Something old, something new, something borrowed, something... you? Trang Do from Kimjoux explores Alternative Bridal Preparation It can be overwhelming trying to find the perfect jewellery for your wedding, you want a piece that is unique and precious so it is special for you, that is strong and high quality so you can treasure it for a lifetime. You need to be able to entwine your own character and story within the metal and gemstones, so it can truly become yours, thus creating your own heirloom and legacy.   At Kimjoux, we pride ourselves on being part of your life journeys by providing bespoke high-quality fine jewellery that marks your achievements, dreams and personality. Your wedding day is one of life’s biggest celebrations and deserves treasures to mirror the magical atmosphere of the big day. What is Alternative Bridal Jewellery? 'Alternative Weddings' is a term that covers a wide branch of different weddings, anything that is not the traditional white dress and church alters wedding comes into this sector. Equally, the word alternative can mean a lot of different things to different people. We believe alternative bridal jewellery means bespoke, one-of-a-kind and unique pieces that are not just your standard, generic diamond ring. Pieces that reflect YOU! Personalised jewellery allows you to truly express yourself and your personality, to show the world how you shine! Why should you choose alternative bridal jewellery? Whether you have been dreaming of the perfect ring since your childhood or do not where to start, we can almost guarantee that above everything, you want your jewellery to be special and different from what everyone has. Choosing alternative bridal jewellery allows you to have that. With Kimjoux, you will have support throughout your whole bespoke journey, from discussing the best-suited gemstones and designs, to how we can protect the gemstones, and add in personal details such as engravings or birthstones. If you would like to start exploring these areas we have created two handy guides one focusing on gemstones and one on design. These blogs explore these aspects in further detail and will help you understand the components of fine jewellery in more detail. A cool and stylish option for a wedding band for him is a signet ring, like the one below. The noble design has a strong connection to royalty and rich history, making it the perfect choice of design for a special and sentimental piece of jewellery.     Every Last Detail Small details can make the world of difference! Adding in personal details like engravings, monograms or even adding in a special gemstone elevates your jewellery to the next level. By doing this you create your own modern heirloom, that you can treasure daily, and that will connect you to future generations. Do you know someone who is planning a wedding? Send them to the link to this blog to help them out! As always, we welcome you to book a private consultation with us if you would like to start discussing options and designs!  Article by Trang Do Trang founded Kimjoux a year into motherhood. She creates fine, meaningful heirlooms that are also fun and practical. Trang spent a decade working at some of the world's most famous jewellery houses, and studied at GIA. Visit Kimjoux's Storefront

When it comes to choosing wedding rings there are so many options out there that it can feel a bit of a minefield. Here is our handy guide to help you pick your perfect rings. The Molten Wedding Ring Co. Budget & Lifestyle The first things to consider are budget & your lifestyle. It is important to match the metal type / gold carat weight of the engagement ring should you be wearing two rings together. This is because of how metal wears against each other. Platinum is a popular choice for engagement rings because of its durability but it is the most expensive of all the metals. The next 18ct and then 9ct. If you are planning to wear your wedding ring alone you are open to any metal choice. This is where you need to consider what sort of lifestyle you lead. If you are fairly active and practical you would be better to go for a harder wearing metal such as platinum. Although 9ct is technically harder than 18ct our 18ct white gold is alloyed with palladium which is part of the platinum family giving it extra strength. You may also have your heart on one set with diamonds. Diamonds will add extra to the price of the ring. If diamonds are not an option for the budget right now then look at rings where they can be added at a later date. Individual stones can be added over time to mark special events or occasions and is a really lovely way to build up an eternity style ring. Quality It is important to think about how your ring has been made. What is the quality of the metals used. When gold is stamped 9ct or 18ct it is only looking for the gold content - not the metals it has been alloyed with. We often hear people saying white gold isn’t white - this isn’t true. It is down to the alloy. Many white gold’s are plated with rhodium because of how the metal is alloyed. This plating can wear quite quickly once the ring is worn daily leaving you with a sandy yellow colour metal that needs replating. By choosing rings made with a good quality alloy you will not need to have them replated as they will remain white gold.Also is the ring you are looking at hollow or solid? Over time your hands will change size and shape and your rings will need adjusting. By choosing a solid ring you will be more likely to have the ring sized successfully as there is more metal in order to work. Depth The depth of the ring will determine how the ring feels between your fingers. We recommend going for a similar depth as