Studio Crafts

18ct handmade Ruby & Diamond full ET ring

2012-01-26T03:44:00.000-08:00

The finest Ruby & diamonds selected

Center & side sections made in

18ct gold

The center & sides soldered

together

The finished ring

New Year

2012-01-09T07:26:00.000-08:00

As the festive period ends we look forward to the New Year.

Will you be getting married or are you thinking about popping thequestion?

Here at Studio Crafts we are here to help, whether it’s for theengagement ring or the wedding rings. Maybe you need a wedding gift orsomething for the best man, it could even be just a card.

We can source the perfect Diamond for the engagement ring

oreven hand make it to your specification

With our contacts within the trade we can supply a vast range of weddingrings to suit all your needs.

Whether it’s Gold, silver, platinum or palladium. Plain, patterned ordiamond set, we can find the perfect ring for you

We have a large selection of gifts for the special occasion so why not pop in to see if we can help

Melting gold to make a wedding ring

2011-12-30T00:40:00.000-08:00

SORRY & MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-08:00

As Christmas fast approaches we have been very busy. So unfortunately this means we have not been able to post any of our projects. We have some great pieces we have made & a video of a wedding ring all in the pipeline for the new year. So we will take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas & a happy new year. Also to thank all our customers for letting us create such fabulous items.

JEWELLERY CLEANING EVENT

2011-10-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

YOU ARE INVITED TO OUR JEWELLERY CLEANING EVENT

SUNDAY 4TH DECEMBER

10AM - 4PM

JOIN US FOR A GLASS OF MULLED WINE & A MINCE PIE

FIRST 3 ITEMS CLEANED FOR FREE*

WIN £25.00 GIFT VOUCHER

GOLDSMITH DEMONSTRATION

10% OFF ALL SALES & REPAIRS*

A SELECTION OF JEWELLERY UP TO 50% OFF

This year we will be joined by the Mayor of Peacehaven.

As part of his on going work with charities we will using the proceeds of our raffle to help with his collection

*Restrictions apply to larger & more integrate pieces

*Sale excludes stationery

Jewellery Cleaning Event

2011-10-15T05:45:00.001-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=275192662511957

Handmade platinum & gold diamond set ring

2011-09-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Our latest project involved many different aspects of the trade & included using another company to get the perfect ring.
The customer came into us with a clear idea in their mind of what they wanted including pictures to help with the design process.
After several meetings we finalised the design and set about making the ring. The short video shows you the different stages which went into the ring.

What the video does not show is 3 smaller diamonds set inside the ring and how the diamond cutting on the outside was done, this is where we did have to use another company. As just sometimes machines are better than humans. To get such a crisp looking diamond cut pattern you do have to use specialist equipment.

Wedding Rings

2011-07-21T08:50:00.000-07:00

The origins of the wedding band date as far back in time as the Ancient Egyptians who would construct bands from papyrus and such materials to offer to their betrothed, admittedly they would have to be replaced frequently as the fragile natural material would decay, but the first foundations of this important token were laid here in history. Ancient Egyptians and Romans (who were the first to use metal for bands) believed that a vein lay in the third finger of the left hand which led directly to the heart and thus it was a significant gesture to place the love band on this digit. Scientists have since disproved this theory, however it remains today as the wedding finger and this ancient belief only heightens the romanticism of the piece. A wedding ring symbolizes a promise of never ending love and it is a physical representation of the marriage vows. The band itself represents an unbroken promise of love and commitment: the circle has no beginning and no end.

Because of this history and strong symbolism I am often amazed that throughout my years of meeting many couples, it is apparent that the purchase of wedding bands is often left to the last minute, not thought out, and seems reasonably far down on the bride and groom’s ‘to do’ list.

Wedding rings are worn everyday, and as fore-mentioned, represent a physical exchange of commitment during the marriage ceremony. They are a constant reminder of the happy day and of your loved one. A cake gets eaten, a dress will be packed away and photos will be stored in an album. The wedding band remains forever on your finger, for you to see and for all to see. Perhaps this is why I feel (although as a jeweller, I may be a little biased!) that more thought should go into their purchase with regard to what it is that a bride and groom would like to wear for the rest of their lives.

