Category: Birth Stones

Topaz November Birthstone Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 13th October 2021

The birthstone for November is topaz. For this showcase we have selected some fabulous topaz November birthstone jewellery in natural orange topaz and contrasting cool blue topaz.

First up we have these striking deco rings featuring natural topaz. They are perfect as a November birthstone gift or for anyone who loves the rich golden hues of autumn. Our Deco collection can be handmade to order with your choice of gemstone, offset with diamonds and platinum. Secondly, we have chosen this beautiful and original set of stacking rings. This autumnal gemstone collection includes natural brown zircon, yellow diamond, purple spinel, pink spinel, orange garnet and champagne garnet. It was handmade in 18ct yellow gold. And lastly we have chosen to highlight our 18ct yellow gold spiky rings. These can be worn individually or stacked. The set pictured here features a round brilliant cut diamond and pear shaped yellow sapphire. The yellow sapphire could be substituted for a golden topaz for a similar effect.

If you’re feeling inspired and would like to discuss commissioning a unique Topaz ring, book a free design consultation with our designer Rebecca Smith. Consultations take place both in store and online depending on your preference. Alternatively call 01273 846338 for more information.

Blue Topaz November Birthstone Jewellery

Blue Topaz is a wonderful alternative to natural orange topaz. If you prefer a cooler hue then this stone is for you. Blue topaz pairs particularly well with Amethyst. Here are a few of our favourites.

Moi et Toi Earrings Amethyst and Blue Topaz – £420

Moi et Toi Dress Ring with Amethyst and Blue Topaz – £360

Amethyst Topaz Silver Six Strand Cuff Bangle – £1,600

Stone Set Spiky Blue Topaz and Amethyst Rings – £420 per ring

For more blue topaz inspiration check out our Aquamarine and Blue Topaz Jewellery Page

Alternative Sapphire Birthstone Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 11th August 2021

Sapphire is the birthstone for September. If you know someone with a September birthday, you might enjoy our alternative sapphire birthstone jewellery ideas. Whilst the most well-known colour for a sapphire is blue, they can also be pink, purple, green, yellow, and orange. If you’re looking for unusual sapphire birthstone jewellery, coloured sapphires are a great choice. This rainbow sapphire eternity ring was made as special commission in varying shades of coloured sapphires pave set into platinum.

Mixing a couple of shades of sapphire can create a beautiful tonal quality. This side hammered eternity ring has a mix of pale blue, bright blue and pink sapphires with diamonds. Sapphires also look nice mixed with aquamarine and diamond as we have done in this Bubbles pendant.

This gorgeous 7ct multi coloured sapphire stacking ring was designed from a collection of a clients own sapphires. They were bought many years ago in India and have sat in a drawer waiting to be used. Blue sapphires look gorgeous in both yellow gold or white gold/ platinum. For something a little different why not choose rose gold. This ring was handmade in rose gold to compliment the pink hues of the stones.

Alternative Sapphire Birthstone Jewellery: Yellow Sapphires

At Pruden and Smith we love yellow sapphires. They are sunny and bright and make a real statement in a sapphire dress ring. Yellow sapphires can vary in shade from a pale lemon yellow, to a warm amber. We often set yellow sapphires in yellow gold to reflect their warmth and pair them with diamonds set in white gold to add a cool contrast.

If you are interested in coloured sapphires, why not book a design appointment with our designer Rebecca Smith. She can get a selection of wonderful sapphires in for you to choose from. Book your free consultation here or call 01273 846338.

Birth Stones Peridot jewellery Uncategorised

Peridot August Birthstone Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 6th July 2021

Peridot is the birthstone for August. Peridot is a variety of the mineral olivine. It is one of only two gemstones not formed in the Earth’s crust, but in the molten rock of the upper mantle. It is associated with calm, peace, harmony, and health. This lovely vibrant stone adds a great flash of colour to our favourite peridot August birthstone jewellery designs. It is set off equally well by gold or silver and can be paired with other gemstones such as diamond, aquamarine and topaz for tonal harmony, or amethyst for vibrant contrast! We personally love to mix the warmth of gold and peridot with the calm coolness of diamond and aquamarine. It is a great addition to a coloured cluster ring, or unusual stacking ring. It can even make a lovely eternity ring when paired with diamonds.

Peridot August Birthstone Jewellery under £150

We’ve put together a little gift guide showcasing some lovely peridot birthstone gifts under £150. Whether you prefer a simple silver peridot stud, or an unusual chunky rough peridot stacking ring, there is something for all tastes.

