Popular Charms: What Do They Really Mean?

From butterflies to lockets, to angel wings, there’s no shortage of beautiful charms available. But how much thought do you give to what the accessories in your jewellery box actually represent? The fact is, aside from looking stunning, these sparkling trinkets can say a lot about you.

In their recent infographic ‘What Does Your Charm Bracelet Really Mean?’, jewellery experts Kigu Of London explored the sentiment behind these popular accessories. Check out the meanings below.


Heart


Arguably the most iconic of all jewellery symbols, heart-shaped charms have been used to denote romance, love and passion since the middle ages. When it has an arrow travelling through it, it’s said to symbolise a heart that’s been captured. As well as love, hearts are also associated with truth, guidance, power and life.

Feather

Feather charms have a variety of different meanings. To some, they represent protection, lightness, freedom or truth. For others, they’re used to bring luck. Meanwhile, they’re also linked to angels and used to represent faith and prayer in certain religions.

Butterfly

Butterflies have long been associated with change. After all, these small creatures undergo one of nature’s great transformations turning first from a caterpillar into a chrysalis and then into a delicate butterfly. This makes butterfly charms a great choice for people who are starting something new, whether it’s a career change or moving to a new area. Butterfly jewellery can also represent joy and colour.

Locket

Typically passed down in families between the generations, lockets represent treasured memories. In the past, they often contained small photos or locks of hair. Even though modern designs tend to be miniaturised, they’ve kept their symbolic power.

Angel wings

For many people, angel wings have a strong spiritual meaning. They’re also often used to indicate love and protection, and they can be given a present to show that the recipient has a guardian angel watching down over them.




If you’d like to know more about what particular charms mean, why not take a look at the Kigu of London infographic for yourself?
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Is Smart Jewellery The Future of Accessories?

Jewellery has long been considered an accessory piece to spruce up or finish our appearance, however, what if jewellery could do more – like represent our interests or even track your stress levels? It certainly sounds an interesting concept however previous wearables have been bulky and unsightly so what makes smart or tech-inspired jewellery so different? 

Wearing tech-inspired jewellery, whether purposely designed like a ring fashioned out of a circuit board or accessorising using tech – bracelets made from USB cables, for instance, can be a good way to represent your personal interests. It can also make a good talking point when meeting new people acting like a good ice-breaker in certain situations.

Smart jewellery stands to change the face of wearable technology, no longer does smart tech for menswear or womenswear need to be bulky or square, instead, more smart jewellery that is lightweight and unnoticeable is becoming available as smart technology develops. One of the best features of smart jewellery has to be the opportunity to not only look fashionable but offer functionality too.

What Is Smart Jewellery?



You are likely familiar with smartwatches that have been available on the market for a few years now. Smart jewellery is a similar concept but allows for more unique designs than the commonly seen luxury or bulky watches, from bracelets and necklaces, there have even been a few unique ring designs.

Smart jewellery tends to prioritise fitness tracking, which includes active minutes, calories burned, and distance travelled. However, you’ve also got designs that include sleep tracking data, allowing you to see how long you slept and the quality of sleep achieved, in addition to a silent alarm that wakes you up gradually. Women’s jewellery designs have been developed to include fertility and period tracking, which is quite incredible, considering it is a small tracker on your wrist or around your neck.

Possibly the most helpful design feature includes a stress tracker, which uses information based on the amount of exercise completed, the quality of your sleep and the speed and distance details of your most recent journeys to track how likely you are to experience stress during your day. This can be particularly helpful for those trying to avoid stress, allowing individuals to be prepared and take steps to calm down.

NFC-based jewellery is another upcoming type of smart accessory, this smart jewellery allows for you to share information with a quick tap – perfect for conference or exhibition attendees. Compatibility for NFC support includes being able to make payments and unlock or lock compatible locks and devices. When inserted into rings, it can be quite a cool feeling to exchange your contact information with a simple fist bump.

