from the bench
A collection of writing from the bench at Rare Thing in Brighton. Exploring jewellery making, workshops, bespoke work and the process behind each piece
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.