Press coverage: Exquisite nesting birds diamond brooch

Thank you to Boutique magazine for featuring our very seasonally apt nesting birds brooch in their fashion spread this month.

Platinum and 18ct Yellow Gold Ruby Sapphire and Diamond Nesting Birds Brooch £12,500

To see more please visit our website or come into our shop at 26 New Bond Street. If you have any questions please email me: richard@luciecampbell.com
Enjoy the wonderful spring weather!

Tips on choosing a diamond

Don’t worry it is not too complicated!

One can buy a diamond with a certificate or without a certificate.
Without a certificate you are relying on the vendor’s assessment of the stone or your own expertise. This could be dangerous since even small differences in quality can dramatically affect the price.

18ct Yellow Gold Diamond earstuds with 2x 0.83ct FVS2 Triple Excellent Diamonds
GIA Cert # 1106722380 & GIA Cert # 1126228742
(See below to view the GIA certificates)

It would be recommended if you are buying a large diamond, say over ½ct, you buy it with a certificate. Some shops will issue their own certificate; call me cynical but this is not as good as a certificate from a reputable independent laboratory. The most respected laboratory in the world for diamonds is the GIA.

"I would strongly recommend you purchase a diamond with a GIA certificate."

The Certificate confirms that:

1. It is a Diamond
2. The weight of the diamond. There are big price differences for small changes in diamond weight with price jumps at 1ct, 1.50ct etc
3. The dimensions of the diamond 
4. The colour, ie. how white it is. Colours D, E and F are termed colourless and these are the colours we recommend.
5. The clarity, these are the natural imperfections in the diamond. We recommend VS2 and exceptionally good Si1 diamonds.
6. For round diamonds, the cut grade. The cut grade is a measure of how sparkly the diamond is and takes into account the angles, dimensions, polish and symmetry of the stone.  We recommend 'excellent cut' diamonds.
   

You can view GIA certificates on the GIA website: http://www.gia.edu/reportcheck/
For example, you can look at the certificates for the Lucie Campbell diamond earrings shown above: here and here Please look at what a fantastic pair these stones are. We match not only the weights, colour, clarity, but also the diameters, depth, table and depth percentage to a ridiculous degree.

For cushion, emerald, oval, princess and all other non-round cut diamonds you really need to look at the stone to determine how much it sparkles. The certificate tells you the quality of the colour and the imperfections in the diamond but tells you very little about the sparkle and cut unless you are an expert. You must remember that the quality of the cutting, the angles, dimensions and polish etc determine how much it sparkles and not the colour and clarity. A poorly cut D Flawless diamond will not sparkle!

On the subject of ethical sourcing of diamonds our message is very simple: We only ever buy from the most reputable sources with whom we have a longstanding relationship and can therefore rely on their scrupulous work to assure us that their stones are sourced ethically. Approximately 50% of all diamonds are currently mined in central and southern Africa. Others diamonds come from Canada,  Russia, Brazil, and Australia. Indeed many of the stones we use are both mined and polished in Russia, free of the problematic history of conflict diamonds.

Buy from a reputable jeweller which not only stocks beautiful diamonds but also stunning jewellery because the most wonderful diamond in the world will not look good in an ugly ring!

Good Luck!

 - Richard Campbell

If you would like to know more please email richard@luciecampbell.com

Browse all our Excellent cut GIA certified Round Diamond jewellery

Visit the GIA London website

Sapphires soaring in value

A fabulous new Lucie Campbell Sapphire Ring:
Platinum Unheated Natural Burmese Sapphire 20.88cts calibre Diamond border Ring
[not yet on the website - please email richard@luciecampbell.com for details]

At Lucie Campbell we specialise in sourcing exceptional and rare gemstones, not least among which are our sapphires: We aim to craft exquisite jewellery with the finest unheated natural Sapphires from Kashmir, Burma, Sri Lanka, and Pailin in Cambodia. And so it's with keen interest that we track the dramatic movements in the value of Sapphires.

Darren Clarke of Lucie Campbell explains:

How have Sapphire values risen?
Sapphire prices have risen more than 50 percent in a year - while availability is 40 percent less than a year ago.

