Tag Archives: Fine jewellery

Just a Minute: Kevin & Cheryl

Posted on July 29, 2010 | Leave a comment

Kevin Seah is a fashion designer who has made a name for himself creating couture and bridal gowns. Last year he extended his services to a men’s readymade and bespoke line. Recently he also landed regional distributorship for Alfred Sargent shoes and a wide range of fantastic quality European fabrics.

Cheryl Ow Hui is a make up artist for bridal, film, commercials and special effects, in addition to training professional classes and workshops at Make Up Forever.

Kevin custom made both of their outfits and Cheryl was in charge of her own makeup and hair. This DIY couple is arguably Singapore’s most stylish duo! And it comes as no surprise that their engagement and wedding rings are something out of the ordinary. We wanted to know more.

MTD: Congratulations on tying the knot! You recently had a small intimate wedding affair and we will have to wait until next year for the big party! A few questions for the happy couple…

Diamond solitaires are the most popular rings for engagements. What made you choose a Blue Sapphire for yours?

Cheryl: The Blue Sapphire has an air of mystery to it and I have always been fascinated with it.  My first pair of earrings were given to me by my mother. It was a flower design with a tiny little sapphire in it and it was the prettiest thing in the whole world to me at that point.  I suppose that’s another reason why I love the Blue Sapphire, it brings back lovely memories for me.

Your wedding outfits follow a vintage theme and so did your engagement ring. Please share your thoughts.

CheryI: I find vintage objects have more character, and soul. Even women back then had so much more style and they took great pride in doing their hair and make up.  Nowadays it’s a wet mop of hair running into the MRT. I wanted my engagement ring to represent me and the things I like.  When people look at my ring I want them to say ‘Wow Cheryl, its  so you” and not ‘wah so big hor how much did he pay for it?’  It’s your engagement ring for crying out loud!!

Kevin, having many years experience of designing wedding gowns, you must have seen quite a few options for rings as well. What were you looking for in your own wedding rings?

Kevin: I wanted something simple, timeless and unique, hence the brushed finish.

Want to look as good as Kevin & Cheryl? Make a visit to

Kevin Seah
28 Maxwell Road
#04 – 08 Red Dot Traffic Building
Singapore 069120
Office Telephone: 63345128

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Can Wedding Rings be made in Silver?

Posted on July 15, 2010 | 1 Comment

When on the subject of wedding rings, most people will think of Gold or Platinum as the default materials. But are there other options? Muslim men, for example, are not supposed to wear gold rings and naturally have to turn to other options. This can make their wedding ring shopping more difficult as most shops in Singapore carry only gold.

Most designs that are found in Gold, can also be made in Platinum or Silver. So what is the difference between these materials? Platinum is the hardest metal and because of its durability it is commonly used in wedding jewellery. Platinum is also more rare than Gold or Silver and as a result fetches a much higher price, which makes it a no-go for buyers on a budget. An affordable option is Sterling Silver, which can also be set with stones.

Pair of Diamond Eternity Rings; His in Sterling Silver, hers in 18K White Gold.

Silver Rings can be made into a variety of designs, such as flat bands, rings with rounded edges, rings with gemstones or chunky plain bands.

Even a plain band can have variations. Above in Matte Finish and Glossy Finish

With Silver having a lower price tag than Gold or Platinum, it opens up design opportunities that might otherwise be limited by price. Add a fancy birthstone, a symbolic number of Diamonds, or make a solid broad ring that is stylish as well as meaningful.

Broad Ring with Amethyst and carved out initials, set in Sterling Silver.

If you want to know more about custom making in Silver or Platinum, email info@morethandiamonds.com.sg or call 6235 8873 and speak to Steve.

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Just a Minute: Pamela Tan

Posted on June 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

Hi Pamela, could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Pamela and I do Marketing and PR for a fine dining restaurant group.

What do you like about Goldilocks?

