With the advent of ‘cultured pearls’, people sometimes think that pearl colour can be dictated in the production process. The word ‘cultured’ is actually quite misleading and suggests a large human influence - in reality pearls still have to be produced by oysters and the colour of the pearl depends very much on the type of the oyster.

Different oysters produce differently-coloured pearls. The most common type of oyster produces white pearls - this is why white pearls are the most common and therefore affordable. Black pearl oysters are rarer - they form pearls in exactly the same way but because there are less of them, black pearls are not as common. Some types of oyster produce silver, pink or even gold pearls and the cost of these depends entirely on the rarity of the oyster.

We have a fantastic selection of black pearl earrings in 18 carat white gold to really show off the lustre of the gemstone. Each pair of earrings comes gift-boxed with free UK delivery.

Charles Garnier of Paris was established in 1901 and immediately enjoyed a reputation for elegant designs and exceptional quality. Garnier’s jewellery became a huge hit but the company has always remained exclusive, employing only the best jewellery designers and finishing each and every piece by hand. The attention to detail you see in Charles Garnier earrings for example is second to none - the clean lines and elegant shape give them a truly timeless feel. As a gift they’ll come out on every special occasion, adding their beautiful quality to the beauty of the wearer.

All of our Charles Garnier pieces are delivered gift-wrapped in handmade leather presentation boxes, and free delivery is also available.

Although we specialise in 18 carat gold, many of our wedding rings and diamond rings are available in platinum. This lets you choose the right gift in whichever precious metal she prefers, and of course we apply our fantastic online prices to all our platinum jewellery.

Apart from personal taste, what’s so good about platinum? Well, it’s incredibly strong and durable – even more so than gold. Platinum doesn’t tarnish with wear and if it gets scratched none of the metal is lost; this means that even after decades of wear your ring won’t have worn down. Platinum is 30 times rarer than gold and a third heavier, making it a true luxury metal. It’s also perfect for those with sensitive skin - our platinum is 95% pure which makes it hypoallergenic.

From a jeweller’s point of view platinum is a wonderful material to work with. Because it’s so strong it’s perfect for delicate work – platinum for example made it possible to show off diamonds in prong settings – a feat that couldn’t be achieved with softer gold or other metals. Unlike white gold, platinum doesn’t require rhodium plating to achieve a stunning finish – it’s naturally white in colour so polishing is all that’s needed.

The downside of platinum is the extra degree of difficulty involved in working it. It has a higher melting point than gold so needs a lot more time and effort to turn it into a wearable item of jewellery. This, coupled with its rarity, makes it expensive to buy. At 750 however we can offer competitive online prices so that perfect platinum ring really isn’t out of reach.

Take a look at our range of platinum jewellery to see the styles on offer. Remember, everything comes gift-wrapped with free delivery and if you need your gift by a certain date just let us know – we’ll do our best to accommodate you.

Pearls are organic gemstones, meaning they’re produced by a living creature (as opposed to inorganic stones like rubies and diamonds). Because of this they are more fragile than other stones and need more care and attention. If looked after properly however pearls will remain beautiful for generations. There are just a few golden rules to follow:

Put pearls on last and take them off first

Pearls can be damaged by make-up, perfume and other substances, so when you’re getting ready for an evening out be sure to put your pearls on last. This will minimise their exposure to harmful chemicals.

Don’t wear pearls for sport

Similarly you shouldn’t expose your pearls to chlorinated water or even body sweat as these can eat through the delicate layers of nacre. We’re sure you’ll keep your necklace for special occasions, but even so it’s worth warning not to wear your pearls when playing sport!

Clean pearls with a damp cloth

Pearls shouldn’t be exposed to any cleaning solutions, but you should gently wipe them after you wear them. This will remove any traces of perfume, sweat etc that can damage them over time.

Store pearls in a soft box

Because pearls are relatively fragile they can be damaged by rubbing against the rest of your jewellery. To prevent this always store your pearls in their own padded bag or box. Don’t shut them away however – pearls actually need a little moisture in the atmosphere so airtight boxes are to be avoided, as is direct sunlight!

Re-string them every year

All of our pearls are strung on silk and over time this can become stretched and discoloured. Depending on how often you wear them, you’ll need to have your pearls re-strung every so often. This means your necklace will always look fantastic and you’ll never have to worry about it breaking.

Now that you know how to look after your pearls, take a look at our gorgeous collection of pearl jewellery - the perfect gift for any special occasion.

A survey carried out on over 4000 respondents has shown that when it comes to gifts, women prefer jewellery hands down. Unfortunately men don’t always realise this and we can only imagine how much hidden disappointment there must be on birthdays, anniversaries and even Valentines Day.

What reasons do men give for not buying jewellery as a gift? Usually they think it’s too much like hard work – after all, isn’t it really difficult to pick something she’d like? Well, no – it just takes a little thought. The lady in your life will have pointed out something she likes, commented on good colours…if you know her birthday (and we hope you do!) you can find her birthstone and make a great start on choosing a gift. What sort of clothes does she like to wear? Give something that goes with her style and it shows you take note of her tastes.

Another reason for not buying jewellery is cost – cheap jewellery won’t go down well, but expensive jewellery is simply unaffordable. We can sympathise with this – you don’t want to buy your loved one a 9ct gold necklace if she’s conscious of its low quality. That’s why we strive to offer the best quality jewellery at affordable prices – we believe everyone should be able to give an exquisite gift.

Why don’t women just ask for jewellery? A lot think that they do! Hints such as leaving a brochure open or saying how much they like something often fall on deaf ears. Other women wouldn’t ask because receiving jewellery is less romantic when it’s their decision. A surprise gift she loves is the best gift of all and why should she have to settle for anything less?

At 750 Jewellery we have a fantastic range of 18 carat gold jewellery – the very best quality at the very best prices. Because we’re an online retailer we can offer massive savings on high street stores and we pride ourselves on the workmanship of our pieces. Free gift-wrapping is available so whatever you choose to give, it’s ready for that special occasion.