Dominic Walmsley Jewellery

Champagne Christmas Shopping Day

2011-11-25T07:15:00.000-08:00

A gentle reminder that tomorrow is our
Champagne Christmas Shopping Day
in the Riverhead shop from 10am to 5pm

Receive a free silver robin pendant
worth £55 with any purchase plus
a further 10% off your purchases on the day*

* Only one pendant per person and discount only applies to stock items

An RSVP would be appreciated

Re-designing your old jewellery.

2011-09-17T08:03:00.000-07:00

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/bespoke_commissions.php

Our customer was thrilled when she saw what we had done with her old jewellery. We removed the diamonds and gave them a good clean. We then melted down the old rings and added a little more to create this design we had made for her.
I think it has to be the best way of re-using your old jewellery.
If you would like some advice on this sort of thing, please feel free to ask.

Rose Gold

2011-07-29T03:15:00.000-07:00

I have recently found that couples want more options than the usual white or yellow metal, some opt for titanium, the hard wearing gun metal grey metal that we unfortunately do not work in due to its hardness which makes working with it at a handmade level very difficult.

However, there is another, usually overlooked metal, rose or red gold.

Like white gold which is a mixture of yellow gold and a white metal such as palladium, rose gold is also a mixture of alloys.

Due to the mixture of yellow and white metals to make white gold, white gold is then plated with rhodium, this gives it the crisp white colour that it is known for. However, in its natural form white gold has a slight yellow tint so over time if you want your rings to stay brilliant white they will need to be re-rhodium plated.

Unlike white gold, rose gold is not plated, it is a mixture of yellow gold and usually copper. Depending on the ratio of the mixture rose gold can be a light pinkish colour to a deep autumnal red.

Here are some pieces that we have made in rose gold

The platinum and marquise diamond engagement ring was made by us, and when it came to get a complimenting wedding/eternity band our client wanted something a little different. The warm rose gold set with small brown diamonds contrasts to the cool platinum and large dazzling white diamond.

A specitite garnet surrounded my cognac and white diamonds and set in rose gold. The deep red of the garnet and the warm brown of the diamonds are beautifully complimented by the rose gold.

This wedding and engagement ring set is handmade in 18ct rose gold. The wedding band is dotted with cognac brown diamonds, matching with the large single brown diamond set in the engagement ring.

Our Year Ring is one of our most popular wedding rings as it features the day, month and year of your special day hand carved into one of our solid bands. We recently started making these rings in 9ct and 18ct rose gold as the demand for an alternative metal increased. Stunning!

Ebury Collection

2011-07-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

The Ebury Collection is one of our favourite Wedding websites and is the go-to place for any bride who needs advice on planning, venues, fashion, beauty and pretty much everything else a girl could dream of!

What I love about this site is its simplicity, you aren't bombarded with information, colours, images so that your brain goes into overload. Instead the whole website screams elegance, its easy to use and informative, which is very rare to find nowadays!

Launched in 2010 we were quick to take the opportunity to collaborate with such a stylish company that enjoys finding lesser known wedding creatives and bringing their beautiful unique products to the forefront.

I love the fact that we are one of those companies! We have long been established as a bespoke jewellery company and within the wedding community for our popular Year Ring and Fingerprint Ring, and now our latest addition to the wedding ring family the Heartbeat Ring. As well as our increasingly sort after diamond bands and bespoke service.

Our handmade items perfectly compliment the stylish simplicity of the Ebury Collection, along with their personal and friendly ethos. I got to speak to the lovely Hannah many times and she was incredibly helpful and patient as well as positive about our jewellery.

We have recently expanded our ranges into one-off bespoke engagement rings that are proving popular and the Ebury Collection has certainly helped raise our profile. Couples are looking for individuality in their wedding and engagement rings, and there is no better way to get that then to design your very own rings!!

Check out our page on the Ebury Collection website

New wedding Rings

2011-07-28T06:16:00.000-07:00

Adding to our extensive range of handmade Wedding Rings, Dominic Walmsley Jewellery is launching our new Organic Wedding Rings!

Inspired by the raw beauty of nature and mirroring the individuality of our natural world these rings are a stunning addition to our wedding ring family

The rings shown above are a 5mm ladies band and a 6mm gents band in 18ct yellow gold and platinum.

We only finished making these rings today but I was too excited not to post them on here for everyone to see!

