If you're anything like me, then you've probably got a few pieces of jewellery here and there that need a little TLC.
You know, the ones with a little too much gunk? Or pieces that used to have a flawless shine but are now looking a little dull?
If you find yourself on the same boat, read on for some tips on how to clean your gemstone jewellery at home!
]]>If you're anything like me, then you've probably got a few pieces of jewellery here and there that need a little TLC.
You know, the ones with a little too much gunk? Or pieces that used to have a flawless shine but are now looking a little dull?
If you find yourself on the same boat, read on for some tips on how to clean your gemstone jewellery at home!
Semi-precious gemstones are non-porous and are usually hard stones. These stones are typically resistant to wear and tear, and are easier to clean. Some examples of these gemstones are sapphires, amethyst, ruby, diamond and rose quartz.
How to clean jewellery with semi-precious stones
- Dissolve a drop of washing up liquid in a bowl of warm water
- Pop your piece of jewellery in the bowl and soak for a few minutes.
- Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the piece of jewellery gently
- Dry the piece with a kitchen towel
- Use a micro-fibre polishing cloth (my favourite is Towntalk) for a final polish.
Jewellery set with pearls in Minimalist V2.
Although most gemstones are made from hard stones, there are delicate gemstones that are soft and porous. These stones can be easily scratched and damaged by chemicals. Some examples of these gemstones are pearls, some types of opals, agates, emeralds and coral.
How to clean jewellery with delicate stones:
- Dissolve a drop of washing up liquid in a bowl of warm water
- Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the piece of jewellery gently. Do not soak the piece in the water
- Use a soft toothbrush to scrub the piece of jewellery gently
- Dry the piece with a damp kitchen towel
- Let the piece dry on a flat surface (especially if the piece is a pearl necklace on silk string, as silk will stretch)
- Use a micro-fibre polishing cloth for a final polish.
As always, I love sharing my tips, tricks and recommendations when it comes to jewellery! Do come and share with me in the comments below how you get on with these jewellery cleaning tips.
]]>It’s devastating to know that over the last 5 years, the earth has suffered deforestation at an alarming rate of 10million hectares per year. While we may not physically see this immense loss in our day-to-day, the fact that we are all living on the same blue orb in this universe means we are all affected by this no matter how far away we are from it. Heatwaves, blizzards and rainstorms (sound familiar?) are but a handful of examples of the effects of global warming.
When I started Abloro Jewellery, I thought about the small things that I, as a small business owner, can do to make a positive impact in the climate crisis. One of the things I have always wanted to do was to make a contribution towards reforestation efforts and climate solution projects, from a portion of the proceeds made by Abloro Jewellery.
And so I am very excited to announce that I have partnered with Ecologi, an incredible platform that empowers small businesses like mine to make a difference in the environment.
Starting today, for every piece sold on my website, a tree is planted and protected in a mangrove in Madagascar. This means that with every piece of jewellery you buy from my shop, you're also investing towards making our lovely earth a better place. Talk about a feel-good purchase!
You can check the progress of Abloro Jewellery's donations to reforestation in the Sustainability Pledge linked below.
It’s but a little step towards where I’d love to be in terms of my environmental sustainability pledge for Abloro Jewellery, but if we don’t take these small steps, we’ll never get anywhere.
I hope this has inspired you to also make small changes in your day today that will help heal our little home. Check out some resources I shared below if you’d like to read more about some of the topics touched on by this blog post.
-Raissa
"Nature and mental health"- Mind.org.uk
“The state of the world’s forests, 2020” - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
“We created Ecologi so people like you can actually take on the climate crisis” - Ecologi
Abloro Jewellery's Sustainability Pledge
P.S. If you’d like some ideas on small changes you can make in your day-to-day to help the environment, check out Zero Waste Collective on Instagram
]]>There's so many terms used now to describe the different kinds of metals used in jewellery that it's sometimes so confusing!
In this guide, I'll cover the types used in my handmade jewellery so you're better informed about what you're buying from me.
Solid gold refers to gold items that are not plated in any way. Gold comes in different carats‑ 9ct, 14ct and 24ct to name a few. 24ct is pure gold, however it's too soft to use in jewellery. It's mixed with different metals like silver and copper to strengthen it. The higher the carat of gold, the more vibrant yellow it is!
Solid gold can tarnish but can be cleaned with a polishing cloth to restore its colour and shine.
The Aster rings (e.g. below) features 14ct gold.
Gold filled metal is when a thick layer (5% of the total weight) of at least 10ct solid gold is mechanically bonded over a base metal (silver, brass or copper).
The gold layer in gold filled jewellery is much thicker than any other plated alternatives, and can last for 10‑30 years even with daily wear.
Gold vermeil (pronounced "ver‑may") is Sterling Silver electroplated with a thick layer of solid gold. It's one way of getting the vibrant yellow of 24ct gold in jewellery.
