It doesn’t matter how you feel about your marriage or relationship with a long-term partner, divorce is rough on everyone involved in the process of separating. You may have simply drifted apart, you may be fighting like cat and dog, but the fact is, you once loved each other fiercely enough to want to commit to each other regardless of what life threw at you. Emotionally, giving up your wedding ring or engagement ring – or both – can often, simultaneously, be the hardest and easiest thing to do...
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Buying a diamond? Make sure you buy the stone and not the paper!
The internet is a wonderful thing. It has massive advantages and it's becoming the only way for people to do their shopping. Loaded with information, it has revolutionised the way we're able to research big ticket items before we commit to purchasing. In this instance, of course, I'm talking about diamonds. It's increasingly easier to purchase diamonds online, but why you would ever do that is beyond me. In fact, I recently wrote about why hunting for the perfect engagement ring online is a lost...
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New Jewellery Trade App Launches: Jewellery Trader
After months and months of hard work and determination, I can finally reveal my latest project. Here is a snippet of today's (Feb 2nd 2017) press release. Two jewellery professionals have launched a new app for the industry today which enables members of the trade to showcase and source jewellery, watches and antiques and if they so wish, advertise items for sale to consumers. The app, called Jewellery Trader, has been created by members of the industry, for the industry, and has been designed t...
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Save money by making a new piece of jewellery from your old treasured pieces
We're all guilty of the same thing. Every now and then we all buy something new to replace an old favourite. That old piece gets left aside and hardly ever worn again. There's nothing wrong with that. However, I do believe that if you have a piece of jewellery, then you should wear what you have and enjoy it. By now you've realised that I'm referring to your old pieces of jewellery. Items that have been placed in your trinket box and sadly haven't seen the light of day for a considerable amount ...
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HELP – my engagement ring is stuck on my finger
It's happened to everyone at some point. I get the phone call. PLEASE HELP - my engagement ring is stuck on my finger. You've put on a ring or you've been wearing yours for years, and it's stuck on your finger. It doesn't matter how hard or how much you try, there is just no getting it off. Well the good news is that there is a way to remove it and still keep your finger in tact. Here are a few of the more common scenarios: I've tried on a friends ring and just can't get it off. I'm towards the...
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My Guide to Hatton Garden – Video
Hatton Garden is the epicentre of the diamond and jewellery industry here in the UK. With over 80 retail shops showcasing diamond engagement rings, and the history and stories this street has to offer, where do you start? Well it’s where I have been working for more than 25 years and in this short video I am going to give you some advice on how you can get the best out of your Hatton Garden experience. If you would like an appointment, then please do call for a free consultation in our cent...
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Jewellery Insurance Explained – The recent raid on the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit has highlighted the need for up-to-date insurance policies – and valuations
Most people will have heard by now of what may be the largest jewellery heist of the modern era. I am of course referring to the robbery of the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit during April 2015’s Easter weekend. The fact that the thieves have got away (for now) with hundreds of millions of pounds worth of diamonds, gold and jewellery, should have jewellery-lovers asking themselves some serious questions. Namely: Is my jewellery adequately covered? Is my jewellery valuation up to date? When did I last...
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Hatton Garden – where the streets are lined with diamonds
"What's Hatton Garden?" I've heard that plenty of times over the years and it still surprises me. I'm not sure exactly why that is. Perhaps it's because I've been walking the streets around here for over twenty four years or maybe it's because I've just come to know it as my second home and I expect others to know it as well as I do, that it still surprises me. It's like asking someone what Covent Garden is or even Camden Town. We both know they are synonymous for their own happenings and it's t...
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Tips on what you can do with your diamond ring once a break up has occurred
It's a reflection of the world we live in and a fact of life today. More and more people are going through a break up and ultimately a divorce. One of the main bones of contention is, and always will be, the diamond engagement ring. And it always will be because it is the one item which has the most value, in monetary terms and emotional terms. Let's put that behind us for the moment, there is a precedence set within the courts in the UK and the USA that I know about, which states that if the br...
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There is a difference between a diamond report and a valuation, let me explain
It's normally the same with new clients who have never purchased an expensive diamond piece before, on this occasion I'm referring to an engagement ring. For most it's probably the third largest purchase they are likely to make behind a car and a home. A lot of research and due diligence has been done by the couple and they are parting with a substantial amount of money on a lovely diamond engagement ring. We've been through the process and the happy couple have chosen a lovely diamond for a sol...
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