With increased diversity in design and metal choice and an increase in individual input and desire for something to suit their style and lifestyle, there are so many factors to consider when the time comes to choose your wedding bands.

Wedding rings have been in the spotlight this year due to the royal wedding in April, when we all sat up and took note of what Kate’s wedding band would be like and of course the precious royal welsh gold it would be crafted from. Prince William chose not to have a wedding band, but in my experience I have seen a rise in men becoming more involved in choosing weddings ring and deciding what they would like for themselves.

Wedding bands were traditionally made in yellow gold and yellow gold remains a popular choice. However, Platinum and white gold are also coming to the forefront of wedding band requests. Platinum, for its durability and continuous white lustre, and white gold, often selected to accompany the rise in popularity of white gold engagement rings at the moment.

In recent times though, Palladium has made a comeback on the jewellery scene, with particular regard to wedding ring choice. Being a member of the Platinum family, it retains its whiteness better than a white gold per say and its lower price per gram in comparison to Platinum makes it a more affordable option.

When considering which metal to go for, there are a couple of things to first consider:

The first is your lifestyle and mainly your job. Someone who has a labour intensive physical job should bear in mind the effect their work will have on their ring, in terms of dents and scratches, and perhaps a harder metal is therefore more appropriate. This is something that should be discussed with a jeweller at the time.

Tags: wedding bands, wedding rings

Handmade platinum diamond ring

2011-07-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

This type of project is a favourite of ours. Our customer came to us with two rings they had but no longer wear. They wanted to have one ring that could wear and enjoy all the time. The customer also to make it a new ring. So we discussed a few ideas and we produced some designs for them to look at. We decided we would use the main centre diamond and the smaller diamonds for the shoulders and using new platinum to hand make the ring.
This is a short video of how we made the ring

Handmade 18ct Ruby & Diamond ring with a twist

2011-06-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

This particular project was very exciting as it involved something we had not really done before. When we met the client he had a very pacific idea in his mind which can be good or bad. He wanted a ring that signified the love his girlfriend had for Lilly's & Roses. That is where the Ruby & Diamond came in. He then showed us some designs he had seen on the internet that inspired him and he had even done some sketches himself which really helped us. We then did some designs on the computer to show him what we thought would look good. The fun part came when he asked for the ruby to be set under the diamond. So after some thinking time we set about the task in making this wonderful ring. Here is a short video of how the ring was made.

Diamond ring to Diamond pendant

2011-05-14T02:59:00.000-07:00

We were recently commissioned to make a Diamond pendant using a a Diamond ring. The customer no longer wore the ring and had a vision of turning it into a pendant.

The Ring

We then had to unset the Diamonds

Then the gold was melted down

Bill filed the gold into shape

The basic pendant shape

Bill drilling the holes for the Diamonds

Work on the pendant loop

Pendant ready to set the Diamonds

Bill setting the Diamonds

The finished 18ct Diamond pendant

Diamond Engagement Ring

2011-04-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

A recently made diamond ring

Customer first selected a diamond

We then made up the shank & head

After this the head was soldered into the shank

We then set diamonds to the centre & shoulders

The finished ring

Gemstone Polishing

2011-04-02T02:59:00.000-07:00

We offer a unique service in which we can have your current gemstone that maybe set into a ring or pendant that has become worn over the years polished to make look like new.

Here is an example of a Tanzanite that we unset from a ring mount looking very rubbed & worn

We then used our lapidary to polish the Tanzanite

Please note we do not carry out this service on the premises but all jewellery sent out is fully insured

Versatility

2011-03-18T10:02:00.000-07:00

With the recent surge of the bead jewellery such as Love Links, Pandora & Troll beads, we were recently asked if we could obtain a silver bead in the shape of a Parker pen. After contacting our suppliers and some of our trade customers we drew a blank. So in true traditional Studio Crafts manner we quoted to hand make a pen. Our customer had no hesitation in proceeding the piece. So our master goldsmith Bill took on the challenge and here is the pen.

