Frequently asked questions, what is the difference between 9ct and 18ct gold jewellery

Some of the most frequently asked questions regarding engraving & signet rings

Why is it best to have a ring made to order rather than off the shelf :: There is a rule of thumb that
tradesmen manufacturing jewellers rather than retailers do not like making rings bigger or smaller by more
than 4 or 5 sizes. I have provided a comprehensive guide HERE

How long will my order take to dispatch :: Simple, never rush a craftsman and in this case 2
craftsmen average time from payment to completion is about 3 weeks, longer at Christmas, & summer
holidays.

How deep will the engraving be :: Adequate for a lifetime of wear, average 0.75mm up to 1.30mm
this is dependant on many factors often engraving to deep can spoil the design, but to shallow won't last.

Are your products guaranteed :: UK Hallmarked & my personal 36 months guarantee against defects

Can you design my family crest :: Sorry I am a jewellery manufacturer not an expert on heraldry, as
time is money, It would be vastly more expensive to pay me to do the design, than if you provide your own.

Can you work from a rough sketch, or coloured picture The laser engraving machine engraves exactly
what it sees, so it leaves the white areas un touched, and engraves ONLY the black areas of your
drawing, so a rough sketch will produce a rough engraving each pencil stroke exactly where it sees one.
Hand Engraver :: By contrast will work from your rough sketch, if you accept he has artistic licence to edit it

Laser In Relief engraving ? what is this There is NO SUBSTITUTE for true seal engraving produced by
hand, it is the work of a highly skilled engraver who is also an artist they are very rare, very expensive.
however from a good precise drawing where a border in black is drawn around the main object and an
outer frame in white, with the image reversed an illusion is created which is quite astonishing to see !

Would you recommend laser In Relief engraving :: Yes if you want a nice looking ring, No if you want wax impression capability ! in which case you require the services of a hand engraver

What quality of signet ring would you advise is best for me 9ct or 18ct cast or die stamped

Hand engraved seal or crest engraving :: Die stamped signet rings are what hand engravers prefer, it
makes engraving easier, saves time and saves on errors BUT they are the most expensive!

Laser engraved family crest's logo's initials :: Lasers do not suffer if there are irregularities in the metal
so the use of castings is common, especially as they are considerably cheaper than die stamped rings
My delft clay cast signet rings offer exceptional quality and weight, and save you a further 20% ~NO V A T

Should I choose 9ct gold or 18ct gold :: You will get different answers to this question from suppliers

9ct gold is physically harder to bend, relevant if ordering a razor thin ring from Argos !, irrelivant if ordering
a ring made 1.5mm thick, most of mine are even thicker (mainly 2~3mm) The reason is that 9ct is harder in
tensile terms than 18ct ..BUT 18ct is denser in molecular terms.

This is a little complicated however I will try to explain in simple terms

If you take a gents 14mm x 12mm classic signet ring as an example (most popular little finger ring)

Argos or similar quality available generally only in 9ct gold weight appx 4 grams shank appx 1mm thick

Lost wax casting from your reputable high street jeweller, 9ct weight appx 6 or 7 grams shank 1.5mm thick

Die stamped from your reputable high street jeweller, 9ct weight appx 9 grams shank 1.75mm thick

Die stamped identical to the ring in line above 18ct Gold weight appx 13.5 grams :: because it is denser

18ct gold bullion cost's exactly double the price of 9ct so in bullion terms it cost 3 times as much to make.

ie 10 grams in 9ct @ £10.00 per/gram = £100.00 ;; identical to 15 grams @ £20.00 per/gram = £300.00

PLEASE NOTE :: as of Jan. 2012 9ct bullion price is appx £16.00 per gram + V A T 18ct. £32.00 per gram

By comparison Sterling silver 925 appx £0.90p per gram + VAT manufacturing costs are the same as gold

In conclusion for a family heirloom lasting 100's of years buy 18ct, or to wear yourself for 50 years buy 9ct.
Its better to buy a ring thats thicker than thinner as it will be more comfortable to wear & engrave far better.

If it looks too good to be true it probably is ( best quality die stamped heavyweight CHEAP = lie )

My delft clay cast rings in 9ct gold represent an amazing compromise in this time of excessive bullion prices
presently 500% higher than 4 years ago, because to get the quality of casting required the master patterns
are 25% thicker, to promote good metal flow when casting. Secondly as I am now semi-retired only working
part time, I not only have 0 overheads, no staff to pay, no rent or rates etc., but I am also NO LONGER V A T
registered. Third and foremost, individually casting one ring at a time allows me to use recycled bullion
(second hand gold jewellery) which has 0% V A T when I buy it, and 0% V A T added when I sell it to you.

This is where my teaming up with a Birmingham laser engraving specialist pays off

To get the best results from the laser engraving the head of the signet rings should be not less than 3 times
the depth of the engraving, my extra thick master patterns have 2.5mm or thicker heads up to 3.50mm
this in turn allows the laser to be set to a depth of up to 1.30mm deep, providing amazing clarity and depth.