They will be available on our website very soon, but if you cannot wait until then please call Charlotte on 01732 779555 for prices and more information!! x

Tweet Tweet Tweet

2011-07-28T05:42:00.000-07:00

A customer came to us a few weeks ago needing inspiration for his Sapphire wedding anniversary. Now obviously he wanted sapphires, but other than that he was a little stuck.

After discussing what his wife likes, wears etc we came up with an unusual design ... a blackbird white gold brooch. This is the image that the customer liked and what we worked from:

I immediately set about designing this brooch as we were working to a tight schedule.

Once I had made the brooch itself we decided to add all the detailing of a Blackbird's feathers, there was only one engraver that I would trust to give us the level of detail that was required ... George Lukes. He is a master hand engraver and has won many awards over the years for his skill and detail.

For the sapphire we set a single blue sapphire for the birds eye. Stunning!

Our customer loves it and we got it made just in time for his wedding anniversary. Now all he has to worry about is how to smuggle it into the house without his wife noticing!!!

Product of the Day!!

2011-07-14T06:14:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to feature a beautiful pair of earrings that I made a few years ago. I absolutely love these earrings which were inspired by Dream-catchers, I love the idea of catching bad dreams just like the BFG (you can tell what film I was watching with my children that day!). I wanted a visual representation of this and the image of the dream-catcher is perfect for this!

Many native American dream-catchers have feathers hanging from the bottom of the loop and this is what I incorporated into my design, having complimenting coloured Tourmaline's hanging at different lengths with a final solid gold bead. This bringing in a beautiful movement to the earrings, so they are not just static, evoking the feathers swaying in the wind.

Our dream-catcher earrings can be worn as a feature on special occasions, or dressed down with jeans and a t-shirt, or why not make them your festival essential? However you wear these earrings you are guaranteed to stand out from the crowd and they will be a talking point among all your friends!

Handmade in 18ct yellow gold and with a little diamond and hand chosen tourmaline's these earrings are truly special!

Why not treat yourself to the matching pendant?

For more information on our product of the day visit www.dominicwalmsley.com or email us at info@dominicwalmsley.com

All About Eve

2011-07-14T03:22:00.000-07:00

Many clients on walking into one of stores comment on the lovely fragrant smell which greets them as they walk in. Unlike stores like Urban Outfitters where there signature smell hits you like a brick wall as you walk in stifling and over powering your sense, our signature smell is subtle and natural. We spent many months trying out different candles and diffusers from UK based companies trying to find one that complimented our store and our image. And finally we found one .... Herb Garden by All About Eve At Home.

We burn the candles for a couple of hours a day in both of our stores giving them a subtle, natural and inviting smell. We even stock the candles in our stores and since doing this they have become a best seller (along with our jewellery of course!)

The scent was custom made by the owner of All About Eve at Home, Melanie, who after spending 20years in the retail business as a buyer for Harrods and The White Company, decided to open up her own store in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire.

Why not pop in and smell for yourself the beautiful scent of Herb Garden

Summer Offer

2011-07-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

To say thank you to all of our customers for their continued support over the years we are giving away a FREE silver Butterfly pendant worth £55 with every order!!!

This pendant is a beautiful and thoughtful gift to give to a friend or loved one, or why not treat yourself this summer?!

Because we love and appreciate our customers so much there is no mininum purchase, so you could spoil yourself with one of our colourful friendship bracelets from £20

Why not splash out on our new Van Peterson designs which include these stunning multi-tone hoop earrings so you can interchange them depending on the colour of your jewellery

Van Peterson also do their own range of bracelets called 'Juicy Fruits' which combine semi-precious stone, beads and special little designs. I personally love the attention to detail such as the moon charm on the clasp. Stunning.

Every piece of jewellery that we stock or that you can imagine is included in our free gift offer, so why not get a double treat this summer?

For more information and designs check out our website www.dominicwalmsley.com or like us on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dominic-Walmsley-Jewellery/150418211669285

Dazzle Rings

2011-07-07T04:07:00.000-07:00

Taking inspiration from the opulent dazzling rings that celebrities and royalty alike have been showcasing recently Dominic Walmsley Jewellery have been busy designing stunning one-off commissions for our clientele.

When designing and hand making a dazzling diamond ring it is important to get the proportions right whilst maintaining the feel and look that the customer desires. We pride ourselves on our ability to make people's jewellery dreams come true, one way we do this is by having a fitting stage. No one wants to see a flat design on a piece of paper, choose their stones and then suddenly be presented with a finished design that looks nothing like what they expected. It is for this reason that we make sure that with any commission we have a fitting stage, this way our clients can see the work in progress try the item on etc and we can make any necessary changes, we make sure our customers have as many fittings as they need and we constantly discuss the design and what they envision to make sure that they are 100% happy with the end result.

