Journal

Engraving is an enduring love note, a way to mark keepsakes with stories of people, places and moments of connection. At AuTerra we offer two distinct engraving options, the traditional craftsmanship of hand engraving and the modern precision of laser engraving. Each one suited to creating a specific style and feeling. Tinsley James Jewellery HAND ENGRAVING Hand engraving’s allure lies in the intricacies of the...

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Diamond engagement rings are synonymous with love and commitment. But their rise to popularity isn’t without its more sombre details. In today’s journal entry we take a look at the history of engagement rings as well as current trends and ways to update the tradition for 21st century values. Engagement rings can be traced all the way back to Ancient Rome. These original betrothal rings...

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Our studio is full of chatter, much of it idle, some of profound, most of it hilarious. But we decided the time was right to delve into a more intentional conversation between Ash, our founder, and Claire, the founder of Botanica Jewellery and not so coincidentally the brand with whom we share our studio. Ash: I think we should probably start at the beginning, and...

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Pure gold is also known as 24 karat gold. In its natural form it is simply too soft to be made into jewellery. In order to strengthen it, and make it suitable for jewellery, pure gold is combined with various other metals (depending on the desired colour ). The ratio of gold to alloy is what determines the karat. Think of it as a recipe,...

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Not all pieces that carry the word gold in their title are created equal. So what is the difference?  Gold plated objects have a micron thick layer of gold chemically plated onto the surface of a lower quality base metal (often brass). This layer is so thin that it will wear off quite quickly, especially if worn often or if the wearer has relatively acidic...

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There are many pros to online shopping. Endless choice from the comfort of your own home. Selecting brands that align with your values. And, when shopping online from a small business, the opportunity to connect with artisans directly, resulting in an even more personal experience than traditional customer/salesperson encounters. What’s not to love? Well sizing comes to mind! How do you go about ordering the...

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Lab-grown diamonds, also known as cultivated diamonds, are created by duplicating the conditions under which diamonds develop naturally in the earth’s mantle. Conflict free Mining Free Quality and Beauty Are lab-grown diamonds real diamonds? Possibly the most common question people ask about lab grown diamonds is, are they real diamonds? The answer is a definitive yes. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically and visually identical to...

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When most people think of gold they think of the sunshine yellow colour of 24 karat (pure gold). However, when alloyed with other metals the colour possibilities of gold are endless. It’s a little like baking a cake, the ingredients you use determine the type of cake coming out of your oven. For our bespoke pieces and our customisable jewellery pieces (like our wedding rings)...

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Sterling silver is a beautiful metal but being an element of the earth it reacts to the environment around it which can cause it to tarnish. While solid gold doesn’t tarnish or fade, it may still need a little pick-me-up from time to time. There are many commercially available chemical cleaners on the market but we thought we would share three eco-friendly alternatives using things...

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