We Love Ebels!

Ebel watches

 W.B Gatwards are proud to stock many of the leading watch brands and Ebel is no exception to this rule. Ebel, like Gatwards, has a strong family history. It was founded in 1911 by husband and wife team Eugene Blum and Alice Levy in La Choux- de- Fonds, Switzerland. Together they worked on matching technical prowess with elegant designs; a theme which has continued strongly throughout Ebel’s history.

Blum and Levy launched their first wristwatch in 1912 against the then current trend for pocket watches, but Ebel flourished. The history of Ebel is dotted with awards for design and technical expertise, notably winning their first award in 1914.

 The company continued to grow throughout the early 20^th century and it was when Blum and Levy’s  son joined the company in 1929 that Ebel first exhibited at the world famous Basle exhibition in Switzerland; an event that they still attend today. The designs exhibited by Ebel then took the technical prowess of Eugene Blum and combined it with the elegant designs of Alice Levy, and the same is still true today. For example the Beluga collection that was launched in 1985 is the ‘pillar of quintessential femininity’. 

Ebel was run and controlled by the family until 2004 when it was acquired by the Movado Group. This acquisition has not changed the fundamental principles on which Ebel was founded, quality and elegance. A look at the the collections will highlight this. Ladies and Gents watches are available. 

Ebel Wave

This iconic design has been present in the collection since 1977- always being refined and updated.   The supple and comfortable construction of the bracelet has ensured that this watch has been very popular with customers for many years.

Beluga

The soft, feminine contours of this watch case lift the ordinary to the exceptional. This is a wristwatch that is also a piece of jewellery.

Brasilia

This modern and youthful approach to watch design has made this a very popular style. The softened corners of the rectangle case keep this watch looking feminine.

Ebel Sport

Fineness and technical prowess is not just reserved for the ladies within the Ebel brand. The dynamic design, with the update of the Classic Wave bracelet and the hexagon case, make this an eye-catching modern classic.  Ladies and Gents watches are both available.

 

Ebel 100

To highlight the history of this brand, Ebel launched the Ebel 100. Inspired by their history this collection combines tradition with luxury.

Repairs at Gatwards of Hitchin

We are often asked if we handle jewellery & watch repairs and, of course, repairs form a large part of our business. People have trusted Gatwards to repair their precious items for over 250 years! Although we used to be clock & watch makers, we no longer have our own workshops and as so many different skills are required today, we prefer to send our repairs to the appropriate specialist.   

Most of our repairs are collected and delivered by hand twice a week, so a simple soldering job or replacing & re-sealing a watch battery will usually be returned to us in 10-14 days. All jewellery repairs are returned cleaned & polished.

Something more complex such as completely remodelling a ring or finding a matching stone will take considerably longer. We can always obtain an estimate for you.

Most watches are repaired by qualified watchmakers in our local workshop. If we have to return a watch to the manufacturer, the repair can take much longer.

If you are unsure of what needs to be done to a piece of jewellery or a watch, bring it in to let us see it and we will be able to advise you on the appropriate course of action.

Antique and Vintage Pieces

The Gatwards Hoard!

The story reads like a Hollywood plot line- workers find a chest in the foundations of a building they were sent to demolish- filled with over 500 pieces of jewellery. The collection, now known as the Cheapside Hoard, contained pieces that spanned history.  From Byzantine amethyst cameos to Carnelian intaglio belonging to William Howard, First Viscount Stafford* the Cheapside Hoard is a remarkable collection and well worth a visit. All known pieces of the collection are exhibiting now for the first time.

*William Howard assumed his title on his marriage in 1640 and was executed for treason in 1680- and as the only Viscount Stafford so the Carnelian really has to be his! It clearly shows the date of the Hoard. When the Hoard was hidden for whatever reason, and there has been great discussion on this point- the Great Fire of London had not ripped through London and America was still a British Colony. A very different world!

It is on display at the Museum of London from 11^th October to 27^th April 2014.

If you want a piece of history - one way to do this is to purchase piece of Vintage or Antique jewellery. We have pocket watches that were being hallmarked when Europe was on the brink of World War Two to Victorian brooches.

This is an unusual piece it is turquoise and pearls set in the design of three swallows – means ‘I shall return’; a beautiful thought. Items depicting swallows were given to people knew they were going to be parted. This was a popular practice at the out-break of the both World Wars.

This Emerald and Diamond bar brooch is made in 15ct yellow gold and platinum. 15ct gold was only used in the UK between 1854 and 1931 and has given us a very accurate time span for the brooch.  This is a real statement piece; with a total diamond weight of 0.91pts and 0.71pts being the centre stone and 1ct of Emeralds set around the centre diamond.

The wonderful thing about purchasing Vintage and Antique jewellery is you never know what is going to come through the door. Some pieces come with a full history while others don’t. This necklace, we believe, is circa 1850. It is made from 15ct yellow gold set with seed pearl and a diamond. The graduated pearl set flower design draws the eye down to the pearl and diamond pendant. The Victorians were skilful designers and this necklace is a good example of their engineering talents. The pendant at the bottom is detachable making the piece much more versatile.

Do you love the Art Deco style of the current series of Downton Abbey? The ‘Roaring 1920s’, as History has called them, was the pinnacle of Art Deco design and style and this ruby and diamond brooch highlights this to perfection. 18ct yellow gold and platinum has been set with a carat of diamond and a carat of ruby -this sparkly brooch perfectly completes any outfit and is a fine example of the Art Deco period.

All weights in Antique and Vintage jewellery and estimated and we have many more Vintage and Antique jewellery than then pieces mentioned here.

A Little Gatwards Update

 A Little Gatwards Update

It has been a busy few weeks at Gatwards so apologies for not blogging for a while. We thought that we would take this opportunity to update you one everything that we have been doing.

