HOW CAN WE HELP YOU TODAY?
Here are some options to help you navigate based on common needs & enquiries.
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Handmade jewellery has been around for thousands of years. However there has been an emerging trend over the last few years to import from China and India, mass produced jewellery instead of handmade jewellery made locally. This is due to the favourable exchange rate and to the fact that wages and expenses are lower in China. While there might be a small short term gain in terms of price, what are we ultimately losing in the long run? It has been reported that Australia’s handmade jewellery sector is shrinking, which has caused many people who are skilled in the art of manufacturing to find jobs elsewhere. Unfortunately, this has resulted in the loss of valuable local experience.
In my opinion, the answer to that question is – “you get what you pay for”. On the surface, the price of imported jewellery may be a little less than the cost of a local handmade piece, but when you look a little deeper, the real differences start to emerge. One difference is light weight manufacturing which results in a ring weighing a few grams less. While this causes the price to be lower, it ultimately shortens the lifespan of the ring, making it weaker and more unstable which can lead to the loss of stones. Also, imported rings may be hollowed out to save on costs. This can trap moisture on the skin causing uncomfortable rashes. A wider variation on the colour of the diamonds in imported pave and channel set rings is also a common issue. When there is a mix of colours in a parcel, as opposed to a single colour, the price is cheaper because the lower coloured stones in the parcel help reduce the price. Furthermore, what alloys have been used to make the 18ct gold? When dealing with mass production on a giant scale, a cheaper alloy is often mixed with the pure gold to drive the price down.
What is your piece of mind worth?
Can you physically watch your ring being made, and make changes to the design as it is being created? If your handmade jewellery needs alteration or repair, you are able to take it back immediately and have the jeweller repair it for you with minimal delay. In contrast, if something goes wrong with an imported ring, it must be sent overseas which usually takes around 4-6 weeks and can incur postage and insurance expenses. It is important to check that the store you purchased your jewellery from has a good reputation for high quality goods and exceptional customer service. It is worth paying a little more now, so that you don’t have to pay more later when complications arise.
The future
The future of handmade jewellery seems unclear. However, as long as there are craftsman who are passionate about preserving the traditional techniques of jewellery design and manufacturing, you will still be able to purchase a diamond ring that is built to last your lifetime. At Xennox Diamonds you can have your handmade jewellery made right on the premises and be as involved in the manufacturing process as you would like to be.
How do i design a ring
If you are looking to design a ring, the best place to go for advice is to a professional jewellery designer. a professional jewellery designer will sit down with you, and go through all the options, and help you get that design you have in your head down on paper.
Ideally a jewellery designer will sketch your dream ring in 3D in front of you. Asking you questions as you go. That way, you can see the ring being deigned and created before your eyes. Changes can be made simply with the stroke of a pencil.
Every design element of your engagement ring has has at least 2 different ways that it can be done, so it is important for your jewellery designer to ask you a lot of questions. For example – how high would you like the diamond ring to sit off your finger, 6mm or 6.5mm high. By working out all your preferences a jewellery designer can tailor the ring so it is perfect for your hands. After all “you don’t know what you don’t know.”
How do i custom make a ring
What if i don’t like the ring i had made
The first thing to work out when you see your ring, is what is it that you don’t like exactly. Understanding this is the first step in turning your engagement ring from terrible to terrific. The worst thing you can do, is rush into changing the engagement ring, only to find that you are still not happy with it, or even worse, that you hate it even more.
Once you work out what that is that you don’t like, it makes it much easier to work out, if the ring can be changed or altered.
For example,
1. if the band is too wide, maybe the ring can be shaved down or altered to make it look slimmer or finer.
2. If it’s the band profile you don’t like maybe the shape can be changed to make it more rounder or flatter which ever you prefer more.
3. If you feel that the height of the ring too high, it may be possible to lower the height of the stone, but taking out your diamond and lowering it into the setting.
The important thing to remember, is that if you are not happy with your ring, make an appointment with someone to discuss your options. Often there is a simple solution, you just need to know the right person to ask.
What if she doesn’t like the ring i had made or chose?
If you have decided to surprise your partner with an engagement ring, and it turns out to be an absolute disaster. There are still some solutions available to turn the original ring into something she really loves.
