European Professional Women and the Diamond Geezer.

Last Thursday evening was a night to remember. In the heart of London’s famous Soho district, in a swanky cocktail bar called Archer’s, there was an event going on like no other. Previously unattended by men, Lewis Malka, the Diamond Geezer from Joseph Sterling Bespoke Jewellers, was giving a talk on diamonds to members and guests of the European Professional Women’s Network.  

Billed as an evening of networking, sparkles and bubbles, the event lived up to it’s name. 

For the first time in their event history, the EPWN were sold out!! Entrepreneurs who I had the pleasure of meeting had come from all different countries, including Italy, Spain, France, and Germany to mention but a few. What was meant to be a 20 minute educational slot by me, turned into an hour of interactive Q&A’s which was delivered with humour and fact in a way that  made the time fly. Topics included the 4C’s, Conflict Diamonds, Re-Modeling antique Jewellery and always a controversial one, Should a woman buy her own engagement ring!!

On show last night was a range of diamonds which attendees were allowed to get up close and personal with :)

“This was my first time at an EPWN event and if they are all this good I am definatley joining up” said one lady I spoke with after the talk. Another said “I have never been as interest in diamonds as I am now. There is no way I am going to wait for my husband to buy me diamonds. I am going to buy my own from now on”. 

“What the evening did was allow lots of people to come together in a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy some champagne and time with one of natures natural wonders. It’s not everyday we all get so close to these beauties and with some much to learn and know, it was a pleasure to have Lewis come and speak to our members and guests of the EPWN”. That was a quote from event organiser Laurence Rose.

Would you like me to speak at your event? Drop me an email. It would be a pleasure. 

Lewis Malka is a recognized expert in making diamond rings as well as being a famous jeweller to the stars. All his blogs are his own opinions. He is a member of the London Diamond Bourse (LDB). You can follow him daily on Facebook and Twitter. 
If you would like any bespoke jewellery made, then please visit his website.

Diamonds Don’t Only Come In White!!

Diamonds are without question the most beautiful and precious things in the world. They don’t only come in white though!!

With the hype and talk surrounding gold and the high prices it has commanded over the last 4-6 weeks slacking off, clients have been returning to more day to day investments. I am of course referring to themselves and their loved ones. Creativity, something I pride myself on, is the order of the month. Diamond engagement rings are traditionally made with white diamonds, however if it’s the wow factor you are after, or indeed just want to be the talk of the town, then why not opt for a Black diamond engagement ring??

The photo above received a lot of interest on my Facebook page this week, and thank you for that. As you can see, this ring makes a huge statement, and so it should. It is set with a large 1.66 carat black diamond in the centre, and is flanked by 5 white diamonds on each shoulder to help enhance it’s beauty. The couple received so many comments on their Facebook page on how lovely the ring is and how they haven’t seen anything like this before, that it made their occasion that much more memorable. 

Lewis Malka is a recognized expert in making diamond rings as well as being a famous jeweller to the stars. All his blogs are his own opinions. He is a member of the London Diamond Bourse (LDB). You can follow him daily on Facebook and Twitter. 
If you would like any bespoke jewellery made, then please visit his website.

The remaking of a family heirloom diamond ring.

Time for a case study.

I thought it would be nice to see how a ring is remodelled, after a client ask for her grandmothers engagement ring to be re-made into a more classical and updated version, so she can wear it as her current engagement ring. 

In the first image we can see the original with the centre stone and one other already taken out. If you look closely you will notice there is no metal between each of the outside diamonds to hold them together, to keep them evenly spaced. 

This images shows a side angle of the original ring. If we look at the shank we can see it’s made from wire and doubled up at the back to give it a thicker feel. As a result of this, it makes the framework quite insecure and gives a higher chance of distortion and damage, should it take a whack!

Once all the diamonds are out and measurements have been taken, it’s time to make the new look ring. From a plate of 18ct gold sheet, the stones are marked, metal drilled, and a shape filed with wires added for the claws. On the shank, it’s thicker than previous and the wires are added to form the gallery of the ring. After the two pieces are made, all the wires are married up and soldered together. 

Excuse the slightly misty picture. In this shot we can see the ring made and assembled. All the wires matched up and have been soldered, joins were filed up and sandpapered, the ring has been pre-polished and ready to be set. 

And here’s the finished piece all polished up. A beautiful modern twist on a classical timeless piece ready to be handed down another generation or two, just as these diamonds were handed down two generations. After all, we never really own a diamond, we merely look after it for the next generation. And this proves it. 

Lewis Malka is a recognized expert in making diamond rings as well as being a famous jeweller to the stars. All his blogs are his own opinions. He is a member of the London Diamond Bourse (LDB). You can follow him daily on Facebook and Twitter. 
If you would like any bespoke jewellery made, then please visit his website.

www.joseph-sterling.com | lewis@Joseph-sterling.com

Factors You Should Consider Before Buying a Diamond Ring

When you buy a diamond ring for your beloved intended, there are a number of factors to consider. Not least, of course, is the quality of the diamond you’re buying. Diamonds can run from inexpensive too expensive, but if you want one that’s as close to “perfect” as possible, you’ll certainly want one that is also as pristine as possible. That means, you’ll generally consider the four “Cs” of diamond quality: colour, cut, clarity, and carat.

In general, how well a diamond is cut is going to determine how sparkly it is and how well it reflects light.

The diamond’s colour is also a factor. The “whiter” it is, the brighter it is going to be. 

The diamond’s clarity is also important, in that it has as few imperfections as possible. The less “perfect” it is, the less brilliant it’s going to appear, and the less expensive it will be.

Finally, the diamond’s carat refers to how much it weighs, or its size. In general, the larger a diamond is AND the more of the previous characteristics it has, the more expensive it is.

One thing to remember as well is that many “imperfect” diamonds can be perfectly lovely and make a very nice ring; jewellers are artists, and can hide imperfections deftly under claws, or by placing them against backings that will shade certain areas of the diamond which are less perfect. Therefore, you can certainly buy a diamond that will cost you less, but will still look absolutely lovely.

Finally, do take your budget into account. Although most people would certainly want to buy the most expensive ring no matter the cost, it’s a good bet that if your beloved is practical at all, she’s not going to want you to be dropping half your year’s salary on a diamond ring. So sit down, figure out how much you can afford to spend, and go from there. (And hey — if she really loves you, she’s not going to much care what kind of ring she gets, as long as it’s been thoughtfully chosen and is beautiful in its own right.)

Lewis Malka is a recognized expert in making diamond rings as well as being famous for being a jeweller to the stars.
If you would like any bespoke jewellery made, then please visit his website.

www.joseph-sterling.com | lewis@Joseph-sterling.com