Vote For Jessica Flinn and You Can Win! -mexinter

You may remember that a while ago I did a post about exciting Sheffield based jewellery designer Jessica Flinn (http://www.mexinter.net/2021/08/jessica-flinn-jewellery-competition-and.html).

Well she's just been short-listed for BJA Designer of the year and needs your help! If you pop over to her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jessicaflinnjewellerydesigner) you can see her latest competition inspired by the awards!

If you vote for her to win "Designer of the year" and comment on her image to tell her you voted you could be in the chance of winning £250 worth of vouchers which can be spent on anything on her website! Good luck Jessica you've got my vote!

* I believe in supporting British designers and I was not compensated for this post.

Buying The Perfect Engagement Ring -mexinter

You want to propose and you want her to say yes, so what are the secrets to buying the perfect engagement ring? As I have had my own jewellers in the past I feel I am qualified to help and advise people in choosing their engagement rings and this post is to address some common questions.

Firstly have an idea of your budget, however, don't be confined by this. Many independent jewellers will be open to negotiation, and you may be able to get a discount. Go for the best ring you can afford, after all, it is forever. When budgeting for engagement rings, a rule of thumb is two months’ salary, but it comes down to what you are comfortable with says  orlajames.com 

Think about your wife to be. Does she like modern styles or is she more traditional? Does she wear yellow gold or does she prefer white gold or platinum? White metals are very fashionable at the moment, be it white gold, palladium or platinum.

White gold is very popular. In this country white gold is usually 9 ct or 18 ct.  9 ct gold is cheaper than 18 ct as there is less gold in the ring the rest being made up of other alloys. A consideration with white gold is that it may need to be rhodium plated every two or three years to make it bright and shiny again.

Palladium is from the family of platinum but is less expensive. It is tough and has a look that never tarnishes. It is popular for men's wedding rings especially and can have a slighter darker look than white gold.

Platinum is the purest and valuable precious metal there is and it is said it is the best metal to show off a diamond as it stays true white and does not impart any colour hue on the diamond. It is also the most expensive metal on the market, but after all, it is the rarest.

Yellow gold has a bright yellow colour and is the traditional choice for an engagement ring. Usually, a yellow gold engagement ring will be 9 ct or 18 ct.

Now to the style of ring. The usual type of engagement ring is a diamond ring however there are no hard and fast rules these days and coloured stones are starting to become fashionable however in this post I will concentrate on diamond rings.

When you are buying a diamond ring the 4 C's come into consideration - Cut, Colour, Clarity and Carat weight. The Cut is the shape of the stone - from brilliant-cut diamonds to more unusual shapes. The Colour is the colour of the diamond - the whiter clearer diamonds being the most valuable in general. The Clarity is how clear the diamond is, the best diamonds are flawless with no carbon deposits, however, if the diamond is smaller than a carat in weight you may not see these with the naked eye.  The Carat weight is the size of the diamond. Diamond rings increase in cost when you get to the .5ct and 1ct mark and so on increments. 

Diamond rings can be multiple stones, single solitaire or cluster rings made up of smaller diamonds. This is a good choice if the cost is an issue. Round stones are usually brilliant-cut with many facets. Square-cut stones are called Princess cut and Emerald cut diamonds are rectangular in shape. Emerald cut diamonds are often more expensive than brilliant-cut diamonds as the cut of the stone can show any imperfections. Consequently, these stones are usually excellent quality with little carbon deposits. Trilogy rings are rings with one centre stone and two smaller stones set either side. These are said to represent past, present and future.

I hope this has helped you in your choice of engagement ring, and at the end of the day buy a ring you think she will like and that reflects her and her personality, be it stylish and classic or more detailed and elaborate. And don't forget as they say "Diamonds are Forever"  and will last a lifetime.

Online Jewellers David M Robinson has a guide to buying the perfect engagement ring on their website if you need any further help.

*This is a sponsored post

Win With The London Jewellery School - Ends 10/10 -mexinter

I'm like a magpie, I like pretty things, the sparkly the better, so I was excited when I heard that the London Jewellery School was running classes in making your own jewellery.

