Thank you to all our valued clients and friends who visited our booth at the Singapore International Jewellery Show 2012 at Marina Bay Sands. We appreciate your continuous support. It was a successful show for us and we hope to see you next year.
Category: jewellery news
Your Buying Guide to Tanzanites – Read this before your next purchase
For those who have caught the Tanzanite Bug, mesmerized by this blue-purple-violet gemstone – below is your buying guide to Tanzanites. The Tanzanite is a plechroic gemstone – meaning it will display different shades of blue/purple/violet/lilac when viewed from different angles.
New Colour of Love – the gem that is 1000 times rarer than Diamonds
A birthday around the corner, your wedding anniversary next week.
What do you give to your wife who already has the common, colourless rock? The new colour of love, in multiple shades! Blue, Bluish-Violet, Violet-Blue and Investment Grade Tanzanites. Tanzanites have one of the most mesmerizing blue/violet shades found in one single gem. This is due to its geological formation.
The most important C of Tanzanites is Colour, followed by Clarity, Cut and Carat.
3.58ct Perfect Solitaire Investment Grade Tanzanite.
1.04ct diamonds
18k white gold
** The above photos are taken with a regular iphone and a regular pentax digital camera and have not been enhanced in any way.
How rare is Tanzanite?
Considering that Tanzanites are found in only one place on Earth, Tanzania in East Africa, it is a game of a single source with limited supply. In addition to this, the Tanzanian Government has banned the export of unprocessed Tanzanites into India (which is where 90% of the world’s supply of rough Tanzanites are faceted, cut and polished). Supply of Tanzanites is estimated to last approximately another 30 years, though with more advanced technology, miners could possibly mine deeper underground to achieve more.
The Tanzanite Foundation claims Tanzanites to be 1000 times rarer than Diamonds.
Investment Grade Tanzanites
Colour Chart Source: http://www.lapigems.com
Top quality colour Investment Grade Tanzanites are difficult to find. We are referring to good saturation (not one notch more, not one notch less), high brilliancy, a vivid hues of Bluish-Violet. Too much saturation, too much of blue or too much violet or very dark shades of Tanzanites will lower the value and price of your Tanzanite.
So you have the money, can you buy a piece of Investment Grade Tanzanite?
As mentioned, supply of Investment Grade Tanzanites are limited due to its single source. Even with money, the average consumer may or may not be able to lay their hands on Investment Grade/AAA coloured Tanzanites.
If you can afford, but can’t wait to have an Investment Grade Tanzanite, perhaps settle for yet another common, colourless rock
Heritage Gems at the Singapore International Jewellery Show 2012
Heritage Gems is a local boutique jewellery design house specializing in both custom work and ready-made fine jewellery. We take pride in providing our clients with only top quality gems and diamonds, coupled with bespoke craftsmanship. Our team of craftsmen each have over 25 years of experience in hand-crafting luxurious fine jewellery.
Our unique yet wearable designs are tailored for the modern, sophisticated woman.
We will be at the 8th Singapore International Jewellery Show 2012, at the Marina Bay Sands Convention Hall this July 12 – 15. http://www.sijs.com.sg/
On showcase, will be our private collections open to the public for the first time. Also on display at this show will be loose sapphires, rubies, emeralds, tanzanites, diamonds, pearls and sem-precious gems.
Following this show, remaining items will be displayed in-store, also for the first time, at Delfi Orchard Mall.
So be the first to lay your hands on our best pieces. Visit us at our booth: J29, at the Marina Bay Sands Singapore, Halls A – B.
Debunking Jewellery Myth #1 – Chipped Diamonds
Some people have come to me with their diamond rings and showed me that their solitaire diamond has chipped at the sides, or the girdle (in gemmology terms). They’re baffled and can’t understand why, as diamonds are “supposed” to be extremely hard.
Well, it is true that diamonds are hard, but they are not as tough. On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, diamonds rank 10 which is the hardest possible, followed by Corundums (commonly known as Sapphires) which rank 9, followed by Quartz being a 7 and finally Talc rank 1, which is the softest possible. Hence, diamonds are hard: defined by being resistant to scratching, which means that a diamond can only be scratched by another diamond.
However, a diamond is not as tough as it is hard. Toughness is defined in gemmology as the resistance to breaking, chipping or cracking. Truth be told, because of diamonds’ crystalline structure, which has certain cleavages along certain planes; when hit at the correct angle, can actually cause the diamond to fracture or chip.
Bottom line: all forms of jewellery is an art form meant to be cherished, appreciated and well taken of. At all times, try not to wear your diamond or engagement ring when doing “heavy-duty” work. Take care when lifting or shifting any heavy-duty objects. If you suspect something does not look right with your jewellery, bring it to a jeweller you can trust (may or may not be the same jeweller who sold you the jewellery). Try to have your more precious jewellery cleaned, inspected and repolished every 1.5-2.5years. Yes, that includes platinum jewellery. Although, as far as we know, most jewellers will charge a nominal fee for repolishing. (Think of it as regular car-servicing sessions. You may not know there may be something wrong with your engine oil, or brake pads etc. But your technician will be able to tell. )
Our Ring of Romance
In designing this ring, I drew inspiration from the rich history depicted on the stained glass windows of the magnificent yet romantic churches in Italy. During the medieval times, apart from churches and public developments such as town halls, only the very wealthy could afford stained glass windows as part of their architecture in their homes. As well, the most appropriate gemstone to be paired with the romance of this ring was to go in search of a wine-coloured gemstone – and no other type of gemstone exudes this exact shade of berry wine colour, except the Rhodolite Garnets.
For a piece of Italy on your finger, retailing at SGD2,980.
18k white gold featuring a 6.6carat Rhodolite Garnet surrounded by diamonds.
For that casual Sunday look
This pair of bright and cheerful earrings, stunning enough for that lunch date on a Sunday, retailing at SGD2,890. Fancy, yet not OTT, these earrings will definitely add that additional oomph to your dress. A staple pair of earrings for this summer.
18K white gold, intense blue sapphires, happy yellow citrines surrounded by pure white sapphires.
PS: did you notice that there are no diamonds used in this pair? In designing this pair, our vision was fun, cheery and bright earrings, yet at the same time, striking a balance between fine precious gems and a casual statement.
Already sold
Would like to update that this pair of earrings has already been sold. Thank you for your enquiries and support.
when your favourite colour is orange
We had a client who had over the many years, unknowingly amassed several gemstones and jewellery in a very nice, rich orange hue.
She came to us one day with a ring and 2 loose gemstones and wanted us to help create a whole matching set of jewellery.
This was our client’s ring from her mother that she wanted to redesign.
Our client brought her own loose gemstones that she wanted to complement the new design we were going to re-set for her. We were delighted to help her re-design an entirely new set of jewellery she could finally wear.
So we proceeded to start work on dimensions, design process, design customization and final design confirmation. Notice that the above 2 gemstones were not entirely the same shape. But that is definitely not a problem for us – after recutting and re-shaping the gemstones slightly, this was the final outcome:
A beautiful 3-piece jewellery set with a classic vintage appeal, set in 18k white gold with diamonds. Notice her original ring was in yellow gold – we also changed that to white gold during the re-working process.
Liquid Gold Earrings
One of our few pieces created with just the use of coloured gemstones, without diamonds. With the right kind of design to suit the right type of gemstones, every woman can own her very own unique design from Heritage Gems.
We do not recreate the same design once a jewellery piece is sold.
This pair of earrings created late 2011 – scroll to our earlier posts in September or click through for more information: Our Creations on Facebook!