What's your royal wedding name ?

Work out your 'royal' name in preperation for fridays wedding.

To work it out, you take the name of your first pet, followed by your maternal grandparents surname, and finally the name of the first street you lived in.

Prefix this with either Lord or Lady depending on your sex... !

The Early Bird has landed...

The Early Bird is our new hand made silver jewellery collection. In this uncertain world, we've noticed a return to traditional values, recognising the value and beauty of handmade pieces. This collection takes its inspiration rom nature, but also recognises the modern world, celebrating the juxtaposition of nature and fluid form. The Early Bird collection is hand crafted from Sterling Silver with Gold accents and a variety of modern finishes to convey the message of the pieces and the timeless themes it explores. With floral pieces such as Cascade, Hawthorn and Ring of Roses vying for position with ephemeral designs of love, hearts oxidised on only one side to represent the dark and light aspects of love highlighted with the purity of a freshwater pearl, complemented by the fluid simplicity of the jingle trio and the elongated aspects of the Promise earrings. This is an exciting and captivating collection which attracted a lot of attention at its NEC Spring Fair launch. Our evolving collection is supported by its own uniqe envelope packaging and showcards. Stylish, modern and unique - The Early Bird really does catch the worm !

Silver Price rises...

Many of you will have been hearing about the rise in silver recently. It was a topic of hot debate at the Spring Fair and continues to be among the jewellery industry.

When we produced our catalogues last year in August 2010 silver was around $18 oz. Today silver is almost $35 and we’re sorry to report that only the natural disasters around the world such as the Tsunami in Japan are keeping it at this price. It is generally expected to increase further.

We had hoped to be able to maintain our prices until the Spring, mindful of the current economic situation, but unfortunately we are no longer able to absorb this doubling of our raw materials cost. With regret we have to raise our prices.

This will be effective from Monday 21st March.

While this price rise isn’t a blanket increase across the collections, it affects some collections more than others. Obviously the more silver is in a collection, or the heavier the jewellery item, the more it will be affected.

Material components, such as stones have also risen in cost dramatically, even since the beginning of this year, so stone item prices have also regrettably had to be raised.

For an updated price list for our catalogues please call us on 08452 600 925

As you can see from the silver charts below, from last year and this year, silver has been steadily increasing. You can follow the world silver prices at www.kitco.com if you’re interested in the situation

In case you’re curious about the silver situation, we’ve put together some information on the background to the price increase. If you have any questions regarding the situation please do call us on 08452 600 925

Silver price rises : Background information

Precious metals, and particularly silver, are the most undervalued of all the commodities. Silver is currently trading at around $34-$36 per oz.

Basic reasons for this are continuing and increasing global macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, silver’s historic role as money and an storable commodity of value, the declining and very small supply of silver, significant industrial demand and most importantly significant and increasing investment demand.

Historically silver and gold were used in making currency, and were considered a safe investment. This is because they are not simply commodities but also currencies which cannot be debased like our modern paper and electronic currencies. Most countries in the world used silver for smaller denomination coins in the 19th Century and through the 20th Century up until the 1950’s, 1960’s and 1970’s when currencies were gradually debased.

Silver supply is shrinking. The supply of silver is inelastic. Silver production will not increase significantly if the silver price goes up. This is because silver is often mined as a by product of other minerals with only a handful of pure silver mines remaining.

Silver is in such an accelerated demand cycle because it has a number of unique properties including its strength, malleability and ductility. It has unparalleled electrical and thermal conductivity, sensitivity to and a high reflectance of light and the ability to endure extreme temperature ranges.

Industrial applications for silver are widespread. Silver is used in film, mirrors, batteries, medical devices, electrical appliances such as fridges, toasters, washing machines and uses have now expanded to include cell phones, flat-screen televisions and many other modern high tech devices.

Silver has many medical applications. Increasingly, wound dressings and other products incorporate a layer of fabric containing silver for prevention of secondary infections. Surgical gowns and draperies also include silver to prevent microbial transmission. Other medical products containing silver are catheters and stethoscope diaphragms.

Silver has many unique properties which make it essential in global industry – especially in the global photography, technology, medical, defence and electronic industries.

Investment demand for silver has also been rising rapidly the past few years with investors guarding themselves against rising inflation, possible currency devaluations and geopolitical and macroeconomic risk. But, silver is a finite resource, it is not recycled in the way that gold for example is, and the supply of silver is only increasing incrementally

Silver is unique in terms of being both a monetary and an industrial metal and having the highest optical reflectivity and the highest thermal and electrical conductivity amongst all metals. Silver industrial and investment demand is increasing very significantly and meanwhile supply is falling.

