we are one! happy birthday to us

If you have visited our online shop recently, or been to see us on Facebook then you will already know that we are now a whole ONE YEAR OLD! The time has flown by and we are so pleased with how things have developed and how far they have come. It feels like only yesterday we were rushing around to get things ready for our opening.

The support we have received from friends old and new has been amazing; bloggers, facebookers, tweeters, new businesses and more. We have to express our thanks to the lovely and welcoming people of Stokesley, where our shop is based and people from the wonderful surrounding towns and villages. Not a day passes when we don't meet someone new and interesting. 

Our first year has been a dream, full of hard work and stressful at times but we can only hope the next year is as fun, challenging and as inspirational.

We embark on the next year with a makeover on the outside of the shop, more designers available in store than when we first started, exciting plans for exhibitions showcasing the work of local students, jewellery making classes and more so keep in touch and come and visit us in store for more information.

As a thank you firstly we would like to say, please have a HUGE slice of birthday cake.

Secondly we are offering 10% off all online orders for the month of September, just use the code BIRTHDAY at the checkout.

Thirdly we are running a competition to win one item of jewellery from each designer we stock, that is 17 pieces of jewellery! All you need to do is like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jewelleryby and share our page. Compeition winners will be picked on the 30th September and will be notified by Facebook.

Yum!

september birthstone; sapphire

Sapphires are well known for their beautiful blue hues and this is what most people think of, when they think of a sapphire but they actually come in a whole host of colours including even shades of grey and black. Any colour of sapphire that is not blue, is reference as a 'fancy colour' sapphire.


Sapphires come from the corundum family along with rubies and have a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. Because of this hard wearing rating sapphire is also used in non-ornamental applications such as scientific instruments or high durability windows.

One of the worlds largest faceted sapphires is the Logan Sapphire located in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. It is a flawless specimen from Sri Lanka and is the second largest blue sapphire known weighing 423ct. It is named after a Mrs John Logan who donated it to a research institute in 1960.

The Logan Sapphire

Sapphires are mined all over the world and different locations can produce different colour and quality sapphires.

Kashmir Sapphire

Regarded by many a the finest examples of sapphires in the world, they were first discovered in 1879 in the Padar region of Kashmir in northern India after a landslip allegedly uncovered their existence. Unfortunately after a few years of mining the area become unworkable due to the deposit being in the middle of a politically unstable area. The situation worsened in subsequent years so whether a result of conflict or the fact the mine may have been depleted in a few short years, it is still not completely understood or what remains of the sapphire source.

In 2007 Christie's held an auction for a Kashmir sapphire pendant set in gold. The pendant sold for $3,064,000, this equates to around £85,000 per carat! 

Ceylon Sapphire

Made famous in the UK after Princess Diana was given a large Ceylon Sapphire in the centre of her engagement ring, which has has subsequently re-emerged when given to Catherine Middleton on her engagement to Prince William. The ring was made by then crown jewellers Garrad. Ceylon sapphire is today regarded as the finest quality sapphire still being mined today in any commercial quantity.

Sri Lankan Sapphire

Padparadscha

Sri Lanka produces sapphires in a variety of colours but one of the most sought after is the Padparadscha, a pink-orange coloured sapphire. Although the stone is originally from Sri Lanka deposits have also been found in Vietnam and parts of Africa. The name is derived from the Sanskrit/Sinhalese padma raga, meaning lotus colour.

Other notable sources of sapphire include Madagascar, Africa, Thailand specifically the Kanchanaburi region and China (although information on Chinese sapphire is limited) all producing varied colours of sapphire.

Colour Change

A rare variety of sapphire, known as colour change exhibits different colours in different light. They appear blue in outdoor light and shades of purples under incandescent indoor light; they may also be pink in daylight and change to greenish colours. Some stones shift colour well and others only partially. While colour change sapphires can come from a variety of locations, Tanzania is the main source.



As with all gemstones, there are many legends attached to sapphire including the belief that Moses was given the ten commandments on tablets of sapphire. It is also said that sapphires are the stone of loyalty and fidelity, symbolising truth and sincerity.

Sapphires although a heard wearing stone, should be cleaned and stored just as carefully as other softer gemstones and jewellery to ensure its longevity. 

jessica flinn; september featured designer

This month we are turning our attention to Jewellery By Jessica Flinn. Originally from Darlington but now residing and working in Sheffield, the once local girl has quickly become a name to watch having this month been named in jewellery industry magazine Professional Jeweller's Hot 100 of 2012.

Jessica was born and raised in Darlington but after developing a keen interest in design and passion for creativity, decided to attend Sheffield University to study as a silversmith. After graduation she remained in Sheffield where she continues to design and create her contemporary jewellery collections from her workshop.

Her fabulous collections are made using techniques such as laser engraving and casting which are inspired by the industry she grew up around in both Darlington and Sheffield. Her collections are made in stainless steel, sterling silver and gold.



Describe yourself in ten words or less...
Creative, energetic and busy!

Tell us a little a bit about your job and what you love about it...
I run a small design company which is based in Sheffield. I love my job because I do a bit of everything; designing, making, marketing and sales. Everyday is different

How would you describe your jewellery?
Clean lined, simplistic, stylish and feminine.

What inspires you to design and create jewellery collections?
Different experiences that I've had and places I visit. Inspiration comes to me when I least expect it.

What are some items of jewellery you find yourself wearing constantly?
I love bracelets and cuffs, I have around 20 in my collection made by loads of other designers. Some large some small, my wrist is never without one!

Quick-fire questions!

Tell is something about yourself that would surprise people...
I lived in Korea fr six months!

City or countryside?
City

Silver or gold?
Both!

Who would you love to see wear your jewellery?
Anyone. I'd love to see it on a complete stranger as I walk down the road.

Favourite shop?
Normann Copenhagen - very cool designs.

Favourite place in the world?
My flat, with my man :)

Where in the world have you always wanted to visit?
Brazil - I'd love to go to the carnival. 

What is your most treasured possession?
It sounds sad but my mac is my most treasured possession - I'm a gadget lover!

Best way to spend a day of work?
Day of work?? What is this you speak off? :)

To see more of Jessica's designs visit us at http://www.jewelleryby.co.uk/14-jewellery-by-jessica-flinn