Our high standards are the foundation of our company. It is what makes us different, what makes us stand out from the crowd.
Our jewelry may be a bit more expensive that other places but it is worth it. It is more expensive not because our profits are higher; it is because we use the right materials and the right quality and amount of them.
We will never make a piece of jewellery lighter or thinner to save some money in metal. Or use lower quality stones to make it cheaper. We won’t even worry about making it faster to spend less labor on it. Our standards are designed to do the opposite; to create outstanding quality jewellery.
During your first appointment the jeweler himself will explain to you our unique range of materials alloys and gemstones options with their characteristics, pros and cons along with some designs ideas and recommendations. Do not hesitate to ask him any question you have. He is highly knowledgeable and skilled. He will be able to provide you with the right answer and recommendation.
Here some information to have in mind
Now a day, there are many options for materials and gemstones but not all of them are as good as they seem. Many people think that gold is gold and diamonds are the same everywhere but that’s not true. Did you know that some jewelers are selling diamonds that are not even graded? Diamonds that otherwise would be used only as an abrasive material in other industries?
Those diamonds are worth just a few dollars! Why would you let them get away with it? Similar situation could apply for any gemstone and even materials. So, please make sure you are informed before buying jewellery.
Gold and platinum
Though “gold” tends to inspire the image of the traditional yellow kind, there are many different types, from rose to white. Alloys with different metals create the various “colours.” “Gold jewellery” can be used to describe items containing varying levels of gold. The level impacts on value and strength, so make sure you know what you’re buying. These are some types and markings you may encounter:
White gold
Originally developed as a substitute for platinum, white gold is gold alloyed with at least one white metal. Its inherent colour is somewhat grey, so it’s often coated with rhodium to give it a brighter finish.
White gold is currently very popular, but jewellery made from it can have problems.
If the gold is alloyed with a high-quality metal such as platinum or palladium it will retain a good whiteness even when the rhodium wears away. But if it’s a lower-quality nickel mix it will need regular re-plating to maintain the shine. It’s recommended that this is done once a year, which represents a significant cost. Usually $80 to $150 or more.
(Ebbeke & Co. alloys for white gold contains Platinum and Palladium only)
Platinum
At Ebbeke & Co. we think that Platinum is the king of metals, because it is the toughest. Because of this strength, jewellery can be made from almost pure platinum. We use only Platinum 950. (95% Pure). Traditionally platinum’s been the most expensive of the metals, but the rocketing gold price has put gold ahead – the fashion for white gold is now driving people to platinum.
Metal purity
Most precious metals are too soft in their pure form to make jewellery, so they’re alloyed with other metals. Jewellery made of a precious metal should be stamped to show its purity.
(Some countries use “karats” for metals and “carats” for gems, but in New Zealand we don’t distinguish this way, using “carat” interchangeably.)
Carats (ct) indicate the level of precious metal in the alloy and are measured in units of 24.
24ct is 99% percent pure, where:
18ct is 75% pure gold and 25% of other metals (alloy)
And 9ct is 37.5% pure gold and 62.5% alloy.
Our table shows how carats correspond to each stamp.
| Carats | Fineness | % of precious metal |
| 24 | 999 | 99+ |
| 22 | 916 | 91.6 |
| 18 | 750 | 75.0 |
| 14 | 585 | 58.5 |
| 9 | 375 | 37.5 |
Gem quality
When it comes to gems, carats refer to weight rather than purity. 1.00ct of gem weight equals 0.2 grams.
A carat is one of four factors (“the four Cs”) that determine the quality of a gemstone. It’s possible for two gems of the same carat to differ in value because of differences in the other “Cs”: colour, cut and clarity.
The way a gem is cut draws the eye to the richness of its colour and brilliance. A poor cut can lower a gem’s value. Clarity refers to the presence – or absence – of flaws (inclusions) in a gem. Flawless gems are extremely rare; even very expensive ones will have some inclusions.
Conclusion
There are too many factors that could affect the value and quality of your jewellery. It is almost impossible to be aware of all of them without the right knowledge. So please do not hesitate to get the right answers and recommendations.
Book an appointment with our jeweller now.
Testimonials
Excellent craftsmanship and service. Had a couple of rings done by Lucas. He helps you through the design process, regularly updates you and consults you throughout. The result is better than you envisioned and significantly superior to other stores.
Impeccable craftsmanship, beautiful jewellery, excellent quality and prices. Very fast order turnaround well done.
I totally recommend Ebbeke & Co. Jewellers
I got a pair of lovely diamond studs at Ebbeke & Co. Jewellers for my birthday. It was such a great gift! I truly love them. So sparkle! Wonderful quality. Beautifully handcrafted.
Looking forward to get more of their lovely jewellery.
Ebbeke & Co. Jewellers is one of the best jewellers around New Zealand. Thank you so much Lucas for my beautiful handcrafted engagement ring. It is so much more than I could have ever dreamed of. The quality of your jewellery, your service and your understanding of your customer needs are supreme.
Lucas is phenomenal! I had a family heirloom which I wanted upgraded to be a more contemporary wedding ring. I showed him a photo of what I wanted. Three weeks later I had a beautifully hand crafted wedding ring. He’d shaped the garnet and added facets which made it more impressive. Thank you!!
Absolutely outstanding! Lucas designed and made the most exquisite piece of jewellery for me. I highly recommend him
Excellent craftsmanship and service. Had a couple of rings done by Lucas. He helps you through the design process, regularly updates you and consults you throughout. The result is better than you envisioned and significantly superior to other stores.
Our high standards are the foundation of our company. It is what makes us different, what makes us stand out from the crowd.
Our jewellery may be a bit more expensive than other places, but it is worth it. It is more costly not because our profits are higher, but because we use the suitable materials and the right quality and amount.
We will never make a piece of jewellery lighter or thinner to save some money on metal. Our standards are high because we refuse to use lower quality stones to make them cheaper. We won’t even worry about making it faster to spend less labour on it. Instead, our standards are designed to do the opposite; to create exceptional quality jewellery.
During your first appointment, the jeweller himself will explain our unique range of materials, alloys and gemstone options, their characteristics, pros and cons, and some design ideas and recommendations. Do not hesitate to ask him any question you have. He is highly knowledgeable and skilled. He will be able to provide you with the correct answer and recommendation. At Ebbeke & Co Bespoke Jewellery, we understand the importance of transparency regarding the ethics of creating fine jewellery. We value longevity and endeavour to create high-quality pieces that will last more than a lifetime as a business. Over time, this reduces our footprint, as our creations are not throw away fashion but rather heirlooms that hold intrinsic and personal value. Our standards of artistry reflect our ethics in creating them. We also understand the importance of knowing that your beautiful creations are produced ethically.
The raw materials are sourced from providers that adhere to quality, sustainability and care for the environment and the people employed in their manufacture.
We source our metal from leading NZ precious metal companies such as Morris and Watson. They are also members of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), which values transparency, integrity, and accountability in business. In addition, we use GIA certified natural diamonds estimated to be 99.9% conflict-free, thereby creating jobs for thousands of people in developing nations.