Sorry there's no good news to end on....

Friendship bracelets spring trend

Once the preserve of teenagers and a hippie or two, friendship bracelets are having their fashion moment in time for Summer. Forget everything you thought you knew about them, they're now uber cool, and come in the form of colourful threads and delicate silver strings.

Traditionally the native american bracelets were given as a sign of friendship and respect. The recipient makes a wish as the giver puts the bracelet on their arm. If the bracelet falls off naturally, then the wish will come true, so don't ask what happens if you take the bracelet off prematurely.....!

Our beautiful One Wish collection debuted at the Spring Fair and is a modern take on the age old friendship bracelet. These modern day sparkly treasures are a beautiful and sentimental gift for a friend to show them how special they are, or to treat yourself.

These particular bracelets are made from sterling silver, and are elasticated for comfort. We also have a letters collection, so any word or name can be spelt out, and a collection of colourful woven styles too.

Jump over to the catalogue downloads page to see the new One Wish catalogue.

Get Alex's style !

We just noticed that Alex jones the lovely welsh presenter from the One Show was wearing one of our equally lovely Sukie Lau black onyx cocktail rings. SUR 60C if you're curious !

Anyway, Alex looked super cute in a cerise dress with black accessories !

Spring Fair Review - NEC

Now that we're back and unpacked and sorted out from the NEC Spring Fair, we can report that it was a great show ! Attendance was up, orders were up and all in all its a positive sign for the coming year.

We launched two new collections at the show, The Early Bird and One Wish which were well received as well as our Spring/Summer 2011 update catalogue featuring new collections in Studio, Rocks, Vintage, The Charm Bar and Tower Rings.

All of our new collections are available on our site as downloadable PDF's for your convenience. Please call us if you've forgotten your login.

Watch this space for more information on our new collections....

Wicked Wire

Our Wicked Wire pendants will debut at the Spring Fair.

Wicked Wire is a fun flower collection, that’s bold and eyecatching, but still light enough to wear comfortably. These delightful pieces can be worn on a silver chain but we prefer them on our lovely colourful super slim ribbons, which reflect the delicate silver.

So why not ease yourself away from the dull Winter and slide gently into Spring with these gorgeous flower styles from Wicked Wire.

All flower designs are Sterling Silver and part of our Studio collection.

See the new collection at the Spring Fair, Hall 18. Stand G28/H29

Silver price continues to rise...

Historically, silver has been used in industry, medicine, photography, jewellery and coin manufacture and even in sweet production (In India)

While traditional photography has moved to digital (which doesn’t demand silver) demand from new industries is increasing. New applications, such as laptops and mobile phones also require silver – and once you know that you can start to see why its rising so rapidly.

There are only a few pure silver mines left, with most silver (around 80%) being minded as a byproduct of other base metals, and their reserves are depleting. Since gold has a much higher value, it is often recycled, but silver’s inherent value is much lower so this doesn’t usually happen, which means that in market terms, when its gone, its gone !

At the beginning of this year analysts were estimating silver price to be in the range of $25 to $27.50, but we’ve already seen it rise above that on occasion, so it looks as though it will end up higher than this original estimate.

Sukie Lau catalogue review...

From talking to some of our customers its become clear that some of you would prefer the old fashioned method of receiving your catalogue, ie on paper or even as a disc.

If this is a better method for you could you please give us a call on 08452 600 925 and we'll get a disc or a catalogue in the post to you...!

In the meantime, here's a sneak peak of Sukie Lau's Autumn Winter 2010 collection. This juicy bracelet stack is bang on trend

The idea is that you select a few different designs, then wear them together to create one dazzling piece. Most people wear between 2 and 5 stacking bracelets but you can wear them however you want.

The key is to team 2 or more bracelets of different gems, beads, colours, textures, shapes and stones, breaking all the rules for a high fashion look. This eclectic but offbeat styling idea sits well with any outfit adding a touch of personal style.

Sukie Lau's Autumn Winter collection is bright, colourful and hand made from semi precious stones, so if you like the colourful fashion look, but want to wear real stones, then this fun take on the current fashion staple is right on trend.

