Nickel is a metal from the periodic table and is used in jewellery as an alloy with other metals. It has been alloyed with gold for many years and is chosen for its durability and hard-wearing properties. It is quite often mixed with pure gold to create 18 and 9 carat...
Our jeweller Greg John’s masterpiece – Australian gemstone bracelet
As we celebrate the month of the Australian opal, we thought we would go back through our archive and use this opportunity to show off our master jeweller Greg’s spectacular one-of-a-kind handmade creation. A couple of years ago one of our long-term clients contacted...
Tourmaline – October’s Birthstone
The term ‘Tourmaline’ is the name given to a large group of boron silicate minerals. Tourmaline has a hardness rating of 7-7.5. This gemstone can be found in a wide variety of colours such as green, pink, blue, yellow, red, orange and colour-zoned/bi-coloured...
Abrecht Bird Jewellers ‘Workshop Experience’
As a manufacturing jewellery company, we often get asked by clients what the difference is between handmade and computer aided design (CAD) or cast jewellery. In previous newsletters and emails, we have highlighted many in-depth discussions on this topic. We believe...
Synthetic Diamonds
Synthetic diamonds have become more prevalent in the jewellery industry, and it is more important than ever for customers to be aware of the facts around diamonds (natural or synthetic), and for jewellers and valuers to know how to distinguish between the two. I sat...
The Difference Between Cast & Hand Made Jewellery
As a manufacturing jewellery company we are often asked by new clients: ‘What is the difference between handmade and cast jewellery?’ I have been a part of the Abrecht Bird team for the past 10 years, so I may be a little biased in favour of handmaking as opposed to...
Welcome back!
I write this on the day that restrictions inVictoria have been eased. Finally, we can get back to work. This is a day that we should celebrate – that Victorians have looked after one another (as opposed to other places in the world where self-interest reigns, and the...
Reusing Old Gold To Make New Jewellery
For most of 2020 Victorians have been victim to lockdowns and tight restrictions. This period of isolation has allowed many of our clients to finish projects around their homes and do a thorough spring clean. After receiving multiple emails regarding old unused items...
We Have Reopened!
We are both thrilled and delighted to hear of the easing in restrictions in the retail sector by the Victorian Government and that, as of Wednesday 28th October we will reopen our door and welcome back our clients.To support a COVID safe environment, the showroom will...
Modifying Your Old Jewellery
As September draws close to an end we decided to feature a very special sapphire and diamond ring that was commissioned by our client Doug for his wife Bernadette last year. We thought this remodelling job was the perfect piece to highlight this month’s birthstone and...