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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.
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.
August 31, 2017 | 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.
While you shouldn’t limit yourself on anything other than budget, when it comes to shopping for an engagement ring many of us want a piece of jewellery that is going to flatter our hands and that we will love to look at forever more. It’s important you feel good when wearing your engagement ring and there is nothing wrong with looking for a style that complements your best features.
If you’re looking to purchase an engagement ring but want to take your finger length and hand size into consideration, then we’ve put together a helpful guide on what ring would look best to help when making your choice:
What to consider when choosing an engagement ring and finger size
There are some important things to consider when it comes to choosing the right ring for your finger size as many of us look for a ring style that will flatter our hand shape and finger length. Make a note of these:
· The shape and size of the stone – the bigger the stone, the larger the ring will appear making it preferable for those with longer fingers.
· The width of the ring band – for shorter fingers a thicker ring band will take up more of the surface area, which can make fingers look even shorter. Thinner bands, therefore, are preferable.
· The typical length of your nails – longer nails give the illusion of longer fingers meaning they can cope with larger stone shapes and thicker bands.
While that might feel like a lot to think about, on top of actually choosing a ring you like, it’s important if you want to find a style that truly complements your finger and hand size. Let’s take a look in more detail…
Best engagement rings for long fingers
When it comes to choosing a ring, if you have long fingers you won’t feel restricted on choice. The best engagement rings for long thin fingers are those that accentuate the length already there and ring shapes that may seem harder to wear, easily suit anyone with longer length hands and fingers. These include:
· Princess cuts – the square shape can make some people’s fingers look shorter, but on long hands, they work well.
· Halo – rings featuring lots of diamonds and plenty of stones complement long slender hands.
· Emerald – this straight edged stone shape looks incredible on longer length fingers and larger carat sizes work well.
Band size:
Any band size will work on long, slender fingers. Thicker bands are ideal for those who want more ring for their money and a bolder look.
Metal type:
Those with longer fingers can enjoy any metal type for their engagement ring band, from darker yellow gold to on trend rose gold.
Best engagement rings for short fingers
If you have short fingers, you perhaps want an engagement ring that makes them appear longer. If this is the case, the following stones are the best choice:
· Marquise – the pointed ends and slender shape make fingers appear longer.
· Pear – the teardrop shape and pointed end tricks the eyes.
· Oval – a stretched round shape can extend a finger’s appearance.
Band size:
Thicker bands will take up more space on fingers - making them appear shorter – so it’s best to opt for thin ones.
Metal type:
Bright, white metals are the best choice so go for white gold and platinum. They draw eyes away from the finger itself to focus on the ring as well as being the ideal choice for those who like to mix and match their looks and need jewellery that works with every fashion choice they make.
Best engagement rings for small hands
Smaller rings work best on small hands, so they don’t overwhelm them and keep fingers looking dainty. The best diamond shapes for smaller hands include:
· Round brilliants - this classic stone shape won’t dominate smaller hands and is ideal for those looking for a traditional engagement ring look.
· Small oval shape diamonds - these are the best choice with thinner bands to complement the stone’s size and as noted above can make fingers appear longer.
Band size:
Thinner bands are the best choice for smaller hands, to ensure the metal does not dominate the finger and the ring still looks dainty with a smaller stone.
Metal type:
An easy to wear metal colour such as white gold is a good choice for those who want to draw eyes away from the size of their hands.
Best engagement rings for large hands
Those with larger hands can enjoy much more choice when it comes to ring band size and stone shape. For those with big personalities, bold ring designs can be chosen as they won’t impact on the look or how hands appear. If you want to take away the emphasis on the size of your hands, a larger ring can do this as it draws the attention away from the hands themselves.
These stone shapes are the best choice for large hands:
· Asscher - Large Asscher shape diamonds and cushions can be worn on large hands
· Black diamonds – darker stones work well on larger hands as they have a larger surface area to be worn upon.
Band size:
A thicker band size would work well for those with large hands as there is more room for a larger amount of metal.
Metal type:
Any metal type would look amazing on large hands, have fun with vintage styles or go for a classic white gold – it’s all about personal tastes and preferences.
Feeling confident when it comes to choosing a ring to flatter and accentuate the things you love about your hands? Then be sure to take a look at our engagement ring selection to find the perfect ring for you.
White Gold Round Side Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
From £826
White Gold Princess Side Stone Diamond Engagement Ring
From £904