3D Drawings Help To Visualize

If you want to remodel old gold lying around, we can give you design choices for Mother’s Day! So often, we hear “I’m not sure if I should do this or that” or “I can’t visualize what you’re describing.”

With our 3D drawings, you get to see what the finished product looks like, and you can make adjustments along the way.
Jenny had an idea of what she wanted to give her mother, but wasn’t exactly sure, so we showed her three slightly different designs. As soon as she saw them, she didn’t hesitate, “my mom would love THAT one!” Technology has made custom designing so much easier – it sure beats the pencil sketches we used to do!
As Mother’s Day approaches, and you’re not quite sure what you (or your mother) would like, we can work with you to make your dream piece! 💍❤️

A heartwarming custom design!

Custom designs are what we do best!

We all crave to remember loved ones when they pass away. After a courageous battle with cancer, our customer brought his late wife’s diamond earrings and asked if Selwyn could make them into cuff links – and this is the end result! Our slogan is “making memories to last a lifetime,” and now our customer will always have his wife by his side when he dresses up to go out!

How to Spot a Fake Diamond

I was recently asked, “when you look at a diamond with that miniature telescope thingamajiggy, you look very professional, but what the hell are you really looking at?” 🤔 (source will remain anonymous!)

With the popularity of fake diamonds, here are 5 ways to spot a fake diamond (aka cubic zirconia -CZ):

  1. Rub sandpaper against the stone * Diamonds are one of the world’s hardest materials, so this is an easy test. If it’s real, it will remain perfect, if it’s cubic zirconia it will get scratched – oops 😒!
  2. Do the fog test * Aaaah! If it’s a fake, it will fog up for a short period, whereas a real diamond’s fog will last longer because diamonds retain heat. It helps to have both so that you can see the difference.
  3. Looking through a loupe * Having that little thingamajiggy is probably the most telling. A magnifying glass (at least 10x magnification) will allow you take a closer look at your gem and its setting.

There are several things you will see: Firstly, if you don’t clean your jewellery frequently, you’ll probably notice how dirty it is 😲! Your gems don’t like hand cream, cooking and baking! So, clean it with an old toothbrush and mild soap. Voila, now look through the loupe again!

Secondly, most diamonds are made by mother nature so that means you’re going to see some imperfections. A fake stone would be perfect!  Word of caution: unlike CZ, certain lab-grown stones and moissanite will also look perfect with a loupe, so you should be cautious before discarding perfect gems. It can be a clue, however, that you should take a closer look or bring the stone to your Jeweller.

Thirdly, check the diamond’s edges. When you’re looking at a diamond through a loupe, a real stone is going to have sharp edges, and a fake stone will have rounded edges.

Lastly, look at the setting and stamp, especially any marks that signify what metal was used. If the metal is gold-plated or silver, chances are it’s not a diamond. Diamonds are traditionally set in gold or platinum.

  1. Hold it to the light to see how it sparkles * The sparkle of a diamond is unique: inside the stone, the diamond will sparkle grey and white (known as “brilliance“) while outside the gem it will reflect the colour of the rainbow onto other surfaces. This dispersed light is known as fire. On the other hand, a fake diamond will have rainbow colours that you can see inside the diamond.
  2. Look at the stone’s refractivity * Diamonds’ refractive indexes are very high, which makes them very sparkly. Therefore, you shouldn’t be able to see through the diamond to the other side – if you can, it’s a very bad sign 😟!

Now that you know how to spot a fake diamond; and that the miniature telescope thingamajiggy is a loupe, I hope you feel more confident with your next diamond purchase.

Thanks to Business Insider for these useful tips.

Have You Tried The Tooth Test?

With the increase in popularity of pearls, we all want to know if our pearls are genuine or fake. What better way to find out than by doing the “tooth test!” While rubbing pearls on your teeth may not be the most fashionable thing to do, wearing pearls is definitely back in fashion.

Pearls are more than just jewels. Throughout history there have been many references to the pearl as a magical and sought after gem. Even King Solomon is said to have believed that the pearl offered protection from fever and brought wealth and love.

Are cultured pearls natural pearls?

Natural and cultured pearls come from oysters that secrete layers of pearly substance, called nacre. Cultured pearls are the result of human intervention while natural pearls are a gift of nature. To produce a cultured pearl, a bead is introduced into the nucleus of the shellfish to stimulate the oyster to produce and cover the bead with nacre. This process was pioneered in Japan before the turn of the 20th century. In a natural pearl, a grain of sand or a parasite usually embed their way into the oyster without human intervention.

Why so many different names?

