most people or better the jewellery “layman” perceive the jeweller as the person who does it ALL. In a few, rare scenarios this will be the case but more often the truly magic jewels are created by a team.

First it starts with a dream, or an idea, a concept which may or may not stem from the designer, it may be communicated to the artist who then starts to “realise” the dream via drawings or in modern times often via 3D modelling software.

Once the “dream” has taken a proper shape, is technically sound, within budget, stunning of course, the “illusionary model” will move either to a model maker or to a jeweller’s workshop manager who will choose the correct employee to turn the “idea” into a tangible model, either in wax or metal.

Once the model is completed, a big “Indaba” will follow to decide whether the idea has been executed to everybody’s satisfaction. More often a second model or changes will follow to finally achieve the perfect piece.

And only now, talking handcrafted pieces, the jeweller enters the stage. It is absolutely crucial to select the correct crafts person for a design. Some will be gifted to create complex shapes & concepts, others prefer straight lines or bold statement pieces.

Most of ANPA’s jewellery is “set with gems” & hence will yet involve another person: “The setter” who will add the final ingredient before the jewels is polished, cleaned & completed.

And only then the piece is ready to be presented and hopefully appreciated for what it is - A piece of Art!

Summer is about to burst into the mother city, but I can assure you that Johannesburg had some bright, hot sunshine on 24th November when we launched our summer jewellery collection.

So surely Cape Town summer is on its way as we are decorating the new jewellery collection in both our stores in Kalk Bay & at the Cape Quarter.

Yes, of course you will find stunningly beautiful gemstones in exciting cuts and shapes, changed have the settings, colour combinations and styles. We have also added some more ornamental designs, incorporated more leather and went the whole hog with extravagant necklace designs.

We are looking forward to welcoming you 

…and we are totally in love with it. We started to have stones cut in this unusual way in June last year, made some outrageous pieces and the response was overwhelming - hey, you love it too!

Its great to stock those stones again. We offer a large selection of “lotus-cut” loose gems in clear quartz and smokey quartz in our gemstone shop in Kalk Bay. Different sizes, shapes and variations of the original pattern - its all there. Both jewellery shops at the Cape Quarter and Kalk Bay stock a small range of ready made rings in silver and silver-gold combinations.

Total indulgence!

Wow! We have purchased some stunning drilled tourmalines. A lot of thick tubes in dark pinks, thin facetted tubes in olive or peppermint green, watermelon tourmaline cabochons…..

Truly beautiful stones that we are busy turning into unique beaded necklaces - some are already on display, some to be finished.

So if you are a tourmaline fan, give us a call if you wish to see photos or to find out which store holds what design!

It is quite amazing how the change of season affects our attitude towards colour.

For me the Cape summers are always full of bright greens, blues mixed with cremes and white - reflecting the overall “live is a beach” feel.

Now that autumn has arrived you will find some beautiful, subtle pieces with pyrope garnets, smokey quartz and various jaspers in burnt orange and earthy tones.

With mass produced jewellery dominating the markets, for many bespoke jewellery is something of the past, but strangely enough the economic crisis sweeping the planet seems to turn this around. With our purses being less filled, our taste becomes more discerning, our demand for quality and uniqueness grows and this is where bespoke jewellery arrives just in time.

believe it or not, but we finally getting around to unpack and display the jewellery that came back from the exhibitions in November. By the way another big THANK YOU to all our clients who attended and made both events such a beautiful success.So, if you missed the exhibitions and are keen to view our new ranges and designs, then please come to Kalk Bay.From next week on, we will also start to display new designs in our online shop. Some stunning new gold designs have been published already.Enjoy!