Jewellery Chat Please! ?

Design it yourself and include birthstones in it that signify both your nan and yourself

www.louiseoneill.com/

Have a look at the Goldsmiths Fair website
www.goldsmithsfair.co.uk/
loads of jewellery makers who will make bespoke items.
I would recommend Louise o’Neill who has made me some rings to my own design using diamonds from my mums engagement and eternity rings, and using the gold to offset the cost. She has a small studio in Hatton Garden.

Fannycornforth, on the death of my beloved Dad, with some of the money, I bought myself a white gold ring, with diamonds and a large amethyst which I saw in a jeweller's window. I have worn it ever since and as you say, I can see it all the time, unlike earrings etc. I think about him and remember his love for me every day. I hope you find your special piece xx

I was going to buy a piece of jewellery with a small unexpected inheritance but couldn't choose and finally decided on an Omega watch. I began looking at new ones but then found I preferred the older designs which were smaller and more 'dressy' I bought one that is 2005 but has barely been worn. It took me about a year of checking websites and narrowing down what I really wanted. I got a beautiful 'as new' gold watch with tiny diamonds as number markers. I bought from a reputable jewellers and it came with all paper work and boxes. When I wear it, it makes me feel very special and I know I made the right choice. My advice....take your time choosing!

I love opals and have no qualms about wearing them. They are only considered unlucky because they expand and contract with heat so, if not in the right setting, they can fall out and get lost. They are also quite fragile and one of mine shattered when I dropped it stone down on to a tiled floor.

I have 4 opal rings that I wear regularly. A large quite valuable one I bought with the money from an insurance claim when we were burgled and all my other jewellry was taken.

I also have 3 others DH bought for me at auction sales and one in Bahrain when he was working there. I love them.

Although opals are my favourite, I would not wear them unless they were my birthstone; there is a superstition about them being unlucky.
I inherited a small opal pendant and gave it to my son as it is his birthstone!

Cabbie21 you might be pleasantly surprised. My DD was left a ring and a loose stone (amongst other things) by her Grandma. She took the ring and the loose stone into a jewellers and was told they had no value. However, they had been in the family since the second WW, brought back from Sri Lanka (Ceylon in those days) by Mils uncle who was a pilot for Mountbatten, so she took them to another jewellers. They sent them away to be assessed and valued and they were both worth several thousand pounds! I don't think MIL had any idea they were so valuable!

This is just an idea which may well revolt you, or you may like the idea, but you can have some of her ashes made into a diamond so she is always with you. www.algordanza.co.uk/

I just thought I would add that to the pot, but do feel free to ignore!

Do you have a favourite necklace or pendant? Perhaps you could choose a ring that matches.
I'm looking for earrings at present, either in amber or ammolite that will go with either of my favourite necklaces.

Have a look thro Ebay to get some ideas. I have bought several
from there and later sold them on and bought more. I had my G/grandmother's wedding ring but it was far too small for me and it sat in a box for years so I eventually sold it on Ebay and bought a victorian ring that was the same year with rubies and opals. So, I think of her when I wear it.

I agree a birthstone ring is a lovely reminder, and I would choose a smaller setting ring to wear everyday.

Jewellery is nice; but people's attitudes to it differ. To some it is conspicuous consumption, and to others it is a memento of a loved one. Since people have mentioned names, I will just say that whatever I earn is fund-raising for the Creche, where my daughter is a nun. I buy the findings and postage / stationery myself, and do not reimburse myself for them (those, and the time, are my donation). Almost everything is recycled, upcycled, re-made. People also donate vintage things. www.facebook.com/beadsforbabiesmalta I am not asking anyone to buy anything - but it would be nice if you were to share the page on your own walls, to reach more people, since I cannot afford to advertise. Thank you.

I have recently treated myself to a ring. I have never worn one on my right hand before so I had no idea of size. I have tried several at antique fairs, but many are too small. I went to an independent jewellers who have done some work for me before. I first looked at vintage/ second hand ones but there was nothing suitable, so I bought new. I love it. It is a central oval sapphire with diamonds round it, a miniature( and much cheaper! ) version of The Duchess of Cambridge’s / Diana’s in a way.
I have a couple of rings which were my mum’s and this has reminded me to look into getting them made into something, but I am afraid I might be told that the stones are not worth it. They got engaged in wartime and money was tight, so am not expecting them to be very valuable.
I hope you find something you love, OP.

I bought one from Avi Stuchinsky from Etsy to remember a friend. I never take it off and whenever I catch a glimpse of it it reminds me of happy times.

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Avinoo?page=1#items

Hi. I am thinking about jewellery at the minute. I don't have a lot myself. My engagement ring is with my daughter but I know it just lies in a box and never sees the light of day. At current day prices it would be valued somewhere between £2/3000. I wish I had not passed it on when I did. Could have had it restyled with other stones added (solitaire diamond in 18 carat white gold - long long before current trend. I wanted that because it was less common). So my DIL has finished her studies and started work. It is her birthday too soon and looking to spend a bit more than usual on her. Her daughter's name is Morgan so I have been looking at morganite jewellery. This would be my way. Either choose your special stone and wear it in her memory or pick something that links back to what she liked
If she was keen on nature etc then you have lots of colours but you might opt for an emerald? I would play about with it like that.

Sounds a lovely idea, but be mindful that opals are not considered a ‘hard’ stone so should not be worn every day and subjected to the harsh wear and tear that a e.g. diamond will stand

What a lovely idea. I really like jewellery so I would spend a bit of time thinking about how to make the ring special. I'm sure you will anyway. Every thread I look at you have either started or are on Fanny it's making GN a lot more interesting imo which is a good thing. Just saying ?

vbylauravann.com/collections/vintage-style-rings

This is a jeweller in Birmingham. She has some lovely things

What a lovely idea, I agree with others get something unique made. Perhaps it could incorporate both your birthstones or perhaps there is a piece of her jewellery that you could have reworked into a ring for yourself, or a design that she liked that you could use. What a great thing to do.

50 years ago I lost a ring. Took it off in a public toilet to wash my hands. Many people would have regarded it as quite ugly. It had three stones, two were tiger eye and one moss agate. I’ve never found another ring like it and searched the internet last night hoping to find one similar. I do hope that whoever found it loved it as much as I did.

I treated myself to a beautiful Clogau ring with some of my inheritance from my Mum. It’s called “eternal love”. Which I thought was quite appropriate . Have a look at their website, there’s so much choice. Lots of jewellers also sell it.

Yes, whatever you choose don't kid yourself it's an 'investment'.

Gails Gems on Facebook, she has some lovely preloved jewellery ,

I personally would buy a watch as they hold their value so much better (just thinking ahead to who ever you may pass it on to). I knew a jeweller once and the mark up on jewellery would make your eyes water. But I know it’s not about money so do what “sparks joy”.