Getting The Perfect Present

Choosing that perfect present can be difficult, particularly when all those birthdays seem to come round at once, and so quickly.

Follow our advice and make it that bit less painful.

The best thing to remember a bit of preparation. If you can answer the following questions, you are well on the way to success!

Does she wear plain silver jewellery or stones?

Does she go for big or small jewellery?

Does she wear clothes in a favourite colour?

Does she prefer stud or drop earrings AND very importantly, does she have pierced ears? (you would be surprised at the amount of husbands that have no idea)

If you are thinking of a ring as a gift remember to find out her ring size first-if you don't want to ruin the surprise ''borrow'' one and bring it in and we can always measure it for you.

What is her style? – modern, traditional, pretty, bold, abstract ……

Think about the jewellery she chooses to wear most, and what she buys for herself, that is always the best guide to her taste. And for your peace of mind our jewellery (excluding pierced earrings) can be exchanged if its not quite right.

zigzag’s top 5 tips for keeping your jewellery looking perfect

People often ask us how they should care for their jewellery…

So here are zigzag’s top 5 tips for keeping your jewellery looking perfect.

1. Always rub your jewellery over with a polishing cloth before you put it away.

Build up of sweat, moisturiser, perfume, food and grease etc all sit on the surface of jewellery and cause it to tarnish quickly, particularly when its sat in a drawer for a while so it is really worth giving it a rub over with a polishing cloth before you put it away. This should mean its as sparkly when you come to wear it next as you remembered.

2. Store jewels away from direct sunlight.

Keeping jewellery out is another quick way to speed up the oxidisation process on silver, which will turn the surface of it yellow (and then brown if you leave it long enough) always, always, always try and remember to put it away, either in your jewellery box, wrapped in acid free tissue or in one of our jewellery pouches. It’s definitely worth it!

3. Love your stones…

If you have a ring with a stone in it have a look at your hand right now, is it as sparkly as you remember? Probably not. Take it off and have a look behind the stone, there is probably a bit of a nasty looking waxy film. Don’t worry you are not alone! Washing your hands, moisturising, cooking, and cleaning. In fact, all of the bits of everyday activity we all have to do tend to leave build up of residue, which gets trapped behind stone settings. Soaps are a big offender, settling behind stones making them look dull, faded and not nearly as nice as when you got them. And, because it happens slowly, over time you often don’t notice. After all, when do you have time to properly look at your hands? Luckily the solution to this one is easy, just find some bicarbonate of soda and some washing-up-liquid probably both in your kitchen. Make a paste on a soft toothbrush and give the ring, especially the back a good scrub under warm running water, then wash it all off and buff up with a soft polishing cloth. We are sure you will be amazed at the result.

4. Like cats, jewellery hates swimming!

If you are a regular swimmer, well done you for getting enough exercise! But, did you know that gold, silver, and gemstones can all be damaged by the chemicals in salt or chlorinated water? It is easy to forget to take your jewellery before bathing, but do try, it will definitely thank you for it!

5. Don’t get caught wearing nothing but pearls…

As pearls are an organic gem, some care is needed to keep the beauties in optimum condition. The surface of a pearl can be damaged and dulled by perfume, hairspray, cosmetics, hand and face creams, and a person’s natural skin oil. To minimize contact with any potential irritant, pearls should be the last accessory you put on and the first one to be taken off. As pearls like a little moisture, being worn regularly is good for them as it gives them a chance to breathe.

Occasionally, your pearls can be buffed with a silk cloth to enhance their lustre.