Hammered Heart Peridot Pendant – £150
Hammered Peridot Earstuds Heart – from £120
Silver Nugget Earstuds 6mm with 3mm Gemstone – £99
Peridot Stacking Rings – £120 each

Unusual Peridot Rings under £400

Birthstone jewellery doesn’t have to be boring! It can be hard to find something unique when searching for birthstone jewellery. There are a lot of plain pendants and earrings, but finding something with a little more personality can be tough, particularly if you are looking for an unusual peridot dress ring. Here are a few of our favourite silver designs to give you some inspiration:

Side Hammered Peridot Pear Ring – £380
Silver Peridot Wrap Round Ring – £220
Parallel Inwards Spiky Ring Marquise Peridot – £380
Moi et Toi Cocktail Ring with Peridot and Blue Topaz – £360

For more peridot gift ideas check out our peridot gallery.

Birth Stones Ruby jewellery

Ruby July Birthstone Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 8th June 2021

We design a wide range of ruby July birthstone jewellery, everything from understated ear studs to bold cluster rings. Ruby is one our favourite coloured stones to work with. It is a variety of the mineral corundum, the same mineral family as sapphire, and gains its colour from the presence of the element chromium. Long considered a stone of kings, ruby has been prized since antiquity for its vibrant colour, and is said to symbolise nobility, passion, and personal power/energy. As well as being the July birthstone it is also given on the 15th and 40th wedding anniversaries, and is a popular choice for engagement rings and Valentine’s Day jewellery.

All of our ruby rings are designed and handmade in our on-site workshop. We work to order in rose, yellow, or white gold and platinum. Rubies pair particularly well with diamonds and 18ct yellow gold. Here are a few of our favourite designs…

Prices of rubies are primarily determined by colour. They range from pink to dark red, the brightest and most valuable red called ‘pigeon blood’. We have an excellent supplier of top quality rubies from Thailand and Burma for bright and deep red rubies to be mounted in fine jewellery and a FairTrade mine in Tanzania for slightly cheaper pinker gems. The mine has also been able to supply us with some natural ruby crystals and some uncut ruby shapes that look fabulous combined with our gold and silver “nugget” beads.

These gold ruby pear shaped earstuds and pendant were made for a ruby wedding anniversary. The AAA quality rubies measuring 5x4mm can be set in handmade in 9ct or 18ct yellow, rose or white gold or platinum with post and scroll fittings.

Alternative Ruby July Birthstone Jewellery – Ruby Zoisite

Ruby Zoisite is a naturally occurring composite gemstone comprised of both ruby and zoisite crystals in a single stone. It can vary in colour and pattern depending on the particular composition of the individual specimen. Zoisite has an earthy emerald green colour, contrasted by the pink and red highlights of the ruby. Ruby-zoisite is also heavily included with black hornblende minerals. Ruby-zoisite is currently only found in Tanzania. Although ruby-zoisite is not fine ruby, it is one of the most colourful ornamental gemstones available.

For more ruby jewellery ideas check out our ruby jewellery gallery: prelive.prudenandsmith.com/shop/gemstone-jewellery/ruby-jewellery

Bespoke jewellery Bespoke rings Birth Stones Emerald jewellery

May Birthstone: Emerald Birthstone Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 21st April 2021

May Birthstone: Emerald Birthstone Jewellery doesn’t have to be boring. Birthstone jewellery has a reputation of being uninspiring and often not even made from real gemstones or precious metals. At Pruden and Smith we do birthstone jewellery with a difference! Our work is lovingly designed and handmade in the heart of the historic arts and crafts town of Ditchling.

We have a wide rage of emerald jewellery. Our unusual Brazilian rough emerald designs are in stock and available to buy in store or have delivered next day. Beautiful bespoke emerald rings can be handmade to order in approximately 4-6 weeks. Take a look at our emerald jewellery collection to find the perfect emerald gift!

Emerald Rings Under £1000

Emeralds vary greatly in price depending on the cut clarify and colour of the stone. If you are looking for an emerald ring on a budget, these emerald and diamond rings under £1000 could be the perfect choice. The emeralds are mixed with diamonds for some extra sparkle. Our Emerald Diamond Offset Bubbles Ring features five round 2mm emeralds and five 2mm round diamonds set in your choice of 9ct yellow, white, or rose gold. This design also makes a wonderful emerald eternity ring. This Vintage Emerald Diamond Trilogy Engagement Ring features a 4.5mm round emerald and two 3mm diamonds set in 18ct yellow gold with a beaded edged details. This dainty ring is a lovely piece for the vintage jewellery lover.

