Tuesday 2 December 2014

How to select the perfect jewellery for Christmas gifts.

As this is a blog about jewellery I want to give you some tips about giving jewellery to someone you love. Although it is often a man buying something for his girlfriend or wife it would be very old fashioned to focus just on that. These days there are a huge amount of singles, one parent families, mixed families and of course same sex relationships. All these people buy jewellery too of course. And I love the fact that ever more women buy their own jewellery throughout the year. But we are talking about the holiday season, of course, and the art of giving.

If you're lucky, the person you want to buy your gift for has already indicated what jewellery she (or he, but just to keep it simple to read I will refer to this person as she) likes. But if you aren’t that lucky, here are some tips to buy jewellery and bring that smile of amazement and astonishment (hopefully), to their faces.

Magazines

Try to flip through some magazines together and trick her into commenting. This is a bit transparent but most people will forgive you your tactics as soon as they understand why you did it.

Go classic if you don't know

If you have no clue, go for something classic. Like a simple golden ring or necklace (I don’t know your budget of course!).

Think of something symbolic

Still no clue? Try to think of something symbolic. Maybe she finished a course, maybe she has overcome some illness or a difficult time. And if nothing extraordinary happened, think of her children, animals or zodiac sign. Think of something that encourages her to pursue her dreams or goals. Then try to think of something symbolic. It might be a heart. A feather, a birthstone. We can show you images and can tell you about specific symbols.

Go for personal instead of pricey

Keep in mind that jewellery is considered an important gift. Whatever the price of it is. If you can afford it or have a special reason, than splash out and give something extravagant. But don’t give what you cannot afford. Remember that the thought and emotion are always a much stronger message to the receiver than the price tag.

The empty box

Still no clue? Well, then there is the very last option. Buy an empty box. Think of some nice words, a poem or a little card. Something that means something to both of you. And take her out after Christmas to go together to buy her something she loves. Not romantic? Think again! During the festive season we parted with alot of jewellery between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. People are often home on holidays together from work. They make a special day of it as they go together to buy something beautiful.

Below are gift ideas to help you on your way to Christmas:

Check out our Christmas Catalogue as well.

Birthstone earrings

It should surprise no one that earrings and other jewellery featuring birthstones make great gifts. We can help you find her birthstone in store. Expect price and quality to vary widely here depending on when her birthday falls. The world's most highly valued gemstones are sapphires (September birthstone), emeralds (May), rubies (July), and diamonds (April).

Gold Pendant

Versatility is not a general hallmark of jewelry, particularly as prices go up. However, gold pendants come in countless styles, incorporate many different materials and play a big part in a woman’s accessorising. This versatility, along with a lack of any overt symbolism, helps to make such a piece of jewelry a great gift to present on a whim, as a way to show your love and appreciation.

Pearl Strand

The idea here is that you’re not going to be making this kind of purchase with any frequency, so target the best pearls or at least the best you can afford. This is a serious investment and should be treated accordingly. This is not something you buy your brand new, two-weeks-passed girlfriend, but rather a gift for the long haul. While it is an elegant and fitting gift for special occasions , it may perform best for you during the holidays. We have pearl jewellery starting from just $29.95.

Anything with a Diamond

purchase tips to keep in mind

Get the size right. For rings and other pieces, take with you one or two she already owns as a guide. She’ll put on your gift right away, and a poor fit is an immediate downer and an instant indicator that either you don’t know her very well or you were too lazy to ascertain her size.
Personalise it. If the opportunity presents itself, consider adding a subtle engraving or something with her birthstone. Even look at Uberkate, which we have instore for really personalised jewellery. The cut off date for Uberkate is 13th December.

You could eliminate all of this simply by asking her what she likes, but in the mind of a woman — where contradiction is king — this typically only presents itself as a good idea after the fact, on the heels of disappointment. For many, your tremendous effort to hit the mark has a value of all its own. Buying jewelry can be extremely subjective and requires a deft ability to really read your girl and make the right choice. But it can also elevate your status in the relationship to unprecedented heights, and keep you in the good books for a very long time.

