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The first recorded instance of human interaction with gold dates back as far as 3,000 B.C. in Egypt. Gold often played a significant role in ancient Egyptian mythology with the Egyptians perceiving it as the breadth of God. The Egyptians often buried their Pharaohs in gold, the most well-known of which is the mask of Tutankhamun which contains two alloys of gold: a lighter 18.4 carat shade for the face and neck, and 22.5 carat gold for the rest of the mask. Ever since these ancient times, gold has remained a rare and highly valued material which evokes both wealth and power and has multiple applications. The Incas called gold ‘sweat of the sun’, Romans named it the ‘muscles of war’, a triumphant Napoleon gilded Paris in gold and the…

You may have a formal workwear dress code or one where you can flaunt your style.  Either way, it’s nice to add a little bit of glam to your work outfit. Especially because you are in it the majority of the time! You need something that looks professional whilst bringing out a bit of your personal style too.  We’ve got jewellery pieces that will go with a shirt and trouser suit, a smart dress or smart knitwear. Statement Earrings If you’re wearing a simple work dress then wearing statement earrings still keeps the outfit looking professional but adds a touch of fashion and glamour to the look. Our Jade Drop earrings are perfect to wear daily with any coloured dress whilst at work. They’re striking but not too busy so…

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I write this blog post and announcement. Benjamin Hawkins is a fine jewellery designer specialising in one off bespoke artworks and also, a very good personal friend of mine. Over the coming months, we will be showcasing Ben’s craftsmanship and portfolio through our dedicated Benjamin Hawkins London page on our website and a series of blog posts. In addition to this, we will be releasing for sale a number of one-off pieces of jewellery designed and made by Ben exclusively in collaboration with The Vintage Jeweller. The rest of this post will provide a short biography of Ben’s career thus far. From the age of fifteen, Benjamin practiced goldsmithing, before studying jewellery at the Goldsmiths Centre in the heart of London’s jewellery…

There are so many pieces of jewellery out there, and it can be hard to know where to start if you’re not into jewellery or if you’re buying a gift for someone else.  Well, we’ve put together some jewellery pieces we think any woman would be delighted to own so you can make sure that gift is special! From statement studs to long necklaces, we’ve got some timeless pieces that will never go out of style… A Long Pendant Necklace Long necklaces go with pretty much any outfit.  You can put it over a casual t-shirt and jeans combo or a plunging neckline.  They look great on their own or you can layer them with different length chains and necklaces for a modern look. Our Cartier LOVE Pendant is perfect…

The gold hoop earring has been a powerful symbol in many cultures throughout history.   Jewellery has been used as a form of adornment for people for centuries. The oldest earrings archaeologists have ever discovered were from 2500 BC and belonged to Sumerian women. It has been said that even cats were adorned with gold hoop earrings in ancient Egypt.  During his reign over Rome, Julius Caesar turned earrings into a symbol of status. Following from this, pirates were known to wear earrings too between 1650 and 1730 in order to secure a proper burial. In more recent years they have been available in the 80s and 90s with style icons like Madonna and now with they’re making a big comeback all over Instagram and other social media sites. Well with…

The most famous and desired gemstone in the world is a diamond. It’s combination of brilliance, fire (dispersion) and lustre make diamond unique amongst gemstones. It’s uniquely hard, transparent and, of course, shiny. It’s these characteristics that have earnt diamond the reputation as the perfect gemstone and consequently, an expensive price tag. Taking all of this into consideration, it is no surprise that scientists have tried to imitate diamonds for over 200 years. The first major breakthrough, however, did not come until the early 1950s when a Swedish engineering company, Allmanna Svenska Elektrisk Aktiebolaget, succeeded in growing 40 small diamond crystals in an apparatus called a sphere. Due to high cost of production and low quality output, early lab diamonds were predominately used for industrial use posing an insignificant threat…

Here at The Vintage Jeweller, you might be surprised to know that we don’t just sell jewellery.  When people go to get a special gift for someone, their first thought is often jewellery. This however, can be tough when the person you’re buying for doesn’t really wear jewellery.  So instead we’ve put together a few of our special, timeless items that you can give as a gift they can keep forever and pass down to their loved ones. Firstly we have this stunning sterling silver card holder from Tiffany & Co. This piece is great to give as a gift as it is robust and is something the person you give it to can use every single day so it’ll get used a lot.  They’ll remember how special it is…

For the first time in nearly a decade, Tiffany & Co. have released a new engagement line.  The ring has a new diamond cut and has a more modern feel by sitting lower on the finger. The Tiffany CEO, Alessandro Bogliolo has said the new style is “subtle, not in your face.” However, if you’re opting for Tiffany because you want something classics, then we have many traditional options to fulfill your Tiffany dreams! Tiffany & Co. was founded in 1837 and has become one of the most well-known popular luxury jewellery brands in the world.  Having been the centre of the film Breakfast At Tiffany’s, it is a brand that has never been out of the spotlight. Everyone around the world recognises the iconic Tiffany blue box the jewellery…

