Get your festive shopping off to a stylish start with these beautiful present ideas for all the family
A Piece of History from The Diamond Setter
What is hallmarking?
Have you ever considered the hallmarks that are struck or lasered onto your jewellery?
Precious metals are rarely used in their purest form and usually alloyed with other metals for workability, durability, and wearability. But it isn’t possible to detect an article’s precious metal content by sight or touch.
Fortunately, it is compulsory in the UK that gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are independently tested and hallmarked by a third-party institution to make sure that every piece of jewellery made in this country conforms to all legal standards of purity or fineness.
This guarantees provenance by telling you as a consumer where the piece was assayed or tested, what the article is made of and who sent the article for hallmarking.
Nowhere in the world are consumers more highly protected than in the UK.
Awareness
A consultation with The Diamond Setter can pave the way to learning more about hallmarking. “It is surprising to meet people who are unaware of hallmarking in the UK. People should always look for the hallmark when buying jewellery and ask the store what each symbol represents. This will ensure they are getting what they pay for.” says Lorraine of The Diamond Setter.
Hallmarking also helps uncover the origins of older jewellery. As Gavin, Master Jeweller and Diamond Setter says, “When customers bring us an inherited piece of jewellery, we can trace the year it was brought or made and even who the maker was. It is so heart-warming to uncover the history of a piece that a customer has inherited from a loved one. They find it fascinating.”
Platinum Jubilee Commemorative Mark – the first and probably the last in our lifetime.
The British Hallmarking Council announced last year, “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, seventy years of service, having acceded to the throne in 1952. To celebrate the occasion, the body which oversees UK hallmarking, the British Hallmarking Council, has sanctioned a commemorative component mark.”
We have been including this special mark since it launched in November last year. When The Queen sadly died in September, the commemorative mark was abruptly withdrawn, but public appeals from jewellers and consumers alike prompted the Assay Office to consult with the King’s Assay Master. Consequently, the four Assay Offices of the UK brought back the Platinum Jubilee Mark and it will remain available until the end of 2022, as originally scheduled.
“We are so thrilled to be able to continue to offer this unique service to our valued customers. This is only the 7th commemorative mark to be released in history, the like of which we may never see again in our lifetime”, say Gavin and Lorraine.
The Memory Collection
So, if you wish to own or gift a one-of-a-kind piece of jewellery with Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Commemorative Mark, head to The Diamond Setter website or their Studio at Salomons Estate. There you can view
‘The Memory Collection’, a series of one-off pieces created by Gavin and Lorraine and perhaps treat yourself or a loved one to one of a handpicked selection of diamonds and gemstones to treasure for life and pass on to future generations.
Gavin has been creating jewellery for more than 20 years both in the UK and internationally. His wealth of experience includes working for the Rolex watch company in the early 2000s. The Diamond Setter offers a no-obligation consultation for creating bespoke jewellery, wedding and engagement rings, redesign and remodelling and any jewellery repair jobs. Gavin’s workshop is onsite, meaning no jewellery leaves the property unless it is going for hallmarking. They also have an onsite laser engraving service.
Gavin and Lorraine look forward to welcoming you at The Diamond Setter Studio soon.
The Diamond Setter
01892 458 042
For her
ARM CANDY
Selection of Catherine de Crevecoeur bracelets, £36 each, all available at www.catherinedc.com
GOLDEN EYE
All Gold Stackers Stack – A gorgeous trio of gold-filled beaded stacking bracelets. Price: £134. Exclusively available on www.bellajanejewellery.co.uk
ALL THAT GLITTERS
Trefoil 0.86cts Diamond Platinum Earrings – Handcrafted in our on-site workshop, this pair of 0.86cts platinum diamond earrings consist of three round brilliant cut diamonds and is a signature piece in our Trefoil collection. – £4,540
Platinum Initial Diamond Set Pendant – A timeless yet contemporary take on the traditional initial pendant, this is designed to sit perfectly with your existing jewellery collection. – £3,050
Two Row Platinum and 18ct Yellow Gold Skyline Pendant – Our Skyline Collection, inspired by the iconic and contemporary architecture of striking city skylines and modern cities. This pendant design is the perfect contrast of glistening diamonds beside the elegant 18ct Yellow Gold bar, our first two row design for the Skyline collection. – £1,620
All available from G Collins & Sons
LOOK OF LUXE
Lauren Jumper in Cerise (other colours available) £50; Commando Faux Leather Leggings £99 and Venus Ring (Labradorite Gemstone in 24 carat gold plated setting) £36.
All available at www.loveandluxe.uk
For him
A CUT ABOVE
Made to measure shirt experience at One Warwick Park with Boland and Sons
Prices start from £225, www.bolandandsons.com
MAKING SCENTS
Tom Ford Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum, 50ml, £94, available in store from Fenwick, Tunbridge Wells
SAY CHEERS TO GOOD BEER
Gun Brewery Tour and Tastings from £20
TASTE THE DIFFERENCE
Balfour Celebration Hamper: includes a £130 winery experience voucher, three Vintage Collection wines, Pink Fizz (rosé wine in a can!), Jake’s IPA and Lager, cheese, charcuterie, chutney and more. £345, Balfour Winery, www.balfourwinery.com
SLEEP IN STYLE
Jersey PJs, £80, The White Company Cotton jersey robe, £69, The White Company
For kids
HAT’LL DO NICELY
Christmas Pudding Beanie £16, The White Company
SOFT TOUCH
Jolly Gingerbread Fred, £16; Mitzi Reindeer, £27.00, Sugar Plum Fairy, £26. All Jelly Cat, available from www.jellycat.com and Jeremy’s Home Store
WHEELS IN MOTION
Ride on Car £120, The White Company
DEAR SANTA
Personalised letter to Santa Christmas Stocking, £36 and sack £45, includes free personalisation, Lime Tree London, www.limetreelondon.com
For you
DINE IN STYLE
Can’t decide? Then why not treat yourself or a loved one to some vouchers to experience afternoon tea or a lunch at One Warwick Park (from £25 pp) or Salomons (from £22.50)? www.onewarwickpark.co.uk www.salomons-estate.com
FESTIVE FLOURISH
Wreath and candle making workshops at The Outdoor Candle Company, £85, Candle making kits, £24, www.theoutdoorcandlecompany.com
FIRED UP
I AM WORTHY Love lights scented candle, £32, Love Up, www.loveup.shop
ILLUMINATING IDEAS
3D Wire star lights, £19.50 and £29.50, Lime Tree London, www.limetreelondon.com
ALL SET
House of Hackney Majorelle & Wildcard Dinner Plate, £26, Anthropologie, available in store on Tunbridge Wells High Street and www.anthropologie.com
BLUE FOR YOU
‘Winter Wonderland’ fused glass curve (available in many colours), £28 each, Glass by Claudia www.claudiawiegand.co.uk
