Tag: history

Going Going Gold

Gold as a material has such a rich history and a strong spiritual connection. It is a well-loved metal that still features so heavily in modern life. Even though here at ASC we predominantly use silver for our jewellery, we also love to use the warm tones of gold and connect to its interesting background.

Gold was used in ornaments in ancient civilisations, and was often linked to deities and royals because of its shine and permanence. In Ancient Egypt, it was used to decorate tombs and temples. It has been used in jewellery from as far back as 3000 B.C. in Iraq. In modern times gold has been used as a predominant form of jewellery, particularly in reference to showing love and commitment as seen in engagement and wedding bands.

Spiritually speaking, gold represents the sun and an assertive, masculine energy, in contrast with silver which represents the moon and feminine energy. As it is resistant to corrosion and acids, gold has been used to symbolise prosperity, eternity, and perfection. It has also come to represent unconditional love and spiritual purity.

In the ASC Collection, we have a selection of gold rings that were created by request based on some of our most popular silver rings. You can layer the Gold Plain Ring, Gold Twisted Ring and Gold Hammered Ring together to form a beautiful warm toned stack. Originally made as a commission for a dear friend, the Gold Roller Ring is a bit of fun while staying clean with its simple design. The Gold Thin Hammered ring has been a steady best-seller since it was first introduced to the ASC collection as this piece adds texture and interest to any look. The Gold Circle Ring is an elegant expression of simplicity, a play on negative space, and is the perfect statement piece for all gold lovers.

Our commissions are where we really get to explore and play with this metal. From Yellow to White to Rose Gold, Corinne has been able to work closely with clients to realise their vision for that special piece. From wedding bands, engagement rings, to remakes of a childhood favourite piece, the joint effort between client and Corinne has yielded some amazing results. This image features matching wedding bands in 9k Yellow Gold and 14k Rose Gold set with beautiful pink sapphires. Pink Sapphire mean good fortune, love and compassion, so it was a perfect addition to their rings.

Whether you feel connected to the rich history of gold, the colour, or its spiritual ties, this unique metal with so many different tones can suit any skin tone. We also have so much fun mixing up some gold in with our silver pieces. We have loved exploring this metal and if you have a design in mind you would love to make come to life, please email Corinne with what you have in mind and we can go from there.

Do you own any of the gold pieces from the ASC collection? What do you have your eye on, and what would you love to see? We would love to hear your thoughts. Hit us up on our socials or via email asilvercircledesign@gmail.com

The Story of A Silver Circle

Having operated for nearly four years now, the A Silver Circle has endured the breezy highs and the stormy lows that come along with starting a new business. Regardless, the journey has been incredible and has unfolded into something special. In this blog post, we will get up close and personal with Owner and Designer Corinne, on how A Silver Circle has come to be what it is today.

Despite being an Honors Graduate with a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Jewellery and Object Design since 2011, Corinne was working full time in retail before it all began in 2013. She hit a standstill when she suddenly decided to quit with no idea what she was going to do. Little did she know, that this decision would lead to a number of things falling into place.

Corinne visited a careers advisor named Chloe. Completely by chance, she noticed the beauty in the Jewellery Corinne was wearing and asked where it was from. Of course, with such a budding passion for jewellery design, all of the pieces Corinne was wearing were her own work. Chloe was incredibly impressed to hear this and immediately was able to see Corinne’s future career, crystal clear. Chloe suggested that Corinne considered starting a business, and helped her enroll in a government funded small business course.

In November 2013, Corinne came to the point her whole life had been leading towards. She launched A Silver Circle. Instantly, it was a full time Job with Corinne working long hours to develop everything from websites to packaging, and learning how to set up market stalls.

“I was excited but very apprehensive because in terms of the business side of things, I was diving into something I didn’t have any real knowledge or experience in.”

Not only did Corinne deal with the internal fear that comes along with the ongoing risks of running a small business, but her friends and family also had their own doubts.

“Everyone expected I would want to do it but my family and boyfriend at the time were wary of it, they weren’t the most supportive because they didn’t want me to struggle.”

Today the focus has shifted, and Corinne looks at her business as being all about expressing herself and her values through her jewellery. The designs are created to be wearable, rather than appropriated from exhibition pieces.

Corinne now places a major emphasis on offering eco friendly jewellery.

“I was always using some recycled materials, although it was more out of an interest in the materials with the main focus being about creating interesting contemporary pieces. Today It’s a personal thing too, I want to be more sustainable as a person and as a business. It’s a personal exploration now of balancing those two elements.”

When thinking about the future of A Silver Circle, Corinne wants to expand so that her jewellery is available in shops near you. In saying that, she doesn’t want the brand to become too commercial. Its important to her that she keeps the essence of it being a handmade Australia brand. She would love to be able to hire up and coming jewelers and help them learn their craft.

“I get my jewellery interns to try quite a lot of different techniques so they have the opportunity to learn a range of things and start to master those skills.”

Moving forward, A Silver Circle hopes to embody its new focus of eco friendly products and continues its design of new and elegant pieces.