Best Tech-Inspired Jewellery

If smart jewellery isn’t at the top of your wish-list, consider some tech-inspired jewellery to represent your interests. There are plenty of interesting designs available from intriguing mechanical designs including cogs and movable gears on men’s designer bracelets and mini-drone cufflinks. To beautiful pendants and earrings fashioned with keyboard keys or even battery-operated glowing tech symbols.

Some amazing crafty jewellery makers have even incorporated existing technology equipment into their designs, from colourful bracelets made from computer ribbons to belts created by plaiting together unusable or spare USB or ethernet cables.

Jewellery doesn’t just have to be about being fashionable but is a great way to make a statement about your job or personal interests. Whether you go for some subtle cufflinks or bracelet or want to be more outspoken with a necklace or broach. Why not get creative and craft some tech-inspired jewellery yourself? You can even incorporate your unique accessories into a fun activity with friends and family.

As memory cards get ever smaller in size and bigger in capacity, the future of smart jewellery is open to rapid change – we could start seeing mp3 players set into earrings or potentially mobile projectors fitted into bracelets. The always changing future of technology, paired with smart jewellery, will certainly be an exciting industry to watch.

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How to Make Your Product Photos Really Pop

Whether you are selling jewellery and accessories you make yourself or trying to market other products as part of your online venture, attracting customers with good product information is important. Aside from good and clear product descriptions, you need stunning product photos.



Great product photos can really stop potential customers in their tracks. Stunning photos can even be the deciding factor in the customers’ journey. That is why in this article, we are going to learn how you can produce product photos that really pop. Let’s get started, shall we?

Clarity Is King

One of the mistakes many still make when producing product photos is stylising the photos too much. I know that it is important to have a signature style and to stay in tune with what the customers love to see, but you must never forget the basics.

In fact, stylising your product photos too much – by adding multiple filters or altering the colours – isn’t always a good idea. When the colour of the product gets changed in the photos, for example, customers could end up being disappointed.

What you want is a clear and sharp image of your product; a photo that really accentuates the positive features of the product. Add additional photos to reveal different angles and to focus on details of the product to complete the set.

Set the Light

Lighting isn’t something you want to take lightly when producing product photos. Any product photographer will tell you just how crucial nailing the lighting setup is when capturing photos of products. The right setup can really make a product shines and look appealing.

The same tip is used in other industries as well. Pay closer attention to food photos used by top restaurants and you will notice similarities in the way those photos use light to make the star dish look incredibly tasty.

In the case of jewellery, a still life photographer can use a lot of light sources, reflectors, blockers, and other tools just to get the shine and the shadows absolutely perfect.

Work with a Pro



Speaking of experienced still life photographers, it is also a good idea to work with a professional in producing stunning product photos. The process of creating product photos that can really make an impact is easier when you work with top names like Howlett Photography. Working as a still life photographer in London, Howlett’s clients include some of the biggest brands in the country which include Pandora and Marks and Spencer. Working with a professional such as this is a lot more effective than you may think.

For starters, you don’t have to worry about losing sales due to bad photos. You can also save on photography lighting production costs since there will be no reshoots to fix mistakes.

At the same time, you get a lot of value in return. Great product photos aren’t just good for sales. They are also great for boosting the value of your brand. Certain brands are even known for the way they photograph their products, earning them bigger exposure than ever.

It’s all in the details. Making product photos pop and really appealing is about attending to the details, using the right lighting setup, and capturing the photos with complete clarity. At the end of the day, you can simplify the whole process by working with a professional product photographer.

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Biddle and Webb The Friendly Face Of An Auction House

Auction houses are the perfect place to get a great bargain, somewhere to get an amazing deal on a piece of jewellery, to find reasonably priced furniture and to invest in a well-priced work of art. They are also a great place to sell unwanted antique and vintage items that you no longer want or have a home for.

