FEBRUARY BIRTHSTONE: AMETHYST

Amethyst is a type of quartz and is suitable for everyday wear. Available in a wide range of purples from the palest pastel lavender to the deepest seductive purple they are available in many sizes.

COLOUR: Pale lilac to deep purple.

GEMSTONE FAMILY: Quartz.

MOHS HARDNESS: 7

LOCATION: Mainly in Russia, Brazil and African countries such as Namibia and Zambia.

A BRIEF HISTORY: With its association with the god Bacchus amethyst has long been associated with drink and is believed to help prevent drunkenness.

FAMOUS GEMSTONES: Known as the purple sapphire, the amethyst below was looted during the Indian mutiny in 1855. Everyone who owned it since has suffered disaster and misfortune. When Edward Heron-Allen, owner of the stone from 1890, discovered its sinister history, he declared it 'cursed and stained with blood' and locked it in a bank vault with instructions that it not be opened until 33 years after his death. Heron-Allen's daughter donated the stone to the Museum with a letter he wrote warning anyone against handling it. (Source: The Natural History Museum).

CRYSTAL DICTIONARY: Amethyst is believed to calm the emotions, create clarity of thought and assist in attaining wisdom.

IMPORTANT: Be careful heating an amethyst - high temperatures can cause an irreversible change in the stone and can cause the colour to fade or change.

 www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

DECEMBER BIRTHSTONE: TANZANITE

Tanzanite is a rich blue-violet stone, discovered in the 1960's in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro.

A member of the Zoisite family of gemstones, this beautiful blue-violet stone is mined only in Tanzania and is often mistaken for a sapphire. Tanzanite is strongly 'pleochroic', which means this gemstone displays different colours - red, violet, blue, grey - when viewed from different angles. The blues appear more evident when subjected to fluorescent light and the violet hues can be seen readily when viewed under incandescent illumination.

With a hardness rating of 6.5 tanzanite is somewhat soft and fragile - most are set in earrings or pendants and care should be taken with tanzanite rings.

In its natural form, tanzanite is typically a brown colour, however most blue tanzanites for sale today owe their colour to heat treatment, which is what reveals its attractive pleochroic blues and violets. Simply richer in colour, heat-treated tanzanite is considered to be the same quality as non heat-treated tanzanite's, and as a rule, the larger the tanzanite, the deeper the colour.

Probably the most noteworthy tanzanite gemstone is the "Queen of Kilimanjaro", which is set into a white gold tiara along with 803 garnets and 913 diamonds. It is thought to be one of the world's largest faceted tanzanite gemstones, and weighs 242 carats.

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

FIFTY SHADES.....

Congratulations to Eddie and Vicky on their engagement with this stunning Tahitian pearl and diamond ring - a combination of soft lines and strong geometric form.

Tahitian Pearls are made by the black-lipped Oyster, indigenous to the South Sea Islands. Wildly iridescent and mystical, these one-of-a-kind pearls come in a variety of metallic colours - peacock, graphite, aubergine, dark green, olive green, blue, grey - and can be twice the size of the classic white Japanese Akoya.

Details: Tahitian pearl centre with 12 channel set white diamonds, in palladium.

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

Have you ever thought about having a piece of jewellery commissioned?

There is something so romantic and utterly special about a piece of beautiful jewellery that has been designed especially for you....

This year has been so exciting with the launch of the 'Crown Collection' but I also have a growing number of clients for whom I have designed unique and one-off pieces of bespoke jewellery - engagement rings, wedding rings, wedding rings to curve and shape around irregular shaped engagement rings, eternity rings, earrings, pendants....

Being a jewellery designer, I love working on commissioned pieces. To me, it is all about understanding you and your individuality, so that together we create a piece of jewellery to match your style, personality and your budget. Classic or contemporary, bold or understated, it is all about designing a piece which is right for you.

A selection of one-off creations 

Typically I visit each of my clients for a design consultation in the comfort of their own home - alleviating the need to trudge up and down a high street from one jeweller to another. There is no charge for a design consultation, and if you decide my service is not right for you it's fine to just walk away.

Commissioning a piece of fine jewellery is about having fun and enjoying the process. 

Every person is different. Some people have quite clear ideas about what they want and if this is the case I will work with you to bring your ideas to life as a practical design. If you haven't decided on exactly what you would like, or have absolutely no idea at all I will talk about jewellery styles, perhaps draw inspiration from things you are passionate about, favourite colours, family heirlooms, or aspects of your life to find a design that is right. However much or little creative input you would like to have, I always make sure that through my knowledge and understanding of both the aesthetics of design and the practical limitations of jewellery construction, that the piece is not only beautiful but that it actually works from a technical point of view. This is important. Some ideas look great in your head but won't work when translated into a 3-dimensional structure!

2D technical drawing of a bezel set engagement ring 

As the design develops, I will explain all that there is to know about different metals, diamonds and precious gemstones, so that you can make decisions and choose what is right for you, with confidence and at a price that suits you, your lifestyle and your budget.

You may worry that you can't picture what the finished piece will look like. Don't fear. With the help of design sketches and particularly with the use of CAD software, it's possible to actually see a 3D render of your finished piece before it is actually made - which is a fantastic option if you aren't very good at imagining what the finished piece will look like. I also have a collection of jewellery which whilst not intended as a 'catalogue' for clients to choose from, are to give a taste of the jewellery I create, the quality of workmanship, and to also serve as points of reference when discussing what you really want.

3D CAD images of a bezel set engagement ring

Many people think that bespoke jewellery will cost the earth. Think again..... I always strive to give the best possible value for money, regardless of how much you decide to spend - part of the meaning of good design is knowing how to produce beautiful results within a specified budget. And if a particular design is going to cost more than your budget allows, it is more than likely that I can find a way of doing a very similar design, that is to your budget. This is the beauty of bespoke design - changing the quality or type of stone, or perhaps a simple design change could considerably alter the time it takes to make, the materials, and hence the price.

