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Jewellers and setters are very different trades even though they are connected to the same industry. Just as plumbers and electricians are separate trades but connected to the building trade, so too are jewellers and setters unique. Jewellers are involved in the construction of the ring, while setters are the ones responsible for securing the stones. While some jewellers can set stones, it is usually best to leave it to a professional gem setter.
In Brisbane to become a jeweller, you must complete a four year apprenticeship under a fully qualified jeweller. As in all apprenticeships, apprentices of the appropriate age are able to receive a learning wage, which makes it economical for the employer to train them. In their 4 years, apprentices should learn all the basic techniques of making simple rings and carrying out repairs. At present, and at least for the next few years you are able to complete your jewellery apprenticeship in Brisbane. However due to falling numbers at Tafe and reduced government funding the future of jewellery apprenticeship scheme seems uncertain.
Jewellery that is made especially for a particular stone is always going to be better than an “off the shelf” setting that is trying to be squeezed or stretched to fit the stone. This is especially important in three stone settings, where it is vital that the stones overlap. A professional jeweller, must not only make sure that the stones and claws are positioned in the correct places, but the shoulder stones must be angled correctly to create a pleasing level appearance. When a jeweller is making a ring, they are constantly making adjustments to improve the aesthetics of the ring, something that is impossible to do in CAD or mass produced style rings. Metal that has been hammered is also always harder and tougher than cast metal. A mass produced ring, has very little room for modification, because all the pieces are set in their current positions.
Setters
In Brisbane there is currently no provision for completing a setters apprenticeship. In England, a setters apprenticeship is normally five years. However here there is no such apprenticeship for setters, neither is there any subsidy for employers to train setters. Consequently there are no new setters being trained. The only new setters entering our industry are those that have traveled here from overseas, or are jewellers that have crossed over to become full time setters.
Setters are crucial to maintaining the highest quality finish of a piece. Even if the ring is expertly hand crafted, if it is set poorly, the finished ring will look terrible. It is the setters job, to ensure that the stones are not only secured correctly and tightly into the ring, but they are also set level and straight. Stones that are not securely are prone to coming loose and falling out over time. If the shoulder diamonds have not been set well, there may be gaps between the stones. Channel set rings, will not have straight bright cuts (the inside lines between the stone and the metal) , and their may be gaps at the end of the channel. This will become noticeable as the rings become dirty, as the dirt often gets trapped in the gaps. It goes without saying that the centre stone should be properly set. Poorly set centre stones, will not only through off the symmetry of the ring, if they are not set in the middle, but they can also be prone to coming loose, and if not regularly checked – lost. Another symptom of a stone that hasn’t been set correctly is catching of threads under the claws. A properly set stone should be nice and smooth on top, and have no gap between the stone and the claw. If you are finding that your clothes are catching on your claws, simply bring them into us, and we can secure the claws correctly on your stone.
At Xennox Diamonds, we have full time jewellers and a setter, to make sure there is never any compromise in the finished product. Our standard for choosing to only work with the best diamonds and metals, applies to our jewellers and setter too, to ensure that you will receive enjoyment from your treasured piece for many years to come. If you are finding your are having problems with your setting, please don’t hesitate to email us, or pop in for a free inspection.
A diamond engagement ring is one of a ladies most precious prized possessions. It symbolises a couples love and the start of their life journey, called marriage. Like a new car, that people try and keep clean for the first few months, the cleaning of a diamond engagement ring, is something that sometimes get put to the bottom of the to do list. The great thing about your diamond engagement ring is that when it is properly cleaned and cared for it will look like the day you picked it up from the jewellery store.
1. Clean it with hot water and dish washing detergent. I generally recommend to add just off boiling hot water and detergent into a coffee cup. Don’t worry – The melting point of gold and diamonds is much higher than 100
degrees, so your diamond engagement ring should be safe. After it has been sitting there for around 3 -5 minutes, use an old toothbrush to dab in and around the settings. A dabbing motion is preferred to scrubbing. Dabbing allows the bristles to find their way in and behind the setting, whereas scrubbing may affect the polish of the metal, causing it to dull.
2. Don’t use hand cream while wearing your rings. One of the biggest causes for diamonds to dull, is the use of hand cream. To understand what hand cream does to your diamond, imagine smearing hand cream over your bathroom mirror. After a day or two, the general everyday dirt would stick to the cream, forming a layer and preventing the light from getting through. As diamonds require light to sparkle, anything that prevents the light from interacting with the stone, will cause the diamond to dull, like this one.