The courses are run by young successful entrepreneur Jessica Rose who at the age of 24 now runs the largest jewellery making business in Europe. Jessica fell in love with jewellery making ever since leaving school and since she began teaching others how to make jewellery she has never looked back. From humble beginnings, in a community hall, she now runs the London Jewellery School in Hatton Garden. A few short years later and the London Jewellery School is a huge success attracting 1000's of students and visitors from London, the UK and abroad.

Jessica Rose

Jessica's future looked very different in 2009 when her A-level results weren't what she needed to get into her choice of course at University. But Jessica decided to focus on a different plan and the London Jewellery School was born. 

You may be wondering what sort of courses they run at the London Jewellery School. Well, they run a myriad of courses for those with simply an interest in jewellery but no experience in making it, to an accredited diploma in Creative Jewellery Making. 

Jessica says, “Jewellery-making can be a very positive experience – it allows you to express your own style and have a creative outlet. When people have stressful jobs or lives, having a creative outlet can be really important to help them cope – taking some time to think about colours and shapes, and the sense of satisfaction you get from making something is really beneficial. It can also give people confidence and real lift."

Jewellery you can make

Prices for courses start from £50 to £4000 for the diploma course and can be taught full-time, part-time, evening or in the day. In fact, there are courses to suit everyone whatever their budget or circumstance. With each course all the materials are included too, all you need to bring is enthusiasm and a love of jewellery. Day classes usually run from 10-5pm and evening classes from 6.30-9.30pm.

Some of the courses are below.

• Beginner’s Silver Jewellery
• Pearl Knotting
• Enamel
• Fused Glass 
• Metal Clay
• Stone Setting
• Resin and Perspex
• Tiara making

...and much more.  

The jewellery taster courses are particularly good value for £50, and they seem so much fun. I love the idea of the cocktail ring class, making a silver charm or a pair of chandelier earrings, and I can imagine wearing what I made at a Christmas party. In fact, I love the idea of the Gift Vouchers, for a special present for someone who has everything, mum, best friend, wife or girlfriend it would suit most ladies and men who like being creative, after all, some of the world's greatest designers are men.

Mel Dawson a student says

“I started with a cocktail ring taster class – I came along with a friend - and made 5 rings in an evening. It was a great way to get some creativity into my life and very different to my day job. The quick results from the class got me hooked so I came back for a make a silver ring class. I couldn’t believe that I could make something in precious metal after just an evening – the tutors are brilliant at helping you to learn quickly. I wasn’t sure I was the sort of person who made things so having a go was a revelation.

Now I’ve done several day classes and have a whole box of jewellery making supplies at home – if I need stress relief or a little lift I can get out my bead box and create a new pair of earrings or a necklace. I’ve definitely got the jewellery making box – which is great for me and for many friends and family who are getting lots of new jewellery as presents.”

Make A Stunning Cocktail Ring

All the courses are taught by professionals but in a fun friendly manner, who knows even a taster course may spark a passion in the jewellery business, you could be the next Jessica Rose.

Make Some Pretty Chandelier Earrings

If you would like to read about Jessica and why I think she is an inspiration to young people check out this post. 

Do you love jewellery as much as me? Have you ever wanted to try making jewellery? Well, this is the exciting part as The London Jewellery School have given me a prize for my lucky readers of a place on a taster course for two. Who would you bring with you if you were so lucky to win? I will leave that up to you!  Good luck.

To enter the competition please visit The London Jewellery School Taster Classes page, and then enter by answering the questions via the Rafflecopter application below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ti Sento Bracelet Giveaway with Johnson Jewellers - Ends 22/09 -mexinter

Johnson Jewellers are one of those family run jewellers that make you feel proud to be British. They pride themselves on their approachable, knowledgable staff and the advice they offer. Being a member of the National Association of Goldsmith's (N.A.G.) means that they are a name you can trust on your high street.

But what about the jewellery you may ask? Well Johnson Jewellers have a wide range of both jewellery and watches of all the well known brands as well as wedding rings, and gifts for that special someone. The brands that they stock include Pandora, DKNY and Swarovski, Omega, Tag Heuer and Raymond Weil. 

When browsing their website I came across this lovely Hugo Boss watch for my husband (below). This classic black watch is stylish and will go with everything. My favourite watch that I would love to wear myself, is this rose gold coloured Juicy Couture watch. Rose gold is very fashionable in jewellery at present and I love the rich tones of this watch. I feel this rose gold watch would add a touch of class to any outfit. 

