The price of gold – a great time to scrap, but a bad time to sell!

Gold prices have gone through the roof.  I know we have already said this recently, but we REALLY mean it!  In recent weeks, the price of gold reached an all-time high – costing over $1,800.00 per ounce.

What this means for the consumer is that it is a great time to sweep up all those little bits of gold that are lurking at the bottom of drawers, or gathering dust in the back of your jewellery box.  Unworn pieces, broken or knotted chains or single earrings can soon add up in weight and be ‘scrapped’ for a great cash price that can be put towards some better purpose (like a lovely new diamond!).

It is worth noting though, that whilst it is a great time to be rid of your useless plain gold, stone set jewellery in good condition might be better sold as an item to be worn, rather than scrapped, since you will get more of the value of the stones back.  However, the economic climate not having been too warm of late, the market has recently been flooded with second hand jewellery, sold more out of necessity than choice.  As we know, when supply exceeds demand in this way, the buyer holds all the cards when it comes to the sale price.

Our advice therefore, is to hold on to any stone-set jewellery that remains in good condition until the economic climate returns to normal, but take your scrap pieces to 3 local jewellers to get the best price you can and take advantage of the high gold price.

Seeing red

Following from the very popular Feeling blue post last month, we thought we would cover another colour – this time focusing on the shades of red available to jewellery buyers.

Whilst RUBIES haven’t enjoyed quite as much popularity in recent years as in the past, the fabulous range of reds available, both from stone to stone but also as the light catches within one individual stone, mean that they will never be completely out of favour.  Having the same chemical composition as sapphires, pale colours with a pink hue are actually known as pink sapphires, with only those with truly red colouring called rubies.  The truest red rubies come from Burma, but many on the market these days come from Thailand since they often have fewer inclusions.

18 carat white gold and diamond pendant set with an oval cushion cut ruby (with chain) - £2,450.00

18 carat white gold and diamond drop earrings set with marquise cut rubies - £3,450.00

18 carat white and yellow gold bracelet, set with oval cushion cut rubies totalling 8.08 carats, and round brilliant cut diamonds totalling 2.89 carats - £11,250.00

18 carat white gold butterfly brooch set with rubies and diamonds - £1,650.00

18 carat white gold 9 rubies x .49 rubies + .14 diamonds - £975.00 + 18ctw chain - £185.00   (£1,160.00)

Often thought of as the semi-precious alternative to the ruby, GARNETS do actually come in almost every colour, just often known by other names.  However, the most commonly used colour within the jewellery trade remains the pleasing wine to brownish-red.  Mined in many locations, including Africa, South-East Asia, North America, Thailand and India, garnets remain readily available and therefore do offer a less expensive option for the red stone shopper.

9 carat yellow gold bracelet set with cabochon cut round garnets - £1,275.00

18 carat white gold stud earrings set with garnet and 0.10 carat diamond - £550.00

18 carat white gold ring with cushion cut garnet in a rubbed over setting - £895.00

CORAL is also most commonly found and used in its tomato-red colour, but can be found in pink and white, or very occasionally in black and blue.  Formed from the calcified skeletons of sea creatures, red coral has been used for ornamental purposes since 3000bc, however it is a more controversial substance these days since the commercial harvesting of it can cause significant damage to the environment, even in areas where it is in abundance such as the Western Mediterranean, the seas surrounding Japan, Northern Australia and the Red Sea.

8mm coral bead stud earrings set into 9 carat yellow gold - £235.00

Uniform red coral bead necklace - £140.00

9 carat yellow gold drop earrings set with red coral and cultured pearls - £180.00

Found in a rather orange-y shade, FIRE OPALS are the less valuable cousin of what the consumer would normally think of as an opal.  However, they can be found both perfectly transparent, and pleasingly clouded so they do have some commercial appeal to jewellers and consumer’s alike.

9 carat yellow gold earrings with fire opals in a rubbed over setting - £295.00

When a pink tourmaline is found in a deeper red, it is known as a RUBELITE.  All the stones within the tourmaline family offer excellent colour reflection so they prove fairly popular as a semi-precious gem. Large stones without any inclusions are tricky to find, but smaller stones are mined in Siberia, Burma, Sri Lanka, Brazil, the US and Madagasgar.