The finished piece - made with white gold and set with a 0.50ct diamond 

Bespoke jewellery and good design should be accessible to everyone.

So next time you are thinking about buying a piece of jewellery....why not consider commissioning a bespoke piece and create something as beautiful and unique as you are?

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a design consultation, please contact me.

Much love

Cat ♥

www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk

A Jewel in the Crown: The Crown Collection

Spring 2012 has been really exciting for me with the launch of my fine jewellery range ...the 'Crown Collection'.  This is the first collection for Catherine Budd Jewellery and I have been thrilled with the response so far.   

Made from 18 carat gold with delicate accents of diamonds, The Crown Collection is a classic and elegant range which was inspired by the shape and form of the vintage tiara, and marks the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee.  The collection features an engagement ring, a choice of wedding rings and an eternity ring, which fit together perfectly, creating a stylish and intricate look.

Dating back centuries and reflecting eras of fashion decadence, some of the most stunning tiara's have been worn by Royal Queens and Princesses.  Queen Elizabeth II is said to have the largest collection of these fascinating jewelled headpieces in the world, which have been passed down from generation to generation as treasured and precious heirlooms.

Considered by many to be one of the most important pieces of jewellery worn on the most important of occasions, the tiara is often associated with weddings and believed to symbolise the loss of innocence and the triumph of love.  Each ring is available in 18 carat white, rose or yellow gold and can be set with white diamonds, coloured diamonds or precious gemstones.

For details, visit www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk, contact info@catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk or call 07701 080 615.

Much love

Cat x

I *LOVE* MY JOB

I admit that I am one of those exceedingly annoying people who can hand on heart say "I love my job".  I mean love it.  Really love it.  Whilst I admit that getting out of a cosy warm bed is sometimes horrendous, I can honestly say that I am glad I do what I do, and I consider myself incredibly lucky to work in an industry as rewarding and as interesting as I find it.

I get to design and create the most beautiful pieces of fine jewellery.  I look at diamonds every day, and work with the most interesting of precious gemstones.  Being so passionate about jewellery, you can imagine what an absolute joy it is to see a design evolve on paper and ultimately become a wonderful creation for someone to treasure.

And it is not only this.  All the clients I talk to during my day, are happy.  The reason we are meeting is truly special - an engagement, marriage, anniversary, birth of a child, birthday, or just a well-deserved treat - and it is an honour to be involved in these precious moments and occasions. I have even been part of a heart-stoppingly wonderful proposal © (you know who you are) which was an amazing privilege and a memory I will treasure.

I admit I really do have to frequently stop myself from talking friends and family to death about all things fine jewellery related.  Imagine the excitement I have when I meet with my clients and we can chat about jewellery until my heart's content. It's is like a dream come true for me!  From discussing the technical aspects of the 4 C's to the fun bits of trying things on, I love nothing more than looking at diamonds and gemstones that make you go "oooooooh", and coming up with jewellery designs that make you go "aaaaaaah".

Pieces of jewellery are special. The reasons for which they are worn are special. And the people who wear them are special.  How could I not love what I do?

I hope this week is good to you all.

Much love

Cat ©

http://www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk/

Pick the Perfect Diamond...

Purchasing a diamond can test the nerves of even the most astute buyer – but what do you look for? What makes one diamond worth more than another?

To understand why two diamonds of the same size are completely different prices, here is a simple guide to the essentials of diamond grading.

A diamond's value is based on the quality of its Cut, Clarity, Colour and it's weight, measured in Carats.  These are affectionately known as 'The 4 C's".

CUT

For a diamond to sparkle most brilliantly, the proportions and angles of the cut stone need to be precise to reflect the maximum amount of light back out and achieve what is known as 'total internal reflection'. This may not be the case if it has been cut too deep or too shallow. If a diamond doesn't catch your eye or if it doesn't flash in the light, it's probably not well cut. Good cutting is what brings fire to the ice.

CLARITY

Diamonds are mostly pure carbon, but during crystallisation other minerals can become trapped in the cooling rock. These impurities known as 'inclusions' show up as the various characteristics that affect the clarity of a diamond. Clarity is measured on a scale ranging from pure (flawless) to heavily included (I-3). The visibility of inclusions and blemishes that can be seen by an experienced grader under 10X magnification in good lighting sets the stone’s clarity, and the actual clarity grade is determined by the number, nature, position, size and colour of the inclusions.

COLOUR

The most sought after diamond is one where no colour is evident at all.

Diamonds are graded on the colour ranging from no colour at all (D) to deeply tinted yellow/brown (Z). Beyond "Z" is where the diamond's colour is no longer a 'tint' but an actual colour which is vivid and rich. These are called "fancy coloured diamonds" and are breathtakingly beautiful and rare.

CARAT

Carat is a gemstone’s unit of weight. It’s equivalent to 0.2 grams and is divided into one hundred points, so a diamond measuring 75 points is 3/4 carat in weight, or 0.75ct. The unit was devised in the States in 1913, its name coming from the carob seed, used by early traders as counterweights to measure precious gems.

So, when deciding  to buy a diamond, keep in mind the 4 C's as a factor of buying consideration.  I always ensure my clients are totally informed about these features and actually observe the differences by looking at real diamonds of different quality grades.  It is important to work out which quality is of greatest importance to you personally, and then to be guided in selecting the diamond that will hold the greatest value and sentiment for your budget.

I hope this week is good to you all.

Much love 

Cat ¨

http://www.catherinebuddjewellery.co.uk/