This is a wonderful table lighter, made by Tiffany. Made in the form of a lamp, these were kept on the table and passed around to light cigars.

Fully stamped on the base, is bears a pattern number of 9206, suggesting a year of 1886.

See more images here: Antique Tiffany tableware

A new arrival is this wonderful sapphire and diamond cluster ring, set with a round faceted sapphire, of natural Burmese origin. The colour of the sapphire is wonderful, extremely deep and strong.

Sapphires of this colour are rare, and make for fantastic jewellery.

To read more on sapphire colours, see this link:

http://www.weldons.ie/wordpress/2012/01/sapphire-colours/

A large collection of provincial items has just been uploaded to our website; there are tablespoons, forks, a fish slice and a marrow scoop. Full details can be seen here: Cork and Limerick tableware

A new collection of rings has just been uploaded to our site; there are platinum and gold rings, starting from as little as 1200 euros. To view them, just click on the “Diamond rings” tab at the top of the page!

We have started building a collection of photos of hallmarks on our facebook page. Simply follow the timeline to the year in question for a large picture of the date letter for that year.

In time we will also be uploading images of pieces from certain years, to give a visual storyline to the development of styles in Irish silver.

Pleas visit www.facebook.com/weldonsjewellery to see the page (you don’t have to be signed up to facebook to view the page)

And please consider “liking” the page too!

When you are looking through the microscope at a gemstone, there are some many beautiful things to see. These inclusions and characteristics that you can see tell you a lot about the stone; some tell you where it formed, or if it is natural or man-made. Some tell you about the condition of the piece. Some do not tell you much, but are beautiful nonetheless!

Here is a collection of images taken from some gemstones we have in the shop, with some thoughts or observations for each one.

This is a superb colour Burmese ruby, of very high quality. There are very few inclusions present, except for this one dark inclusion under the junction of the facets.

This next image is an emerald. Almost every emerald contains flaws, called “jardin”. This is a result of formation, and is generally nothing to worry about. The jardin is indicative of the geographic origin of the stone, and also helps to confirm that it is a natural gem.

The following emerald does have a problem, however. Over the years it has become chipped or abraded at the facet junctions. This can be fixed, and is relatively inexpensive to do. The next image shows an emerald with beautiful polishing. It is a 1960s emerald and diamond twist ring by Tiffany’s, with a Columbian emerald.
 

The next image is great fun! When looking through the microscope, this inclusion looked (kind of) like a mosquito. Is it taken from a natural, unheated Burmese ruby.

This image is just wonderful! towards the middle right of the ruby you can see three straight lines intersecting. They are naturally occurring inclusions. The manner in which they intersect (at 70 and 110 degrees) is 100% proof of natural origin. It is a beautiful effect, and shows how captivating and interesting Nature can be.

This last image of a tiny collection of inclusions in an emerald tell us a lot about the stone. Firstly, they confirm that it is natural, and not synthetic. And secondly that the emerald is from Columbia, the source of the best emeralds in the world.

Our youtube channel is now chock-full of videos of diamond engagement rings!! Here is a selection, but you can find more here: http://www.youtube.com/user/weldoninternational

Keep an eye on it, we will be uploading more in the coming weeks! (and while you’re at it, have a look at our facebook page, www.facebook.com/weldonsjewellery

Once in a while you see something that really takes your breath away, and this is one of those pieces!

The Starry Night Sapphire is a 111 carat unheated Burmese Sapphire, mounted in a brooch. The six pointed star is caused by a phenomenon called Asterism.

Asterism is caused by  light reflecting on titanium oxide inclusions (‘rutile’). When the stones are cut en cabochon (domed) a pointed star can be seen. The effect can be mesmerising. In this case, the star is very clear, and slight wavy, evoking the beauty of Van Gogh’s Starry Night.

Photo copyright GIA

Van Gogh's Starry Night

This piece, a recent arrival, is a beautiful antique brooch, with pearl centre. It is small, less than 2cm in diameter, and features wonderful enamelling, in good condition, and a dazzling blue colour.

Two more Cork silversmiths and their maker’s marks, both of whom are quite rare.

The first is John Irish, whose mark is II with a star inbetween.

The second is Daniel MacCarthy, whose mark is DMC.