Throughout 2022, fine jewellery and engagement ring experts at Steven Stone have put together a range of jewellery guides – from how to clean your jewellery and measure your partner’s ring size, to how to train your dog to be the perfect ring bearer.
As well as guides, we’ve used our industry knowledge to put together multiple pieces that tackle frequently asked questions and offer advice.
The content has been flowing, but which of our pieces caught your attention?
Using Google Analytics, we’ve compiled a list of our most read tips and tricks of 2022.
10. Can I wear my engagement ring in the shower?
Taking an engagement ring into the shower may seem harmless, but every time you wear your jewellery while you wash, you run the risk of causing damage or wear.
To help you understand just how this can cause damage, our engagement ring experts answered a few frequently asked questions.
9. Pet expert reveals how to train your dog to be the perfect ring bearer
Celebrities including Carrie Underwood, Ellen DeGeneres, and Joe Jonas have previously involved their pets on the big day, whilst bride-to-be, Stacey Solomon, also announced her dogs will wear suits at her upcoming wedding.
But how do you train your dog to be a wedding ring bearer? And what’s the best way to avoid a hiccup? We teamed with Certified Animal Behaviourist, Caroline Wilkinson, from digital pet coaching service, Barketplace, to reveal everything you need to know.
8. 10 unusual wedding venues in Manchester
So, you proposed to your significant other with the perfect engagement ring and are ready to plan your wedding – but what do you do first? Choosing a venue is one of the most important parts of your wedding planning process and it’s safe to say that there’s a lot to consider.
According to Google trends, 2.2K people search for the term ‘wedding venues manchester’ each month. With 1.2K searching the term ‘unusual wedding venues’, we decided to take a look into some of the alternative venues available in Manchester, for couples who want to leave tradition behind.
7. A 10 Step Guide To Buying An Engagement Ring
Love is in the air and you’ve decided to propose to your significant other, but where do you start when it comes to choosing an engagement ring? First things first, you don’t want to rush things – finding the perfect engagement ring takes time and research.
To help you out, our experts put together a 10-step guide that covers everything that you’ll need to know to ensure that you pick the right ring – from setting a budget to choosing a stone.
6. Other Than Jewellery, What Are Diamonds Used For?
Diamond engagement rings are so ingrained in our culture of romance that it has become almost instinctual to associate diamonds only with their use in jewellery.
So much so that it can be easy to forget that diamond is a natural mineral with a unique set of properties, and it’s always being used in new ways to improve our world.
There are a range of surprising ways that diamonds are used, each one taking advantage of the properties that make diamond such a popular material.
Our experts put together a comprehensive guide to the many uses of diamond.
5. 8 ways you could damage your engagement ring – without even realising it
Whilst many couples will be keen to showcase their new bling at every opportunity, an engagement ring can very easily be damaged if you don’t take proper care of it.
Though diamonds and precious stones are tough, they aren’t indestructible, and there are a number of everyday activities that can cause them to become chipped, scratched, or broken. This is not only upsetting, but could also be very expensive, with repair work costing between £30 to £350.
To help you keep your engagement ring in perfect condition, we revealed nine common ways you could be damaging it- without even realising.
4. What kind of ring do you propose with?
A common misconception is that wedding and engagement rings are the same, but they are different pieces of jewellery to celebrate different moments in a relationship.
Traditionally, an engagement ring is the ring you give when you’re proposing and then during the wedding, you exchange the wedding rings. The two rings sit together on the same finger and to ensure they both fit together perfectly, engagement bands can be made with raised settings.
Our diamond experts put together a handy guide to the different types of engagement rings.
3. Do you wear your engagement ring when you get married?
From the day your partner proposed, you’ve probably been wearing your engagement ring. However, as your wedding draws closer, you might be wondering what to do with the engagement ring during the ceremony.
Are you supposed to wear your engagement ring on your wedding day? Or do you take it off and replace it with your wedding ring? If you’re unsure, our diamond experts have revealed everything you need to know.
2. Where does gold come from?
While it’s hard to believe, the gold jewellery we wear every day actually comes from the stars – and the science behind how it’s created is pretty magical.
All of the gold that’s deposited in our planet was formed during the explosions of stars and collisions of asteroids, and eventually found its way to earth over time.
Today, gold is one of the most valuable precious metals and rarest natural minerals. It is also one of the 118 elements so far discovered and classified by humans. Pure gold is a bright warm yellow, malleable and soft substance. It’s so soft that, in its purest form, it can’t really be used for everyday wear.
To harden it, it is alloyed with a mixture of metals like silver, copper, platinum, palladium and zinc. Its primary use is in jewellery, but it’s also used in finance, electronics, computers, dentistry, medicine, aerospace, glassmaking, and as awards and status symbols. It’s clearly present in the formation and upkeep of many of our innovations,
But how is gold made? Our experts put together a handy guide that tells you everything you need to know.
1. Why are platinum rings more valuable than gold?
When it comes to choosing a metal for your engagement or wedding ring, platinum is typically a more expensive choice. The main reason for this is that precious metals are priced by weight, and platinum is much denser than gold, meaning it will be heavier.
Another reason why platinum rings are more valuable than gold is because the metal is much rarer. Every year, approximately 1,500 tonnes of gold is mined, in comparison to just 160 tonnes of platinum.
In terms of sheer purity, platinum rings are made of at least 90-95% platinum and this density makes the band much more durable than gold. In comparison, a 14k gold ring band is typically only 58.5% gold, and the price difference reflects the quantity of the rare metals needed.
Whilst many believe that platinum is the best metal for jewellery such as engagement and wedding rings, the truth is, when it comes to appearance, they are virtually identical.
Our experts recently walked us through the similarities and differences between the metals.
Are you looking for the perfect piece of jewellery? From engagement rings to diamond earrings, we have an extensive collection. Perhaps you’re looking for a bespoke piece of jewellery? We have showrooms in Manchester, London and Cheshire.
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