18 carat white gold cocktail ring set with an octagonal cut rubelite and 0.41 carat of diamonds   - £2,550.00

Ask The Experts: Wedding Jewellery

Whilst the internet offers brides a great choice when shopping for ‘on-the-day’ jewellery to suit their chosen look, we feel that there really is no substitute for being able to come into a shop, try some things on and speak some experts about how far your budget can go/how you can keep your special day jewels in tip top condition/what we might be able to design or order in for you to match your style.

So, we invited local wedding planner Isabel Smith of Isabel Smith Wedding Design to take a look around the shop and pick her favourite pieces for brides on almost any budget:

UNDER £100

Silver and cubic zirconia multi-circles collar necklace – was £125.00, NOW £62.50

Silver and cubic zirconia hexagonal hoop earrings with a brushed finish – was £35.00, NOW £17.50

ISABEL SAYS:  “Silver and cubic zirconia is a great combination for a bride on a budget since CZ offers a lot of sparkle for your spending, and they come in every colour under the sun.  I was particularly taken with this set, not just because it is currently in the sale so is an amazing bargain, but since geometric shapes are so popular at the moment.  In fact, I think I’ll feature these on the upcoming ‘bubbles’ design board on my own blog.”

Freshwater pearl long necklace with multi-string tassel end – £49.50

Freshwater pearl and cubic zirconia drop earrings – £30.00

ISABEL SAYS:  “Pearls remain a popular choice for brides and I just couldn’t resist this longer necklace which would go perfectly with a sleek Jenny Packham gown, or any of the stunning vintage-inspired backless dresses that are on the market at the moment.  The sparkly earrings would add interest to the front view, but remain small so as not to overpower the necklace.”

UNDER £250

Silver and cubic zirconia ‘pave diamond effect’ pear drop necklace –£44.00

Matching earrings – £58.50

ISABEL SAYS:  “Now this is something really special.  Everything by the company The Real Effect is designed to imitate diamonds as closely as possible – and they really do!  I picked this particular set since it is so Kate Middtleon-esque but there is something in this range for everyone – and such a bargain too!’

White chalcedony pear shaped pendant set in silver with cubic zirconia – £130.00

Matching earrings – £82.50

ISABEL SAYS: “This set would suit a church wedding so well – simple and chaste, but elegant with just that hint of sparkle.  Since it can be ordered in a range of colours, it could have a very wide appeal; The pretty sky shade set I see here at the shop could be the perfect ‘something blue’.”

UNDER £500

Twisted freshwater pearl necklace – £440.00

Freshwater pearl stud earrings – £37.50

ISABEL SAYS:  “I’ve come back to pearls since this chunky twisted necklace would look so effective paired with a sleek, shorter dress – maybe something prom shaped with some fabulous coloured shoes?  The simple stud earrings leave the necklace (and shoes!) to speak for themselves.”

Diamond set yellow and white gold circles pendant with yellow gold chain – £395.00

Yellow and white gold disc stud earrings – £95.00

ISABEL SAYS: “Yellow gold isn’t nearly as popular with brides as it used to be, but it is enjoying such a revival outside of the wedding industry, I was really keen to select at least one yellow gold option.  If you’re wearing a coloured dress, and the tones suit, yellow gold can be so effective.  This necklace ticks all the boxes – yellow gold in a modern setting, white gold AND diamonds – what more could you want?”

UNDER £850

Black and white diamond set necklace in white gold – £395.00

Matching earrings – £425.00

ISABEL SAYS: “Black and white diamonds are so cool – I love the combination.  This set is such a good price and would add a really contemporary feel to any bride’s outfit.”

White gold butterfly necklace set with diamonds – £625.00

0.10 carat rubbed over setting solitaire diamond earrings – £175.00

ISABEL SAYS: “Butterflies still feature at a lot of weddings since they tie in with the ‘country garden meets vintage chic’ trend that is so popular.  This little butterfly is so so pretty, and the solitaire earrings make a fantastic wedding day gift for the groom to buy the bride since they can then be worn every day.”

