Hot Off The Press - November Newsletter

Holiday Trunk Shows and November Birthstones!

So... What's New?

The Holiday Season is approaching - quickly - whether we like it or not.
Our shop knows all too well the stress that comes along with the snow and holiday cheer, so we thought this year, we would do things a little different.

This November 13th, 18Karat will be hosting our first Holiday Trunk Show.
Five local artists will set up shop at 18Karat, presenting their unique collections, and even some sale items!

Did we mention there would be hot chocolate?




The Holiday Trunk Show will November 13th from 12 - 5pm.
See you there!

RED Show - at 18Karat.

What does the word red conjure up in your mind and does it only represent a colour or a hue?
Red means many things to many different people, in one moment it can symbolize love and passion. In another it becomes a sign of aggression and anger.

The artists of Jewel Envy studio in downtown Toronto have created a body of work that explores this very question - what does RED mean? Featuring works by Gillian Batcher (Jewel Envy owner), Alexis Kostuk, Chia Chien Tsai, Efrat Deutsch, Emily Gill, Kathryn Rebecca, Rosalyn Woo, Sarah De Gasperis, and Young Ko.

Blood Diamond bracelet by Rosalyn Woo

Sale Ring by Emily Gill

Oh Oh, Here She Comes Ring by Efrat Deutsch

RED - an exhibition of jewellery by the members of Jewel Envy will be on display at 18Karat from October 25th - Novmber 6th.

OPENING RECEPTION October 23rd, from 2 - 5pm.

October Newsletter - hot off the press.

Giveaways, Holiday Trunk shows, jewellery art exhibitions, custom jewellery - all packed into one month. Check out the newsletter, in its entirety - here.

PICKING UP THE PIECES G I V E A W A Y

This month, 18Karat's blog turns two-years old and to celebrate, we are teaming up with a very talented Toronto designer and goldsmith - Eric Petersen - for a g-i-v-e-a-w-a-y!

We first met Eric earlier this year and were impressed by not only his jewellery collection, but also his determination and drive.

Titled Shattered Heart from the collection Picking Up the Pieces - a collection that explores how seemingly undesirable, unattractive, and even disposable items can be made beautiful. This collection features shards of glass from a broken window, transformed into a stunning focal point.


For a chance to win this handcrafted sterling silver and glass necklace, all you have to do is subscribe to our blog! Click 'Subscribe to 18Karat Goldsmiths and Designers' on the top right corner of your screen, and enter your email address. Make sure to respond to the verification message sent to your email - only verified entries will be accepted!


To double your chances of winning, you can also become fans of our Facebook page!
Log into your Facebook account (if you are not already) and click here to visit our Facebook page. Click 'like' in the top center section of the screen.

Only one entry, per method of entry, per person will be accepted.
Deadline for entry is October 31st, 11.59pm.

For Official Terms and Conditions, visit our website.

Hybrid - Collaboration at the Harbourfront Center

About two weeks ago, Meredith Robb (you may recognize her as a member of the 18Karat family) and Rose-Angeli Ringor opened a beautiful exhibition at the Harbourfront Centre in downtown Toronto.

Stopping by the show, and snapping a few shots, I am sure you will all be impressed by this merging of organic and inorganic industrial forms. The show continues at the Harbourfront Center until November 7th.

Hybrid : is an experiment in collaboration between a ceramic artist and a metalworker. Each piece began with one artist and was finished by the other, pushing Harbourfront Centre artists-in-residence Ringor and Robb to unify both their media and their creative processes.

Expensive Tastes - the woes of a nickel allergy.

You want it.
You need it.
You just have to have it.
But when you wear it, your skin starts to itch and burn and then blister!

Sound familiar? Unfortunately for you (and one is seven people from across the globe) you have a nickel allergy. Nickel is the root cause of the most common jewellery allergy and it can often mean that funky fashion jewellery is off limits.

When I was a teenager, I loved wearing the most outrageous (and in some circles obnoxious) vintage earrings - all cheap and all costume. From large pastel coloured disks to 70's inspired gold toned chandelier earrings - the bigger the better.

Then, almost overnight it seemed, while wearing my favorite pair of mint 80's art deco/Miami Beach inspired studs - my ears began to get hot, red, and frankly vengeful. From that moment on, try as I may, no earrings seemed to sit right in my now very exclusive ear lobes.

It was only after I came to 18Karat did I realize the toll some base metals can take on our bodies - and costume jewellery is all base metals. It is not that our bodies are allergic to the metals themselves, but they are allergic to the salts created through a chemical reaction between your skins natural oils and perspiration and the metal. As our body actively corrodes the metals away, we are left feeling sore and entirely unfashionable.

A nickel allergy is not something we are necessarily born with, and can often develop as we get older - as your body's chemistry evolves throughout the years and can especially effect women during and after pregnancy.

Not only is nickel found in stainless steel, it is also a key metal used in the alloy for white gold - nickel is actually the bleaching agent that turns yellow gold white. Low-karated gold, 10k and below, are especially problematic as they contain a more substantial percentage of nickle, making it more irritable to sensitive skin.

A nickel allergy can be especially upsetting if you begin to notice discomfort when wearing your white gold wedding set - especially if you have had the rings for year beforehand.

Luckily there are solutions. If you believe you are beginning to develop an allergy to one of your precious gems, bring it into your local jeweller. You should first ask for them to thoroughly clean the item. Overtime, chemicals can accumulate in the nooks and crevices of your gems - especially if you wear them everyday. These chemicals, such as soaps and lotions, can start to wreak havoc on your skin.

If this does not work, you can get these gems rhodium plated - providing a barrier between your skin and the nickel within the item. Rhodium is a member of the platinum family of metals and is rarely a source of allergic reaction.

If you have questions about metal allergies and what you can do to start wearing your jewellery again, contact a knowledgeable jeweller.