Thinking of buying the perfect piece of jewellery for your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Be aware that all that glitters in Stockholm is not pure gold. It takes a lot of research and an expert eye to ensure the best possible quality at a reasonable price with the lowest environmental impact. Luckily Guldalliansen (The Gold Alliance) has done the work for you. They are an association that gathers authorised goldsmiths of the highest calibre to ensure that you find an excellent trustworthy craftsman near you.
Why you should use Guldalliansen to find your jeweller:
They are the best in their chosen field
Being a goldsmith takes time, energy and a passion for the craft. It takes 4 years alone to complete the initial apprenticeship and a further 10 to qualify as a ‘master’ goldsmith. All the goldsmiths listed with Guldalliansen are authorised jewellers with superb knowledge of their craft.
They are 100% trustworthy
When making an expensive purchase, it’s necessary to feel that you are in good hands. Guldalliansen jewellers adhere to the laws and regulations that ensure the proper treatment of bullion. If you are interested in selling your gold, using a Gold Alliance authorised jeweller means that you can be assured of an accurate, honest assessment true to the current market price. Remember that you can also use your old gold to create something new, or use it as payment for a finished piece of jewellery. Ask any jeweller from Guldalliansen for advice.
They are environmentally sound
Not all jewellers are interested in how gold is disposed of, but as a consumer, it’s becoming more important to give a gift that does not impact heavily on the environment. The Gold Alliance works with all its goldsmiths on the environmental management of precious metals and conservation of natural resources. Since they work exclusively with recycled gold when they create new jewellery the impact is good for both the environment and your wallet.
Go to Guldalliansens website to find your local goldsmith
Our featured goldsmith from the Guldalliansen is Michael O’Dwyer, an Irish goldsmith and gemologist, who moved to Stockholm four years ago for love. He seemed an appropriate person to quiz about Valentine’s Day:
Q: What’s the significance of Valentine’s Day to you?
A: One thing that many people don’t know is that Irish people have a special connection with St Valentine himself, whose final resting place is in Dublin. A famous Irish preacher, John Spratt, wowed all the Catholic officials in Rome with his fantastic oratory. Pope Gregory XVI was so impressed that he bequeathed the remains of St Valentine to John and they were placed in the church to Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Whitefriar Street that he was building. They’re still there today and many couples flock there for special services on the day itself.
Q: What do you think is a good Valentine’s Day gift for a lady?
A: Jewellery. Pink is always connected to love, so maybe a pink piece of jewellery, a pendant for example. If a man wants to surprise a woman, an easy thing to do is a pendant or a pair of earrings. Then they don’t have to guess on the finger size so the women can wear it straight away.
Q: And for the gentlemen?
A: So many answers. Watches or a nice pair of cufflinks are always popular and are useful gifts too. In Sweden, a diamond earring is getting more fashionable but not every man likes that!
So, if you want to take a piece of advice from Michael and give the perfect piece of jewellery to show how much you care this Valentine’s Day, use Guldalliansen to find the best craftsman near you!
Full Disclosure: This article is sponsored by Gold Alliance. At Your Living City, we only choose to work with partners that we feel would help our readers; these select few are chosen for our sponsored articles.