As varied as their names, so are their shapes. Names range from salt water to freshwater, semi-cultured, biwa, mother of pearl, blister and mabé pearls.

Is the shape of the pearl important?

Round is generally considered the most valuable shape. Perfectly round pearls are often cultured, while natural pearls are usually slightly misshapen and are called “baroque.”

Is colour a factor in determining price?

The beauty of a pearl’s colour comes from the thickness of the nacre. Many natural factors come into play in determining their colour – cream pearls come from salty waters and black pearls come from the waters around Tahiti and the Persian Gulf. The general rule for white or cream pearls is the darker the colour, the lower the price. Black pearls are extremely rare and expensive.

What length should pearls be?

Strands of pearls can be worn any length, day or night. A choker is 14”-16” with all pearls the same size; princess is 16”-18” and can have graduated size pearls; matinee is 21”-24” while opera is 28”-32” and is two standard chokers in length; rope is 32”-42” and may be worn twisted or knotted.

What should I look for when buying pearls?

Look at how well the pearls match in terms of colour, shape, lustre, size and surface perfections. Pearls that blend well together will cost more than mismatched pearls. When judging the quality of pearls, lustre is by far the most important factor, so compare a few strands before buying.

What is the best way to take care of pearls?

Acidity is a pearl’s worst enemy. Don’t use commercial cleaners, ultrasonic machines or detergents. Wearing pearls often is their best medicine as it brings out their shine. It’s best to put your pearls on after applying make up, perfume or hair spray as this can dull their lustre. When storing pearls, keep them separate from your other jewellery to prevent scratching. Storing them in a bowl of uncooked rice prevents them from drying out. Pearls are strung on silk and over time the silk will stretch from wearing them. If pearls are very loose between knots, it’s time to have your jeweller restring them.

How can I tell if I have fake pearls?

Try the tooth test! Gently rub the pearls over the biting surface of your front teeth. If the pearl feels smooth, it’s more than likely fake. If it feels grainy or sandy, it’s probably natural or cultured. You will feel the difference immediately.

Pearls are readily available all over the world, but fine quality pearls are becoming scarcer as our global waters become more polluted. Fortunately, you won’t have to dive to the bottom of the ocean, as Aphrodite did, to obtain your precious, prize pearls.

by Selwyn Kahn

Know Your 4 Cs When Diamond Shopping!

Whether you’re buying a diamond for the first time or remodeling grandma’s heirloom – familiarize yourself with the 4 Cs!

CUT: This doesn’t mean shape. The easiest way to explain cut is how sparkly or brilliant the diamond looks. Gemologists measure the quality from Ideal to Poor.

COLOUR: Most diamonds, although appearing colourless, actually have slight tones of yellow/brown. Colour is ranked on a lettered system from D to Z with D, E and F being colourless; G – J near colourless; all the way down to S – Z having the most colour.

CLARITY: This is probably the most confusing! It signifies rough edges, markings or inclusions found in the diamond. The best ranking is FL (flawless) followed by VVS (very, very slight); then VS (very slight); SI (slightly included) and finally I (imperfect).

CARAT: This means weight, and weight = size. A one-carat diamond = 100 points.

When buying a diamond you can juggle the 4 Cs based on your budget, but according to Mae West and many others, size does matter!

by Selwyn Kahn

Caring For Your Jewellery at Home

Some Useful Tips

  • Clean your diamond and gold jewellery with an old toothbrush, lukewarm water and mild liquid soap. Rinse well before wearing.
  • Remove your rings when working with bleach, as it can mark your jewellery.
  • Wear your pearls frequently! Your natural body oils will enhance their lustre, however, pearls should not be worn while exercising.
  • Put your pearls on after applying perfume and hairspray. Spraying these products close to your pearls could damage the nacre and reduce their lustre.
  • Storing your silver jewellery in a sealed plastic bag will make it less prone to tarnishing.
  • Chlorine and chemicals in swimming pools/hot tubs could affect your jewellery, especially your silver.
by Selwyn Kahn

Why are Fancy-Coloured Diamonds so Rare?

Only one in a hundred thousand diamonds has a deep enough natural colour to qualify as a ‘fine, fancy-coloured diamond’.

Gemmologically, minute traces of various chemicals give rise to different colours in diamonds. Traces of nitrogen will give rise to yellow stones while blue diamonds have traces of boron.
Unlike sapphires and other gemstones, fancy-coloured diamonds possess a distinctive look not found in gemstones. A diamond has the ability to disperse each ray of reflected light into a rainbow of colour.

by Selwyn Kahn