The credentials of an auction house to get a bargain or make you some much-needed cash cannot be questioned but auction houses are often viewed as stuffy, old-fashioned places to go, that you can accidentally buy something you weren't prepared to buy, perhaps by accidentally nodding.  However, auction houses are changing with the times as I found out when I was invited to go behind the scenes at Biddle and Webb auction house in Birmingham recently and are far more welcoming places than I originally thought.

Biddle & Webb Auctioneers are a traditional, family-run, public auction house located in the centre of Birmingham. Based in the city for over 60 years, Biddle & Webb has adapted to the changing demographics of the area and with their traditional jewellery, silver, watches, and interiors auctions are now also accompanied by property, vehicles, wine and spirits and commercial auctions.

Over the last two years, they have substantially expanded their jewellery and watches offering, with the opening of a new consignment office in Birmingham’s jewellery hotspot – The Jewellery Quarter, where their in-house qualified gemmologist, Jennifer Pardoe FGA DGA, is based.

 I was invited to look around at Biddle and Webb and report back to my readers about the inner workings of an auction house.

When I arrived at Biddle and Webb I was warmly welcomed by the staff, Joyya, and Jennifer.  I was surprised that the staff I met were all young women. They were all extremely knowledgeable and well trained, so I shouldn't have been surprised, but I guess I was surprised because many programmes on TV that portray auction houses seem to feature older men.

 Auctions are held on a monthly basis and you can see the up and coming auctions on their website and view the items in advance. 

For the jewellery auction, every item is inspected for hallmarks,  supporting paperwork and certificates are examined and stones like diamonds are tested, so you know you are getting an authentic item of jewellery, that is what it says it is.  I had a look around the jewellery and watches for sale and my top picks of the items for the next sale on Saturday 15th of September are below.

 Rings


Opal and diamond cluster ring
Estimate £400 - £600
An early 20th Century diamond dress ring, set with Old European cut, rose cut & baguette-cut diamonds, stamped 18 & PT, ring size K
Estimate £800 - £1200


An emerald and diamond cluster ring, set with a central emerald cut emerald, measuring approx. 12x8mm, surrounded by a border of 20 old cut diamonds, set in unmarked white and yellow metal, ring size V
Estimate £1000 - £1500
Watches
A mans 1960s Breitling Navitimer chronograph pilots wrist watch
Estimate £1000 - £1500

A Victorian 18ct yellow gold cased Rotherhams of London open face key wind pocket watch
Estimate £350 - £450
A ladies stainless steel Omega Seamaster Master Co-Axial Aqua Terra wristwatch with mother of pearl dial complete with box and paperwork 
Estimate £2000 - £3000

Other Jewellery
A single stone diamond hinged bangle, set with an old cut diamond, measuring approx. 0.30/0.40ct, in a raised setting, set in unmarked yellow metal
Estimate £300 - £500


A diamond flower design brooch, total diamond weight approx 4.10ct. set with old cut brown and colourless diamonds
Estimate £1500 - £2000

A pair of Tiffany & Co. Peretti diamond starfish stud earrings, each set with sixteen graduated round brilliant cut diamonds, stamped Peretti Tiffany & Co. Spain PT950, housed in a Tiffany & Co. box

How to buy and how to sell

Buying and selling at auction is a simple process but it is different to a retail environment, for full details check out the links. A simple guide to the buying and selling process at Biddle and Webb is below.

 You can buy in a number of ways, in person, online and via the telephone. You need to register to do this but this can be done on the day of the auction. A photo ID is needed for this. You can also bid on the auction online live. Public viewing is also available prior to the auction so you can see the items in person if you can make it to Birmingham.

 You may wonder if you can buy by mistake. If you are there in the auction house on the day, if you are a new bidder, they will check with you to ensure you meant to place the bid, so don't worry if you think you will bid by mistake. To bid, raise your hand, it's a simple and straight forward way of bidding and then cannot be mistaken.

 Selling is open to everyone, from a private seller (like you or me) to a trader or collector. Your item is assessed, photos taken and a condition report written. The item is then listed in their online catalogue. 

