» Listings for 2014

1. The History of the Pearl

   Posted on 3:05pm Thursday 22nd May 2014

   History of The Pearl The pearl is a very important part of jewellery history, it was used before any gemstone due to it being fairly easily come by, unlike gemstones which were discovered when mined. There is no definite record of when pearls were first discovered, they were most probably found by ancient civilizations diving in search of food and the soft iridescence caught their eye.   The Pandyan Dynasty from South India (pre Christian era) was thought to be the first people to use the pearl, they controlled the fishing areas of many bays off South India and produced the finest pearls. This discovery was made because shell middens which are underground mounds of shells that are formed when pre-historic stone age men discard the shells of molluscs and oysters and were found along the bays of Sri-Lanka. The enormous mounds form solid base which then encouraged human settlements. I came across these shell middens when I visited south Africa below is an example.
   In ancient Rome pearls were a symbol of high status and were worn by the very wealthy. Chinese records indicate that pearls were cherished possessions within royalty, this is also true in ancient Rome as their has been many pearls found buried with royalty. An old fable involving the early queen of Egypt Cleopatra and Roman leader Mark Anthony reveals the importance of the pearl in royalty.       In the year 41 B.C Anthony invited Cleopatra for a banquet at Tarsus, Cleopatra challenged Anthony that she could give the most expensive meal ever provided with only a vessel of sour wine (vinegar). Anthony was perplexed when Cleopatra removed one of her pearl earrings and dropped it into the vinegar. The expensive pearl dissolved in the acidic solution, Cleopatra drank the goblet worth more than any meal in history and won the bet.
   		Cultured pearls are produced on oyster farms. The oysters are hung on ropes into the water, sometimes in baskets to stop predators like tiger fish and sea-turtles. They are anchored using concrete blocks. The next step is called seeding, this process involved prizing open the oyster and placing an irritant which is usually a small worm which is contrary to popular belief that a grain of sand is used. The oyster produces a nacre which creates the pearl, after the oyster produces a pearl is is usually sacrificed and eaten in the community because it will never produce a pearl as shiny as its first. To breed new oysters the farmers collect spat or commonly known as lava from around the area the oysters are kept.     image courtesy of http://www.tahiti-pearl-online.com/Pearls-of-Tahiti/pearl-farm.html
   Pearl farm in Tahaa
   Symbolism of the Pearl   In Hindu culture, pearls were associated with the Moon and were symbols of love and purity One of the most common beliefs about the power of the pearl is its association with life. People believed pearls changed depending on the health of its wearer: the gem clouded if the wearer fell sick, and lost its lustre completely if the wearer died. Early Chinese scholars believed pearls had vital powers and have the power to prevent forest fires. Tales were told of pearls so luminous they could cook rice and could be seen from thousands of yards or even several miles away.     Tibetan monks were said to have a "seduction pearl" that would cause any woman caught in its rays to become ravenous for love. In Wales, the Celts believed pearls have incredible life-giving powers. They decorated sacred vessels known as the Mother-Pots, they believed it would contaminate the water contained by the vessel with its special powers. Pearls are used as a metaphor for love and beauty. Being an expression of love, the pearl became a euphemism for the clitoris in Victorian times, recalling its place at Aphrodite's pearly gate.   Pearl Facts and what to look for Imitation Pearls: Good imitations are made from beads of glass, ceramic or shell and coated with a varnish of lacquer and ground fish scales to mimic the pearl surface. Well made imitations can be quite hard to spot. One way is the 'tooth test'. Gently rub the pearl under the cutting edge of your top front teeth. Don't bite it. Real pearl should feel slightly gritty due to it's crystalline structure. An imitation pearl will feel smooth. This is not an infallible test.       View Our Pearl Collection at Nude Jewellery

2. How to Commission a Piece of Jewellery

   Posted on 7:24pm Monday 17th Feb 2014

   As some of you may have noticed, we are currently running an exciting new competition, where we are giving one lucky person the opportunity to win a bespoke engagement ring, designed and handcrafted especially for you. Click here for info.

   For those of you thinking of entering our great competition, or for those considering  commissioning a piece for a loved one or as a treat for yourself. We have put together a concise explanation of how the bespoke process works, just to give you a clearer idea of what to expect and how to get the most out of the experience 

    

   Selecting the Piece

   The first step is to decide on the piece of jewellery. Having an idea of whether you would like a ring, necklace, earrings? etc. is a good place to start. Another thing to consider is if it is an entirely new piece or does it perhaps incorporate an old family ring of sentimental value? Family heirlooms often sit around gathering dust, when they could be converted into something more modern and wearable with a rework!

    

   Selecting a Style

   Everybody has their own preference of style when it comes to jewellery, as it’s a very personal thing. So deciding on something classic and delicate or bold and chunky is an important thing to be taken into consideration to be able to communicate your idea across to your jeweller.

   Collecting images of things you like, can be a very helpful tool to give you and your designer a clearer vision.

    

   Being Clear on Budget

   The sky is the limit when it comes to precious metals and stones, so it is important to be decisive about how much is a realistic spend for you. The budget then decipher what materials and techniques can be drafted into the design and construction of the piece.

    

   A Realistic Timescale for Completion

   Rome wasn’t built in a day as they say, the same goes for precious jewels! 

   Sometimes things need to be sent to engravers, casters etc and it takes time to develop  your dream creation. So, if you need something in a panic for the next day, it’s unlikely that it’s going to happen. 

   The simpler ideas can be quicker but be realistic if you have a special date you need it to be ready for. A little bit of organisation really helps, so get that ball rolling asap!

    

   We hope this sheds a little bit of light on the situation for you. Pop in and see us or give us a call at Nude if you have an idea you would like to run by us. We’ll be waiting at our workbenches to make it a reality!

   Or for more information click here or to read some testimonials click here.