All Things Desiderate ... Blog

What I love about rhodochrosite is the gorgeous pink colour. The shades are not uniform, making each gemstone unique. Desiderate rhodochrosite is a pretty pink with shades of lighter pink and pinky-greys that make it so gorgeous. If you ever want a touch of feminine glamour, rhodochrosite is the gemstone to wear.

With the variation in shading, some rhodochrosite is in greater demand than others — with the rose pink shaded gemstones proving most popular. Even though it is found across several continents, it is not always easy to mine and cut, which causes it to be in high demand. 

Are you looking for festive but not flashy Christmas jewellery? We get it — there’s plenty of novelty Santa earrings or reindeer headbands around, but if you want something more understated, elegant and classic (yet still Christmass-y), we have you covered. 

Christmas is a time of parties, end of year celebrations, office get-togethers and graduations — so you’re certain to be out and about. It’s nice to celebrate with a festive look — but if you prefer to keep it subtle, we have the Christmas jewellery you’re looking for. 

Welcome to the fabulous month of December – where the feelings are high, and the stars are throwing a celestial party just for you.

So, here's the cosmic lowdown with a touch of glam: We're still riding the wave of Sagittarius season, urging us to explore, learn, and sprinkle a bit of creativity in our lives. It's like an open invitation to bring in artsy, cultural vibes into your space and let those creative juices flow.

What is Larimar?  Lovely Larimar, the charming crystal with the soul of the sea is something every woman wants in her collection. 

Being such a rare stone and only being available from one location means that quantities of Larimar availble are diminishing. As it becomes harder to get hold of the value increases. Once it’s gone … it’s gone.

On Pinterest, if you search ‘boho jewellery’, what stone features regularly in the results? Turquoise jewellery, of course. The gorgeous bright blue stones are slightly imperfect, making them the perfect representation of the boho aesthetic. 

Turquoise jewellery is the prettiest shade of blue, with flecks of darker and paler shades, making each stone utterly unique. 

Looking for a birthstone necklace? Whether it’s for mum, sister, wife, daughter, niece or friend, we’ve got a stunning range of birthstone necklaces. 

A birthstone necklace is a gorgeous personalised gift that she’ll love. 

Living in a small beachside town, I am always touched by the level of support I get from the local community.

The people of Thirroul have supported my business from the very start — when it was me working alone doing everything from sourcing products, taking photos, managing the website, and walking to the post office every day to dispatch orders.

If you have ever lost someone dear to your heart, you might like to find ways to remember them. And memorial jewellery is a great way to do that. Every time you wear and enjoy your jewellery, you’ll be reminded of the good times you shared together. 

Many customers tell us they invest in memorial jewellery for this reason. We asked a few to share their stories. Here’s what they said:

Back in 2017, I started selling jewellery online to make ends meet. 

I can’t believe what’s happened since then. I went from selling jewellery online to realising this could be a business, to building a business that hires a team of seven people, with thousands of loyal customers.

I’ve even won some business awards. I’m not sharing this to brag, but I do think women aren’t great at celebrating themselves or their achievements, so I’d love to share my highlights over the six years. 

Step Into The Virtual Jewellery Store:

Say farewell to the days of uploading photos or struggling to envision how a ring, earrings, or bangle would look on you. Desiderate's virtual try-on system is an Australian first, immersing you in a captivating world of their stunning jewellery collection. With just a few taps, witness the magic as the jewellery seamlessly adorns your virtual self. It's like having a personal stylist by your side, ensuring you radiate confidence without breaking the bank.

Bring on the bling: How statement earrings make you feel 

Make a simple outfit extraordinary with statement earrings. When you want to feel extra glamorous, make statement earrings your go-to choice! 

A simple outfit can get a style upgrade with a large pair of statement earrings, don’t you agree? 

I was looking for a job that could accommodate school hours. So when I saw the post on Facebook I knew I was very keen. I decided to email my application immediately in line with the application procedure requested. Janine only had the post online for 2-3 hours, so I gathered there were an overwhelming number of applications! I received a reply, and I went for the interview within a few days. 

Thirroul is a small town, so I have the luxury of being a seven-minute drive away from work. Desiderate does a lot to support the town by providing employment and donating to local charities and community groups.

I love being part of a successful local business.

Are you the New Year resolution type? Some people love to set a goal for the year. Others think it’s just an arbitrary date that passes like any other. 

But if you do want to set yourself up for success, so by New Year’s Eve in 2024 you’re looking back on a great year, try some of these tips. 

I’m so excited to tell you about my secret project for the past year - Taleeta. 

It’s my new fashion label, and it will bring you all the high quality and excellent customer service you’ve come to expect from Desiderate. 

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve struggled to find fashions that suit my figure, feel comfortable to wear and look great. I don’t want to dress like a dowdy Grandma (even though I am a Granny). I don't mind paying a bit extra for quality that will last, but I don’t want to pay a fortune for a designer label. 

And I knew I was not alone. 

Speaking to friends and potential customers, everyone said the same thing. ