A sterling silver ring with chequer-board, cushion cut blue topaz.

1st Year of Business Done and Dusted

This time last year I was getting my tools together, going over my plan for the year and preparing to embark on an adventure that would change my life. Nerves and excitement were all I was feeling. Oh, and hope, lots of hope.

One year done and looking back on 2014, I see that it was more of a roller coaster then a sedate cruise through the months. The highs were exhilarating; with my first major diamond deal right off the bat, a few engagement and wedding rings throughout the year and some markets to spice things up. The lows were nerve wracking; with a couple stressful times thrown into the year to keep things interesting. However, there was never a dull moment and I could never claim to be bored.

With us already into our third week of 2015 and my work schedule filling up quickly with new plans for stock, shows, offers and sales; I can see that 2015 is going to follow the lead of 2014 and keep life exciting.

Before I start posting new pieces of jewellery for 2015, I need to update you on what kept me so busy near the end of last year.

A pair of 9ct yellow gold studs with square cabochon smokey quartz. Manufactured for Marius Nel Jewellers.

A 9ct yellow gold with square cabochon smokey quartz. Made to match above earrings. Manufactured for Marius Nel Jewellers.

A pair of sterling silver drop earrings with rose cut chalcedony and small briolette amethyst. Manufactured for Marius Nel Jewellers.

A sterling silver pendant on chain with rose cut chalcedony, small briolette amethyst and cubics in the loop. Made to match above earrings. Manufactured for Marius Nel Jewellers

A pair of sterling silver drop earrings with round peridot and briolette carnelian. Manufactured for Marius Nel Jewellers.

A pair of sterling silver drop earrings with cabochon rose quartz and small briolette amethyst. Manufactured for Marius Nel Jewellers.

A pair of sterling silver drop earrings with large cabochon lapis lazuli and beads of turquoise, amethyst and beryl. Manufactured for Marius Nel Jewellers.

A pair of 9ct yellow gold drop earrings with briolette rock quartz. Manufactured for Marius Nel Jewellers.

An 18ct white gold, four claw solitaire diamond engagement ring.

The excited bride to be.

Jingling and Mingling at the Christmas Market

With Christmas around the corner and people always keeping their eyes open for something unique for that special someone, Christmas markets are gaining popularity. They are popping up everywhere and you can easily attend at least one a weekend until the 24th. I joined the Craft Market train and exhibited at one today in Linden.
 I thought it would also be a great place to showcase the origami decorations that have been keeping me very busy in the evenings. Thankfully, customers enjoyed buying them as much as I enjoyed making them.

The Cinderella of Metals

Recently, I was asked to manufacture a men's wedding band for someone who is tough on his hands, doesn't wear jewellery and is definitely not interested in a ring that is going to need maintenance. Oh, and it needs to be in a white metal and not stainless steel or titanium. This narrowed the options right down to the usual contenders; sterling silver (not special enough), white gold (too much maintenance with having to rhodium plate) or platinum (with its density we are talking big money).
In the recent past, these were the only options that a jeweller would give a customer and even today most jewellers will only offer these metals. However, there is a metal that is slowly but surely making an appearance and gaining popularity with customers and jewellers (those who know how to work with it) alike. I call it the Cinderella of Metals.

Palladium is part of the Platinum Metals group and has been overshadowed by its famous sister platinum for many years. Most jewellers shied away from using palladium due to the technical difficulties when casting with it and it was relegated to being mainly used in jewellery as an alloy for the making of white gold. . However, it started gaining popularity as more was discovered about this noble metal. It also helped that after 2004 prices rose steeply for gold and platinum and dropped for palladium. In most cases it is still cheaper to have a palladium ring made rather then a platinum ring.

To work in palladium is unlike any other metal. Though, it is as tacky to saw and file as platinum, it is not as temperamental when adding the finishing touches as are 18ct gold and platinum. It has the lowest melting point of the Platinum Metals group and is soft and ductile once annealed. This makes it a pleasure to bend and form into shape. These are benefits to the jeweller but to the customer there are many advantages as well. It work hardens very quickly and becomes as strong as platinum. With its beautiful "white" colour it does not need  the maintenance of rhodium plating like white gold. And, the biggest selling point is the fact that it is less dense then platinum. This equates to it being lighter which means that a ring in palladium is easily half the price of the same ring in platinum.

It seems that it is unlikely that the clock will strike twelve on this versatile metal.

A wide,brush finished, palladium men's band with stamping.