your engagement ring if wearing two together so there is no ridge as you run your finger over them. If wearing a ring on it’s own then you want to make sure that the ring feels comfortable between your fingers. We often find gents who are not used to wearing a ring the Sid which is approx 1.7mm deep is a good feel. Width This is down to personal preference really and if you are looking to wear a stack of rings together. If you are planning on wearing your engagement ring and wedding ring together and maybe down the line add an eternity ring then you may be better to go for slightly thinner bands that can stack up. People sometimes like to keep the wedding band a similar width to the engagement ring but others prefer to have the wedding ring more prominent and so go for a wider wedding ring to their engagement ring. If only wearing one ring you may wish to go go for a wider ring - this is also a good choice if you are looking to maybe add diamonds at a later date. Really the best thing to do is to try on a few to give you a feel for how the ring looks on your hand. The length of your fingers and size of your hands will mean one ring will look very different on one person to another. Shaping Will you need a shaped wedding ring to fit around an engagement ring? This is often the case if you have a large stone set ring you want to wear your wedding ring with. Our Molten bands have natural undulations that many stone set rings snuggle into but it may be that the two do not sit flush if the stone is large or an unusual shape. There are two options - a) have a band shaped to go around your stone set ring or b) have a slightly wider ring and have a section cut away for the stone to sit down into. A   B Fit Your wedding ring should not come off easily - you should not be able to take another person’s ring off. If you can - it’s too big! We recommend that the ring will need a little ‘walk’ over the knuckle to come off. When hands are lubricated with hand cream or water (or often with hand sanitiser at this time!) the ring can slip off easier and you do not want that to happen when you are not expecting it. Fingers also go up and down in size a lot depending on how warm or cool you are. If you are measuring your hands at home then try a couple of times at different times of the day to get an average size. Our rings are cast as a complete circle with no solder seams within them. To make a ring smaller the ring has to be cut and metal removed before soldering back together again. A solder seam will always be a weaker point within the ring. To go bigger we can often gently stretch it rather than need to cut and solder and so we say to air on the side of slightly smaller rather than bigger. We would recommend being sized by a professional jeweller (such as ourselves) who can give you advice on the fit of the ring. Wider rings will feel tighter than narrow rings and so it may be the size needs to be adjusted according to the ring style you have chosen. Also if you are wearing a stack of rings the sizes may need to differ as the rings go up the finger. Article by Erin Cox Erin founded The Molten Wedding Ring Company in 2007. They specialise in molten textured wedding rings, made in platinum and gold; handmade and suitable for all. Visit Molten's Storefront  

Rings have been synonymous with weddings since the times of Ancient Egyptians. Although usually relatively small and oftentimes understated, a wedding band is arguably the best example of jewellery’s value being far greater than its materials. Therefore, when choosing your bands, it’s important to consider a number of elements to ensure that the pieces you choose are as special as the bond you share with your future spouse. Choosing a MaterialWhen you think of a wedding ring, what springs to mind? Probably yellow gold! This material is a true classic for wedding bands, and it’s no wonder, but it’s not your only option. More and more people are opting for something a little different; choosing another option like silver, rose gold, white gold or even platinum for their bands. Some jewellers will even be able to incorporate more than one metal type for a two tone effect that creates something even more unique. Consider the karat of the material being used for your bands. Gold is a soft metal so you need to ensure the karat is going to be at a grade providing durability for everyday wear. 14 karat gold is a great option to get rich colour alongside durability. Make it UniqueA wedding band is often a piece that is relatively plain and understated, but it doesn’t have to be! You can work with your goldsmith to design something utterly unique and intricate. You may even choose to have gemstones or diamonds set within the bands. Pair with Other RingsSomething to consider when selecting your bands is that the wedding band will normally sit alongside an engagement ring. It’s important to consider the engagement ring when choosing your bands so that you can either match them, or tastefully contrast so that the rings pair as well as you and your betrothed. The beauty of a classic gold band is in no way diminished as a result of its gender neutrality, but why not consider mixing it up and choosing slightly different rings to each reflect the individual? Consider having the band set with a stone or even engraved with a secret message? Perhaps even your wedding date. Caring for your Wedding BandTaking care of your wedding ring is important to keep it looking at its best. Avoid handling any harsh chemicals when wearing your ring and take it off before exercising. Each metal will need slightly different care so for more information, please see our Boutee guide to jewellery care.   Written by Hazel Garnham