Under £1500

White gold circles collar - £1,250.00

White gold hoop earrings - £89.50

ISABEL SAYS: “I love the delicacy of this collar – it is so pretty on!  And the simple hoop earrings make a great match.   With two such wearable pieces, you can re-capture your wedding day magic every day.”

White gold heart-shaped ring with floating diamond - £925.00

White gold and diamond heart stud earrings - £465.00

ISABEL SAYS:  “Hearts are always a classic choice – and very appropriate for a wedding!  Avoid things taking a tacky turn by keeping things very clean and simple, like these earrings, and avoiding any large hearts around your neck.”

Blow the budget

White gold and diamond crossover pendant with chain - £1,825.00

Matching earrings - £1,775.00

Pave set diamond double disc pendant set in white gold - £3,750.00

Pave set diamond 'falling curtain' earrings - £3,750.00

Solitaire diamond with a baguette and princess cut diamond surround - £10,625.00

Matching earrings - £11,950.00

ISABEL SAYS: “Now I’m having some real fun!  De Marsac has so many stunning statement pieces alongside their matching sets, I have found it literally impossible to choose.  The crossover set is so pretty when against the skin, whilst the ‘curtain effec’t drop earrings are just pure artwork!  You can’t beat the overall quality of the glacier clear diamonds in the square set though – that’s a serious investment set.”

Not forgetting the little extras

Starburst brooch in silver with cubic zirconia - £97.50

Butterfly brooch in silver with cubic zirconia - £75.00

ISABEL SAYS: “Brooches should never be overlooked when it comes to your wedding style – these beauties could be used to trim the sash on your dress, the silk wrapping your bouquet, or even in your hair.”

Silver Sale Extended - Now Includes Rotary Watches

Our super silver sale has now been extended to include ALL our Rotary watches - even the current models have a whopping 30% off!

But hurry - the sale can't last forever!

What does your 'new for old' insurance policy REALLY mean?

One of the services that we offer here at de Marsac is written jewellery valuations that can be submitted to your insurance company to aid you should you need to make a claim.  Whilst we have been encouraging clients to update their valuations recently in line with the sharp rise in the prices in gold and precious stones, there is another element to the insurance story that is well worth telling:

A practice very common amongst insurance companies, but little known by the consumer, is that of negotiating discounts with certain jewellery suppliers or shops - a discount that isn't passed on to the claimant but can tie them into choosing their replacement item only from the retailers on the approved discount list.

What this means for the poor soul who has lost or broken their beloved ring/earrings/necklace is that rather than being able to return to the independent jeweller from whom they bought their original item and then simply reclaim the replacement costs, they could be issued with a voucher to spend at the insurance company's preferred retailer - sometimes then leaving them with an item worth a lot less than the original piece.

The best way to combat this is simply to look at the small print of your policy or speak to a independent insurance broker as they will be able to advise you about policies that offer suitable coverage for the value of items that you own.

Feeling blue

As with any design-led industry (fashion, interior design, even car production), trends come and go in cycles.  For example white gold has overtaken yellow as the most popular type in the last 15 years, however we now see signs of a comeback.

One thing that is certainly la mode is blue stones:  Rubies and emeralds are out of favour with many clients, and sapphires are in – helped a great deal of course by the popularity of Kate Middleton’s stunning engagement ring.

Interestingly, sapphires have exactly the same chemical composition as rubies, with only the trace elements determining whether the colouring will be ruby red or sapphire blue.  In addition to being available in varying shades of blue (often from Burma), sapphires can also be found (mostly in Sri Lanka) in pink, yellow, lilac, green, white and orange.  However, the stunning and even cornflower blue of the stones found in the (now mostly exhausted) Kashmir mines remain the most desirable. 

Whilst it is possible to heat treat a pale sapphire to bring out the desired hue, it is possible to tell the difference so these stones are not as valuable. There are also synthetic stones on the market so the buyer should be made aware of what they are purchasing.