May Birthstone: Emerald Showstoppers

Whether it is a 3ct oval emerald, a 1ct pear shaped emerald, or a 3ct emerald cut emerald, we can source stunning emeralds with a real wow factor! To find out more about emeralds and discuss commissioning a bespoke emerald ring, book a free one-hour no-obligation design consultation with our designer Rebecca. BOOK A DESIGN CONSULTATION HERE.

Emerald Birthstone Jewellery with a difference – Rough Emeralds

For something a bit different, take a look at our rough emerald jewellery. Our rough Brazilian emeralds have been carefully cut to preserve the rough texture on the surface of the emerald for a natural organic “found” look. The roughness of the cut of emerald gives an undulating outline to the gold plated silver setting edge which has been textured to match.

Aquamarine jewellery Birth Stones

Aquamarine in Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 3rd August 2019

Aquamarine in Jewellery is extremely versatile. The colour of an aquamarine tends to vary along the blue-green colour spectrum. Like emerald, aquamarine is a colour variety of the mineral beryl. The majority of aquamarines are of light blue colour, but the most expensive and coveted aquamarines are dark blue. Most aquamarine has a greenish blue colour, this is often heated to make it a more intense blue. With a hardness of 7.5 to 8 on the Mohs scale, it is a durable gemstone as long as it is treated with care to protect it against scratching and hard knocks. It can be found in a full range of different cuts from rough cut to cabochon or faceted shapes gemstones for setting or beads for stringing. It can also be carved. It’s hardness means it is ideal for giving a little colour to an engagement ring or eternity ring. Aquamarine is the birthstone for March and the gem of the 19th wedding anniversary.

Blue topaz or aquamarine?

We use both in our jewellery and it is very hard to differentiate between the two. By using a jewellers loupe you can tell the two gemstones apart. If you see two refraction lines when looking through a jewellers loupe at a gemstone you will know that it is, in fact, a blue topaz and not an aquamarine. A light blue topaz is a lot cheaper than an aquamarine, as it is widely available and usually has been irradiated to turn it from clear to blue. Aquamarines are usually natural, occassionally they will be heated to bring out a more intense blue colour but this should always be pointed out to you. As long as you are aware of what you are buying this gorgeous sea blue colour can be made available for most budgets.

Faceted rounds, ovals and pear shaped aquamarines. This fun collection of rings featuring aquamarines and diamonds set in platinum are versatile enough to use as an engagement ring, dress ring or eternity ring. we love the look of these smooth rubover settings framing these unusual gemstones.

Emerald cut, baguette and princess cut aquamarines are often featured in Art Deco style rings. Here are a few typically “stepped” designs inspired by this artistic era. We’ve slipped in a blue topaz to this row. Can you tell them apart?

Cabochons and rough cuts. Set in silver these lovely included aquamarines have the feel of the ocean about them. A cabochon often has a moonstone like quality to it. We love to aquire and use these giant pieces of natural art.

Colour combining. Aquamarines don’t just look good in the white precious metals of silver or platinum, it looks equally creative in rose gold or with a yellow metal highlight in these mixed metal fun dress rings and stacking rings. Its forgiving colour combines well with a variety of other gemstone colours. Our colour palette for our collections when it isn’t being pared with diamonds often combimes it with lime green peridot and purple amethyst or the dark blues of sapphire or tanzanite.

See more of our aquamarine in jewellery here

Birth Stones Emerald jewellery

May Birthstone Emerald Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 28th May 2017

The May Birthstone is Emerald the most famous of the green gemstones. It is also one of rarest and most valuable and is classified as one of the ‘precious four’ gemstones: emerald, ruby, diamond and sapphire. The finest emerald is thought to come from Columbia. Emerald has a special cut known as “Emerald Cut” or octagon which perfectly suits it’s crystal structure. this is a square or rectangle with the corners removed. All other shapes are available in both faceted cuts and cabochons.

Get creative! Pruden and Smith will design you a unique piece of emerald jewellery for your May Birthday or 55th anniversary gift. Pruden and smith can source you a unique single stone or generate designs incorporating a selection of smaller emeralds mixed with diamonds.

May Birthstone Jewellery

Emerald eternity Ring Emerald Cocktail Ring Emerald dress Ring Emerald Ruby Sapphire and Diamond Eternity Rings

Emerald has been the May birthstone since 1912 with rich grass-green colouring that’s often kissed with a touch of blue. Quality gems are also found in India, South Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia, and Zimbabwe. Prized since ancient times, they can be more expensive than a high-quality diamond of the same carat weight. You can also commission earrings, bangles, necklaces and pendants. Alternative green gemstones are jade, green garnet, peridot, green amethyst and green tourmaline. Jewellery made with these gemstones is available online or off the shelf in the Ditchling gallery. Emerald jewellery is always made to commission having chosen a stone to suit your budget and design.