 There are costs associated with buying or selling, and this differs with the type of item. Typically if you are buying you need to pay a buyers premium on top of the value of the item, of between 15% and 20 % plus VAT. If you are selling an item the cost is typically 16% plus VAT plus a small catalogue fee on top. As fees could change check out the Biddle and Webb website for up-to-date information.



The next jewellery, silver, watches, property and interior auction on Saturday the 15th of September. Why don't you browse one of the catalogues to see if there is anything you like?


I found looking behind the scenes at Biddle and Webb fascinating and it certainly demystified how auction houses work for me.  The only problem is, I saw too many beautiful pieces of jewellery that I now want to bid on! My favourite pieces included the Tiffany earrings below. Set in platinum and studded with diamonds I think they would look exquisite on and really catch the light. Complete with box these would make a beautiful gift perhaps for a birthday, graduation or special anniversary. I will be watching this auction with interest!


If you find the auction process interesting, have a read of the Biddle and Webb blog where they talk about the business and some of the interesting stories behind the items they sell.

Have you ever bid on an auction? Are there any items shown above that have caught your eye?

Biddle & Webb Ltd
Icknield Square,
Birmingham
B16 0PP
United Kingdom

Phone: 0121 455 8042
Fax: 0121 454 9615
Email: info@biddleandwebb.com
Web: www.biddleandwebb.com

* Sponsored post all words and opinions are my own
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Virginia Hayward 'Love Chocolate' Hamper Review and Giveaway Ends 30/09

We all love a hamper, don't we? The mix of tasty goodies is always a treat and makes a great gift, so when Virginia Hayward, the hamper company invited me to try one of their hampers, I could hardly say no.

 The Love Chocolate box retails at £19.99 and contains a tempting selection of chocolate goodies.


Presented in a useful wicker basket the small but perfectly formed selection includes:-

A bag of Radfords chocolate & caramel fudge, 
Vital soft chocolate nougat, 
Atkins and Potts decadent milk chocolate dipper pot, 
Reids crunchy chocolate chunky shortbread,
A yummy looking mini chocolate cake by the Original Cake Company hand-topped with chocolate buttons and chocolate pieces,
A delectable hot drinking chocolate spoon with pieces of mini marshmallows.

My son Jake and I tried the products. I hadn't heard of these brands before so I wasn't sure what to expect but I felt they were good quality and really tasty. 

 The chocolate nougat was similar to fudge. It had a really good chocolate flavour and was studded with almonds which added some nice crunch. 


My favourite was the shortbread, it was buttery and rich and the inclusion of chocolate chips was a nice touch, although there could have been more of them.

They were also great dunked in tea!

Yum!

My son was eyeing up the Belgian chocolate sauce from the company Scarlett and Mustard and was quite happy eating it out of the jar. I think it would be great warm with ice cream personally, but I didn't get a look in here to try it as he polished it off.

Again I didn't get a look in with the chocolate and caramel fudge. Jake really enjoyed it, and the piece of fudge I managed to steal from him was excellent. The caramel fudge had a good sweet caramel flavour and the chocolate fudge was decadent and rich.

Next item to try was the mini chocolate cake. What we all liked about the cake was the chocolate chips and chocolate pieces on top, a mix of white and milk chocolate, that had some crunchy pieces as well as smooth. The cake was light as well.


The last item in the Love Chocolate hamper from Virginia Hayward was the hot chocolate spoon with marshmallows. Although we haven't tried it yet, it looks like a lovely treat. You stir it into hot milk and watch as the chocolate melts and makes a hot chocolate drink.

 All of these items were presented in a wicker basket which I thought was a nice touch, and perfect as a gift for a loved one. The hamper was also packed in environmental packaging, the basket was made of willow, the paper is recycled, the outer box recycled too and the loose fill is 100% biodegradable. Well done, this is so important in this day and age. 

For £19.99 I think this is a welcome gift that doesn't break the bank and most chocolate lovers will really enjoy tucking in to this hamper too. Check out the other chocolate hampers available from Virginia Hayward too. 