Here at The Vintage Jeweller, we have a large range of different charms.  These are great as they are all different to suit different occasions, personalities, interests and price ranges.  What is great about our charms is that they can be worn in different ways to make them unique to the owner. Below we are going to give some ideas as to how you can gift them or style them yourself! Charm Bracelet The most iconic way is probably a charm bracelet.  You could have the bracelet as an investment piece for you or perhaps for your child or loved one.  Over time you can add different charms to mark different milestones in yours or their own lives. For example, they could have our Teddy Bear Charm when they are…

After four years of suffering during WW1 between 1915 and 1919, people realised how short life could be and a new motto emerged ‘Live and forget the past’. Traditions, values and fashions of the pre-war society and Victorian era were rejected and transformed. The period that followed became known as the Art Deco period (1920-1935), taking its name from the Exposition des Arts Deco-ratifs held in Paris in 1925. During this period, freedom of expression was encouraged and the years were characterised by decadence and excess. Art Deco style drew inspiration from the Far East, the Middle East and South American civilizations. It was influenced heavily by ideas from Futurism and Cubism, as well as Aztec and Russian Art. One piece in particular during the Art Deco period brought sweeping…

Here at The Vintage Jeweller, we have cufflinks to suit any man’s style and any occasion, read below our brief history of cufflinks and how you can style some of our range… History The cufflink first appeared in fashion in the early 16th century and were fastened together with ‘cuff strings.’  During the reign of Louis XIV, they gave way to something called ‘sleeve buttons’ which were usually identical coloured glass buttons which were joined together by a short chain.  This then progressed and by 1715 where the style of decoratively painted or jewelled studs, such as diamonds connected with gold links became popular. Cufflink Styles Cufflinks smarten up any suit and really add that extra bit of sophistication to any look.  Our cufflinks come in a range of metals,…

Omega has launched limited edition revivals of 18 watches that have been fitted with the original movements from 1913.  The parts have been supplied by their museum. This collection aims to reprise the style and features of the wristwatches issued in the same year which Omega created for the military. Omega’s latest creation sees the brand reprise a huge part of their watchmaking history as their unique 18 watch collection contains an original 18” CHRO calibre from 1913.  The experts at Omega’s Atelier Tourbillon have managed to delicately refurbish the calibres to give them a new lease of life to the new Limited Edition collection. The brand held a “Museum Night” at the start of June in Biel, Switzerland where they unveiled the “First Omega Wrist-Chronograph Limited Edition” collection.  They’ve…

Wearing a great piece of jewellery can really make any outfit stand out, and can even be the focal point of your look.  It is great to keep a few contrasting, bold pieces of rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings so you have something for every outfit. Having a few pieces of jewellery in all different colours, sizes, stones and precious metals is great.  You don’t have to hoard hundreds of items to sift through to complete your outfit, have a capsule collection that you can go to any time.  Your collection can be tailored to suit your budget and still look fabulous no matter what the price tag is. Jewellery can really make your look appear more put together.  We have items such as our Jade and Peridot ring for…

It can be quite overwhelming when it comes to looking for the right diamond for your love.  You’ve probably heard of the term ‘the 4Cs’ a lot but don’t really know what they mean. These are four headings that refer to colour, clarity, cut and carat. When finding the perfect diamond it is all about striking a balance between all four to find the right diamond for you.  Here we have a breakdown of what each of those terms means… Colour Did you know that diamonds don’t come out white? White diamonds do exist but are actually the rarest of them all. There is a colour scale that will indicate the colour of a diamond and it runs from D-Z.  This is the accurate GIA (Gemological Institute of America) scale….

Minimalist jewellery has been on trend for years, with simple and plain pieces taking the forefront of the fashion world. However, this may be coming to an end with the comeback of statement jewellery, in particular, cocktail rings. Cocktail rings have been essential on the party scene since the 1930s where the term was first used due to the large ornamental type pieces worn at cocktail parties. However, they have recently become more popular again especially as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, wore a vintage cocktail ring of Princess Diana’s to her wedding reception with Prince Harry. Cocktail rings do all the talking and can just be worn as a solitary accessory. Here we have our collection of cocktail rings with inspiration on how to style them. Firstly we…

