what is a hallmark & why does it matter?
In the UK, hallmarking is a legal requirement for precious metals over a certain weight. It’s there to protect you as a customer and make sure you’re getting exactly what you’ve paid for.
why have gold and silver prices increased so much?
Whenever the world feels unstable — politically, economically, or socially — people tend to turn to gold. Gold has been used as a store of value for thousands of years. When currencies wobble or inflation rises, investors buy gold to protect their money.
why handmade jewellery costs what it does
Handmade jewellery often costs more than mass-produced jewellery — and that can feel confusing if you’re not familiar with how it’s made. This isn’t because handmade is “luxury” in the glossy sense, or because there’s a markup for a name. It’s because of time, skill, materials, and care — and the fact that everything is done by a human, not a machine.
How long does it take to make a custom ring?
One of the most common questions people ask is: “How long will it take to make my ring?”
Because all Rare Thing jewellery is made by hand at the bench, rather than cast or mass-produced, the process takes time. Most custom rings take around six weeks from start to finish so here’s why.
what happens to your wax ring after carving?
At the end of a wax carving workshop, you are left with a wax ring — but that’s not the finished piece yet. Your wax design is the starting point for a traditional casting process that turns it into a solid silver or gold ring. This happens off-site with specialist casters, and then the finished piece comes back to us to be cleaned, polished, and checked before it’s ready to wear.
wax carving jewellery workshops - make your own ring
What is a wax carving jewellery workshop? A wax carving workshop is a hands-on jewellery making experience where you carve your own ring from jeweller’s wax, which is then professionally cast into silver or gold.