New winners drawn…..Janine Frenken and Heidi Cervi!
You have until midnight on Wednesday, November 14 to contact us. Otherwise, new names will be drawn on November 15.
Congratulations, Janine and Heidi!!
08 Thursday Nov 2012
Posted Draws & Contests
inNew winners drawn…..Janine Frenken and Heidi Cervi!
You have until midnight on Wednesday, November 14 to contact us. Otherwise, new names will be drawn on November 15.
Congratulations, Janine and Heidi!!
01 Thursday Nov 2012
Posted Draws & Contests
inTags
Celtic, celtic jewelry, contest, draw, jewelry, necklace, prize, ring, silver jewellery, win
Congratulations to Kim Beverly and Karen Szabo, our two new winners of any sterling silver jewellery piece with a value up to $100! These are unclaimed prizes from our earlier draws. You both have until midnight on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 to claim your prize – after that, we will draw two new names.
The grand prize still hasn’t been claimed either. We are giving until the end of November for the winner to contact us. If not, another draw will be done on December 1.
Good luck!!
10 Monday Sep 2012
Posted Informative
inTags
Celtic, celtic jewelry, jewellery, jewelry, ring making, rings
Just a few more steps to a completed ring:
The final product, after many rounds of polishing for a beautiful shine:
28 Tuesday Aug 2012
Posted Informative
inTags
Celtic, celtic jewelry, jewellery, jewelry, ring, ring making
Once the wax models are cast into metal, they are ready for filing, sanding, and stamping:
The ring is not quite done yet – engraving, polishing, cleaning, and antiquing are to come in the next post!
12 Sunday Aug 2012
Posted Informative
in09 Thursday Aug 2012
Posted Informative
inTags
In part one of this article, the term “karat” was identified as referring to the purity of gold. 24k gold is the purest form of gold, and as the number of karats lessens, so does the purity of the metal.
Goldsmiths mix other metals to gold, in a process called “alloying”. The purpose of alloying is to harden soft gold so that it is durable and wears well. Different types of metal alloys will also change the colour of the gold. The most common alloys added to pure 24K gold are as follows:
Yellow Gold: Silver, Copper, and Zinc. Yellow gold is the most popular worldwide.
White Gold: Nickel, Zinc, Silver, Platinum, and Palladium. Brilliant luster.
Pink (Rose) or Red Gold: Copper and Silver. Pink gold has become increasingly popular and looks lovely when combined with yellow, white or green gold.
Green Gold: Silver, Copper, and Zinc. Green gold is being used more and more with pink and yellow gold to make uniquely contrasting designs.
07 Tuesday Aug 2012
Posted Informative
inAs with other precious metals and gemstones, the purity of gold is measured in karats (“k” or “kt”). The number of karats represents the purity of the gold in a particular item. For example, a 24 karat gold piece will be the purest at 99.99% gold or all 24 parts pure gold. Likewise, 18 karat gold has 18 out of 24 parts pure gold. The remaining six parts are made up of other metals (alloys) to harden the gold and brighten or change the colour. For that reason, 24 karat gold is the softest, and 10 karat is the hardest. Our rings are always made of 14 karat gold, so as to provide you with a durable piece of jewellery that will wear beautifully for a lifetime.
Gold Karat Chart – Karats Simplified
24 karat gold equals 100% pure gold | too soft for jewellery |
22 karat gold equals 91.7% gold | still too soft for jewellery. Popular in certain parts of the world. |
18k Gold equals 75% Gold | very popular for jewellery, good balance of strength and value |
14 karat gold equals 58.3% Gold | extremely popular for jewellery. Good balance of durability and value. |
12 karat gold equals 50% gold | not used for jewellery |
10 karat gold equals 41.7% gold | lowest gold content that can be legally marked as gold in the United States. |
So, if gold jewellery is not 100% pure, then what exactly is it mixed with? Read part two of this article to find out!
01 Wednesday Aug 2012
Posted Draws & Contests
inPaul Blastock, our fourth draw winner.
You’re going to have your choice of any sterling silver necklace or ring with a value up to $100 CAD!
Our next draw, and your next lucky chance, will be on September 1. Tell your friends to follow our blog or “like” us on Facebook for more chances to win.
01 Sunday Jul 2012
Posted Draws & Contests
inCris Marett! Cris has won a sterling silver ring or necklace of her choice, with a value of up to $100, just for liking us on Facebook.
Congratulations!
If you send your friends to this blog or Facebook, tell us about it and you’ll have an extra entry in our next draw, on August 1.
Good luck!
02 Monday Apr 2012
Posted Informative
inTags
Buying your wedding ring can be a very exciting event in your life. It is an enduring symbol of your love and commitment that you will wear every day for a long time, so putting some thought into selecting a ring that is the best type for you is important. Taking into account the following tips will help make this joyful time much simpler.
Consider your colour preference. Gold is available not only in standard yellow and white, but there are other colours on the market such as rose, red, green, and brown.
Take into account the size of your hands, for this should influence your decision regarding the width of your ring. Wide bands suit long fingers, and narrower widths look great on shorter, small fingers.
Think about the long term. The ring that you choose will be worn every day for a long, long time – and you want it to last. Silver and pure gold are very soft, and should not be used for a wedding ring unless it is protected by raised edges of a stronger, more durable metal such as 14k gold.
Choose your jeweller carefully. In addition to providing a quality product, are they knowledgeable about their jewellery? Do they stand behind their rings with a guarantee? Will they provide free cleaning and polishing when it is needed?
Be aware of how your wedding band is made. Many rings are rhodium ‘plated’, especially those that are white gold. Rhodium is a precious metal, a member of the platinum family. Rhodium electroplating is used to provide a surface that will resist scratches and tarnish, and give a white, reflective appearance. This treatment can last as little as 2 years on an item that is worn often, such as a wedding band. It can be quite expensive to repeat this process often.
Remember that the jewellery industry changes with fashions and fads. For something with lasting beauty and personal appeal, you may wish to reflect upon other influences, such as your cultural heritage, when picking out your ring. There are styles of rings that have traditional meaning.
Decide on matching or separate bands. It is possible to buy wedding rings together so they coordinate, but it is not absolutely necessary.
Consider the size and shape of the engagement ring, and if the band that is chosen will fit together with it. If they are not a good fit, don’t worry; many women will move the engagement ring to the right hand before or during the ring exchange portion of the wedding ceremony.
Make sure your jeweller sizes your ring finger carefully, and that your ring is a good fit. When buying a wide ring, ensure that the jeweller uses a steel, calibrated ‘wide’ ring sizer. You should have to tug to get your ring over the knuckle, and it should feel comfortably snug on the finger. Remember, it will take about two weeks for that ring to feel normal.