Wedding and engagement rings and ethical jewellery made to order in Fairtrade gold

I've registered again with the Fairtrade Foundation for this year, so I'm delighted to say that almost all my gold wedding and engagement rings, bridal jewellery and everyday jewellery ranges are now available to order in fairtrade gold, for details check the Glasswing Jewellery website.

 

Choosing fairtrade means a good deal for mine workers and their families and ensures more responsible, sustainable treatment of our precious earth.

Until recently small UK artisanal jewellery makers have had difficulty accessing Fairtrade precious metals in the quantities they require, however it is thankfully becoming easier to source.
So from now on, I'll be working hard to offer everything I make in Fairtrade gold wherever possible.
Fairtrade gold means a fair deal for miners and their families, and by choosing it you are actively changing the landscape of the jewellery industry and potentially the lives of thousands of workers throughout the world.

This is taken from the Fairtrade Foundation's website..
"Fairtrade Gold is produced fairly and transparently. When buying jewellery made with Fairtrade Gold you make a difference to the miners, their families and their communities. Your support can provide them with the chance to be paid a fair price, better working conditions, build their futures by investing in social projects such as new schools and healthcare, and make their own way to prosperity.

There are currently 16 million small scale gold miners and further 100 million people who indirectly rely on small scale mining for a living – miners, their families and their communities. Small scale mining is one of the most dangerous industries in the world, and miners often work in very remote and harsh conditions with little or no health and safety measures in place. Fairtrade Gold offers a lifeline to these miners, their families and communities. Fairtrade gives strict standards on working conditions, women’s rights, child labour and environment management; in return miners gain access to markets and receive the Fairtrade Premium – the extra sum they receive to develop their businesses and invest into their communities."

For more information about Glasswing's range of wedding and engagement rings, go to www.glasswingjewellery.com

All hand forged Glasswing diamond rings are 100% conflict free - here's how

All hand forged Glasswing diamond engagement rings are conflict free - here's how:

I currently use 100% recycled diamonds, recovered from vintage jewellery. I work individually with each customer, sourcing recycled diamonds to suit their design specification and their budget. Soon I will also be offering ethical newly mined diamonds, from Canada, and other environmentally responsible origins.

All the certificated recycled diamonds I select are are analysed and re-graded by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and have ther own '4c's assessment' report, which is the customer's to keep. The GIA is considered to be the top gemological authority when it comes to authenticating and grading gemstones in the world.

You can't get a surer guarantee that your engagement ring is ethical, eco-friendly and conflict free. Not only that, I use recycled precious metals, simple tools and minimal mechanisation in my making processes.

If you'd like to find out about commissioning a ring, you can find out more on the Glasswing website.

More new and recent jewellery will be going live on the website ths month, and each time I make a new design, this becomes part of my range. So if you don't see exactly what you'd like, just drop me a line.

silver finishes

I make Glasswing recycled silver rings in a variety of finishes.  I'm often asked about the different looks, so I am going to put up some photos to help clarify which is which.  Here are examples of smooth, hammered, high polish and soft satin.  I'll add more photos as I get time to upload them, really busy with finishing ring orders for sending out this week.

Smooth finish, high polish

Organic hammered, high polish

Organic hammered, with light satin finish

Different profiles of Satin Silver Wedding RIngs

stacked up satin finish recycled silver wedding rings

Satin wedding rings are going a bit like hot cakes this wedding season at Glasswing Jewellery with lots of folk requesting I finish their rings in either soft satin or satin brushed.  These rings I made yesterday are satin brushed, and I really like the soft silvery almost luminous finish.  When I stopped work last night, I stacked them up (see above) and photographed them in the evening light.  Having them all together gives me a chance to describe some of the different ring profiles I make.  At the very top is a 6mm flat hammered comfort band, sometimes called 'flat court' profile,  which I made from the same piece of silver as the 8mm band at the very bottom. It is flat on the outside, and curved on the inside.  It is shaped down to the narrower 6mm width by hand, and then I file, polish and finish it, again all by hand, to give a lovely soft edge.  The excess silver removed is recycled and used for new jewellery pieces.

recycled silver satin wedding rings showing profile shapes

The middle two rings are also a set, the larger one is an 8mm D-shaped band, with a flat edge inside against the skin.  The other, the smallest ring in the stack is a 4mm D-shaped band.  All these rings are hammered with the same hammer, to give a quite subtle and slightly uneven surface, without an obvious hammering pattern

Glasswing ethical wedding rings are made with 100% recycled sterling 925 silver, and these ones are all hand stamped with secret messages inside.  I stamp with 1mm and 2mm fonts.  This could be the date of the ceremony, names, sentiments, shared words.   .

8mm and 6mm comfort fit bands, made from the same piece of recycled silver, showing the inside 'comfort fit' or 'flat court' profile with stamping

For more details about these rings, and how to commission your own Glasswing ethical wedding ring, plus details of my other handmade wedding and ethcially sourced gemstone engagement rings made to order, go to my website.

What will you have on yours?

side stamped broad stackers. 

Over half term I got busy taking photos of more patterns and inspiring forms in nature! We were lucky enough to get away with family and friends this half term, for a heavenly walking break somewhere really spectacular in the South West of England. 

The weather was absolutely awesome all week, (with more sunshine to come now we're back, fingers crossed!).  Everything was bursting with life and colour, and I had a brilliant time capturing these natural shapes and textures as we hiked.

 But where were we?....

Here's the fun bit!  For a chance to have an ethical 100% recycled sterling silver Glasswing broad stacker ring made especially for you, and with the hand stamped personalisation of your choice, tell me know where you think I took these photos - the more accurate your answer the greater the chance you will win! Glasswing Stackers are a really personal and stylish way to have your special words, names, and dates close to you always.  They make a gorgeous alternative to a single wedding ring, and I can stamp them on the side, inside or around the outside.  The best thing is, they can be added to as life events happen...

Here's a couple of BIG clues........

 

 

 

EASY! Send an email to info@glasswingjewellery.com with your answer, putting 'Half Term Stacker'  in the subject line.  The winning name will be picked out of my bobble hat  (it might have been sunny, but the wind was chilly!!)  at the end of June.   Good luck! 

outside stamped broad stackers

 To see the full Glasswing range go to: http://www.glasswingjewellery.com

Clearing the bench for half term.....personalised wedding rings

Hand stamped textured forged wedding and anniversary rings

Glasswing Jewellery personalised wedding bands of all shapes and sizes are really popular this year!  This is just a selection of those going out this week. Lots to finish off before half term R&R can begin!

See more personalised jewellery on my website.

Portmeirion Rings for Spring Wedding

Something new for May this year, a 9mm wide, 2.5mm deep flat hammered band, stamped on the edge with the personal message and date for a lovely couple getting married this weekend.  I'm very pleased with how this hand forged ring turned out.

 I really hope the day turns out to be beautiful for them, and this gorgeous weather holds!

This deep heavy ring is part of a set, teamed with one of my 2.5mm forged broad stacker rings, made from round recycled silver stock for a really lovely organic hammered texture and look.  For more rings like this visit the Glasswing website.

Marks of oxidisation from the heating process are left on the ring, as are the marks of the hand forging process, which I do with simple tools like my trusty hammer, and a smooth, heavy ring mandrel, which is hand held.  It takes some strength to shape metal this heavy!

It might be January but we're looking forward to lovely Summer Weddings!

WOW! I  absolutely love receiving customers' photos!  This wedding looks like so much fun, looking at them just makes me think of summer - lets hope we get one this year!

These lovely photos were sent to me by EJ and David, 

who chose Glasswing recycled wedding rings to help seal their commitment.