 Today on my blog I am giving my lovely readers the chance to win a scrummy 'Love Chocolate' hamper. Entry is easy via the Gleam app below. Why don't you bookmark the page and come back for a daily entry? Whilst you are here check out my other competitions too. Good luck!

 Win A Love Chocolate hamper
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Where To Stop Wasting Your Wealth In 2018



Struggling with a tight budget?

Most of us could probably find a couple of areas in our spending habits where we can afford to cut back. It's easy to tell yourself that you're a frugal spender until you actually delve into your account statements and realise how much you really spend on takeout or takeaways, morning coffees, and other unnecessary expenses.

If you want to stop wasting your wealth in 2018 and start building it instead, then you've come to the right place. Here, we're going to look at some of the places that you can stop spending your money unnecessarily. 

Interest Rates

Whether it's a loan or a credit card, one of the most important places you can stop wasting your money, is on the interest rates you pay to borrow cash. No matter what you're borrowing for, there are plenty of different options out there for you to explore. Comparing your options before you commit means that you have more time to find the loan or credit card with the lowest interest rate, and the best deal. 

Late Fees

Speaking of fees that you'd rather not pay, there's no reason to worry about late fees if you've got the money in your bank to pay for your bills on time. These days, we all live such hectic lives that it can be difficult to remember when you're supposed to send a payment through your bank or follow up on a fee request. The easiest way to avoid problems is to set up automatic direct debits for your regular monthly payments. Sometimes this even allows you a discount on the full price of your bills

If there's anything you can't set up to automatically pay itself online, you can always try setting automatic reminders on your phone for a couple of days before the payment is actually due. 

Buying Lunch Each Day

Regular meals are a necessity, so it's easy to tell yourself that you have to spend on a sandwich or meal deal each day to keep you going at work. While you do need to eat to keep your body and brain fueled up, you don't necessarily need to overspend on food. Dining out can add up pretty quickly, and the more food you prepare at home, the better off you'll be.

Not only does packaging your own lunch save you some serious cash, but it could actually be better for your waistline too. After all, you get to control the ingredients of your meals when you make them at home. Also, stop buying that unnecessary coffee out, or take your own cup for a discount at some of the well-known coffee chains, you will be helping the environment too by cutting down on disposable coffee cups.

Underused or Ignored Subscriptions 



Take a moment at the end of each month to go through your bank statements and figure out where all of your money is going. During this, you might discover a few monthly subscription payments heading out to places like Netflix, or your local gym. If you use these subscriptions on a consistent basis, then there's no reason to get rid of them - unless you absolutely have to cut down on your spending.

However, if there are any subscription services on your statements that you don't use regularly, then it's time to cancel them. Don't allow yourself to keep paying for something just because you "might" use it eventually.
Bottled Water

Since you'll hopefully be starting to get into the habit of packing your own lunch, you might as well ditch the bottled water at the same time. People spend huge amounts on bottled water every month when they could just as easily take a reusable bottle with them to work.

Make sure that you invest in a nice bottle that you can take with you wherever you go. You'll be doing both your wallet and the environment a favour. 

Excess Food

The western world wastes a serious amount of food every year, which is particularly upsetting when you consider how many people across the globe don't have access to food. Whether it weighs on your conscious or not, it's safe to say that wasted food also means wasted money. With that in mind, it's important to think more carefully about the money you spend on consumables.

Before you go grocery shopping, write yourself a list of the meals you're going to make, and buy only the ingredients you need. I think it's also important to not go shopping when you are hungry as the smells of bread and doughnuts can be hard to resist!

Impulse Buys

Finally, don't let yourself become a victim of the impulse buy. Although it's tempting to grab something when you're on the way out of a store, make sure that you wait twenty-four hours before making any purchases that you hadn't already planned. This is a great way to make sure that you don't spend cash on something you'll regret by the time you arrive at home.

Do you do any of these tips already? Let me know

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