Hello Fabulous
In these strange times we may not be able to go to shops to buy jewellery but celebrations still go on and jewellery is a great way to feel special. Buying at a distance is a difference experience and communication is not always clear when you are not face to face. I wanted to give you a few tips on How to buy jewellery at a distance.
Inches to cm
Even though we live with the metric sysytem, a lot of jewellery still comes in inches. For example bracelets in 7 inch (often seen as 7”), necklaces in 18” and 22” etc. However with this system fractions are difficult (if you want a non-standard chain length) for example if you want a bracelet that is 8 and 16th of an inch, it is just easier to say it in centimetres (cm) or millimetres (mm). Here you see that the bracelet is 8″ which is 20 1/2cm. If you hire a bespoke jeweller or made to order jewellery, like myself, it is common to work cm and mm on non-standard chains. This way it is easier for everyone.
In the UK, we use the alphabet to denote finger size, L, M, N, O etc. Like weighing scales, ring sizes can vary with manufacturer. Even if you have a ring sizer or a ring stick, you may order a size ‘S’ for example and it is closer to an ‘R’ and not fit. Here you see this ring is a U on one stick and a V on the other. When going in to a shop or sitting down with the jeweller, that is easy to rectify by trying on rings and using their mesuring tools. Doing this at a distance is not really viable.
So how do you make sure you receive the correct size? If you know it, tell the jewellery your ring size. To make sure the size is the same, measure the inside of the ring from side to side and if possilbe send a photo to the jeweller with the ruler in place too.
Measure your Necklace / Bracelet
If you already have a necklace, bracelet etc that fits you (or the recepient of the jewellery) then measure it (as mentioned above) and email details. When measuring the length, always say if you have included the clasp in the measurments. If you have no idea of your size and have nothing you can messure, take a piece of string and wrape around your neck, wrist, anckle, place it to the desired position and messure the string with a tape messure or ruler. Saying that you want a ‘long necklace the same size as mine’ is no help, even if you send an image with it.
The material you use to measure is important for example if you use wool it would be not measure correctly as it sits away from skin unless pulled tight. If you use a metal tape messure to mesure your neck, it won’t fit circular so again would not give a correct measurement. Something like string is weighty enough to lay on the skin and flexible enough to wrap around your body. If you have some old chain, or some trimmings, they should work to measure too.
If it is a gift and you can’t measure the recipient, what do you do? Well this is tricky but not insurmountable. This takes some guessing and judging by eye. How is their body compaired to yours? Be nice, I’m not talking how attractive they are and how beatiful you are. I mean, are they larger than you, when you lay your wrist next to theirs (casually) are they larger or smaller? And use your body as a guide.
In my opinion is if in doubt about sizes, go for earrings. With earrings all you really need to know is if the ears are pierced or not and what metal they wear.
The Key is in the Details
When I make a piece, for me, the most important part is to make the piece truly for the wearer and not just a random piece of jewellery.
Think about:
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How they are wearing it, is it for special occaions, everyday etc?
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Do they live by themselves so they may like a magnetic clasp so they can put the bracelet on one-handed?
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What are their hobbies and loves?
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What do you want your gift to say?
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How do you want them to feel when wearing it?
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What metal, Silver, Gold, plate or cord?
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How thick do you want the chain to be?
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Think about gem stones- Meaning, colour, shape?
Hope this has been of help. Happy Shopping.