'Eternity' style bangle set with a total of 5.37 carat of sapphire and a total of 0.54 carat of diamonds - £6,750.00

2.80 carat sapphire pendant (and chain), set with a total of 0.20 carat of diamonds - £6,200.00

Cocktail ring set with a 0.98 carat rectangular cut sapphire and a total of 0.76 carat of diamonds - £2,950.00

5 sapphire 'eternity' ring with a total of 1.99 carat of sapphire and a total of 0.68 carat of diamonds - £2,450.00

Cocktail ring set with a 3.04 carat natural yellow sapphire and a total of 0.60 carat of diamonds - £7,450.00

Collar necklet set with a total of 1.80 carat of pink saphhires and a total of 0.71 carat of diamonds - £4,250.00

However, it is also worth noting there are a lot of other blue stones available too, offering the buyer a fantastic range of shades and tones at almost any price point:

Tanzanite, only found in Tanzania (hence its name), has only been available since the 1960s.  At this time, supply was unstable so it was very expensive – only really available to very rich collectors.  However, since further mines have been founded and supply has stabilised, tanzanite has become a very popular choice for modern buyers, both for the unique factor, and for its slightly more purple colouring.

Cocktail ring set with a 4.23 carat cushion cut tanzanite and a total of 0.55 carat of diamonds - £7,950.00

3.63 carat cushion cut tanzanite pendant (and chain) set with a total of 0.35 carat of diamonds - £5,750.00

Ring set with a 0.68 carat princess cut tanzanite and 10 cushion cut diamonds with a total weight of 0.66 carat - £2,625.00

Often used by modern jewellers as ‘something a little different’ to sapphire or tanzanite is Iolite.  A wide variety of shades are found in nature, but it is the deeper, violet toned stone that we see most in jewellery.  Being readily available in many parts of the world, yet not that well known, iolite also has the advantage of being less expensive than other blue stones.

Iolite and diamond pendant set with 9 carat white gold (with chain) - £200.00.  Matching earrings - £185.00

Ring set with a 2.86 carat iolite and a total of 0.75 carat of diamonds - £2,500.00

Aquamarine comes from the same family as emeralds in that it is a beryl, however whereas the presence of chromium in the chemical composition would give us the green of the emerald, it is the presence of iron that gives us our natural aquamarine blues.  They are much paler in colouring than sapphires, tanzanites and iolites, offering a lovely light sky blue.  Although aquamarine is fairly readily available (mined in Brazil, Russia, Madagascar, The US and Afghanistan), natural aquamarine doesn’t have an exceptional brilliance, so synthetic spinel is often used in larger pieces to give the desired effect.

Emerald cut aquamarine pendant and chain - £550.00

2.72 carat pear shaped aquamarine pendant (and chain) with a total of 0.54 carat of diamonds - £2,850.00

Cocktail ring set with a 2.73 carat aquamarine and a total of 0.73 carat of diamonds - £2,450.00

Cocktail ring set with a 7.17 carat natural blue spinel and a total of 0.89 carat of diamonds - £4,750.00

Blue Topaz is more readily available than its similarly coloured friend aquamarine, both naturally and in the form of paler stones that are radiated to bring out the more intense sky blue colouring, making it a less expensive option for the buyer.  It is however a very uniform blue so perhaps less pleasing to some eyes than the slightly varying tones of an aquamarine when turned in the light.

Cocktail ring set with a 3.98 carat blue topaz and a total of 0.54 carat of diamonds - £2,150.00

Fancy, multi-shade blue topaz pendant (and chain) set with a total 0.31 carat of diamonds - £3,650.00

13.8 carat pear shaped blue topaz pendant (and chain) set with a total od 0.50 carat of diamonds - £1,575.00

Zircon is a naturally occurring stone that in its white form was at one time commonly used as a diamond substitute since it has a very similar brilliance.  However, with the invention of the cheaply produced and totally synthetic cubic zirconia, the zircon’s role as a diamond substitute has diminished, and its reputation has suffered due to the similarity of the name.  However, clear or pale zircons that are heat treated, are readily available in a very pleasing mid tone green/blue, whilst retaining that brilliance that made them so popular originally.  Best of all however are the very rare blue zircon’s whose colour has occurred naturally

Natural blue zircon and diamond cocktail ring - £8,500.00

Silver Sale

Following from the huge success of our recent half price sale in gold and fine jewellery, we have decided to let our silver wares have a turn.

Pop in to take advantage of our fantastic reductions of 30% and 50% on a massive range of plain and stone set silver jewellery.  But you must hurry - the sale won't last forever!