Hugo Boss Mans Watch    Juicy Couture Ladies Watch

I also love the Links of London jewellery brand, and this Links of London Effervescence bracelet is rather cool. Links of London is a global jewellery brand and they were named Jewellery Brand of the year 2005-2007. Their iconic sweetie bracelet set a nationwide trend and their friendship bracelets are lovely too.

Links Of London Friendship Bracelet

I am also a big fan of Ti Sento. Ti Sento is an Italian brand that create romantic, feminine jewellery with a contemporary feel. Their jewellery is hand crafted and each stone is set by hand.

Each piece of Ti Sento Jewellery from Johnson Jewellers has a two year guarantee too so you know you are in safe hands. This beautiful imitation pearl bracelet would be a fabulous addition to any wardrobe don't you think? 

Ti Sento Bracelet

Well I hope you are feeling lucky today as Johnson Jewellers have given me this stunning bracelet to give away by Ti Sento.

To enter please have a look at the Johnson Jewellers website and then enter the competition by completing the steps below. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter to keep up-to-date with the latest jewellery news.

Good Luck and if you are looking for a special gift check out Johnson Jewellers today.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Johnson Jewellers have given me an item of jewellery to give away for a honest review
  Win competitions at ThePrizeFinder.com

Jessica Flinn Jewellery - Competition and Review Ends 21/09 -mexinter

Jessica Flinn is an exciting emerging talent on the jewellery scene. The young designer from Sheffield Hallam University has a degree in metalwork and specialises in unique and modern jewellery made from stainless steel. Her pieces have been noticed by magazines such as Vogue, and GQ, who have realised that she is definitely a designer to watch in the future. The trade magazines have also realised this fact and she has been listed in the Professional Jeweller Magazines Hot 100 and in November 2012 she reached the finals of the BJA Jewellery Designer of the Year awards.

When I saw Jessica's designs I immediately fell in love with her feminine girlie jewellery that is just that bit different. What I particularly love is that she creates statement pieces that ensure you stand out in a crowd. In fact her jewellery is rather unique. Using traditional and modern metalwork techniques her fresh and contemporary jewellery is both desirable and wearable. 

I love this Russian Bird cuff, its beautiful blue bird design is bang on trend. I love the blue on cream, it is simply adorable. The cuff is easy to mould to your wrist too. I was sent two cuffs to try as I couldn't decide which was the nicest. Which one do you think? I am swayed by the large cuff as it fits almost perfectly to my wrist.

Large Russian Bird cuff on left. Medium Cuff in the same design right

Large Russian Bird Cuff

Another beautiful piece is the French lace inspired cuff. I think this would set off a little black dress perfect for those Christmas parties and the matching necklace is too gorgeous for words too. I love the way the high polished steel glitters with the black lace design.

French Lace Necklace

I think I'm already becoming a fan of Jessica Flinn's jewellery and if like me you love these pieces you will be in good company as comedian Miranda Hart, Angela Bell from The One Show and Daybreak presenter Kate Garraway are fans of hers as well. Her jewellery is also competitively priced and prices start at only £25 with the more elaborate pieces still under £100.

 9ct gold plated Floral Lace Collar necklace

You can find Jessica Flinn Designer Jewellery on Twitter and Facebook. Why don't you follow her to keep up to date with her stunning designs, but also I have some exciting news for you!

Jessica has given me a beautiful medium Russian bird cuff from the Silvermatics collection to give away. To enter visit the Jessica Flinn Designer Jewellery website, then come back and answer the questions on the Rafflecopter application below.

Good luck jewellery lovers!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

* I was given a piece of jewellery to keep for an honest review

Clogau Gold - The Welsh Gold Of Royalty -mexinter

In my shop we stock the beautiful gold that is the brand Clogau Gold. 

For over 20 years Clogau (pronounced Clog-Eye) has specialised in creating unique handcrafted jewellery containing rare Welsh Gold - the gold of royalty. 

