Dear friends,

Paul and I would like to thank you all for your support, custom and friendship in 2007. We are looking forward to a spectacular New Year which will include competitions, giveaways and events. We hope you will join us for these and perhaps ask your friends to subscribe too. If you have jewellery questions you would like to see answered in the C-News please email me at info@cathrynpaul.com.au and I'll do my best to find the answers!
 
 

Our New Release for December is this beautiful pearl cluster. The 8mm round, cultured, freshwater pearl is surrounded by diamonds set in 18ct white gold and has tapering diamonds in the shoulders of the 18ct rose gold band.
 

To Richard and Andrea thank you for allowing us to include this happy photo and lovely story. We wish you both love and happiness always.

Hi Paul and Cathryn,

I proposed to my fiance on Sat (she was my girlfriend back then of course) and thankfully she responded in a positive manner!
Luckily I had the ring to get her attention because she seemed a little mute for a while following the question (or perhaps it was the ring that did that).

Either way she has been unable to take her eyes off the ring since (I catch her sneaking looks at it all the time) and takes pleasure in showing it off to all her friends - actually they all keep requesting another look so she doesn't need to encourage them. I should also mention that the fit is perfect - guess the Bundaberg Ginger Beer top did the trick after all - she can't remember me trying it on her.

Thanks for the wonderful ring, it made a great day extra special. Look forward to dropping in some time in the future to perhaps discuss a wedding band.

Kind Regards,
Richard
 
 
The hottest thing at the moment appears to PINK, (no not that Pink although she's great too), Pink Diamonds. Everyone's talking about them but what do we know about them? I thought we might start with a little history from the Argyle Diamond Mine www.argylediamonds.com.au

Our own Argyle Diamond Mine is the world's primary source of these rare and beautiful diamonds. The company retains the finest stones, has them cut and polished in their own factory and then they are sold by International tender. These stones have their own grading scale: www.rarecolours.com.au/gradingsystemargyle.html

We will add to the pink diamond story in later issues of C-News.

 
 

Many maybe aware of the "Blood Diamond" movie about the civil war in Sierra Leone in the early 90's and how that war was being partly funded by the illegal sale of diamonds. The world diamond Industry in conjunction with the UN, International Governments and Human Rights organisations created the Kimberly Process Certification Scheme and The System of Warranty Assurance to ensure that this process was stopped.

Jeweller Magazine has reported this month that a similar situation with the sale of rubies in Myanmar may be developing. The Jewellers Association of Australia and the World Jewellery Council have issued statements urging them to refrain from buying Burmese gemstones until they begin a process of democratic reform. A systematic ban on buying all Burmese gemstones has been warned against due to the negative impact on poor populations involved in the mining process.

All of our suppliers give written assurances that their stones are 'conflict free'.
 
 

I'm not sure if you've ever heard of it but in 2004 the Dutch created 'eyeball jewellery'.

www.simpletoremember.com/what/Eyeball_Jewellery.htm

At the time there was an outcry about the safety concerns regarding the procedure. Now you can even watch the procedure on You Tube (not very pretty!) . A little too extreme for Cathryn Paul!
 
 

Turquoise is the birthstone for December. The name comes from the French, Pierre Turquoise meaning 'stone of Turkey'. It was first mined in Sinai 6000 years ago. In folklore it is said to be a most efficient healer, providing solace for the spirit and well being for the body.
 
 

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you a safe and blessed Christmas and a brilliant New Year. We will be taking a little time out and will reopen on the 7th of January.

Kindest Regards,

Cathryn & Paul