Gold vermeil's biggest advantage over other forms of electroplating is that it doesn't turn your skin green, unlike when metals like copper is used underneath. You get the best quality with a fraction of what you'd normally pay for high carat solid gold.
With proper care, gold vermeil jewellery can last for years. Once gold vermeil's gold plating wears off, it will need to be re‑plated.
Sterling silver is pure silver mixed with other metals for strength, with the silver making up 92.5% of the total weight of the metal.
Sterling silver is ideal for daily wear. It doesn't tarnish except when exposed to certain chemicals (like chlorine, etc.). A good clean with a soft polishing cloth should bring it back its colour and shine.
.. although you are very welcome to buy something!
I thought I'd share this not just because I own a small business myself, but also because a lot of businesses have shut down due to the ongoing pandemic. Back in April, it was estimated that one-fifth of independent businesses would go bust after a month. That was then- and not a lot has changed since.
Having your support as a small business means so much to people like me, who are working hard to follow our passion, and at the same time add value to the lives that we touch. I understand that these are unusual times, and people have generally been more hesitant to spend.
Without further ado, here are a few ways you can help that won't cost you anything:
🔹 Give them a follow on social media. (You can find me on Instagram)
🔹 Spread the word about their business- after all, sharing is caring!
🔹 If you're on Instagram, save their posts that you like- this acts as a "super like" in the Instagram algorithm, which can really boost a post.
🔹 If you've been a customer before, leave them a review!
🔹 Interact with their posts on social media- likes and comments do matter in this case
I recently created a shorter version of this blog post on Instagram (you can find it here), which you are very welcome to share!
I hope this is useful for you and for your friendly neighbourhood small business. Know that I very much appreciate your support!
Raissa
]]>A bespoke jewellery piece has a special story to tell- a story that is unique to you, the person I am creating the jewellery for! Regardless of whether it's for yourself or if it's meant to be gifted, there is such a wonderful personal approach to creating bespoke jewellery.
I've made heirlooms, personalised jewellery dedicated to a significant other, jewellery to be gifted to parents and friends, etc. In the process, I learn a little bit about my customers, working with them in understanding how I can best design and create the jewellery they had in mind.
It's such a special privilege to create bespoke jewellery because it's so personal and encapsulates a unique part of your story. So I thought the very least I can do is let you know what to expect when ordering a bespoke piece from me!
Getting to know your needs and your vision behind your special jewellery piece is the first key step. We'll chat about who the jewellery is for, your inspiration behind having a bespoke piece created and details like colour, symbols and anything else you'd like to be represented in your jewellery. We'll also chat about timelines, budget and any questions you might have about the making process.
This is more or less where I'll be asking you a lot of questions so I can form your design brief.
Depending on the piece and how complicated it might be, I might sketch a design for you to give you an idea of what the jewellery will look like. Sometimes this is not a full sketch, most of the time, this was used to communicate how a stone might sit on a setting that's been requested.
Within a day or two after our chat, you can expect to receive initial sketches and a quote. We can tweak the design as much as you like, with small changes such as stone sizes or ring band width.
The design can be fully changed for 1 revision; after that, I normally take a £30 deposit.
You will receive a document especially tailored for you- beginning with your design brief, any specifications we discuss, sketches, references that are relevant to your piece (e.g. stone sizes, ring band widths, differences between precious metals, etc.), and my recommendation on the materials, setting types and gemstones based on your lifestyle.
Once the design has been finalised and we agree on the quote, I take a 50% deposit (or it may be paid in full, this is up to you! I take a final payment of the balance before sending the piece)- then I get to work on sourcing the materials for your request.
Where possible, 100% recycled precious metals (like sterling silver or gold) and ethically sourced gemstones are used for your jewellery. That said, this is not always available, and I make sure to let you know either way.
About choosing gemstones
Depending on the gemstone and the choices available, we can work together to choose a stone for your bespoke jewellery. This is after all an important choice, as it's the crowning feature of this special piece!
A note on changing designs: I fully appreciate that creating a piece of jewellery especially to your liking is 100% important. However, in the spirit of transparency, it's also important for me to highlight that at this stage, a lot of care and attention would have already been given to your beautiful piece. Any change in design would therefore incur further costs in the process.
This is the fun part! You'll be involved every step of the way, with behind-the-scenes photos of different stages in the jewellery production process.
A firm favourite is a sneak peek on the gemstone setting stage- this is where everything comes together and is just a beautiful process to see.
Sometimes, clients request a hand-written note or gift-wrapping for their bespoke jewellery. I also send pictures of finished packaging so you know what to expect. If the jewellery is for a friend, you'll then have an insight of their personalised gift unboxing experience.
And there you have it! If you are interested in commissioning a piece of jewellery from me, or have any questions about the whole process, do drop me an email at hello@abloro.com.
]]>One of the reasons I started my own jewellery business is because I wanted to restore the personal touch in the jewellery buying process, providing a customer-centric journey so you can get the most value from the experience.
