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Buck & Co Jewellers,
Goldsmiths & Diamond Mounters
Crafted with Excellence
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The birthstone for October is arguably one of the most beautiful gemstones in the world, opal. Each and every opal is unique, and is a truly magical natural creation.
Opals are famed for their 'play of colour', a display of iridescent rainbow colours which change as the stone is moved. This effect is seen only in precious opals; common opals can also be beautifully coloured but lack this iridescent effect, but come in attractive shades of blue, pink, green and cream.
The 'play of colour' is caused by the diffraction and interference of light as it travels through minute spheres of silica, which are so small they can only be seen with a scanning electron microscope. Silica is the main part of the chemical composition of opals which also include a varying percentage of water. As a result care is needed with wearing and storing opals as they can dry out and crack if exposed to heat. They are also quite soft, at a 6 on the Mohs hardness scale, so care must be taken to guard against knocks and abrasion but also attack from chemicals such as perfume and household cleaners which can damage and discolour these beautiful stones.
Pictured is an 18ct white gold, diamond and opal pendant, hand crafted by our Goldsmith with an Australian opal specially selected by our Gemmologist for its fabulous play of colour. Viewings are recommended at our shop in Bodmin to truly appreciate all the colours of the rainbow that this stone displays on movement!
Birthstone of the Month:
October
We were honoured and proud recently to have been asked to work on some historic pieces of solid gold and silver civic regalia. Some of the work we do here at Buck & Co we do not share publicly, but we have been given kind permission to share these images of our Goldsmith working on these fabulous pieces.
Our in-house Goldsmith is experienced at assessing, repairing and restoring pieces such as these which not only have a material value, but also historic and social importance in the life of communities and organisations up and down the county. Originally pieces of regalia such as this would have been crafted by Goldsmiths of the highest level, and it is these traditional skills and knowledge acquired through years of experience which are still required to ensure a sympathetic level of restoration and care.
These specific pieces of 18ct gold and silver civic regalia were in need of some sympathetic maintenance and repairs to keep them functioning safely and securely as working tools of office. After this was completed some light cleaning was required to remove the dirt and grime, but not the naturally aged patina that these beautifully aged pieces have accumulated through years of use and handling.
As always, it is an honour and a privilege to be entrusted with such beautiful pieces, and to ensure their long term viability as working tools of office and their survival for future generations.
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Buck & Co Jewellers is a family-owned business with over 40 years of experience in the jewellery industry. We offer a wide range of services including bespoke designs, repairs and insurance valuations. We are a husband and wife team consisting of a qualified and experienced Jeweller, Diamond Mounter, Gold and Silversmith, and a certified Gemmologist. We take pride in crafting each piece of jewellery with excellence, ensuring that it meets our high standards of quality.
At Buck & Co Jewellers, we offer a personalised service, where your work is carried out in our fully insured workshop located in The Market House Arcade in Bodmin, a Grade II listed building. We have options to suit all budgets and tastes, and offer free consultations to discuss your desired commission work.
