By Lewis Malka
/ in Diamond Jewellery, Selling jewellery and diamonds
/ November 17, 2021
/ Comments Off on What Black Friday?
Everyone gets excited when November comes around. In the beginning it was one day. One day of sales. Over time it became the whole weekend, and some stores even discount the whole week. Traditionally it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, and a tradition which has migrated across the Atlantic to British shores, and beyond.
It seemed, to me at least, to be all about branded goods. Items like TVs game consoles. A lot of electronic products. Products which are the same price nati...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in History, Diamonds, Diamond Jewellery, Investment
/ September 30, 2021
/ Comments Off on A Diamond from the Rough
Have you ever wondered what journey a diamond takes before it ends up on your finger?
When they are uncovered from the depths of the earth, they look very different to how we see them in jewellery. And the qualities vary so much. It turns out only 15% of all diamonds mined, are good enough to be used in jewellery! The rest of the diamonds are not thrown away. There is a use for them too. Don’t forget, diamonds are the hardest natural substance in the world. As a result of this, only a diamond ca...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in Engagement ring, Diamond Jewellery, Selling jewellery and diamonds
/ August 25, 2021
/ Comments Off on How to Remove An Engagement Ring Stuck On Your Finger
My engagement ring is stuck on my finger!
It happens. Sometimes it’s an easy fix. Other times it’s a bit more involved. It can happen to men and women alike. It doesn’t discriminate and it’s not always obvious. But it does happen.
I am of course talking about rings. To be more specific, rings that are stuck on the finger, and which have no chance whatsoever of coming of. At least not in the conventional way. You’ve tried it all. Soap and water. Dunking your hand in vegetable oil. Using the str...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in Diamonds, Diamond Jewellery, Uncategorized
/ June 15, 2021
/ Comments Off on Why I’ve decided not to get involved with Lab-Grown diamonds in 2023
I’m sure by now you’ve come across the term 'lab-grown' when referring to diamonds. There has been a lot of buzz in the press recently, with some high street brands shouting about them. They’ve been championing the fact that they’re environmentally friendly. How they can be made to order. How they are much cheaper than natural diamonds. And that’s true. But there is a reason for that.
Given that, and with all the marketing, you’re wondering if you should jump on the bandwagon too. You ha...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in Jeweller, Jewellery Design, Diamonds, Diamond Jewellery, Uncategorized
/ April 7, 2021
/ Comments Off on You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!
Looking back, one of my proudest moments in life was starting in the jewellery trade as a sixteen-year-old apprentice. Learning the skills of a diamond mounter, as we are known, has helped give me the foundations for the work I do today. All the skills needed to understand the construction and framework, for what seems like a simple thing, were skilfully mastered in my first three years.
Technology, like in most industries today, plays a huge part in business. The jewellery trade is no differen...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in Mother's Day, Jeweller, History, Diamond Jewellery
/ March 5, 2021
/ Comments Off on On Mother’s Day I want to say “Thanks Mum” (and Dad)
You might be reading This as a client, friend or follower. Perhaps you're wearing one of my pieces or maybe one day you will!
Mother's day is around the corner and I wanted to give a huge shout out to my mum. She's amazing (I take after her of course!).
Many of us lucky to have our mums will want to tell them how grateful we are and how much we love them. I know I will.
If it wasn't for my mum (and dad) I wouldn't be here. No, not in that sense. If it wasn't for my parents I doubt I'd have becom...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in Engagement ring, Diamond Jewellery
/ January 19, 2021
/ Comments Off on 1991, the year it all began!
1991 was a significant year. Terminator 2: Judgment Day was the biggest grossing film in the cinema. Bryan Adams was breaking records with his hit single (Everything I Do) I Do It For You. It stayed at number one for a staggering 16 weeks. And the Football Association announced plans for a new “Super League” of eighteen clubs to replace the First Division. This soon turned out to be the Premier League as we know it.
"I used to think a wedding was a simple affair. Boy and girl meet, they fall i...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in Diamonds, Diamond Jewellery, Selling jewellery and diamonds, Valuations
/ July 8, 2019
/ Comments Off on What is my inherited jewellery worth?
There are many things that change with each generation. Tastes, fashions, technology and culture are all transient things. But while jewellery styles may change, jewellery itself never goes out of fashion.
So, it’s almost certain that in every house across the country there’s a box or two of old jewellery that’s been collected over the period of someone’s life. Some of it will be worn regularly, some of it might not have seen the light of day for decades.
Most of that jewellery will be high in s...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in Engagement ring, Wedding Proposals, Diamond Jewellery
/ July 1, 2019
/ Comments Off on Getting engaged? Get a plan!
So, you’ve decided she’s a keeper and you’ve decided to pop the question. It’s time to come up with a plan to make sure it’s a moment you’ll both remember for all the right reasons.
I’m going to assume at this point that the two of you have talked about the future and you’re already near certain she’ll say yes (if you haven’t then I’d recommend you put your plans on hold and have that chat before you take the plunge).
Although spontaneous proposals can sometimes be wildly romantic, most of them ...
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By Lewis Malka
/ in Engagement ring, Diamonds, Diamond Jewellery
/ June 12, 2019
/ Comments Off on Halo and goodbye – the changing fashions of engagement rings
It’s not just clothes that are hostages to style trends – jewellery fashions that are on-trend one day can be out of favour the next, and there’s no better recent example than the halo engagement ring.
For a while there the halo ring was all the rage. Originally designed for people who wanted their engagement ring to make a big, loud statement but whose budget didn’t stretch to having a diamond to match, the halo ring ticked a lot of boxes.
There’s nothing wrong in making a statement with the je...
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