It is a touch of this very same rare Welsh gold that is contained within each piece of Clogau Gold jewellery, making it some of the most exclusive jewellery in the world. The content of Welsh gold can be identified by the Welsh dragon stamp, and other unique marks that denote a genuine piece of Clogau Gold. 


Every piece of Clogau Jewellery comes complete with a certificate of Authenticity to say that it contains Welsh Gold.

Tree of Life Ring

This precious gold is found in the mountains of Snowdonia and is know for its rose gold colour from the copper in the mines.

Rose Gold Wedding Ring

The British Royal Family has been using pure Welsh gold to create their wedding rings, since 1923. The tradition carrying on in the most recent Royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on 29th April, 2011.

Today Clogau designs include traditional Celtic designs to more modern pieces in silver and gold. 

Origins Pendant

On Saturday May 11th we are holding a Clogau Gold Day in our shop in Porthcawl, South Wales. We like to make the day fun with drinks, cupcakes and a prize draw. If you can't attend give us a ring on 01656 786007 or email us at sales@rmawilliams.com we can take orders over the telephone and then we can enter you into the draw to win a stunning piece of Clogau jewellery. Only people who buy Clogau will be entered into the draw so you have an excellent chance of winning. Each person who buys also has a free Clogau keyring too!

Am Byth Necklace

So if you have a special birthday coming up, or you are after that fabulous gift for someone special why don't you pop in or visit the designs here and order with us over the phone to be entered into the draw and to avail of our special offers now.

Which designs do you love?

Valentine's Gift Ideas from RMA Williams Jewellers -mexinter

What do you buy the lady who has everything on Valentine's day?

I know I always appreciate jewellery- it means something so special and feels like a real treat at anytime of the year, and especially on Valentine's day.

A piece of jewellery I really treasure is my Thomas Sabo charm bracelet. I have charms that relive memories for me, and I still have a way to go to complete it. 

I like this sparkly heart charm -which charm do you like?

I also love the idea of lockets to keep a precious photo in. Hot Diamonds do a range of lockets that are special each containing a genuine diamond.

I am a true lover of Thomas Sabo Jewellery and this Angel Wing pendant is truly stunning. 

Clogau are a jewellery brand that has grow and grown over the years. These Clogau silver and rose gold heart earrings are beautiful and a perfect Valentine's gift.

These earrings are also sweet, again from Hot Diamonds, in sterling silver and containing a genuine diamond.

So why don't you leave this page open for you partner to see and maybe you will get something you really want for Valentine's day.

RMA Williams Jewellers offer free delivery and gift wrapping too and all orders can be placed online through their secure server or over the Telephone on 01656 786007. If you say you saw the jewellery on this blog you are entitled to 10% off the price. 

So I hope you feel loved up this Valentine's day! 

Love Mel x

New Facebook Page For The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover -mexinter

I have some exciting news for my readers, I now have a new Facebook page for my blog, which you can find here - 

https://www.facebook.com/mexinter.netBlog

Why don't you pop over and give it a like? I am running a competition on this Facebook page to win some silver earrings from RMA Williams Jewellers but be quick as the competition ends on 300 likes. 

I will be running more competitions on there in future though if you miss out.

RMA Williams Jewellers are a family jewellers based in Porthcawl, South Wales. They are a stockist of Clogau Welsh Gold, Thomas Sabo, Hot Diamonds and many other brands as well as stunning rings , necklaces and earrings in a range of prices. They also have a great range of wedding bands  in a choice of yellow gold, white gold, platinum and palladium and they offer 10% off when you buy two wedding rings together as well!  

Competition and Great gift ideas Under £50 from RMA Williams Jewellers -mexinter

Christmas is coming and people are very conscious in this day of getting value for money and watching the pennies.

In our shop RMA Williams Jewellers we have a wide range of jewellery, from engagement and wedding rings, gold jewellery and silver jewellery and a range of prices from children's earrings from £5 to engagement rings up to £5000 and beyond. We stock lots of items in our shop under £50 and have an even greater variety of jewellery than we stock on our website.

Here are some lovely gift ideas under £50 for you and your loved ones from RMA Williams Jewellers. 

Gift Ideas

For a Friend Silver flower necklace and earring set  £40. 

