Well hello, welcome back to the Varoshe blog! After five months off from writing these monthly posts, I thought it was time to get back to it, and this month I am going behind the scenes of making a jewellery collection…
How to choose the perfect wedding ring
A case study ~ remodelling old gold
Storytelling is always at the forefront of what we do. Whether it is the memories and sentiment that we help our customers to pour in to their jewellery commissions, or simply the journey of a piece as it's made, all jewellery has a story to tell. This month I thought I would share one of these stories with you...
Spotlight on our designers: Rebecca Burt
At Varoshe we love to showcase unusual jewellery with a story. Behind each collection on display there is an independent maker or small business whose story becomes part of their jewellery; from the initial ideas and inspiration to the final collection that you see on display. Each journey is unique and this month I would like to share another one of these stories with you...
Spotlight on our designers: Monique Jeffrey-Jones
At Varoshe we love to showcase unusual jewellery. As well as our own work, we display collections made by other independent jewellers who all have their own stories of how they started their career, what they love to design and how they work. Each journey is unique and is poured in to every piece that they make. This month I would like to share one of these stories with you... MONIQUE JEFFREY-JONES
Pearls: an update on a classic
“I always think of pearls as something my Nan would wear”, said a customer last week. She then went on to choose a pair of (you guessed it) pearl earrings! The fact is that pearls are no longer just that classic necklace that everyone has seen in the period dramas on the BBC. Nowadays they are being used in much more contemporary designs and the colours and shapes which once were seen as less desirable are now taking centre stage…
Silver & gold jewellery; what are the rules for mismatching colours?
I have heard the same sort of sentence a few times recently; “I love that, but I only wear silver” or “I was given a silver necklace which I love but I can’t wear it because it won’t go with all my gold jewellery”. It got me thinking, firstly, who says you can’t mix and match metals, and secondly, why restrict yourself to what you can and can’t like…
Memorial Jewellery: pour your story in to your jewellery
The Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards
Every February a special event is held at the Goldsmiths’ Hall in London, which is noted in the diary of every jeweller and metalsmith: The Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship & Design Awards. These prestigious awards are also called “The Jewellery Oscars” within the trade and are a celebration of all things metal; from the design to the finish piece, and all the processes in between...
Hallmarking - What does it mean?
I have always been fascinated by the hallmarks on jewellery and silverware, often looking them up to see how old something is. When we registered our own mark, it was a lovely feeling, as we joined the Register of Makers which spans back centuries. Every time we have something hallmarked I feel really proud that our little mark will be on that piece of jewellery forever, signifying that it was made by Varoshe long after we are all gone…
2018 ~ what a year !
Spotlight ~ a look at our designers
How can I have something bespoke made?
Finding the perfect wedding ring, why compromise?
A case study ~ Rob & Valerie's engagement ring
What is it like to be a jewellery designer?
When someone asks what I do for a living, and I reveal that I am a jewellery designer, I generally get one of two reactions;
1) “Oh, wow! I would love to do something creative like that. I’m just not artistic at all! It must be such a glamourous lifestyle, tell me more…”
2) “That’s nice.” [End of conversation.]…
Why should I have something bespoke made?
I am an emotional person. I always cry at sad films, I over think everything, and the most important thing in my life is my family (in which I include my closest friends). I will find the emotional connection in anything (I will often refer to an object as a ‘him’ rather than an ‘it'), and I think jewellery is the epitome of an emotional purchase…