Dip your arms into this juicy bracelet stack - fruity oranges, tropic pinks and luscious greens sparkle…

Brand new catalogue !

Yes, its finally ready, our brand new 302 page catalogue full of gorgeous new jewellery across ten of our ranges. We've just mailed it out, so if you don't have your copy yet, please let us know.

All your favourite collections are featured : Studio, Gallery, Rocks, Steam, Kiki Mioa & Affirmations, as well as our new customisable collections - The Charm Bar and Tower Rings, and of course our brand new collections Vintage and Amarna.

If you're wondering where Sukie Lau and Blowing in the Wind are, since they are more seasonal collections they're featured on our website and are downloadable from there www.balagan.co.uk If you need a reminder of your password, please let us know.

We've decided to keep our collections together in one catalogue this year following the positive reaction from our customers when we did this for the first time last year.

So, if you are an existing customer our new catalogue is winging its way to you right now, please tell us what you think of it....

Enjoy it and thanks for supporting us !

Sukie Lau Autumn/Winter 2010 catalogue now live !

We've been waiting a while, but our luscious new stock for the Autumn Winter 2010 Sukie Lau catalogue has just arrived.

There's a riot of colours in our new stacking bracelets that are bang on trend.

We've got cool graphite greys to complement the military and urban futuristic look thats going to be huge this winter, and some lovely warm mookite pieces to ease you into the Autumn vibe as well as some magnificent stand alone pieces all packaged in our signature clutch purse packaging.

Don't miss the new catalogue - out now !

Fearne Cotton wears Blowing in the Wind... !

In this week's Look magazine we spotted this pic of Fearne wearing one of our lucky clover necklaces in the gold finish. It looks cute we're sure you'll agree !

Lucky charms are bang on trend at the moment, since fashion is having a charm moment-keys, wishbones, love hearts and lockets as well as of course, our clovers are all in the spotlight.

Wear them layered for an eclectic look (this works well if they are smaller in size) or if they are larger, like our clovers, then they work best as a stand alone piece.

From little acorns mighty oak trees grow

Most of us know that the meaning of this quotation is that great things come from small beginnings. This proverb has been in general use since the 14th Century !

But you might not know that the word acorn doesn't come from 'oak' and 'corn', as is popularly supposed, but from the Old English 'aecern', meaning berry or fruit. Acorns are the nut of the mighty oak tree. They usually contain just one seed and are a symbol of greatness.

The Lacey Oak is a beautiful small to medium sized deciduous shade tree mostly grown in central and south Texas, its leaves are leathery and range from dusky blue to blue-gray to grayish green. Their fall color ranges from pink or peach to gold. Their leaves are quite small in comparison to other oaks This particular oak is grown primarily to protect this unique species.

Our stylish Blowing in the Wind collection features hand picked real leaves, preserved with different finishes. Each leaf is a handcrafted piece of wearable art, unique and totally individual.

If you haven’t seen the leaves, they’re stunningly delicate, but surprisingly robust, and with finishes as varied as Gold, Silver, Brass, Copper, Iridescent and Vintage Silver they can we worn with almost any outfit, both as a dramatic choker, or at a fashionable long necklace length.
They fit in with the current flora and fauna fashion themes popular this Autumn and make a stunning Autumnal window display with plenty of kerb appeal. Our natural wood Point of Sale and branded cotton pouches display the collection beautifully.

Leaves available include Cottonwood, Aspen, Lacey Oak, Birch and the Sugar Canadian Maple in various sizes.

Autumn Fair update...

It was fabulous to see so many of you at the Autumn Fair !

We had a great show and had some lovely feedback about our new collections, which is always nice as we work so hard to keep them interesting for you !

It was also a good sign that the show was busy - hopefully this bodes well for a busy Christmas season in the shops !

in case you didn't get to the show, here's a picture of our stand so you can check us out next time

thank you so much to everyone who made the effort and came over to see us, say hi, check out the new collections and give us valuable feedback !

Secret Sample sale !

As many of you have never visited our showroom, we’ve decided to bring a mini
version of it to the NEC for you !

Our sample sale is a rockbottom price sale of studio, showroom and project
samples (absolutely no clearance stock or discontinued items) there are
maximum two pieces of any one style !

What this isn’t : Clearance lines of old stock

What this is : One or possibly two pieces of each style available in many designs
that you will never have seen before. They are not in any of our collections and
can only be seen at the NEC or by visiting our showroom.

Don't miss out on these bargains ...