Green garnet beaded necklace in silver £150

If you have an existing piece of emerald jewellery, perhaps inherited and not mounted to your taste, make a redesign appointment with our inhouse designer to have it transformed into a unique contemporary expression of your current style. whilst preserving it’s sentimental value.

Birth Stones Diamond jewellery

April Birthstone Diamond

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 11th April 2017

There are many benefits to being born in April; spring blossom, extra Easter eggs, and having diamonds as your birthstone! The April Birthstone Diamond is the perfect excuse to buy your loved one or even treat yourself to an interesting diamond ring, a contemporary diamond bracelet or pair of unusual diamond earrings.

At Pruden and Smith, we can provide you with specialist advice when buying diamonds, taking all the 4Cs into account. We are very experienced in buying certified diamonds (where the diamonds have been expertly graded, assessed and recorded) and navigating the market on your behalf. We frequently obtain diamonds on approval from our expert suppliers, so you can choose your favourite stone from a selection prepared to your requirements. We can equally buy the best available stones for your budget whilst providing advice on thresholds of carat, clarity, colour and cut and how the effect these have on your chosen design.

With 25 years of design expertise and priding ourselves on contemporary design we aim to provide you with your perfect piece of modern diamond jewellery; be it a round brilliant cut diamond in a contemporary platinum ring, a set of unusual stacking rings using irregular cuts of diamonds in delicate hammered metalwork, or unique diamond necklaces using uncut drilled diamond beads combined with our world famous nuggets. Take a look at our range of work using the link below…

Desired throughout history, diamonds were discovered in India in around 500BC. They are the hardest gemstone, and as well as being made into stunning jewellery by designers and craftsmen such as ourselves, they have many industrial applications such as in cutting and polishing tools. Diamonds are a form of pure carbon, formed under high temperature and pressure deep into the earth’s crust (140-190km deep), over very long periods of time (1 billion to 3.3 billion years). Volcanic activity brings diamonds to the Earth’s surface, or close enough to be mined.

Diamonds are valued based on the 4 Cs – carat, clarity, colour and cut. Carat refers to weight (and therefore translates into size), with one carat weighing 0.2grams. A one carat round diamond of average proportions is approximately 6.5mm in diameter.

The colour of a diamond can vary significantly, and indeed there are other colours than white (termed as ‘fancy diamonds’ with red being the rarest, and canary yellow also being very highly sought after). Colour is a result of the composition of the diamond, and it never changes over time. Because a colourless diamond, like a clear window, allows more light to pass through it than a coloured diamond, colourless diamonds emit more sparkle and fire. The formation process of a diamond ensures that only a few, rare diamonds are truly colourless. Thus the whiter a diamond’s colour, the greater its value. To grade ‘whiteness’ or colourlessness, jewellers refer to a professional colour scale that begins with the highest rating of D for colourless, and travels down the alphabet to grade stones with traces of very faint or light yellowish or brownish colour.

The cut of a diamond, combined with some of its inherent qualities is one of the reasons diamonds reflect light with a brilliance not associated with other, less superior gemstones. When light passes from one medium to another, the light rays are refracted or bent at an angle. Diamonds are one of the (relatively few) gemstones which are termed ‘singly refractive’, meaning light entering the stone is not significantly bent or split onto different pathways. Gemstones with higher refractive index (RI) are generally more brilliant than those with low RI, and diamond is almost at the top of the scale – more light is returned back out the top or crown of the stone, instead of passing through the bottom or pavilion. The high RI of diamonds is one reasons why when more facets are included in the cut of a diamond, added brilliance shines through – one of the most popular round cuts of diamond is termed the ‘brilliant cut’. It is also reason to consider the relationship between cut and clarity of the diamond when buying a stone – for example, a diamond cut with fewer facets, e.g. an ‘emerald’ cut, to be of a pleasing quality will need a relatively high quality diamond in terms of clarity as any inclusions will be more noticeable.

April Birthstone Diamond commissions are also welcome, do get in touch with your diamond ideas!

prelive.prudenandsmith.com

Amethyst jewellery Birth Stones

February Birthstone Amethyst Jewellery

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 13th February 2017

February Birthstone Amethyst Jewellery from Pruden and Smith. Pruden and Smith’s contemporary design gives you so many exciting and creative options. You can’t fail to find the perfect birthday gift for those Aquarians and Pisceans in your life. Pruden and Smith specialise in bespoke jewellery so if you do not see it here it can be created for you. Designer Rebecca Smith will interpret your requirements into a gift that is uniquely personal to your relationship with the recipient. Whether that relationship is business or personal there are so many different jewellery options you can utilise to acknowledge them.

