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For discerning clients wanting their belly piercing to complement the quality of their engagement ring and other diamond jewellery, Pobjoy collection and bespoke diamond belly ring designs are really the only option.  

While those of us in the jewellery business have obvious reason to keep abreast of developments in the prices of precious metals, gems and diamonds, the majority of people do not. So have you seen the latest price of gold? Well it's a lot higher than it was a few months ago. In fact, it's the highest it has ever been (when not adjusted for inflation). Because this blog is not intended to be an economics lesson (phew!) nor a platform for predicting commodity prices (I've never met anyone yet who can), we just felt it worth highlighting.  The reality is that the various stages and parties involved in creating fine jewellery are acutely sensitive to substantial movements in raw material prices.  These movements inevitably drive higher retail prices in turn, such that this is relevant to customers and retailers alike. For an item of fine jewellery with precious metal representing a relatively small proportion of it's overall cost, such as a premium grade one carat diamond ring, movements in the gold price have only a moderate impact on the retailers' pricing. Even less so if it is made from 9 carat gold, as this contains only 37.5% gold, mixed with other alloys. But the typical retail price of a heavyweight, 18 carat solid gold curb chain is likely to fluctuate much more proportionately to the underlying price of gold.  Which means right now that gold chain will cost you quite a bit more than just a couple of years ago. So is gold now more expensive than platinum? Yes - and it has been for a while. However, platinum, which is visually almost identical to 18 carat white gold, is denser and harder, which makes it more challenging to work with in the creation of fine jewellery. And as it is denser, a greater weight of platinum is required to create the identical item if made in 18 carat white gold. Along with it's hypoallergenic credentials and resistance to tarnishing or yellowing, platinum had for a long time been  the more coveted - and more expensive - option when buying jewellery. These qualities still apply. The only difference now is that the price has gone up a lot less than gold.

Unlike most fashion accessories, trends in jewellery tend to have longevity. In fact some trends survive for decades rather than a few months. And when buying an item of fine jewellery, it is crucial that you go for what you truly love and honestly see yourself having plenty of opportunities to wear, rather than on rare occasions.   While there are several different themes to current jewellery trends, some have been commanding attention for some time.  Both Tiffany and Givenchy have been proactive in the renaissance of pearl accessories, particularly of the larger, irregular shaped jumbo variety.  On "main street", Pandora has also developed a following for it's pearl earring, bracelet and necklace collections. One concern for some consumers however is in understanding what exactly they are buying. In the vast majority of cases, we are talking freshwater cultured pearls. This means that they are grown under controlled conditions by inserting a bead into an oyster shell, then nurtured until a desirable pearl has evolved. Baroque and jumbo pearls are asymmetrically shaped and are typically less valuable than perfectly spherical examples. Whether round or oval, they show little sign of dropping out of style any time soon.   Shop pearl jewellery Caring for pearl jewellery Guide to pearls  

Oscar Winning Jewellery 2023 While not without it's critics, the Oscars remain the ultimate annual celebration of Hollywood glamour. But it's not just fantastic couture dresses on show. Fabulous jewellery also grabs the limelight.      Of course not all the jewellery on display would be suitable for anything other than the most glamorous of occasions. Nor is most if actually owned by the fortunate celebrities who get to wear it, even though many could afford to. In fact it is customary for some of the world's most iconic jewellery houses to lend selected, rarely seen creations to the biggest stars exclusively for this very high profile event... To see some highlights of this year's jewellery and our chosen winner click here    

Diamond stud earrings are a must. They are often referred to as the "little black dress" of diamond jewellery...

Excerpts from original article published in The Jeweller, December 2021 by Richard Chiu. What archaeologists believed to be the oldest jewellery discovered in southwest Morocco between 2014 and 2018 could be evidence that social profiling was practised during ancient times. The discovery of 33 prehistoric ornamental beads made from seashells in the Bizmoune Cave may be evidence of what could be an ancient form of non-verbal communication and help shed light on the evolution of human cognitive abilities and social interactions, according to researchers. The study, published in the journal Science Advances by researchers from the National Institute of Archaeological Sciences and Heritage, University Aix-Marseille, University of Arizona, suggested that the beads were not just worn for adornment but also as a form of communication. The researchers found that the beads, dated between 142,000 to 150,000 years old, were considered jewellery as the items were purposely crafted based on the repetitive and small man-made bore marks surrounding the holes that showed signs of wear and tear, suggesting the beads were hung on strings. Some of the beads also revealed traces of ochre-a self-decoration pigment commonly used by prehistoric humans. "They were probably part of the way people expressed their identity with their clothing. They're the tip of the iceberg for that kind of human trait,” researcher Steven Kuhn, professor of anthropology, University of Arizona told Eureka Alert. “They show that it was present even hundreds of thousands of years ago, and that humans were interested in communicating to bigger groups of people than their immediate friends and family. We don't know what they meant, but they're clearly symbolic objects that were deployed in a way that other people could see them," Kuhn said. “The beads are also notable for their lasting form. Rather than painting their bodies or faces with ochre or charcoal, as many people did, the beads' makers made something more permanent, suggesting the message they intended to convey was a lasting and important one,” Kuhn added. Add to your history. Explore coloured gemstone & pearl jewellery     Read our guide to coloured gems