Platinum Diamond Ring @ Studio Crafts

2011-03-16T12:35:00.000-07:00

GOLD DEMAND & SUPPLY

2010-12-30T04:47:00.000-08:00

Today there is 165,000 metric tonnes of stocks above ground. If every single ounce of this gold was placed next to each other the resulting cube of pure gold would only measure 20 metres in any direction.

around 60% of today;’s gold becomes jewellery with India and China at the forefront of consumption . In East Aisa, middle East and India , gold has powerful cultural meanings, accounting for about 70% of the world’s gold jewellery in 2009.

Jewellery creates just one source of demand: investment, central bank reserves and the technology sector are all significant, each is driven by different dynamics, adding to gold’s strength and independence.

In creating supply, gold mining companies operate on every continent of the globe, this broad geographical dispersal means that issues, political or otherwise, in any single region is unlikely to impact the supply of gold. Beyond mine production recylcing accounts for for a third of all current supply. In addition, central banks can also contribute to supply should they sell part of their reserves. It should be noted that adter 18 years as net sellers, collectively central banks are now effectively net buyers, causing not only a significant decrease in supply but a corresponding simultaneous increase in demand

Thanks to Betts metals

Design to completion

2010-10-23T06:49:00.000-07:00

Recently we were asked to undertake designing & hand making three 18ct gold pendants for one of our trade customers.
They sent us three stones and a design brief of what their customer wanted.
We came up with the following designs.

After the designed had been approved we hand made the pendants

18ct white gold Peridot & Diamond Pendant

Side View

18ct White gold Aqua & Diamond Pendant

Side view

18ct yellow gold, Gold Beryl & Diamond Pendant

Side view

JEWELLERY CLEANING EVENT

2010-10-18T07:37:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY 13TH NOVEMBER 2010
1.00PM - 5.00PM

We are holding a Jewellery cleaning event where you get chance to have 5 items of jewellery cleaned professionally for FREE. We will be polishing the items in the shop so you get chance to see how its done. We also have a goldsmith doing a live demo on his bench. There you can learn more about our trade and ask any questions you may have.
We have a competition to win a £25.00 gift voucher.
10% off all sales and repairs and a selection of jewellery up to 50% OFF

So please feel free to join us for a glass of wine and meet the team.

RSVP http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169326309747417

The Wall

2010-08-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

After our move to our new premises we have lost the fact you can see our jewellery workshop.
So after many ideas we settled on asking somebody to do a Murial of some kind on our side wall. We found a company called Wet Paint Productions who used an artist called Foundry which as you will see resulted in exactly the effect we were after.

This was the wall before

Foundry started work

Things start to take shape

Looking like a workshop now

You start to see how good it will look

Close up and nearly finished

The finished article

TWITTER COMPETITION

2010-06-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

We have just run a twitter competition to win one of these lovely silver handmade pieces.

The luck winner was @zeetha and they chose the silver jigsaw piece necklace.

Diamond ring Restore

2010-05-24T06:12:00.000-07:00

Every day we are restoring rings back to their former glory.
This small single stone diamond ring was particually bad, but once again we were able to make it look as good as new.

About Us

2010-04-29T07:29:00.001-07:00

Established in 1988 we are a family run jewellers based in Peacehaven. We have one of the largest fully equipped workshops along the south coast. With 11 specialist goldsmiths we are able to take on a vast variety of work.
Our greatest belief is in giving a high quality and friendly service, with the rise in internet and television sales we believe you cannot beat that personal touch.
We want our customers to keep coming back time after time. So our knowledgeable team is always on hand to offer free advice on any queries you may have about your jewellery or the trade in general.
Studio Crafts is part of the guild of master craftsmen which shows our commitment to quality within the trade and guarantees our customers a 1st class service.
We specialise in Handmade jewellery and restorations of rings and one of our favourites is to use customer’s old gold which could be of great sentimental value but is maybe too worn to wear or out of fashion we could then melt it down to make a new beautiful piece, often to the customers design.

