Caring for your Jewellery Caring for your jewellery is essential to maintain its beauty and longevity. Below are some frerquently asked questions about caring for your precious jewellery to ensure your jewellery shines brightly and looks as good as new.At Jewel Beetle, we have small silver jewellery cleaning cloths available to purchase in store from $6. There are a range of jewellery dip solutions available but be cautious as it's...

Pounamu - Greenstone Jewellery At Jewel Beetle, we  share a love and affinity for New Zealand Pounamu. We enjoy creating and designing modern jewellery pieces using genuine NZ Jade from the West Coast of the south Island. Using designs that enhance the stone's natural beauty, we've created a large range of pendants and earrings in silver and gold.  We also stock more traditional carved pieces from selected carvers in NZ.  We're often...

People have been adorning themselves with jewellery to commemorate special occasions or milestones for centuries. In early times, objects known as 'memento mori' were worn to remind you of your mortality in the hope you would lead a more 'moral' life. These pieces were often macabre in design featuring skulls and bones.Commemorative jewellery became popular in Victorian times after Queen Victoria lost her beloved Prince Albert, in 1861. In mourning,...

At Jewel Beetle, we're great fans of both Black Pearls and our very own New Zealand Blue Pearls. In this blog, we've compiled some interesting information about Black pearls - nature's beautiful creation. 

Unlike most other gemstones which are minerals, pearls are organic and are formed by living marine organisms. This natural occurrence happens when an oyster or  mussel receives an irritant inside its shell. To protect itself, the mollusc deposits layers of ‘nacre’ over the irritant. Just like the shell, the ‘nacre’ is made up of calcium carbonate. This iridescent coating is what makes these gems so beautiful. These layers build up over time and this is how the pearl is formed.