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.

New Arrivals!

We now have a fabulous new range of stacking rings in Sterling Silver and 9ct Gold in our St Albans shop.

Starting from just £15 so no excuses, drop in and start your collection today!

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Amethyst-February's Birthstone

Amethyst was considered to be the stone of bishops. St. Valentine wore an amethyst signet ring, engraved with the figure of Cupid. Valentine’s Day is the 14^th of February and aptly, Amethyst is also the birthstone for this month. As a birthstone, amethyst symbolises sincerity and is reported to soothe and calm, absorbing negativity. Amethyst is also the stone for the zodiac sign Pisces.

Amethyst is the most highly valued gemstone of the quartz family. Amethyst has a hardness of 7 on Mohs' scale, which makes it a durable gemstone for jewellery.

According to Greek mythology Bacchus poured wine over clear crystal, giving it its purple colour, and created amethyst. This led to the belief that drinking wine from an amethyst cup would prevent drunkenness. The name comes from the Greek word ‘amethystos’ meaning ‘not intoxicated’.

The rich, deep violet colour of amethyst has made it a stone for royalty over many thousands of years. Fine amethysts are featured in the British Crown Jewels and were also favoured by Catherine the Great and Egyptian Pharoahs.

Amethyst was very important in the ornamentation of Catholic churches in the Middle Ages because it was thought to encourage celibacy and symbolize piety During this period of history, it was also used as a medication, believed to dispel sleep and sharpen intellect.

We have a wide range of amethyst jewellery for birthdays, valentines or treating yourself with. Come in and have a look or buy online at www.zigzagjewels.com. With free delivery and free gift wrapping it couldn’t be easier to get something special for that special someone!

Garnet-Birthstone for January

We have beautiful Garnet jewellery starting from just £15 in our showrooms, drop in and take a look at our collection. Alternatively you can pick up something wonderful online-with free postage and beautiful complementary gift wrapping.

Garnets have been used as gemstones throughout history. It was said that Noah used a lantern of garnet to guide his ark in the night. With a hardness of 7 on the Mohs' scale thay are very durable for use in jewellery. Garnets come from India, Central and South America, Sri Lanka, Russian and African countries.

The name ‘garnet’ comes from the Latin ‘granatus’. When garnet was first found as grains in rock, it was likened to the rich, red seeds of the pomegranate. A Greek myth tells the story of Persephone, the goddess of sunshine, who was abducted by Hades, god of the underworld. Persephone was eventually released by Hades, when he offered her some pomegranate seeds, which made sure she would return to him. It is from this legend that garnet is the protective gemstone for travellers. A gift of the stone symbolises the desire for a loved one’s safe journey and speedy return home. Garnets were widely used in jewellery in Egyptian, Greek and Roman times.

Garnet is the birthstone for the month of January and the Capricorn zodiac sign (December 22 to January 21). It is also the traditional wedding anniversary stone given to celebrate two years of marriage.

Turquoise for December...

We have lots of stunning turquoise jewellery in the shops, including plenty of one off and unique pieces, as well as some beautiful simple classics on the website. This vibrant stone also has the added benefit of suiting almost all colourings so makes a great choice as a gift whether it is a birthstone or not.

Turquoise forms in a range of colours from sky blue to green grey. The brighter blue colour is due to a higher quantity of copper, while iron gives a deeper green hue. Brown and black veins in the stone can occur during its formation known as matrix. Turquoise is a valuable mineral, and possibly the most valuable opaque mineral in the jewellery trade, the best quality being a pure, sky blue, with or without its matrix.

Turquoise deposits can be found in Iran, from where the most beautiful turquoise comes, Kazakhstan, China, Australia, Tibet, China, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt. The states of Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and California are also producers of light coloured turquoise.

The name turquoise comes from the old French word turquoise meaning "Turkish Stone" as turquoise originally found its way to Europe from Persia (Iran) via Turkey. It is one of the world’s earliest used gemstones and has been revered for thousands of years. It was worn by Pharaohs of early Egypt. In Iran, turquoise was the national gemstone. The Incas crafted beads and figurines out of it, and the Aztecs in Mexico made pendants and decorated their ceremonial masks with the stone. Turquoise also has a rich history in the American southwest, with Native Americans using the stone to create stunning jewellery and ornaments for around 3000 years.

Turquoise is regarded as the protective stone of pilots, aircrews and any other people who have a high level of risk in their work. Turquoise is often given as a stone of friendship and affection, as it is said to be responsible for faithfulness and consistency in relationships.

Turquoise is the birthstone for December and for the zodiac sign of Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21). It is can also be given as a gift to celebrate the 5th and 11th wedding anniversary.