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We’ve teamed up with Klarna to provide flexible payment options, allowing you to shop the way you want. With Klarna, you can split your payment into 3 instalments or choose to pay later, making your shopping experience smoother and more convenient. Your order total must be between £100 and £499 to qualify.
October 19, 2022 | by Admin
It is law within the UK that every item of precious metal sold such as Platinum, Gold, Silver is stamped labelling the item with the type of metal it is. Platinum pieces which weigh less than 0.5 grams, 18ct Gold and Palladium pieces weighing less than 1.0 gram and Silver pieces weighing less than 7.78 grams are except from hallmark.
At Diamonds Factory all our products are hallmarked as per UK hallmarking law from London Assay Office (The GoldSmith Company)
The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office is the oldest assay office in the United Kingdom. It has provided hallmarking services since The Goldsmiths' Company was founded in the 1300s. The company received its royal charter in 1327 and ranks 5th in order of precedence of the 12 Great Livery Companies of the City of London.
Hallmarking dates back to the 1300s when Edward I of England passed a law requiring any item made of silver, which was offered for sale, to be at least of equal quality as that of the coin of the realm (silver currency). The wardens of The Goldsmiths' Company were tasked with visiting workshops in the City of London to assay (test) silver articles. If these articles were found to be below standard they were originally destroyed and the metal forfeited to the King. If they passed, each article received the King's mark of authentication - the mark of a leopard's head. By 1478, there were several hundred workshops and merchants manufacturing silver articles in the City of London. It was not possible for the wardens to visit them all so the merchants were ordered to bring their items to Goldsmiths' Hall for testing and marking and a permanent Assay Office was established in the building. This is the origin of the term hallmark - struck with the King's mark at Goldsmiths' Hall.
In 1544 the Goldsmith's Company adopted the King's mark as their town mark and the mark of the leopard's head is now internationally recognised as the mark of this assay office.
The Goldsmiths's Company Assay Office is still based at Goldsmiths's Hall and remains the oldest company in Britain to be continually trading from the same site. However, it also has two satellite offices; at Greville Street in Hatton Garden in the heart of the London jewellery quarter and within a high security complex near London's Heathrow airport. It now has a new off-site facility within the Dalston-based jewellery manufacturer, Allied Gold. This is the first time in the Assay Office's 700 year history that it has opened permanent hallmarking services on a customer's premises.
In addition to hallmarking, the office has now expanded its range of services to support the jewellery trade and enforcement authorities. It offers a variety of specialist analytical services including nickel, lead & cadmium testing, antique silver dating, non-destructive compositional analysis, plating thickness measurement and a melt and assay service for scrap precious metal carried out in their fully independent on-site laboratory. Other services offered are a jewellery valuation service, laser marking, trading standards assistance, high quality photography and a comprehensive range of training and educational seminars, lectures and specialist events.
Getting engaged is one of the most exciting moments in a person’s life. And, if you’re someone who recently said yes, of course, you’ll want to show off the dazzling ring every chance you get!
One of the best, and easiest ways to spread the word that you’re engaged, is to post a picture on social media. But, getting a picture of your hand while making sure the ring is in focus and looking brilliant can be a tricky shot.
Luckily, we’re here to help with our top tips on how to nail that perfect engagement ring picture to share with your friends and followers.
Best Ways to Take an Engagement Ring Picture
The first thing to think about is how you want to take the picture. Do you want it to only involve the ring? Do you want to be in the picture or involve your partner too? We’d recommend finding some inspiration on Pinterest or Instagram to get some ideas for your own engagement ring photo shoot.
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1. Selfie
If you don’t want a close-up on your hands, ask your new fiancé to take a picture of you showcasing the ring. Here, you can let the world know just how happy or surprised you are.
2. With your Fiancé
As marriage is a union, it only makes sense to include your spouse-to-be in the picture with you and the ring. Whether you’re holding up your left hand in front of your and your fiancé’s smiling faces or your fiancé is holding your hand to show off the ring, it’ll make for a lovely photo that friends and family will cherish.
3. Against a Backdrop
If you got engaged in a special location, such as the beach, on top of a mountain, in front of a waterfall or anywhere else that is unique and meaningful, take a picture of your hand against the backdrop of the proposal location for a shot to remember.
4. With others Involved
If friends and family were involved during the proposal, taking a picture with everyone around will be a truly lovely moment as they all celebrate the engagement. You could also make the announcement online with your furry friend too - especially if you plan on involving your dog or cat in the wedding somehow.
How to Prepare for your Engagement Ring Picture
Now that you’ve decided how you want to pose for the picture and who you want to involve, it’s time to get your hands perfectly prepped and ready.
1. Get a Manicure
If there’s ever an excuse to treat yourself to a manicure, it’s now. While your nails don’t have to be glammed up for a picture, as they’ll be part of the focus, they’ll add instant style and finesse to the overall image. If you prefer something subtle and classic, choose a clean nude or French tip. Or, if you want to draw the eye even more to the ring finger, add a touch of sparkle.
2. Choose the Right Lighting
Lighting is everything - especially when you’re trying to capture the sparkle of the ring. When it comes to diamond rings, natural lighting is best as it’ll reflect the sunlight and showcase its brilliance. So, if possible, take the picture of your ring outside or close to a window and watch the magic happen.
3. Find the Best Angle
Different diamond shapes and cuts will reflect the light differently, and certain angles will help to create more sparkle. So, play around and take several pictures from different angles to find the one that captures your ring in the best way possible. You could also film a video moving your hand around for people to see the ring sparkle and shine at every angle.
4. Relax your Hand
Taking a picture of your hand isn’t the most natural thing to do, and if you’re at an uncomfortable angle to get the sparkle and trying to get the camera as close as possible, your hand may automatically tense up and look stiff and awkward in the picture. Rather than extending your fingers or spreading them apart, which can make your knuckles look wrinkled, try to relax a little for a more natural pose.
5. Use a Prop
If you don’t like the look of your hands in the picture or want to make a more subtle statement, grab a prop to hold. A cup of coffee (maybe a themed fiancé mug to pull the attention to the ring), a beautiful bouquet of flowers, and a glass of champagne are all natural props that’ll help you feel more comfortable and relaxed,
6. Avoid Using Flash or Zooming in
We’d recommend not using the flash function on your camera or phone as you’ll, ideally, be using natural lighting for your picture. If you’re taking a picture in the evening and can’t use natural light, try to use as much artificial light as you can, rather than using a harsh flash. Also, move the phone or camera closer to the ring instead of zooming in, otherwise, you’ll end up with a slightly grainy photo.
7. Edit the Image
If there are any imperfections, a speck of dust or a chipped nail, for example, there are plenty of free tools you can use to edit them out and ensure your picture is as impressive as it deserves to be. You can also sharpen the image to make it crystal clear, up the contrast and add a filter or preset that fits your personal aesthetic and Instagram feed to really give it the wow factor.
8. Hire a Professional for an Engagement Shoot
If photography isn’t your forte, but you still want a picture to announce the engagement or capture the special moment beautifully to look back on, hire a professional to get the shot for you. Engagement photoshoots are a very popular way to share the good news, and a professional will know just how to make the ring dazzle in all its glory.
A proposal is a magical and wonderful experience for everyone and if you’re looking for inspiration, check out our proposal ideas guide.
In all the excitement of an engagement, you may wonder how to wear an engagement ring. Take a look at our engagement ring etiquette guide for all you need to know.