So I thought I'd share my own journey with jewellery, in the hopes of giving you an insight on who you're buying your jewellery from.
]]>So I thought I'd share my own journey with jewellery, in the hopes of giving you an insight on who you're buying your jewellery from.
My earliest memory of my love affair with jewellery was asking my parents to bring back some abloro - my poor attempt at saying "abalorio" (beads/trinkets in Spanish), aged 3- from Divisoria Market in the Philippines. They came back with a small bag full of plastic beads that had a beautiful purple and green crackle finish, which I then proceeded to pop into a jar full of water, shaking it about and keeping myself fairly entertained and mesmerised by the way the beads floated around.
When we were children, I looped my cousins into the same obsession, and we would trade our little treasures whenever they came over to our home. I loved collecting beads and sorting them out in their little boxes with compartments; some days I'd sort them out by colour, other days by shape. There was something so cathartic about this process, and I found a lot of joy in it; or maybe there's just a touch of underlying OCD in there that I'm unaware of.
Eventually, this need to hoard beads and other trinkets died down, as new interests came to replace them. I was an active kid; I took up climbing and filled my days with training at indoor climbing facilities for hours on end. That said, my fascination with jewellery never really stopped. I had always spent more time picking out my jewellery over the clothes I'd wear, opting to shop for a new sparkly necklace over, say, replacing worn-out socks.
Enter my twenties; weary and driven up a wall from wrangling a degree and a full-time job at the same time, I returned to my reliable childhood comfort- collecting and sorting beads. Only this time, backed by a newfound buying power thanks to my monthly pay-check, I opted for the pricier sort: semi-precious stones, freshwater pearls and mineral specimens.
Of course, minimum wage was no match for my re-discovered obsession, so I started exploring other ways to fund it. I figured I'd eventually run out of space in our little matchbox flat in Hong Kong, at which point making and selling jewellery appealed to me. I started teaching myself jewellery-making techniques, and in no time at all, I fell in love with the jewellery-making process. I felt like my interests have finally come full circle, and it all made sense somehow.
I'd say my favourite piece from this era is a stunning chalcedony nugget, deep purple amethyst and small freshwater pearl combo, which I designed to keep up with all the rage of long necklaces back then. I still have it, and occasionally wear it, though I must admit that it's a tad too heavy for comfort- user experience wasn't exactly my forte at the time.
Unfortunately, life took over once again, and my little operation came to a grinding halt when I moved to London. Though my obsessive eye turned its attention to running and travelling, there is no shortage of photos of jewellery in my trip albums. I also learned about Hatton Garden, which planted the seed of silver-smithing in my head.
And now we come to 2020; early on in the year, I started building up a small collection of tools for basic silver smithing, after having taken it up again while on holiday. My plan was to work on simple pieces, selling my creations to close friends and family, until that plan took a life on its own, opportunity after opportunity, revealing a potential future that I had only dreamt of once upon a time.
I still can't believe this is my now, creating and selling my work in my own little corner of the web, even as I write this. I know that in many ways, it's all thanks to wonderful friends and strangers who support the passion of someone who was once a little girl that was just a little too obsessed with beads.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.
Much love,
Raissa x
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I love using sea glass because there are so many vibrant colours (forest green, teal, cobalt blue to name some), their frosty finish is stunning, they're versatile, and last but not the least, picking them up off the beach is a form of beach clean-up! Everyone wins.
Here are a few beaches we visited where we found a lovely treasure trove of sea glass.
]]>I'm very excited to use this new space to share the things that inspire my jewellery pieces, the process behind my work and other passions that influence my business.
It's no secret that my latest collection (out in 3 more sleeps!) is designed after the summer we spent heading out to various coasts, camping and generally having a great time outdoors. On our many strolls out on the beach, we found lots of sea glass that I've used in rings, bracelets and pendants in my new collection.
I love using sea glass because there are so many vibrant colours (forest green, teal, cobalt blue to name some), their frosty finish is stunning, they're versatile, and last but not the least, picking them up off the beach is a form of beach clean-up! Everyone wins.
Here are a few beaches we visited where we found a lovely treasure trove of sea glass.
[Image credit: beachesincornwall.co.uk]
There's a lovely assortment of colours and shapes of sea glass to be found at Pentewan beach. We even found a little pottery shard that had been smoothed out and tumbled by the sea. We were so busy picking up sea glass, I forgot to take photos at the beach!
Check out our haul from this beach:
For better or for worse, the weather was pretty awful when we went to Dorset. But that meant there weren't many people at the beach, so we were able to take our time beach combing. Lots of beautifully coloured sea glass here too!
And quite honestly, what a backdrop for beach combing, hey?
The pieces we found at Leysdown beach were fairly large and make for great pendants. Lots of frosty white sea glass here.
I hope you enjoy your time beach combing when you go, and do share photos of your finds with me (you can tag me on Instagram). I would love to see your beach haul!
Where do you love beach combing for sea glass treasures? Share with me in the comments below :)
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