Goldilocks is different from other jewellers as they encourage individuality and creativity. The more you want to push the design boundaries, the happier they are to make your dream come true. As a result, you get a piece that is distinctly you.

You chose to custom make a wishbone rather than a name or word. What does the ‘wishbone’ mean to you?

When you have a wish, you also have hope. And that’s very important to me in a world where everyone is increasingly cynical.

Do you get comments about it from other people? What do they say?

Yes I do. They always ask where I got it from and compliment the uniqueness of the pendant.

What other shapes or symbols would you like to see from Goldilocks™ in future?

Unconventional ones that are not commonly found on the market.

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Posted in I Love Goldilocks

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Dressing up your Diamond

Posted on June 21, 2010 | Leave a comment

Ever wonder how different settings affect the look of a Diamond ring? Here are two Diamonds of 1.50ct, with the same dimensions in two different ring settings.

Diamond Setting

Our two examples here are a Classic 6-claw setting with a thin slightly tapered band on the left, and a 4-claw setting with a rounded broad band on the right.

As you can see, there are many factors that play part in the look of each setting. A thin band, accentuates the Diamond and makes it look bigger. But on the other hand, the thick claws on the 4-claw setting, make the overall effect bigger. Together with the broader band, it is a more solid looking ring, where the 6-claw is a feminine classic!

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Chasing the Carat

Posted on June 12, 2010 | Leave a comment

Being in the trade, people often ask us How big should the Diamond be? What do girls expect? We get these questions from customers, friends, and even people who are nowhere near engagement, but simply curious. The only right answer to that in our opinion, is ‘up to you’. It really depends on how much you have, how much you want to spend and the kind of person you are.

3 Carat

In no way do we think one should see the size of the diamond as a sign of love, even though buying an engagement ring is a romantic gesture.

We hear girls talking about Diamonds and guessing what size their respective boyfriends might buy for them. Actually, some of them have misconceptions about the price of Diamonds and even though they don’t have an accurate idea of the value, they can still have their mind set on 1 carat – or even 2! In fact, very few can tell just by looking, especially after the Diamond has been set into a ring. To further complicate things, the carat tells only the weight, not the size of the Diamond, so it is nearly impossible to tell the carat just by looking, as it all depends on the cut and shape.

Diamond Cut

The Cut determines how big the Diamond looks


So why this fascination with the 1 carat Diamond? Actually it might just be a numerical occurrence. 1 carat sounds like a standard because we start counting from 1. And with this as a reference, anything short of 1 carat will be ‘less’ than required.

So what if we told you that the measurement carat, has nothing to do with a standard Diamond size or what one ‘should’ get. It is simply a historical coincidence. In Roman times, traders needed a way to measure the value of gemstones. As gemstones are relatively small, the merchants had to find a way to measure them correctly. The solution: carob seeds. These seeds were chosen because their weight was believed to be unusually constant and therefore reliable as a weight for measuring small gemstones. Many years of trading passed in this style, until early 20th century, when a standardized system for weighing carat was set in the US. Other countries followed and this is now the worldwide standard. One carat is now equal to 200mg, or 0.2 grams. Doesn’t sound as big in grams, does it? – “One gram of diamond please…”

BnW

Whichever size you choose, be sure to do it for the right reasons. And keep in mind; you can always ‘upgrade’ the Diamond later. Believe us, if you like diamonds in the first place, it is unlikely that the engagement ring is the LAST Diamond that you will ever buy…

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Choosing the Right Engagement Ring

Posted on May 20, 2010 | 3 Comments

Buying an engagement ring is a big step and you want to be sure that you are making the right choice. Apart from Diamond Quality, there is an array of Sizes, Shapes and Designs that need to be taken into consideration.

Classic v Modern

Classic Round Diamond or the increasingly popular Princess Cut Diamond?

First, set a budget for yourself, and do some research on what you can find within that range. Tiffany & Co introduced the idea of using your 3 months salary as a gauge (in their advertising campaign). However, most important is that you can afford it and that your budget matches what you want. If you want to be sure of a positive response, make sure that you are happy with the ring that you are about to present. You will need to be confident with your choice – how else can you expect her to be happy wearing it?