(L to R: Maddison, Scott, Kate, Dani, Samantha, Kyle, Mr Watson Snr, Mrs Watson Snr, Caroline Watson, Neil Watson, Hannah, James)

Tuesday 18 November 2014

Our take on selecting an Engagement Ring

Navigating through the sea of engagement ring choices can be tough, so read through these simple steps when considering which ring will suit best.

There are thousands of engagement rings to choose from. Bear in mind that it will be worn for a lifetime so it's worth taking the time to choose the right one. We believe that couples should not be pressured into a purchase.

Diamonds are traditionally the most popular stone for engagement rings. This is because the diamond's rarity and durability symbolises the constancy of the love declared by the couple.

Sapphires come a close second, followed by rubies and emeralds.

The most traditional diamond shape is round brilliant, but there are many others including pear, emerald, oval, heart, marquise and princess.

The most popular engagement rings are diamond solitaires, followed by clusters, and the increasingly fashionable, three stone ring.

Simply Bridal Leaf Three Stone Engagement Ring

The bride-to-be should have her ring size measured properly. The ring shouldn't fit too tightly – in hot weather hands swell up and the wearer won't be able to get it on or off. Equally, it shouldn't be so loose that it slides around on the finger or over the knuckle too easily.

Couples should consider the type of wedding ring they’d like to wear, so that both the engagement and wedding rings will go together. Usually wedding rings are gold, white gold, rose gold or platinum. The engagement ring generally looks better made from the same metal.

Most engagement rings are made in either gold or platinum. The Gold can be 18-carat, or 9-carat and be either white, yellow and/or rose gold. 18-carat gold, whether it is white, yellow or rose, is the best and preferred choice for gold engagement rings. The couple can also choose platinum for their engagement ring, although platinum is significantly more expensive than gold.

Choosing an engagement ring design is simply a matter of personal preference. However, there are some pitfalls in certain designs. Remember that an engagement ring has to do four things:

It has to be easy and practical to wear
It has to withstand everyday wear
It has to hold its gemstones securely
and, it has to look good

1. Easy and practical to wear

What is easy and practical depends on the wearer’s lifestyle. The higher the setting of the diamond or gemstone in the engagement ring, the more often it will catch on things. If the wearer works behind a desk, they may be able to wear a very high set ring. If they are a preschool teacher, for example, they would have to wear a safe ring that won't get caught.

2. Withstanding everyday wear

The engagement ring must withstand constant every day wear. Some environments are more destructive to engagement rings and jewellery than others. For example, a work area near a factory that uses abrasives is bad news for jewellery.

If one is in an environment where their engagement ring is likely to wear, a heavier style will last longer, and cause less worry. However, "heavy" doesn't necessarily have to mean wider, it just means a sturdy, strong shank/band should be used. If one prefers finer, more delicate styles, consider platinum, as platinum will out-wear gold many times over.

3. Holding gemstones securely

Six prongs (claws) are best, though a good secure four prong is also good; A bezel setting is safer than a prong setting. A heavier setting is stronger than a light setting; and a lower setting is less likely to be damaged than a higher setting

Men planning a surprise can be sneaky and check their girlfriend's ring size by “borrowing” one of her other rings. (Don't forget to replace it before she notices it's missing.)

To gauge what style she likes, look-out for styles she likes on her friends, in advertisements and in jewellers' windows. Does she prefer traditional or modern jewellery? Does she wear yellow, white gold or platinum jewellery?

After the purchase, always keep the receipt. If she doesn't like it, says no or if an insurance claim is needed, then the receipt is essential. Insure the ring as soon as possible, just in case. And, if one plans to pop the question abroad, they should make sure it's covered by travel insurance.

A great idea is to buy a cheap silver ring with which to propose and then let the bride to be choose her own ring (the man must make sure she realises this or he may not be popular!). Or to be really unique and very romantic, the couple could design the ring themselves, with our on-site jeweller.

We wish you the best in your search for that perfect ring, and remember, we are always happy to answer any questions via our Facebook page, via email: sales@watsonsjewellers.com.au or on the phone 03 6331 7646 as well as in store customer service.