How do I register for your online
catalogue?
While you are visiting us at the workshop please ask for a form to register your interest. We then ask a few questions on the form e.g. address, email, phone number etc and we email you with a link to our website.
We do not pass your details onto anyone else.
Do you take commissions, repairs and alterations?
No - all our time is taken up making our own
designs!
When I buy a piece of your work is it boxed?
At the studio all our jewellery is presented in its own 'John & Victoria' branded gift box. If you place an order it will then be packed in a protective padded bag before posting at a charge of £1.50. All orders over £50 are delivered by
'insured and signed for' postage at a charge of £5.
Do you offer gift vouchers?
Yes, gift vouchers can be bought at our studio or ordered by post. They are available in £5, £10, £20 or £50 denominations.
What is Sterling Silver?
Pure silver is also known as fine silver. In this form it is relatively soft and malleable. It would not stand up to the everyday wear and tear
that most jewellery goes through.
It is therefore combined with other metals to arrive at a more durable product. Sterling silver is the standard of quality for articles containing 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper
which improves the metal's hardness without affecting its colour and shine. Sterling Silver is popular for use in jewellery because of its characteristics of light colour, strength and malleability.
What is 9ct Gold?
9ct refers to the purity of the gold and is the most commonly used carat of gold in the UK. It is inadvisable to create jewellery from a 100% gold as it would be too soft to be durable. It has to be alloyed (mixed) with other metals such as silver, copper and zinc for it to be durable. The ratio of the alloys used also determines the colour of the metal. Nine carat yellow gold is a metal alloy which contains 37.5%
gold with the addition of copper and silver. Nine carat red or rose gold
has a higher percentage of copper and nine carat white gold has a higher
percentage of silver with the addition of some palladium. 9ct gold is slightly harder than 18ct gold because there is less pure gold, which is soft, in the
alloy. This is a point to consider if a ring or wedding band will be worn by somebody who has a particularly manual job.
What is 18ct Gold (750) ?
Eighteen carat gold has a higher gold content than 9ct i.e. 75% which makes it approximately twice the price and a deeper, rich yellow colour although it is also softer. Eighteen carat
gold is a metal alloy which contains 75% gold with the addition of copper and
silver.
Why is jewellery hallmarked?
A hallmark is an independent worldwide respected guarantee of the
fineness and quality of the metal. It comprises a series of marks
applied to articles of gold, silver and platinum articles. It shows that
the article has been independently tested at an Assay Office and
guarantees that it conforms to the legal standards of precious metal
content, known as the fineness. We are registered with the London Assay Office.
A hallmark on the work shows:
Who made the article - the initials of the maker (ours
areJVJ)
Where it was made - the Lion indicates it is a British made piece
What the metal is, and its purity - the fineness mark (e.g. 925 - for sterling silver, 375 for 9ct gold and 750 for 18ct.
Where it was tested (Assayed) and marked - the Assay Office mark. (London - Leopard's Head Mark)
When was it stamped - The date letter signifies this (example; 'K' for 2009).
The majority of our work is hallmarked, with the exception of some smaller items
in silver which weigh under 7.8 grams which is the maximum legal limit for
unhallmarked pieces.
For further information please visit www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk
What is the best way to care for my jewellery?
Silver and gold jewellery is fairly robust and can be worn for almost any occasion but to keep it looking at its best it is wise to take certain precautions. If you are involved in heavy manual work, gardening, outdoor pursuits it is probably best to remove your jewellery just in case of damage. Follow these
basic tips:
Storage: ideally keep each piece separately either in its box (supplied) or wrapped in a soft cloth or acid-free tissue, so that they don’t end up damaging each other by scratching or tangling. It will also be less prone to the tarnishing caused by over exposure to air. Make sure the
jewellery is dry before putting away but remember not to dry it off with a paper towel or tissues - always use a soft, clean cloth.
Try to avoid: chemicals, detergents, salt or chlorinated water, perfumes, hairsprays, lotions, deodorants as they can can cause discolouration or tarnishing. It is therefore best to remove jewellery before swimming, using strong chemicals and to put
your jewellery on once your makeup etc is already applied.
Tarnishing: Silver is prone to tarnishing but it is not permanent and can be removed quite easily. You can prevent your jewellery tarnishing readily by keeping it away from the air when not worn (e.g. boxed) and by buffing it up with a polishing cloth occasionally. Once it has become tarnished you will need to use a professional jewellery cleaning cloth especially made for the purpose, one made of cotton impregnated with a silver cleaner and anti-tarnish agent. Do not wash the cloth as this will remove it anti-tarnishing properties and keep it in the plastic holder provided. We sell such cloths at the studio and they are available at most good high street shops. For intricate work and chains the liquid silver cleaning solutions are best. We are happy to advise on this. If jewellery has been left uncleaned for a long time and is deeply tarnished you may need to have it cleaned in an
ultrasonic machine and again you can have this done at some high street jewellers shops or we will provide this service for our own work.
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