The Pomegranate Guide To Choosing A Special Piece Of Jewellery
Investing in a special piece of jewellery is typically something done because you feel particularly drawn to a beautiful piece and you want to treat yourself, or you intend on gifting something special.
Although fine gold jewellery has the potential to maintain or even appreciate in value in future years, when we think about investing in jewellery, many of us prefer to consider jewellery in terms of its beauty and symbolism, not just its intrinsic value.
Value is often thought of in purely monetary terms, but there's so much more to the value of a piece than its monetary value. The true value often extends far beyond the materials used and it's the story of a piece that can make it so valuable and something with a sentimental attachment can often prove invaluable.
Some considerations that can make a piece special include the uniqueness of the design, the creative and production process and the rarity or distinctive nature of the materials used.
When considering jewellery as an investment or even as a potential family heirloom, at Pomegranate we strongly believe that it's not merely about looking for pieces with the highest gold content or pieces that contain the rarest, most dazzling or biggest gemstones that matters. It's also the thought, intent, craftsmanship and individuality of a piece that help make an item of jewellery extra special.
Here at Pomegranate, we understand that our customers are looking for something more.
High street jewellers will typically stock jewellery that's mass produced resulting in designs that can be found in almost any other jewellers shop. Their primary role is to sell as much as possible and to do this, they tend to fall back on tried and tested designs with little deviation or individuality. There’s nothing wrong with that of course, but here at Pomegranate, we understand that our customers are looking for something more.
Our fine gold jewellery pieces are handcrafted, but perhaps even more special are our pieces that are truly unique one offs. Many of our stones retain their organic, non-uniform shape and so require custom bezels for example or we’ll find an incredible stone and design an entirely new item of jewellery around it.
So when it comes to choosing a piece of jewellery as an investment, what things should you be considering?
From assessing the quality of the materials used to considering current trends, these are some of the things you might wish to consider when choosing fine gold and gemstone jewellery.
Considerations when choosing jewellery
Any piece of jewellery more than a few hundred pounds is likely to be a decision that isn’t taken lightly. So if you intend on spending several thousand pounds on a piece of jewellery, you’ll want to make sure you’re making a sound choice.
Fashion and Style
Fashion and trends apply to jewellery as much as they do the fashion and interior design industry. For example, during the Victorian and Edwardian era cameo lockets were extremely fashionable, often used to commemorate a loved one or given as a special gift.
During the 1970s and into the 1980s yellow gold jewellery was extremely popular, trending towards large gold hoop earrings and statement pendant necklaces, the bigger the better!
Right now, it’s all about creating a sense of drama and individuality making statement pieces extremely popular.
There really is no right or wrong, but do consider, particularly if it’s a piece you intend to pass on, that you may want to choose something that reflects your personal style and does indeed make a huge statement. Alternatively, you might wish to make a safer choice and choose something more understated and classic.
Our advice is to listen to your heart. Buy that which you feel drawn to and choose something you love or that you think the recipient will love!
Intended Use
Is the jewellery you want to buy intended to be a piece that’s rarely worn and is instead on worn on a handful of occasions? Perhaps you’re choosing something with the intention of passing it down through the family? It could be jewellery that’s practical and intended to be worn frequently.
The use of the item will largely determine the type of piece you go for. If it’s something that you or the recipient will be wearing daily, then a smaller necklace or earrings could make a good choice. If it’s a statement piece you’re looking for, intended to be worn only occasionally, then you can go for something that bigger and more attention grabbing.
Design, Craftsmanship, and Quality
The design, craftsmanship and quality of a piece of jewellery should also be considered and is as important as the materials the jewellery has been made from.
Quality craftsmanship will help to ensure that the jewellery stands up to repeated wear as well as standing the test of time.
Look out for traditional or unusual handcrafting techniques that require expert artisans to make and choose high quality gold too.
Combination of Precious Metals and Gemstones
An item of gold jewellery with a high carat rating of 18k or more, combined with a dazzling diamond is perhaps the combination we might instantly consider, but whilst diamonds are undoubtedly beautiful and remain the most sought after of all gemstones, there are plenty of other stunning gemstones to consider.
You can’t go wrong with staple gemstones like diamonds, rubies and sapphires, but do consider that good examples of gemstones like tanzanite can be stunning and are increasingly rare and rising in value.
Choosing a birthstone can be a great way to increase the sentimental appeal of a gift, so if you’re finding it hard to settle on a stone, consider the month of the recipient’s birth or their favourite colour which can both guide you when choosing a gemstone. Take a look at our birthstones by month guide.
Be Inspired
Looking for a little bit of inspiration? Take a look at our fine gold jewellery, or read on to see some hand picked examples we think you’ll love!
Fine Gold & Grey Diamond Tennis Bracelet £2,550.00
Ideal for: Timeless, classic appeal and practical, easily wearable.
Tourmaline Fine Gold Beaded Hoop Earrings £1,850.00
Ideal for: Matching with a big personality and making a colourful statement.
Diamond & Enamel Fine Gold Ring £4,300.00
Ideal for: Lavish gestures for those who like to make a statement.
Ayesha Fine Gold Rose Cut Diamond Earrings £5,900.00
Ideal for: Classic appeal that oozes luxury.
Persephone Polki Diamond Stud Earrings £1,350.00
Ideal for: Classic appeal with a modern twist.
Choosing the right piece of jewellery isn’t always easy, so if you would like some help, we’d be delighted to guide you and help make your decision a bit easier. Please feel free to get in touch with us or pop into our Kensington London shop.