Which Sapphires are most valuable?
Kashmir, the most coveted species of blue sapphire because of its rich colour, has become almost impossible to buy due to high prices and low availability. In its place, Burmese sapphires have become the “new Kashmir,” and prices have risen up to 100 percent on fine, large pieces since early 2008.

And unheated stones, why are they so rare and sought after?
The vast majority of both rubies and sapphires on the market today - upwards of 99 percent - are enhanced by artificial processes in an attempt to put in what nature itself could not. Often the enhancement is by high temperature heating, a process which is aimed at improving the gemstone's clarity as well as altering or improving its colour.

What's driving the dramatic price rises in Sapphires?
Changes in supply and demand are transforming the world of Sapphires, particularly declining production at the world’s most popular sapphire mines and greater demand from emerging consumer markets like China, India and Brazil. Furthermore, just like everywhere else, the high cost of energy and resources are also having a big effect on price and supply.

Sapphire production in the past few years has declined at better-known mines, with no new major sources discovered that could offset those reductions. In particular, there is a current scarcity in the marketplace of fine, blue sapphires from Burma, along with a major decline in Madagascan sapphire production in the past decade.

Why is Sapphire mining declining?
Burmese production has declined because the government diverted attention from gemstone to uranium mining, a more profitable endeavour as emerging markets like India and China chase resources.

Also affecting the global supply of sapphires is the fact that gemstone production in Madagascar — which supplied the majority of the world’s sapphires for the past 15 years — has taken a real nosedive. Most miners have moved out of the area since the former government stopped exporting rough gems in 2008 in hopes foreign gem buyers would open cutting factories in Madagascar. Unfortunately, the global economic slowdown and political turmoil in the island nation kept investors at bay. Despite a lift on the export ban a year ago, miners are reluctant to return to sapphire production.

In Sri Lanka, the government stopped issuing mining licenses to most miners and put a hold on many old contracts, citing environmental concerns. As a result, operational costs are higher, which miners are passing on in higher premiums for the sapphires they do produce.

Look out for more discussion of gemstone values on Lucie's blog.

To see all our Sapphire jewellery visit our website or visit us at 26 New Bond Street. We will be pleased to talk to you about the value of gemstones and to give you a new valuation for your Lucie Campbell jewellery.

Floral jewellery for Spring

We've been styling our extensive diamond & gemstone jewellery designs for various photoshoots for the Spring. Here's a sneak preview of our Spring Florals:

Platinum Diamond Flower Pendant more>

18ct White Gold Diamond Hanging Earrings with plain bale more>

Platinum Diamond Rose Brooch 8.42cts more>

Yellow Gold Spinel with Yellow Diamond Flower Stud Earrings more>

White Gold Diamond Flower Stud Earrings more>
Platinum Round Diamond Onyx & Multigem Earclips more>

Look out for more Lucie Campbell Collections. If you would like to know more about any of these pieces then please email Richard: richard@luciecampbell.com

Press coverage: Wedding season is upon us

The weather is turning, spring is sprung, the wedding season is upon us.
Thank you to Exclusive magazine for featuring us in their wedding feature this month:

These are the pearl diamond clip earrings featured.
Browse our large selection of pearl & diamond earrings here
This is the emerald cut diamond engagement ring featured.
Browse all our engagement rings here

The Jeweller magazine: Lucie Campbell's take on the wedding & engagement ring market

The Jeweller's Editor, Belinda Morris, swapped notes with Richard last month on the state of the wedding jewellery market. Here's the full exchange, quotes from which are in the March issue of The Jeweller:

Belinda: Is the interest in wedding bands & engagement rings as strong as it ever was among jewellery retailers and consumers?
Richard: Definitely! Engagements and weddings are such pivotal events in a couple’s life together they need and want to mark them with a beautiful engagement ring and suitable wedding bands.


Belinda: Has the price of precious metals had any particularly bearing on either your designs or sales?
Richard: The price of precious metals has not had any bearing on our designs since we tend to design the item to be as beautiful as possible and very much worry about the cost later. I know it may sound strange, but, although clients are price conscious, for a once in a lifetime purchase they will buy the rings they love.

Lucie Campbell engagement rings

Belinda: Is the main interest still in white metals or is there increasing interest in yellow and/or rose gold?
Richard: The main interest is still in Platinum but with an increasing interest in Pink and Yellow gold. Pink Gold is particularly suitable for paler complexions and is proving to be very well received.