For a Teenager Cupcake earrings by Muru £28

For Christmas Parties Silver solitaire pendant and earring set £36

For a Loved One Giselle earrings by Hot Diamonds £40

For You Drop necklace by Fiorelli £49

For Mum Thomas Sabo pearl bracelet £29.95

For Your Daughter Thomas Sabo silver charm bracelet from £34.95

If you sign up to our newsletter you will also get a code for 10% off your first order! With free delivery and gift wrapping what do you have to lose!

RMA Williams Jewellers
35 John Street
Porthcawl
CF36 3AP
01656 786007

Closing date 16/12/2012

For your chance to win one of the items of jewellery above comment via Rafflecopter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stunning Welsh Gold From Clogau Gold -mexinter

My shop RMA Williams Jewellers have been stocking gorgeous Clogau Gold since we opened four years ago. It is a bestseller as people love their designs and the fact that a piece of rare Welsh gold is incorporated in every design.

Clogau Gold is a family run business, like ourselves, with over 20 years experience in creating beautiful jewellery of the highest quality.

Due to the increase of the price of gold internationally in the last few years, Clogau now create many designs in a mix of silver and gold which are reasonably priced.

I am pleased to announce we have a fantastic Clogau day on Saturday the 22nd of September, at our shop in Porthcawl, South Wales. Check our our About Us page on how to get to us. On the day we are offering fantastic incentives to purchase a piece of Clogau Gold including a prize draw with a number of prizes from Clogau.

Please pop in and have a glass of wine and a cupcake and browse our stock. If you cannot attend on the day, you can always ring us to place an order. If you are starting to think of Christmas or a big birthday we can reserve an item for you with a small deposit. We offer free delivery and gift wrapping and you can pay by credit or debit card over the telephone. You never know you may have a surprise turn up with your order, if you are lucky enough to win!

Do you love Clogau Gold? Tell me which item you treasure or dream of having...

Thomas Sabo Black Obsidian Bracelet Competition Ends 21/09/12 -mexinter

Since we opened our shop four years ago, one of our best selling lines has been Thomas Sabo Charms and Jewellery. At present we are the only official stockists in the county of Bridgend.

Thomas Sabo is a fashion orientated silver jewellery brand loved by those in the know. It is a German company and it is primarily known for its charm bracelets.

The charm bracelets are popular as they are easily customisable with your choice of charms, be it simple silver charms, gorgeous sparkly charms, or enamel charms in every colour. The charms available are many and varied and are bought to celebrate a life event, holiday or just because!

The most popular charm bracelets are the medium link silver charm bracelets, the thick link silver charm bracelets, the black obsidian bracelets and freshwater pearl bracelets. The silver charm bracelets can take a number of charms, whilst the other bracelets can take between one and three charms depending on the size of the silver carrier. All charms have lobster claw clasps to attach to the bracelets easily.

My personal favourites are this, open heart sparkly charm this Mum charm and this lucky four leaf clover. Which are your favourite charms?

To enter the competition to win this gorgeous black obsidian charm bracelet, follow the steps below and good luck! If you are feeling particularly generous and like my blog, please follow me on Google Friend Connect on the right or via email to be kept up to date with reviews, posts and competitions!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Me and My Shop -mexinter

Where do I start?

I have always worked with people. I used to be a psychiatric nurse and enjoyed this however with unsocial hours and a little one I decided a change of career was needed

Later on in my career I completed a degree in Multimedia Studies and went into teaching and training adults in Modern Apprenticeships. I enjoyed helping,and guiding people and this is an extremely rewarding area of work, however I always wanted to work for myself.

When my husband decided to venture into the family business of jewellery, I decided to do so with him.

Our online jewellers opened before our shop and our shop has been trading since 2008.

RMA Williams Jewellers

We are a third generation of family jewellers in a small seaside town. We stock Clogau Welsh Gold, Thomas Sabo charms and Thomas Sabo jewellery, Fiorelli silver jewellery, and Hot Diamonds.

We sell wedding and engagement rings in white gold, yellow gold, platinum and palladium. Our Celtic wedding rings sell well as does our diamond set bands.

We like to think we provide a personal service and we offer free delivery and gift wrapping. We feel professionalism is important and we are members of the National Association of Goldsmiths.

Our website is a taster of the delights of our store, we have much more available in the shop!