Statement earrings are one of the top trends for 2018. All throughout fashion magazines, catwalks and even on bloggers on Instagram, everywhere you look there has been a natural summer look finished off with statement earrings. The earrings have been taking centre stage whilst keeping other jewellery and makeup minimal. Here are a few of our favourite statement earrings to keep you on trend for summer 2018… Firstly we have our jade and diamond drop earrings… The cool and light colour of the Jade will be great for a fresh day look. The jade is the main focus of the earring and you’ll want to show it off, let the earrings do the talking here and keep other jewellery minimal. A more unique take on this summer trend is by…

May is Gold Month, where the biggest names in jewellery industry partner up with best deals on karat gold jewellery. Here at The Vintage Jeweller we have a vast range of gold jewellery which we want to share with you. Every year we add to our gold pieces which are a significant investment to us and our customers. These pieces can last a lifetime and beautiful gifts to be passed down through the generations. Gold is beautiful on the outside but also magical and sentimental on the inside. A piece of jewellery, especially in gold, can share the message of a thousand words or feelings. These pieces of jewellery are more than just decor, they are ways of expressing ourselves through accessorising. But there are so many unique trends for…

Graduation season is coming and soon countless students will walk across a stage toward their individual destinies. Graduation is exciting a gratification, a milestone that is significant and emotional for the individual graduation and also their friends and family. They’ve suffered the endless hours studying in the library and long nights cramming for exams or trying to finish an essay and shared with you the relief when the grades were posted. The only way to celebrate a momentous occasion like this is by finding the perfect special gift. But what is the right gift for someone special who is graduating? A moment this important should be remembered forever, in an accessory that can be worn every day in honour of the event. The most classic graduation jewellery is decorated with…

Social media and sites such as Pinterest have made it much easier to collate styles and cuts of rings together so the bride-to-be is confident on what style she wants and the husbands will have a good idea of what to choose!   The decision on what engagement ring to buy can still be overwhelming when you are unsure of all the different styles and the names they have.  So below we have collated some of the most popular styles shown with our own products to hopefully help you in your decision to choosing a ring for your significant other. The Princess Cut The Princess has been exceedingly popular since the 1960s.  It comes in either a square or rectangular shape which resembles an inverted pyramid.  This allows you to…

June has three birthstones associated with it: pearl, alexandrite and moonstone, allowing those lucky to have a birthday in June to have a variety of choices of stone. Alexandrite is often described as “emerald by day, ruby by night” because it changes colour from bluish-green to purplish-red depending on the light shone upon it. Moonstone has been accredited its name from the shimmery appearance that shifts with the phases of the moon. It is composed of microscopic layers of feldspar that scatter light to cause a billowy effect of adularescence – producing a bluish sheen to a white colour. Therefore, the stone may come in a variety of colours, suitable for everyone. Although both phenomenal stones, the focus for this June is the pearl.   Amethyst and Rainbow Moonstone Ring,…

For those born in May, you are lucky to have the gorgeous Emerald for your birthstone. Looking to highlight a special birthday for someone, or highlighting a gift for yourself, we have a range of emerald stone jewellery available to you. Emerald carries the rich green colour of spring and radiates a beautiful vivid tone.They are hugely rare and typically mined in Colombia, Brazil, Afghanistan and Zambia. Emerald is considered to be a symbol of rebirth and love, as the gem of Venus (it is also considered to aid infertility). Edwardian Emerald and Diamond Three Stone Ring, £4,750 and Emerald and Diamond Graduated Ring, £475. Emerald is widely available in many different shapes and sizes, complementing warm and cool tones from being embedded in yellow and white metals. It is…

Although individual charms on jewellery can hold personal significance, many charms also symbolise different things. These are great if you’re looking for a charm for a specific meaning but unsure what object you want or if you’re looking for a gift for someone else with specific meanings. Since cavemen days, individuals have adorned their necks with carved stones, feathers and bones to protect against bad luck and illness. The Victorians then extended this to the sentimental meaning of the colours, typically very romantically. But this is extended further into the contemporary journey, which currently displays both overt meanings and more secretive symbolism. Here are a few we have available that are most commonly requested meanings. Starting with a classic, the heart charm, symbolising love, passion, adoration, femininity and sensuality. It’s…

Everyone knows the most famous and desired gemstone in the world is a diamond. It’s a combination of brilliance, fire (dispersion) and lustre make a diamond unique amongst gemstones. It’s uniquely hard, transparent and, of course, shiny. It’s these characteristics that have earnt diamond the reputation as the perfect gemstone. While diamond has firmly established its place as the king of gemstones there are three other stones which are considered precious gems: ruby, sapphire and emerald, all other gem-quality stones are considered semi-precious. With the recent introduction of our ‘fine gems’ collection to our website, we thought it an appropriate time to further explore ruby, sapphire and emerald; what about them makes them precious and how to identify high-quality variations of the stones. It is a surprise to many to…