Jewellery Cleaning event

2010-02-24T11:11:00.001-08:00

SATURDAY 17TH APRIL 2010
1.00PM - 5.00PM

We are holding a Jewellery cleaning event where you get chance to have 5 items of jewellery cleaned professionally for FREE. We will be polishing the items in the shop so you get chance to see how its done. We also have a goldsmith doing a live demo on his bench. There you can learn more about our trade and ask any questions you may have.
We have a competition to win a £25.00 gift voucher.
10% off all sales and repairs and a selection of jewellery up to 50% OFF

So please feel free to join us for a glass of wine and meet the team.

Jewellery Restoration

2010-02-08T07:12:00.000-08:00

After many years of being worn all day everyday this beautiful ring was unfortunatley so worn out that one of the stones had fallen out

But after giving the stones a profesional top polish and us spending many hours working on the ring we were able to restore it to its former glory

Jewellery Cleaning Event

2010-02-05T01:52:00.000-08:00

We will be holding our Jewellery cleaning event on Saturday 17th April.
12.30pm - 5.30pm
More details to follow

2010

2010-01-07T02:26:00.000-08:00

We hope this year we will bring you more exciting projects including better video. We are hoping to hold 2 cleaning events this year 1 in spring and 1 closer to xmas.

2009-12-29T08:51:00.000-08:00

We have recently been looking into new ideas to improve our range of services we can provide and how technology may be able to play a part in this.
We were recently set a task by a customer to copy their white metal paste ring in platinum & diamond.

The customers white metal & paste ring

Firstly we quoted to hand make the ring for the customer but unfortunately this was a little bit over budget and we had to find another solution. It just so happened that we have been in communications with a company for a new 3D drawing program and casting machine. So we approached them and asked if they could do us a design and quote to cast the ring. We would then set the diamonds and finish the ring. This came within our customer’s budget so we were asked to proceed with the project.

Firstly the company sent us 3D rendered pictures for us and our customer to approve.

We were then sent the viper resin mould to make sure we were happy with how the ring would come out. After this a rough casting in platinum was sent down to us.

We then finished off by drilling the holes and setting the diamonds before finally polishing the ring.

New video of handmade gold knot ring

2009-12-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

Not everything we make can be found on the net

2009-11-21T04:09:00.001-08:00

Unfortunately we are unable to post pic's of everything we make, But we do have a portfolio in the shop that we keep everything in.

Children in Need

2009-11-21T04:01:00.000-08:00

The Girls all dressed up in their P.J's collecting for charity

loose Gemstones

2009-11-16T06:57:00.000-08:00

We have just sourced these gemstones and we are going to hand make some rings for our stock

Hammered effect diamond ring

2009-10-22T13:20:00.000-07:00

we were asked to make a ring using customers gold

which we melted up

then rolled out

filed to shape

Turned up into ring and hammered

setting was made and stones set

The finished piece (all using the customers gold & diamonds)

Website NOW Live!!!!!!

2009-10-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

Please visit our website www.studio-crafts.co.uk

Busy, not busy, busy

2009-09-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

Something we cant understand is we can be busy one minute then all of a sudden we are quiet, we know we are in bad times so work has certainly dropped off but in last month the workshop has gone mad, not sure if ts the holidays and illness that make us seem busy but boy the boxes are full at the moment which is great, If we just get our estimates right we might just start making some money. Though having said that it is very hard to judge how long a job will take when most of the time we are making or repairing something we have never done before. We just need a customer with an open cheque book.
We are making some great bits which will be posted on our facebook and twitter pages unfortunately we cannot show all we make

Torch

2009-09-19T01:17:00.000-07:00

Off today, but yesterday was very busy. Everyone was very busy with holidays and illness this week it has been hard to hit all our targets but we did ok. We tried to melt up alot of gold yesterday and managed it but it wasn't easy, so we have installed a new regulator for the oxygen at the melt up bench which we tested late last night which was great. So this will really help in the future.

1st day blog

2009-09-17T09:34:00.000-07:00

Im not sure how often we will be able to keep this up but let me introduce us as a friendly family run jewellery shop & workshop, We are gonna aim this more towards the workshop side as we feel is is different and more intersting. We are just getting our website live and hope this will be a really good add on aswell as being on twitter and facebook. Please feel free to join us where ever you can and leave comments and suggestions to help us improve.
Many thanks