Ringbox

Secondly, try to find out what type of rings she likes. See what she normally wears and be attentive on jewellery that she admires in magazines and shop-windows. Round Diamonds, set in a 6-claw setting are a classic, and are so for a reason. However, other Diamond shapes and settings are also rising in popularity, perhaps as an influence from Hollywood. If you look at recent celebrity engagement rings, they seldom use Round Diamonds as the centrepiece. But then again, some celebrities will do anything to get attention…

Radiant

Radiant Diamond with Tapered Diamonds on the side.

If you want to explore your options beyond the Round Brilliant Diamond, there are plenty of choices!  A Princess Cut Diamond, in a plain setting with a broader flat band will suit a modern lady well. And being a modified Brilliant Cut, it will sparkle just as well.  A plain setting for a square Diamond shows clearly that she is engaged, but also that she has style and knows what she wants. An Emerald Cut or Cushion Cut Diamond in a vintage setting will impress the sophisticated woman. She is one-of-a-kind and appreciates the finer things in life.

Heart

Whichever Diamond and setting you choose for the ring, let it be a symbol of your commitment.  A custom designed ring with your own personal touch is sure to be unforgettable and treasured forever….

Read more about Celebrity Engagement Rings

What the Engagement Ring says about you – from Wedding Guide Asia.

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Pretty in Pink

Posted on May 19, 2010 | 1 Comment

Rose gold, also known as pink gold, has been popular on the market for quite some time. Match it with white and yellow gold for a three-tone effect or wear a piece on its own as an alternative to the more common jewellery that is usually found in white or yellow gold.

Many brides-to-be add a rose gold wedding band to a white gold diamond solitaire for an elegant two-tone effect.2-tone

A new trend we’ve seen is to make even the diamond solitaire rings in rose gold. It is a choice that sets you apart, while staying with the classic designs….

Set of Wedding Rings and Diamond Solitaire, all set in 18K Rose Gold.

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Are Diamonds a Girl’s Best Friend?

Posted on May 15, 2010 | Leave a comment

Diamonds are without a doubt the most popular precious stone used for engagement rings and wedding bands, but an increasing number of people are seeing the benefits of also letting other gemstones symbolize their love and commitment.

Cheques

Throughout history, European royalty have used Sapphires, Emeralds and Rubies as symbols of their wealth and power, but they also indulge in these precious stones for their engagement and wedding rings. Precious stones allow for more variety and shape, which will give you options to create designs that you might not have considered for plain Diamonds. Instead, let the Diamonds play the supporting role.

Apart from some untreated stones with amazing colour, Sapphires, Rubies and Emeralds are often more affordable than Diamonds, so you might even get bigger stones compared to a single Diamond.

Sapphire Rings

One of the highest-ranking alternatives to Diamond is The Sapphire. Sapphires are known to symbolize loyalty and faithfulness, which has lead it to become a popular stone for engagement and wedding rings. In combination with Diamonds, the colour of Sapphires stand out and make for very impressive conversation pieces. And if you want something unique to symbolize your engagement or marriage, what better way than with a Royal Sapphire.

Trilogy

Diamond Engagement Rings Flanked with gorgeous Blue Sapphires!

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Welcome!

Posted on May 14, 2010 | Leave a comment

Welcome to More than Diamonds Blog, dedicated to the world of fine jewellery.

We are Chris Lim and Sara Ooi, designers of Goldilocks™ Jewellery and the innovators behind More than Diamonds’ eshop. We will investigate a variety of topics to keep you in the know – touching on common queries, expectations, stereotypes and creative ideas.

Whether you are about to propose, planning your wedding, looking for a special gift, or simply love jewellery, this is the spot to check out.

Subscribe to receive news updates or bookmark this page to keep in touch. You can choose if you want to receive your updates immediately or on a weekly basis.

XX Chris & Sara

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