TOOLS

Tools, tools, tools....

A jeweller and silversmith can never have too many tools. 
We hord them, covert them, need them, want them...it's actually a bit more than that though;
"Hello, my name is Trevor, and I have a tools addiction!"
I love tools, but especially metalsmithing tools, the older the better in many cases. I still use old graphone record needles (His Master's Voice in particular) for burnishing hard to reach areas and for certain types of diamond setting.

The oldest tool I use on a regular basis is a hammer with 'ELIZA TINSLEY & Co' on one side, and' SOLID CAST STEEL' with an '0' on the other side.

Elisa Tinsley & Co hammer

My best guess is it dates from between 1851 when Eliza took over the company after her husband died and 1928 when the Elisa Tinsley company took over The Swindell Tool Company. I had been given an estimate of 1873 by the trader I bought it from at Totnes market in Devon. It cost me three pounds!

My grandfather was a director of The Wearwell Cycle Company and Wolf Motors just up the road from Cradley Heath (Elisa's factory) at Pountney Street in Wolverhampton from the 1890's, so I feel there is an even greater connection when I use this hammer.

It's beautifully balanced, is made from the hardest steel so takes a fabulous polish for planishing metal 
(a polishing technique which compresses the metal surface by hammering).

If anyone has any guesses as to the age of this tool please let me know.

We are 10

How the years have flown by!

This month we celebrate our eleventh anniversary as jewellers in Christchurch. Eleven years that have seen comings and goings, more than 14,000 tremblings underfoot, plus lots of engagements and marriages.

The business grew and grew until the earthquakes toppled the studio in Victoria Street.

Working from a studio at home, however, is nothing new for us. In England Trevor's studios were mostly at home, it's something he has always enjoyed. It's certainly not for everyone but if you are disciplined then it can be a really satisfactory way of working. Being able to combine family and work life in one neat package, and the dogs love having someone around all the time too!

From engagement to eternity

An interesting journey

18k rose gold with marquise diamond

It's fun meeting people to discuss jewellery commissions. People are almost always happy, in fact my doctor once said she envied me because she only ever saw people when they were ill or upset!

There is always excitement tinged with apprehension when people 'pop the question' so I try and help them through the stages of what ring to present, the rest is usually up to their imagination.


The stories I get to hear about how proposals have been made could fill a book! There was the chap who pulled out a ring on a pier just at the very moment an enormous wave broke over them... from behind his girlfriend... she didn't see that coming!

Platinum, tanzanite and diamond engagement ring

Obviously these pictures are not all from one couple, they simply show how diverse the options are for the different occasions. Coloured stones or diamonds, yellow or white gold, platinum, or even rose gold. Rose gold has been really popular over the last couple of years, but so too has platinum, it depends on ones own taste and colouring.

Platinum and diamond engagement ring

Wedding rings: Plain or patterned, engraved, bi-colour, with diamonds or without, the options are endless.

18k Rose gold and palladium wedding rings

Silver and gold, and white gold wedding rings

The thoughts behind eternity rings is interesting too. Some couples decide to commission one after the birth of their first, second, tenth child. Others simply after a year of being together, or to mark 'X' years. The reasons are as diverse as the couples who come to see me. Should we get a half eternity, full eternity, or something unusual like the one above which will be worn on the opposite hand to the wedding ring.....

An unusual eternity ring with diamonds set in 18k yellow and white gold

I love my job as a designer craftsman, it's the best job in the world!

Jane Austen's turquoise ring stays where it belongs

A ring once belonging to author Jane Austen and recently purchased by American singer Kelly Clarkson will remain in the UK following a successful bid to keep it in the country.

Last year the turquoise and gold ring was bought by Kelly for more than £150,000 (NZ$300,000). She outbid the Jane Austen’s House Museum in Hampshire. 

An export ban was then placed on the ring, which expired on 30 September.  Alternative buyers were asked to match the price set by Clarkson. After worldwide donations, including one from the Jane Austen Society of Australia, enough money was raised and an offer has been accepted that will give the museum ownership of the ring.

According to the BBC, Clarkson responded to the news by saying: "The ring is a beautiful national treasure and I am happy to know that so many Jane Austen fans will get to see it at Jane Austen's House Museum."

The museum already has a turquoise bracelet and a topaz cross once owned by the writer. 

(exert from an item in Jeweller Magazine)

Helping hand

Ever since we lost the shop on Victoria Street in the February 2011 earthquake I have been working from my new studio, and have had a constant companion who many of you have met.  He was actually with me when the quake hit and he's seldom very far away.  My constant helper, though he's not too hot on the advice front I must say.

But come coffee time he's always only too eager to lead the way to the biscuit tin. A chocolate digestive for me and a doggie biscuit for him.

Remodelling for Rachel

One Friday afternoon Rachel turned up with a fist full of old rings and a request, "You can use any of the stones in these, add some more if you fancy, and design something beautiful for me as a dress ring..... surprise me!"

I've designed and made several pieces for this particular client in the past so I set to and measured up the stones that I now had to work with.

Breaking up is never hard to do !

Now I already knew that Rachel has a real liking for green and blue stones to go with the diamonds and mixing yellow and white metals.  I had just found some nice 5x3mm pear shaped sapphires so I came up with the idea of going for an Art Deco style with a few little twists in the detailing.

Design for the ring seen from different angles

Rachel loved the design, and so I was given the green light.

The finished piece

If you follow our FaceBook page you will have seen Rachel's reaction!  Let's just say it was well received by everyone!

Old pieces of jewellery can often be remodelled in to something that matches your style, so give us a call to arrange a time to discuss your next piece.

Strange but true...

A friend of mine sent me a link to this blog the other day and I just felt it so visually amazing that I just had to share it with you.

Beneath the streets of Rome passageways and catacombs were discovered in the 16th century which housed some fantastically adorned skeletons. A book "Heavenly Bodies" has now been written by Paul Koudounaris and published by Thames and Hudson documenting the relics which ended up all over europe.