May we see with new eyes, each old thing, each known thing.

bespoke jewellery

Custom Work vs Bespoke Work

It is only in 2019 we developed a mindset of having a distinction between custom work and bespoke work.

Recognising this distinction has enabled us to frame our projects, perfect in eliciting a workable budget from a customer and then working to expectations; abuse if without.

Keep Reading

Antique Hand Cut, Rose Cut Diamond Jewellery

Antique rose cut diamonds, specifically the Straits Chinese Asian hand cut diamonds, are not for everyone. 

Their primitive cuts are quite identical to Georgian rose cut diamonds, but not similar to Victorian diamonds.

Keep Reading
Art Deco Chinese Style, What Is It?

Art Deco Chinese Style, What Is It?

South-east Asia, and Singapore in particular, a small, multi-racial entrepot, enthused at the finer life of not just the British Isle or fashionable Paris, but at how Chinese in other places could be both Chinese and ‘Western’ at the same time. The lovingness at which overseas Chinese looked at Shanghai’s riot of life is surely reflected in their own adoption of art, fashion and jewellery.

Keep Reading
An Atypical Guide to Gems: The Colour Of Gemstones

An Atypical Guide to Gems: The Colour Of Gemstones

Our guide to gems will tell you what most other guides won’t tell you, which is: do not judge a stone by its colour. When shopping for a gem.

A typical gem guide will tell you to look out for cut and colour and size and origin – all the things you probably already know about. Those things are important if all you are doing is buying a gem based on numbers and figures, but let’s not forget that most of us buy gems to use in jewellery.

Only when the gem is set in jewellery will it look complete. And whatever the colour and quality of a gem, it is the setting that will reveal the potential of a gemstone.

Keep Reading
Rose Cut Diamonds, Intan, and Antique Hand Cut Diamonds

Rose Cut Diamonds, Intan, and Antique Hand Cut Diamonds

There are two types of rose cut diamonds seen in much of the jewelry in this region, specifically South-east Asia. One is the ‘Western’ rose cut diamond and the other is the Straits Chinese rose cut diamond (intan). The Straits Chinese rose cut diamond is quite similar to the Indian polki diamond, which is an Indian cut diamond slice.

Historically the Western rose cut is hand cleaved, much like the Straits Chinese rose cut diamond. Hand cleaved diamonds reveal techniques of hand-cutting, with uneven facets at the crown of the diamond.

Keep Reading
Platinum vs White Gold

Platinum vs White Gold

If you compare the underside of jewellery pieces, you can easily see the construction of platinum pieces is structurally more solid than white gold. It is this robustness that makes platinum feel substantial in your hands. Again, some value this aspect in their jewellery, some less.

Keep Reading

Heated vs Unheated Sapphire: A Guide

Most sapphires are heat treated. Thermal treatment is common in commercial sapphires, as heat brings out the vivid colours of sapphires.

Unless stated to be ‘Unheated’ or ‘No Heat’, the sapphires you see on a ring or a pair of earrings are likely to be heat treated.

Keep Reading