Your Glos and Wilts Wedding - Feb/Mar 2020 (Issue 19)

Metal and Stones resident gold and silversmith, Jeff Lippman, shares his insight, based upon many years of experience, in what to look for when making what will be for many, one of the most significant purchases of their lives. The first thing I would say is that some men go engagement ring shopping with their future partner, whilst other men choose to do this on their own. To minimise the risk of going wrong if you are going on your own, I recommend you find out a few basic pieces of information before you begin, for example... • What colour of metal does she like? • What colours of gemstone does she like? • What style does she like? For example, does she prefer modern, contemporary designs or does she prefer something more traditional? • Does she prefer something larger or more petite? • And of course what ring size is she? The second thing I would say about engagement and wedding rings, is that they tend to fall into one of three categories. READY MADE... Most people will be looking to buy a new ring, when doing so it is important to have in mind, before you begin, a rough idea about what colour, style and importantly budget you are comfortable with. Without such guidance one might very easily become overwhelmed by the wide array of styles and designs which are available. A good jeweller will do everything they can to guide you towards pieces they carry which fit your aesthetic sensibilities and budgetary requirements. Of course there are those who would prefer to buy a vintage piece of jewellery, and while this can be fine, rather like buying a pre-owned car, there is the possibility that an older piece might have some issues with wear, and it would therefore be wise to have such a piece checked over by a competent Goldsmith so that any necessary repairs, not to mention size adjustments, can be attended to before the ring is to be worn. THE FAMILY HEIRLOOM... Some people will wish to use an existing family ring for its sentimental attachment, this can also potentially be very cost-effective, although I would always recommend to have an experienced goldsmith check the ring for any wear related faults or weaknesses, particularly with the settings, lest you risk losing a stone, and of course attend to any size adjustments that may be necessary. In my experience, whilst using a family heirloom may well be very sentimentally satisfying, there is a possible risk that the style of the piece is not to the taste of the person who will have to wear it. For example, if we are talking about an engagement ring, if the ring chosen is, for instance a cluster ring, and the woman who is being asked to wear this ring for the next 50 or 60 years would prefer a much more petite solitaire, or vice versa, it is entirely reasonable to have her personal taste taken into account. This takes us to our third category of rings. CUSTOM-MADE... Whether beginning from scratch, or remodelling an existing family ring, having a custom ring created is an excellent way to ensure that the individual wearer of the Ring, will have a piece which reflects their personal sense of style and the aesthetic, as well as having an individual piece unique to them, and produced at a cost the couple is happy and comfortable with. Over the years I have made a wide array of engagement and wedding rings made both from scratch and remodeled from existing family heirlooms to accommodate the personal aesthetic of the bride and groom. When working from the design phase, it can be remarkably straightforward to ensure the couples stays in budget, which can easily be achieved with careful selection of appropriate metals and gemstones. The advantage of made to order jewellery is how easy it is to avoid having to settle on the wrong colour or design. My favourite example of this comes from when I had a young couple come to me for their engagement ring, who wanted to see Emerald jewellery, because she had green eyes. They had been to 17 other Jewellers before they came to see me, and somehow could never find the right piece. Realising the nature of the problem, I introduced the couple to green sapphire, a gemstone the couple had never heard of until that day, but which replicates the human eye colour of green far better than does Emerald. It literally took no more than 15 minutes to design the ring the stone would be set into, and the couple were delighted with the final piece, which was a direct result of their deciding to have a ring made, rather than merely buying a mass produced, ready made ring, and as it happens for no more money than they had budgeted for. Whichever way you choose to go, ready-made, heirloom or custom- made, I would always recommend finding a skilled jeweller, an actual craftsman rather than a salesman for preference, to assist you in insuring that this once-in-a-lifetime purchase is something you will look at in many years to come with regret free happiness! SOME GOOD ADVICE FOR PERHAPS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PURCHASES YOU WILL EVER MAKE. It is without doubt that of all the things one spends money on in or around a wedding, there is nothing so long lasting as the Rings, which may reasonably be expected to be worn every day for half a century or more, only to then become family heirlooms, imbued with deep sentimental attachment and memories.