This unusual engagement ring was a recent commission made by us. The customers wanted the sparkle of diamonds but yet something a little different. The center stone is the much ignored stone of Smokey Quartz, surrounded by diamonds and set in 18ct yellow gold this ring proves that diamonds aren't a girls only best friend!

This dazzle ring was made from a customers existing jewellery. She had old unworn jewellery that she never wore and was just sitting in a drawer, so with Dominic she designed a stunning dress ring. This ring features a sparkling Citrine as its central stone and is framed by ice white diamonds.

Clair Summer Jewellery

2011-06-21T02:18:00.000-07:00

We recently completed gold plating some jewellery by one of our customers, her designs are beautiful!! Here is her blog and what she had to say about Dominic Walmsley Jewellery! x

Clair Summer Jewellery: Au: "My new designs are back from the gold plater and they are dazzling. I am thrilled and I have Dominic Walmsley to thank for it. If you're ..."

Summer Summer Time

2011-05-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Summer has come early this year so its time to get out of our dull winter clothing, shake the cobwebs off our summery skirts and inject some colour back into wardrobe! We have already introduced our summery friendship bracelets, and now here are a few more colourful treats for you!!

These stunning silver and Amazonite earrings are only £40, making them perfect to inject some colour into your outfit!!

This is a Turquoise commission we recently made. Its bold and beautiful with chunks of turquoise making the necklace and then an 18ct yellow gold central pendant with a large moonstone as its center piece!

These synthetic Tanzanite earrings have flashes of pink and purple that add a real fiery depth to their blue colour! Only £140

This summery Tennis Bracelet is the perfect way to stay cool in the sunshine! Icy cool sky blue topaz set into shimmering sterling silver!! £320

This pair of deep Amethyst drop earrings add a splash of colour to brighten up any outfit!! £195

These sweet earrings are only £65, making them the ideal gift for a loved one, or a sneaky treat for yourself! Handmade in Sterling Silver and in Peridot!

These warm treasure inspired Inca earrings are the perfect addition to any outfit. Handmade in Sterling Silver and with 22ct gilding and white cubic zirconia stones, these shimmer and shine! £89

These sterling silver Cocktail Rings feature an array of different stones and their bold beautiful colours make a real statement!! From £160

All of these designs are available online and with different stones and in different metals! Just email us at info@dominicwalmsley.com or call 0207 250 0125 for more details!!

Check out our website http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/shop_collections.php for more details on all these collections, plus much more!!

Ask the expert - Dominic Walmsley

2011-04-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

Couples often ask us about our wedding bands and when we got the opportunity to participate in 'Ask the Expert' we jumped at the chance to answer the questions that are on everyone's mind. Here are the questions and answers:

1)What are the main things brides and grooms-to-be should consider when choosing their wedding rings? E.g. material options (complement other jewellery/personal style)

complementing the engagement ring (why and how?)

Whether you choose a simple band or an elaborate design, the most important thing is that it is in proportion to your engagement ring or, in the groom’s case, to his hand. Your engagement ring is the star of your hand and the wedding ring should compliment it. I give my customers the benefit of my 20 years experience of fitting and designing wedding rings.

With regards to metals there is now a new precious metal to choose from, palladium. It is whiter than White gold, has all of the benefits of platinum but is much cheaper. I highly recommend it to couples who want the appearance of platinum but don’t have deep enough pockets for platinum.

2) How can couples make their rings personal?

e.g. Engravings / any individual touches

”The Heartbeat Ring”

Gone are the days when the groom bought a flimsy washer type ring from Ratners. With all of the expense and thought that modern brides put into their wedding day, something more special is required. We have specialised in creating bespoke, personal wedding rings.

Our most popular ring is the “Fingerprint ring” on which we engrave the exact print of your partner’s finger onto the beautiful solid bespoke band. Some may just prefer their names engraved inside with a “with love” but our “Sonnet” ring has a romantic line from a Shakespearean sonnet engraved around the outside, “shall I compare the to a summer’s day......” With the skills of our award winning master engravers we can make your wedding ring as individual as your wedding is and our newest design could not be more personal. The “Heartbeat Ring” is hand-engraved with your loved ones heartbeat. It will certainly be a talking point for many years.

3) Can couples design their rings themselves with a jeweller? What is the process for doing this? How long should couples allow for the rings to be produced?