Belinda: Is there increased demand for men's wedding rings and if so do these tend to be quite classic and plain or are they getting more adventurous?
Richard:We have found the demand for men’s wedding rings to be constant, the styles chosen are quite classic.


Belinda: Do diamonds still rule as far as engagement rings are concerned? What coloured stones are most popular?
Richard: Diamonds still rule but different cuts such as cushions are increasingly popular! Coloured stones, especially sapphires have become much more popular, but this trend has not followed through as strongly as last summer.

Lucie Campbell wedding bands

Belinda: Are commitment and eternity rings increasing in popularity?
Richard: Eternity rings and what some people call “push present” rings are very much in demand. Budget permitting this is on every couples wish list soon after the birth of their first child. Jewellery is a wonderful way to mark significant and joyful events in one’s life as a couple and a family!


Belinda: Are matching/interlocking wedding bands/engagement rings becoming more popular? is this something that you offer?
Richard: Many couples want matching wedding bands, but accept that a truly matching band may not suit both the bride and groom, so most couples settle on matching styles or metals or finish. Interlocking wedding bands and engagement rings is not something we offer and we have not been asked for them. Most brides want a wedding band which matches and complements their engagement ring perfectly, and this is our goal.


Belinda: Do you anticipate that the economic downturn will see sales of wedding rings drop or do you think that couples getting married will always want to buy the best that they can and just save up?
Richard: Yes, as I mentioned this is such an important purchase/event that most couples will adjust other expenditure rather than compromise on their wedding bands.


Belinda: Any final thoughts?
Richard: Yes, engagement and wedding rings are such important objects and symbols that their significance is not about their size or value but the love and care with which they are exchanged.


See our full engagement rings collection here
and our wedding bands & eternity rings here


For more details about The Jeweller magazine, the official publication of the National Association of Goldsmiths, visit http://www.thejewellermagazine.com

A life in jewellery: Richard's childhood Saturdays

Portobello Market these days - Harris's Arcade is still going

As a child my parents both had stalls in Harris’s Arcade, Portobello Road. When Robert and I were very young we had a “baby” sitter for the day but one day my brother decided that we no longer needed a baby sitter and it was decided that we would take care of ourselves.

At the time we lived in a smallish terrace house in South London and the neighbours would keep a bit of an eye on us. Basically Saturdays consisted of going down to the newsagents and buying comics and sweets funds permitting. For about 5p you could get a decent bagful of pineapple and black sticky stuff. Beano, Marvel, The Victor etc. were all great! We also went to the library and the swimming baths. We also used to go to the Horniman museum where they had a children’s kind of activity class with papier mache and pottery which was great fun.

Did we miss our parents? Not really, not even slightly if truth be told. Only later, 15-16 years old, did I come to realise that it was unusual for both parents to work Saturdays. We did need to do the washing up and a bit of tidying up around the house. Anyway I digress slightly since not really jewellery related.

When my parents got home in the early evening, we would hear whether they had had a good day and how much money they had “taken”, it was money taken not sold so much. My mother would show us some new items she had bought that day or during the week and we would be asked what we thought of them and to try and figure out as much as possible. Was it French, English, what period, signed? What were the gems or the name of the techniques used. What was the style? What did we think the value of the piece was? The pieces ranged from Faberge enamel spoons to Victorian lorgnettes to signed Cartier earclips to Russian icons.

Then we would proceed to have dinner which during the autumn and winter months was vegetable soup followed by a stew or other main course which had been precooked the day before and just needed reheating. In later years, we would all go out for a curry in Penge! That was the big treat for the week! Stuffed Parathas, meat korma, onion bhajis, pilau rice... After Eight mints after the meal...

*****

Another amusing story is one day we went to see the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. In those days you could spend as long as you wanted looking at the Crown Jewels and, after quite some while, I thought it prudent to advise my mother that she was probably wasting her time looking at the Queen’s jewellery for so long, since she probably was not going to be selling any time soon.

For more stories from Lucie Campbell's past sign up to Lucie's Blog. x Richard

Picture credits:
Portobello Market panorama: http://www.portobellovillage.com