Care for your jewellery
Jewellery needs a quick spruce every so often. If it’s been a while, see a planet friendly method for cleaning silver. Otherwise, soak for 10 minutes in warm soapy water and then use a soft brush to loosen any detritus. To matt down and soften any sheen that may develop, either scrub gently with a soft brush using pumice powder or baking soda, mixed with a mild liquid dish soap, or use the same mixture to rub flat surfaces gently in your hands. Rinse thoroughly in fresh water and dry with a soft cloth.
Wearing your jewellery
Gold is incorruptible and fine silver doesn’t tarnish in the same way as sterling, but your jewellery will become slightly dull and discoloured from day to day living.
It’s best to put on lotions, sprays and scent before putting on your jewellery in order to avoid contact with oils and chemicals. If you’re going to put your jewellery away, clean it first and store in acid free tissue, or the packaging in which it was presented.
Sizing
I would prefer to get this right first time as some pieces are almost impossible to resize due to the forms and materials used. If you have any doubt about your ring or bangle size, please contact me to arrange a call or a meeting online where I can advise you.
Packaging
Jewellery is presented in smart, white, paper-covered card boxes produced by a carbon neutral company, nestled in acid free tissue and inserts. The unbranded postal packaging is currently plastic, sent to you in such a way that it may be re-used. As this plastic packaging exists, I believe it should be used and in due course I will replace it with plastic-free recyclable or compostable postal packaging.
Delivery
Items for delivery within the UK are sent by Royal Mail Special Delivery, guaranteed to arrive the following week day. A signature is required.
Please enquire for delivery charges outside the UK.
Hallmarking
My Maker’s mark is a skeleton ‘JM’ and is registered at the London Assay Office at Goldsmiths’ Hall. All my work conforms to Hallmarking standards, so if an item bears only my Maker’s mark it is because the precious metal content is less than 7.78g of silver or less than 1g of gold.
Materials
One of the privileges of my profession is that I’m able to use a huge variety of beautiful materials. Here are just a few: stone-hammered recycled fine silver 999 (99.9% pure) Gold L-R: recycled 22ct that I alloyed myself; 24ct pure gold casting grain; 18ct yellow gold square section wires and a stone-hammered molten droplet. Stones L-R: Agate druzy in dreamy grey-blue; pale, lemony citrines, silver-grey Congo cube raw diamonds 94.8ct; natural Imperial topaz crystals and semi-rough aquamarine slabs.
Values & Methods
My methods are mainly low tech so that I can work outside when I wish. Workshop electricity is from 100% renewable sources and the gas supply is carbon neutral. I now have a couple of electric drills, but I far prefer my hand powered bow-drill which is similar to those used by dentists in the Indus Valley ca 7000BC. Precious metals traded in the UK are mainly recycled, I sometimes make my own gold alloys. I mainly use salt and vinegar pickle to remove flux after soldering and bicarbonate of soda for cleaning silver.
Where it's made
I saved up for my beechwood workbench when I got the jewellery-making bug in the late 80s, and I’ve since amassed many hand tools. I have a second bench for hammering, stone setting, one-to-one tuition, etc. I have a rolling mill, a draw bench, a No. 2 fly-press. My workspace overlooks the garden. One day I’d like to upgrade my beloved HÅG Capisco Puls chair to the padded leather version!