How easy it will be to change your engagement ring will depend on a few factors.
If your fiancee was not involved in the design phase at all and you chose a traditional round brilliant cut solitaire diamond engagement ring but she really had her heart set on a 3 stone princess cut engagement ring, then you may have a challenge on your hands to change it. This would be considered a fairly drastic and rare change.
Where as, going from a solitaire to a halo design is a lot more easier to achieve. You may only need to change the head setting piece and add the extra diamonds.
How well the original ring was made, will also pay a large part in any alterations you might want to make. Fine, light weight rings are significantly more difficult to alter than heavier hand made rings.
If you do decide to go down the path of altering your engagement ring for whatever reason, it is crucial to make sure that you are certain, that the new style you choose is the correct one. The worst thing you can do, is change your design to something that you hate even more. Make sure you both take the time to find the perfect design you want to change your engagement ring to, as there only may be a number of times a ring can be changed, not to mention the extra added costs associated with the design alterations.
Why the internet is useless for comparing diamond prices is a conversation that I occasionally have with clients when they set out on their journey to find their engagement ring. I understand that everyone likes to do their research, and the internet is certainly a great place to start. However comparing diamonds is fundamentally different to comparing TV’s. A TV has set settings that are undisputable, and quantifiable. Its number of pixels, brightness, energy usage stats. Whereas diamond grading still requires a strong human element that is subjective, and as we know, as humans we are prone to making mistakes.
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Proposal Customs From Around the World |
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Although the modern Western custom of a man proposing to a woman with a diamond ring is practiced around the world, many regions and cultures practice proposal customs that that use a different approach.
Here are some proposal customs from around the world:
ASIA
Nowadays, flash mob proposals are more popular in Asian countries than in any other region in the world.
China
In Chinese culture, a wedding symbolizes the joining of two families, not simply the joining of a couple. Today, many proposals in China follow the Western tradition of presenting the woman with a diamond ring. There are still many traditional elements incorporated into Chinese proposals, however, such as the woman taking the man to meet her family, and the man seeking the favor of the woman’s family before proposing. After a man proposes to a woman, it is common that the two families officially acknowledge the event and give their blessing.
India and Pakistan
In Indian and Pakistani proposal customs, the family of bridegroom makes a formal proposal to the family of the bride. In very traditional circles, the couple themselves are not involved in the process at all. In Pakistan, if the bride’s family accepts the proposal from the bridegroom’s family, a special engagement party usually takes place where the groom-to-be proposes to the bride-to-be. Arranged marriages are still very common in India and Pakistan.
Thailand
In Thailand, many traditional engagement and wedding customs are still followed today. Tradition holds that a couple’s engagement is marked by a ceremony known as “Thong Mun” in which the prospective groom gives gold to his prospective bride’s family. Gold, and not a diamond ring, is the preferred proposal currency, and dowry negotiations are usually part of the proposal process.
EUROPE
Great Britain
In the UK, men generally propose in a traditional manner, on their knees while presenting a woman with a ring. Engagement rings are generally worn on the third finger of the left hand (vs. the fourth finger in the USA).
Traditionally, February 29 (which occurs once every fourth year, on a leap year) is the only day when a woman can propose to her partner in the UK and Ireland. Of course this tradition is seldom followed anymore.
In British tradition, a formal notice called “the banns” is placed in a church announcing a wedding date. The purpose of “the banns” is to give advance notice to anyone to present their case as to why the couple should not get married, for legal or other reasons.
Most weddings in Britain take place on Saturday. In the past, Wednesdays were considered the luckiest day to get married.
Germany and Sweden
During the engagement period, both the bride and groom typically wear a ring on their left hands (in the USA, the groom generally only wears a ring on his wedding day and thereafter).
AFRICA
Ghana
Many modern-day weddings in Ghana often include a classic African tradition of a knock on the door during the proposal stage, in which the groom’s uncle and mother visit the woman’s family to propose marriage in the groom’s behalf.
Tribal Kenya
In some tribes in Kenya, a man will send beads to a woman he is interested in marrying. If the woman keeps the beads, it means she has accepted the proposal; the woman’s family will give her an ornament to add to her beads if they accept the engagement.
