Month: June 2023 | Jewel Envy

Should I just use a dip to clean my Jewellery?

June 24, 2023June 24, 2023Jewel EnvyGeneral

The Basics of Jewellery Cleaning

In some of our earlier blog posts, we have covered the basics of jewellery care, including some content on cleaning. There are a variety of methods that can be used to clean your jewellery.

Using a dip may seem like the easiest method. If you choose to use a dip, you must have some knowledge about the jewellery.

Does it have gemstones? If the answer is yes, they need to be non-porous stones. Porous stones will soak up the chemicals. This can lead to discoloration as well as contributing to a complete disintegration of the stone. Some porous stones include pearls, opals, lapis lazuli, turquoise and coral. But there are many more.

You also need to know if your jewellery is plated. Dips work by removing the top layer of a piece which is the metal that has the tarnish on it.. If your pieces are plated, you will remove plating over time with repeated dip cleaning.

’20 Tips on maintaining our Jewellery’, Gillian E. Batcher, 2013

Want to see other content on Cleaning and Maintaining your Jewellery? See this recent post from May

Clean your Jewellery Regularly – Part 2

Precious and Beautiful

June 18, 2023June 18, 2023Jewel EnvyGeneral

Just like this rainbow of natural sapphires, the dads, fathers, papas, daddies, etc we celebrate today are precious and beautiful in their own unique ways.

Mark your calendar!

June 17, 2023June 17, 2023Jewel EnvyGeneral

Come visit Alexis Kostuk, glaciale goldsmith (booth 222 in Zone C), at the 62nd Annual Toronto Outdoor Art Fair in Nathan Phillips Square.

Friday, July 7, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Saturday, July 8, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Sunday, July 9, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Beer Garden until 9:00 PM Friday & Saturday

Alexis here; I’m currently in my “must make all the things” era in the lead up to TOAF and once there I will have to switch gears with my hands nearly motionless and attempt to interact with the public. Pics below are some snap shots of what I have been creating!

My always popular polyp studs will be available in lots of colour combinations to choose from!

Last year I went through an earring making bonanza, this year it looks like a ring making bonanza has overtaken almost every waking thought I have (that isn’t about cats or nail polish). So many pebble shaped goodies to set into place… Keep an eye out for this in it’s finished form.

Obsessed with the shape of this micro mosaic ring and can’t wait for people to try it on. Today will be attempting a different colour variation on the mirror design of this one!

Daisy Micro Mosaic Necklace will be for sale at TOAF. The perfect combination of shape and beautiful colours.

I have 3 colour variations using rectangular tourmalines in the juiciest most beautiful colours that will be sale at TOAF.

The Evolution of the Round Brilliant Cut Diamond

June 13, 2023June 13, 2023Jewel EnvyGeneral

The rather unimpressive raw diamond on the far left.

Previous to the mid 14th century in europe diamonds were not used much in jewellery applications, naturally found diamonds have a very rough and unappealing surface, and tend to come in an octohedral shape. The first evolution was to simply polish these natural surfaces which resulted in what was known as the ‘point’ cut.

It wouldn’t be until the 17th century that the first ‘brilliant’ cut diamonds would appear. Known as Mazarin Cut, this new technique resulted in 17 facets along the crown and upper portions of the pavilion. Vincent Peruzzi, a Venetian gem cutter later upped the number of facets to 33, which at the time was an enormous step up in brilliance. When viewed today though Peruzzi cut diamonds look incredibly dull compared to the modern Brilliant Cut.

Notice the massive ‘windowing’ effect in the centre of the stone!

By 1900 the modern 58 facet brilliant cut had taken form and continues to be one of the most popular cuts produced today. Maximizing the amount of light reflected back at the viewer, this cut is known for its dazzling ‘fire’ and liveliness.

Today many round diamonds are cut to the ideals of the Brilliant Cut, though there are some variations in the exact layout and design of these cuts, the 58 facet version remains the most popular.

Circles……in jewellery form!

June 10, 2023June 10, 2023GillianGeneral

I was thinking about the circle of life today (don’t ask why!), so here’s a curated collection of circles…….enjoy!

Circles necklace by Jennifer Trotman, Keum boo disc earrings by Natalia Naranjo, pearl earrings on hooks by Kristen Vittorini, coil ring by Kathy Winfield, pearl/hoop post earrings by Edna Milevsky, hollow form ring by Robin Cassady-Cain and lapis lazuli stud earrings by Shafiq Sarwari.

Hope to see you in the studio soon!

Father’s Day Gift Guide!

June 4, 2023June 10, 2023Jewel EnvyGeneral

Happy June! What a beautiful weekend ☀

With this wonderful sunny start to June we are reminded that it’s about that time of year… Father’s Day!

Finding the perfect gift can often be a difficult task, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. At Jewel Envy, we believe that jewellery is for everyone, and the perfect way to show someone how much they mean to you. Giving the gift of jewellery doesn’t have to be reserved just for Mother’s Day!

Growth Ring #2 by Alex Kinsley, *Sterling Silver*

Ess Stich Brooch by Edna Milevsky, *Sterling Silver with Sapphires*

Heart Cufflinks by Jerrel Reichert, *Sterling Silver*

Stop by the shop and browse these pieces and our many other Father’s Day gift options – all made in-house by our local goldsmiths!

Intern Introduction #2

June 3, 2023June 3, 2023Jewel EnvyGeneral

Hey everyone! I am super excited to share that I just started my internship at Jewel Envy Studio. I can’t wait to meet everyone and learn from all of the talented and creative people here.

A little bit about myself, my name is Anna Kovbasiuk and I’m a third-year jewellery student at OCAD University. I have a background in the graphic design industry, but I’ve found that jewellery is my true passion. For me, jewellery isn’t just about creating beautiful pieces, it’s also about sharing personal thoughts and beliefs. After the war in Ukraine began, most of my projects shifted towards political statements.

Creating meaningful pieces that resonate with people is what drives me in this field, and I am eager to learn and grow as a designer and artist. Thank you for joining me on this journey!