Here are four favorite commissioned rings from this year. They are made in mixed metal colours. The rich yellow of 18ct yellow gold has been contrasted in different ways with either platinum, white gold or silver. The rings were commissioned for very different occasions: an engagement, an 18th birthday, an anniversary and finally as part of their “precious legacy” service. The precious legacy service takes inherited jewellery of sentimental value and reuses the metals and gems in it. these are reused and redesigned into contemporary pieces of jewellery that give them a new lease of life.

Amethyst stacking rings £1600 Amethyst and diamond ring POA Two colour amethyst twist ring £450

Pruden and Smith also have fun designing a wide range of ready to go jewellery. Amethyst the February birthstone has just been introduced into their “rough cut” collection as cufflinks, earrings, earstuds, necklaces and bracelets. The rough cut look is carefully cut and polished to look like a naturally occurring surface.

Topaz ring for a November birthday

Amethyst mirror cut stacking rings £240 each Amethyst square silver earstuds £180 Amethyst silver earstuds pear shaped £150

Amethyst rough cut collar necklace £650 Amethyst briolet tassle necklace £280 Amethyst briolet tassle earrings £180

Silver Rough Cut Druzy Ring

Amethyst crystal druzy ring £240 Silver and amethyst bead necklace £350 Amethyst drop earrings in silver £60

Two Checkerboard Cut Marquise Stone Dangly Earrings

Silver Giant Amethyst cuff bangle £1800 Amethyst and onyx earrings £140 Amethyst teardrop ring £320

Which February Birthstone Amethyst Jewellery would choose?

Click here to see more Amethyst jewellery

Birth Stones Gemstone jewellery Jewellery Seasonal Jewellery

November Birthstone Jewellery Citrine Topaz

Post author By prudenandsmith
Post date 7th November 2016

If you are looking for November birthstone jewellery we have a lovely selection of handmade jewellery in silver, yellow, white and rose gold and platinum. November birthdays are associated with two gemstones; Citrine and Topaz. The warm color of Citrine is said to be a gift from the sun to warm you as the nights gather in. Topaz is most desired in its rich orange Imperial Topaz color but it is found in a variety of rich colors like blue, pink and yellow. So there is a wide range of colour choice for those with November birthdays.

Citrine colours range from a strong orange to a pale yellow. its a lovely contemporary gemstone. Here it is combined with garnet (red) and peridot (green) and silver in some November birthday earrings.

The “Marwar” facet necklace and earrings can be made up in colours of your choice, perfect bespoke November Birthstone Jewellery!

November birthstone jewellery citrine earrings

Citrine, garnet, peridot earrings £280 Marwar facet Earrings £75 Hammered silver Citrine Earrings

Garnet and citrine Marwar necklace Orange Topaz Hammered Silver Necklace Brown Mix marwar necklace

Our large contemporary stacking rings feature blue topaz and citrine along with purple and green amethyst. All set in hammered silver. Imperial Orange topaz is a much stronger orange. This ring was specially commissioned in platinum with baguette diamond sides. To commission a special piece of unique jewellery see our “bespoke jewellery” page.

About Citrine

Citrine is one of the most popular gemstones available today. It belongs to the very large family of quartz gemstones along with amethyst. Citrine is the yellow to golden-orange variety of gemstone-quality macrocrystalline quartz. The name ‘citrine’ was derived from ‘citron’, a French word meaning ‘lemon’, although its color tends to be more golden rather than lemon-yellow.

Natural citrine is actually quite rare and because it is more valuable than most other varieties of quartz, much of the citrine today is actually heat-treated to obtain its attractive golden color. Almost all heated citrine will exhibit reddish tints. Citrine is very closely related to violet-purple amethyst. The only difference between citrine and amethyst is the oxidation level of iron ions present in colourless quartz crystal. When quartz is heated, iron impurities are reduced, resulting in less violet-purple color and more golden to orange colors. Ametrine is the natural bicolor combination of both golden citrine and violet amethyst in a single specimen.

Silver and Gold shoulder rings

About Topaz

Topaz in its pure form it is colorless. Impurities cause variations in color. It has a history that goes back at least two thousand years. The use of topaz goes back to Egyptian times when the ancient Egyptians believed that yellow topaz received its golden hue from the Sun God, Ra. The word “topaz” could also have stemmed from the Sanskrit in India, “tapas”, which means “fire”. Like Citrine it is often used in November Birthstone Jewellery.

citrine ring for a november birthday

Stacking rings in hammered silver

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