Have it professional cleaned at least once a year – While cleaning your diamonds and jewellery at home will certainly make a marked difference to the performance of your diamond. To achieve the best result, we recommend that you bring it to a qualified jeweller at least once a year for a professional clean. Jewellers will generally have an ultrasonic cleaner. Most professional ultrasonic cleaners cost in excess of $1000. Ultrasonic’s are great for getting into all the really hard to reach places and shaking the dirt out. At the same time your jeweller can check all your settings to make sure that all your diamonds and gemstones are secured. This is a complimentary service that we offer to all our clients, even if the piece is not from us.
1. Toothpaste – Ideal for cleaning your teeth, not your diamonds. I am sure that the original inventors of toothpaste did not envisage a lady cleaning her diamond engagement ring with it.
2. Vodka – Great for drinking, but unnecessary to use to waste on cleaning your diamonds. While pure alcohol is sometimes used for cleaning diamonds, i am sure that you can find a much better use for Vodka than cleaning your diamond engagement ring.
3. Cloudy ammonia – there are a lot of websites advising to use cloudy ammonia when cleaning your diamonds and jewellery. The origin of this most likely came about when jewellers used a polishing compound called rouge. This red polishing paste was notorious for sticking to the gold. The cloudy ammonia was an excellent solution for removing this paste for the metal. These days jewellers use a much more refined compound which is cleaner and dissolves faster in water, making the cloudy ammonia unnecessary.
1. Emeralds – almost all emeralds have been oiled. Placing them in hot water, causes the oil to come out of the stone, and the hot dirty water to go in. When this happens the usually invisible feathers and inclusions can sometimes become visible. This will have a detrimental effect on the value of the stone. While the process can be reversed, it is not an easy or cheap one.
2. Opals – Opals are known as a hydrated silica. They have a reasonable amount of water in them. Placing opals in any environment which is hot, can cause the opals to crack, making them effectively worthless.
3. Pearls – being the product of a once living organism, pearls are also to be kept away from heat. When pearls are used in jewellery, they are usually always glued in. As the heat from a flame would destroy them. When cleaning pearls, it is recommended to use cold water, with a soft cloth similar to a glasses cleaning cloth. (non abrasive)
A honeymoon can sometimes be the thing that couples really look forward to, one week out from the wedding. Especially if you have been planning this amazing event for the last 12 months. All the stress of deciding which table decorations to use, and who isn’t going to sit next who at the reception, can sometimes take its toll. The honeymoon is a great way to recharge the batteries and reconnect with your new loved one.
With the average Australian wedding now costing over $40,000, a relaxing overseas tropical honeymoon is something high on the wish list for brides today. If you have been trying to decide where to go for your honeymoon, this might make the decision making process a little easier.
Lucky couples who purchase their wedding or engagement ring from Xennox Diamonds between July and August 2013, will see themselves soaking up the sun with seven nights accommodation in Fiji or Thailand for free. Although all couples will receive their accommodation for free, each month one lucky couple will also win free return airfares to their destination. Saving the stress and expense of planning that dream honeymoon and leaving nothing to do but relax and bask in the beauty of that sparkling new ring.
While the concept for this promotion was designed around honeymoon’s, there is no reason why it can’t be used to plan a surprise proposal, Hint, Hint !!!! Gentlemen, please take note, all three locations would be ideal for popping the question. Now there really has never been a better time to take the plunge. It will truly be a proposal she will never forget.
There are three levels of accommodation on offer, with customers spending over $3500 receiving seven nights in Phuket. Those spending over $8000 receive seven nights on Fiji’s The Pearl and those spending over $15,000 will be spending seven nights in luxury on Fiji’s Taveuni Island. All accommodation packages are valid for 12 months from the purchase date.
Its location is the perfect setting for a quiet, peaceful holiday only a 5-minute drive from the lively exciting resort of Patong Beach, with the fabulous long powder sand beach of Karon a similar distance for daytime lazing and swimming in the gentle waters of the Andaman Sea.
The “Secret cliff resort”, opened in 2007, which lies hidden in Luxurious rain forest setting on the slopes of coast of Andaman Sea between Patong Beach and Karon beach.