This is much more possible now than it used to be. However, the most important thing is to speak to the jeweller who is going to carry out the work or you may find your design changes when interpreted by the jeweller doing the work. I would ask the jeweller to show you the designs at a halfway stage so you can make any adjustments needed to the design before it is finished. I would allow 3-6 weeks for the rings to be made but I would make sure you think about your wedding rings at least 3-6 months in advance.

When I work with couples to design their wedding rings I always sit down with them and start to sketch ideas as we talk, so that I can get their immediate feedback of what they like/dislike. Once we all feel that I understand exactly what they want I make the rings up in silver for the fitting stage. I do this because it is easier to make changes to the design when the rings are in silver, than if they were made up in their chosen metals. Once the clients are 100% happy with the look, feel and design of their rings I make them up in their chosen precious metal.

A wedding and engagement set that I recently designed and made for a couple who wanted a bespoke design to their specifications

I worked with the couple to design and make this unusual wedding and engagement combination

4) Have you noticed any trends in the popularity of wedding ring designs – for men and women?

I think the biggest change in trends of wedding rings over the past five years is the almost total switch to white metals from yellow gold and the addition of diamonds to the bands, including the grooms. You can only go on what you prefer but if you like being different, why not go for the lovely warm colour of red gold.

5) If couples are on a budget what are the most reasonable materials to use?

Palladium wedding bands.

This is an easy question. The answer is palladium. It is very like platinum and is whiter than white gold and costs less than both. However, whith the increased popularity of this metal, I can only see the price rising in future.

Palladium plain wedding bands

6) If the sky's the limit, how can couples splurge on their wedding rings (highest quality materials/diamonds)

We made these wedding rings for a couple that loved diamonds. They were both set with channel set princess cut diamonds in platinum and they loved the rings.

Diamond set wedding bands

A diamond encrusted wedding band to really add the wow factor to the brides already sparkly engagement ring

7) Is there anything couples should look out for to be sure they are using a quality jeweller?

I would always look for a jeweller who is well established, has been recommended and above all personable.

8) Do jewellers offer insurance or do couples need to seek outside insurance to protect their new rings?

Your household insurance should cover your wedding rings but look at the small print and check your excess. For higher value items over £1,500 you will probably need to have the items individually photographed and have valuations made for them. We do this for free with our jewellery and I would ask your jeweller to give you a complimentary insurance valuation with your purchase.

If you would like to ask Dominic any questions please feel free to email us at: info@dominicwalmsley.com

New friendship Bracelets!!

2011-04-12T05:14:00.001-07:00

Our new summer friendship bracelets have been very popular with both our customers and employees! Images will soon be uploaded onto the website but I wanted to share the images with you all first! I was so excited to get the images on here that I haven't cleaned the photo's up yet so please don't think that they are uncared for!!

These are two of the designs we have in stock, the single silk bead and the double bead, we also have large single beads and children's friendship bracelets, in a range of colours. The blue and the pink together look fantastic and are perfect for the summer sunshine! Priced from £25-£45 these are the ideal guilt-free treat for yourself or a friend!!

New store!!!

2011-04-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

We have opened our new store in Riverhead!! There was a lot of last minute rushing around and fine-tuning, but it opened to friendly faces and champagne on Saturday 2nd April. We were so please that so many of our customers were able to pop in and help us welcome in the new store, it was a thoroughly enjoyable day, if not a little manic at times!

I will not lie, there is still some tweaking to do, especially to the back room which we hope to spruce up and hold all of our appointments in. This way customers can have 100% of Dominic's attention off the shop floor, can have a cuppa, some biccies and a chat about their ideas. One thing all of our customers say about us is that they like our informal feel, where they can come in discuss ideas, budgets etc and not feel the pressure to make a decision there and then, instead they are free to go away, have a think and let us know when they are ready how they would like to proceed. We pride ourselves on our friendly relaxed atmosphere and our non-aggressive approach to sales, our view is that you are the customer and therefore need to be 100% with what you are getting, if you are unsure walk away and have a think.

Time for a change......

2011-02-11T06:04:00.000-08:00

News just in ........... Dominic Walmsley Jewellery in Sevenoaks is moving!!!!

After 10 years in the same location, we have decided that a change is in order and so are moving home! We have been living opposite Sevenoaks station for a long time now, but over the years we have taken notice of our customers complaints about the lack of parking etc. Therefore, we have decided to take the plunge and move to the up and coming location of Riverhead! There is free parking, easy access location, a big window for everyone to see our beautiful jewellery while they sit in traffic and lots of new stores surrounding us. We will be moving into our new home of 3 The Square (next the the butchers) hopefully at the end of March/beginning of April, and our customers can count on a big party to christen the store!

