked eye and sometimes not. Evaluating the diamond for these imperfections will determine the clarity of the stone.

The higher the clarity rating the more valuable the stone will be.

Caret:

This is the weight of the stone. It is a metric weight that is equal to 200 milligrams. Each caret is divided into 100 points. The heavier the diamond is in caret weight the more expensive it will be.

You can have 2 diamonds that may be the same caret weight can differ in price if one of the stone’s clarity and cut are higher or lower.

Colour:

Diamonds can be found in a huge range of colours, categorised on a scale of colourless to yellow. The gemmological institute of America (GIA) rates diamond colour on a scale from D to Z; D being completely colourless and Z being light yellow in colour.

A colourless diamond carries a higher value than a stone with a colour presence.

4. Holiday buys

We regularly see customers who bring in jewellery bought on holiday for re-sizing or repair. We see some genuinely fabulous items. We also see pieces that can’t be adjusted due to a lower than UK standard of workmanship. This means the piece of jewellery may not last as long as you may expect.

When thinking of buying an item of jewellery abroad, please take into account the below.

Turn the jewellery over and look at it in reverse. Look at the finish, see if it is hollowed out. If the structure of the ring for instance is fragile your ring will not last long on your finger.

A lot of diamonds set together is eye catching, but not so easy to alter the size if needed, and at times impossible.

When buying diamonds, be wary of a certificate. Jewellers abroad at times print their own certificates, which are worthless. If you get a certificate, you want it to come from a creditable internationally recognised laboratorysuch as IGI and GIA

If the price is too good to be true, it probably is……….

Beware a hurried re-sizing. It may weaken the setting.

5. Birthstones

6. Anniversary gemstone guide