The Pearl South Pacific, an elegant, sun-drenched resort within the sublime environs of Pacific Harbour, between Suva and Nadi. Perfect for leaving a frenzied world far behind. Refresh, renew and indulge in world-class facilities and consummate service.
Set by the beach and surrounded by lush, tropical landscape, The Pearl is an idyllic escape where chic accommodation, exquisite cuisine and as much – or as little – adventure and relaxation await you.
Taveuni Island Resort & Spa is the jewel of the Pacific. It is set in ten acres of immaculate manicured tropical gardens, and accommodates only 12 privileged couples. There are only twelve accommodations with each house positioned for maximum privacy and to take advantage of the spectacular views over the azure ocean and surrounding islands.
Diamond engagement rings come in all different shapes and sizes. One of the first questions most ladies ask themselves is, what shape are they? Would they like a traditional round brilliant cut, princess cut (square) or fancy cut diamond ?
The round brilliant cut diamond has 58 facets, and is considered one of the most brilliant diamonds for sparkle. Some love the traditional shape, because it was the same as their mothers. Others like the symmetry of the circle with 6 claws. While shape is important for sparkle, it is not the greatest factor which determines the diamonds sparkle. Cut quality is much more important than shape when looking for diamond engagement rings. If you want the brightest cut diamond and sparkle that you can have, aim for a perfect Russian cut diamond like the Passion8.
The princess cut diamond typically has 65 facets, and is square in shape. The princess cut diamond really only became popular in the 1990’s. While the princess cut diamond is sometimes seen as a more modern shape, the straight lines of the diamond really suit styles with shoulder set princess cut diamonds. When princess cut diamonds are channel set together they always sit flush without any gaps. The long parallel lines of the princess cut line up nicely with a straight parallel channel. While some believe that a princess cut diamond can never sparkle as much as a round, there are some that can. A Passion8 princess cut diamond can return 99.9% of the light that enters it, back out through the table.
The term fancy cut diamonds really encompasses all the other shapes, ranging from Marquise, Oval, Heart, Radiant and Asher or Emerald. The emerald and asher cut diamonds are the ones that stand out from the rest. The emerald and asher cut diamonds have what’s know as an “Ice and Fire” or “Crystal” look. Whereas the other shapes have the “Brilliance and Fire” When considering whether one of these cuts are for you, it is a good idea to consider if you are going to love the diamond as much in 20 years time as you do today.
Which ever diamond you choose, make sure it is a well cut one, and it will bring you years or enjoyment. After all, a diamond is not like a bottle of wine, its not going to get better over time.
Brisbane jewellers who conduct their manufacturing on the premises are an excellent place to start when you are looking for your engagement and wedding rings. Wondering from shop to shop, looking for “the one ” can sometimes be a vary draining experience. For some clients hoping to find the perfect engagement or wedding ring that is just around the corner, can sometimes be a fantasy. Murphy’s law says, that which ever way the ring is made, it will rarely be exactly the way you would have wanted it in the first place. So why not have the ring custom made exactly the way you want it ?
Have you been dreaming of the way your perfect engagement ring would look like, but can’t seem to find it anywhere ? Don’t worry if you are no good at drawing, the designers at Xennox have the ability to have your ring custom 3D sketched while you wait. Having your ring custom sketched allows you to personalise your ring, your way. You can see the ring being created right before your eyes. Changes can be made to the design with a stroke of a pencil. You also get to see the ring from many different angles as well.
Having your ring hand made on the premises, allows you to be as involved at every stage of the manufacturing process as you would like to be. Our clients are able to come and have a look at the rings at every stage, to make sure they are 100% happy with the way the ring is progressing.
If there are changes that you would like to make, this is the perfect time to do it. Don’t worry If you can’t make it in to see the piece, we can email you pictures. Best of all, there is no charge for any minor changes you would like to make. Our aim, is to hand craft a piece of jewellery that you are going to love forever, and we will do almost anything to make that happen. After all this is a ring you are going to have for a very long time.
At Xennox Diamonds, our Brisbane jewellers believe hand making amazing pieces of jewellery is something that is really special, and something that we are really passionate about. If you have something that you would like made, why not make an obligation free appointment to come and sit down with our designer, and have a complimentary 3D sketch drawn.
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