As well as our new location we will also be showcasing our new designs and collections, and we also have some new treats for our customers which we will be keeping under lock and key until the big opening!!!

We will of course keep all of our customers updated on the progress of the new store and invitations will be sent out so know one misses out on the Grand Opening!

At the moment the builders are in there and the new floor is being laid down!! All very exciting!!!!

Two Valentines Gifts for the Price of One!

2011-02-10T05:31:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day is one of the hardest days of the year for the men in this world! Most don't have a clue when it comes to gifts, stare blankly at you when you ask what their partner likes, and break out in a cold sweat when you ask about matching sets!! Bless them we wouldn't have them any other way!

This year Dominic Walmsley Jewellery have made the whole thing easier for the men of the with our give away of a FREE pair of sterling silver heart earrings with our signature hammered finish, with any order of our Dazzling Heart pendants.

Dazzling Hearts
http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/shop_collection_inca_gifts_detail.php?itemID=IG015

Free earrings worth £45
http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/shop_collection_inca_gifts_detail.php?itemID=IG017

Now all he has to worry about is the colour of the stones, purple? blue? white? red? pink? Decisions, decisions!

Visit www.dominicwalmsley.com for more details or give us a call on 0207 250 0125 or email at info@dominicwalmsley.com

Engagement!

2011-02-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

Valentines Day is the only day of the year dedicated to celebrating and expressing the love for you have for your partner, so no wonder so many couples get engaged on this day!

Whether you are designing your engagement ring together, with her input or as a surprise, there are fundamental questions that you should ask both yourself and the designer...

What is your style? - traditional, contemporary, art-deco, floral, unusual, chunky, delicate....

Do you want stones? if so, coloured, diamond?

If you are having stones what cut suits your hand?

The designer should be able to advise you on stone cuts and shapes, and what works with both your budget and design.

Here is a selection of some of our favourite engagement rings that we have made for customers:

This ring was made as a surprise! Luckily the gentleman knew his new fiancés taste perfectly and she loves the simple design

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/engagement_ring7.php

This engagement ring features a large yellow sapphire, this sapphire was given to our customer by her grandmother and had great sentimental value. Therefore when it came to designing her engagement ring, she knew that she wanted this stone to be a main feature. Taking this we set two complimenting trillion diamonds to frame the stone and used a combination of yellow and white gold.

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/engagement_ring2.php

This elegant ring was designed with a traditional feel but with a modern twist

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/engagement_ring11.php

This contemporary diamond engagement ring features three diamonds which were taken from jewellery that the couple had inherited, thus making this ring truly personal

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/engagement_ring5.php

This ring is a modern twist on the traditional single brilliant diamond engagement ring. Encasing the centre diamond gives this ring a contemporary feel, and then we have added pave set diamonds to really make it sparkle!

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/engagement_ring3.php

This ring uses the lesser known Asscher cut for the central stone. This cut is characterised because it combines the princess and emerald cut, making it super sparkly and unusual! http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/shop_latest_detail.php?itemID=LD018

This one is one of my personal favourites! Sparkly, bold and beautiful.

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/engagement_ring9.php

Valentines Day!

2011-02-02T05:31:00.000-08:00

Stuck for ideas for Valentines Day?

We have lots of options including our new Dazzling Heart Pendants!!

Sterling silver set with semi-precious stones, or for something really rich why not choose one with a 22ct gilt backing!!! Simply stunning! Our stunning dazzling heart pendants are simple, colourful and will certainly bring a smile to her face! And as an extra treat this year we are giving away a FREE pair of complimenting heart stud earrings with every purchase of these pendants!!! A match made in heaven!!

Looking for something extra special? The perfect personal gifts...

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/diamond_jewellery_detail.php?itemID=LD049

This simple pendant is hand engraved with you and your loved ones names and punctuated with diamonds. Why not add a personal quote, message or phrase?

Why not design your very own gift?

We can make your jewellery dreams come true so why not have a chat with Dominic about making something truly personal, here are some previous designs we have made:

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/shop_latest.php

Valentines isn't just for women, why not treat the man in your life?

Blue Topaz Shield Cufflinks

Fingerprint Cufflinks

Garnet Gem Cufflinks

http://www.dominicwalmsley.com/cufflinks.php