Firstly congratulations to Elizabeth who has passed her exams and received a Certificate in Gemmology. The next level has started in earnest so she is now a step closer to achieving her Fellowship in Gemmology.  We are all very proud of her and wish her the best of luck for the next stage.

Sarah has also passed her Jewellery Education Training level 2. This is known in the industry as the JET 2 with the award being a Professional Jewellery Diploma.  Well done to her. Sarah has also just won first prize in the Hitchin Counter Skills Competition! She was chosen as the overall winner from over 30 contestants for her product expertise, customer service and local knowledge.

We are very lucky at Gatwards to have such talented members of staff between them, we have two Fellows of Gemmological Association, one with a Certificate in Gemmology, two Professional Jewellery Diplomas, and one JET 1.  Phew!

We have more to come. Our Harvest window display is in (looking lovely I have to say). There are a few more window changes we are hoping to squeeze in before Christmas! There are always new products going in the windows every week, from new Nicole Barr and Links of London, to stunning diamond pieces. Our Vintage and Antique window is also constantly changing. New Secondhand watches are arriving (and leaving with happy customers) and stunning a Aquamarine and Diamond pendants has just arrived. It is always worth a look.

Launching Juno Lucina- the Original Push Present.

Gatwards of Hitchin are pleased to announce the arrival of Juno Lucina- the original Push Present which has become so popular in the USA. Push Presents are yet to take off in the UK market, but they are a latest symbol of love and appreciation for new mothers. While traditionally a diamond set eternity ring was presented to a lady on the birth of a child, Juno Lucina diamond earrings and pendants bring another option into to the mix. They are available in 18ct white, rose or yellow gold in a variety of sizes to suit all budgets.

Birthdays come and go and so do anniversaries, however the birth of a child is a uniquely special time and happens only a few times in a woman’s life. The gift of a Juno Lucina pendant or earrings or even both will be an item of jewellery that she will treasure for a lifetime.


Juno Lucina- the original Push Presents- now available at Gatwards of Hitchin in store and online.

Prince of Cambridge Special; Spotlight on Royal Jewels

To celebrate the birth of a new Prince of Cambridge, we are having a look at some of the Royal jewellery and some of the stories behind it.

Diana’s Sapphire Ring

The world waited with baited breath for the announcement of the engagement to then Kate Middleton to His Royal Highness Prince William and the jewellery world waited to see what sort of ring she was presented with...

Would she be presented with the classic Brilliant cut single Diamond on a Platinum band? Or would she get something more modern like a Princess Cut on Platinum. However we were all wrong. Kate Middleton was presented with Diana, Princess of Wales’ Sapphire and Diamond cluster.

It was reported at the time (and we can’t vouch for the authenticity) that William took the ring from the safe at Kensington Palace and placed it in his rucksack for their three week holiday around Kenya.  Good job he didn’t lose it!

Lady Diana Spencer, as she was then, chose a 12ct Oval Ceylon Sapphire surrounding by 14 Brilliant cut Diamonds. This ring was unique as a Royal Engagement ring, it wasn’t a bespoke ring. It had been featured in Garrard’s collections for that year. It was worth then, £28,000. It is thought to be worth now about £90,000 however, the connection to Diana, Princess of Wales makes it priceless. 

The Cullinan Diamond

This incredible stone was found in South Africa in 1905 and it was twice the size of any other stone previous found. Clearly it was going to take some cutting to turn this rough diamond into something fit for a King. It was presented to King Edward VII and he was so fascinated by the 3106 metric carat stone, that he took a personal interest in it. 

When a rough diamond is found, there is a long process of cutting and shaping to create the works of art that you see in jewellers windows.  There was much debate in the jewellery community how the stone should be cut and who should be trusted to do it. It was decided that Joseph  Asscher (known for creating the Asscher Cut) would cut and polish the stone. 

After examining the stone for months on the 10^th February 1908 he was ready. The blade was placed in the kerf and he stuck the cleaving blade with a small hammer. Disaster! The cleaving blade broke! The stone cleaved in to 9 separate stones... Joseph Asscher fainted.. There are now 9 Cullinan diamonds are set in the crown jewels.

The Queen wore Cullinan Diamonds 3 and 4- which were set into a brooch at the Jubilee Service 5th June 2012.

Rubies

The summer is here and the weather is getting hotter- July’s birthstone is Ruby. This blood red stone reminds us of stunning holiday sunsets.

Last year we looked at the folklore and mysteries behind Rubies (http://www.gatwardsofhitchin.co.uk/blog/) this year we thought that we would do something different- what to look for when you are buying a ruby.

Rubies are not like Diamonds that have an internationally accepted colour and clarity grading system. The colours are more personal – the best colour is a deep pigeon’s blood red. These are the stones that demand the highest prices. However, Rubies come in all shades of red from the very pale to very dark.

When viewing Rubies with a loupe there might be a few marks within the stone. Perfectly clean stones are very rare and very expensive. Try and go for the stone with the deepest and richest colour and fewer inclusions within it that you can. A good stone will hold its value and will always look stunning. A smaller ruby of better quality is often the better buy than something larger and more included or very pale.

Rubies, as with all gemstones have a mineral base, in the case of Rubies it is the mineral corundum and when found in gem stone quality it is referred to as Ruby or Sapphire (red corundum is always referred to as ruby). The various impurities within the corundum give the colour spectrum from a red-pink to a brownish red. Rubies that are very brown, in colour, have a higher iron content.

Rubies are also very well known as being the traditional gift for 40^th Wedding Anniversaries.  Stereotypically it is the lady who receives a Ruby set piece of jewellery, however we have a range of ruby set jewellery for men.

Have a look at our website (www.gatwardsofhitchin.co.uk)  or visit us in person!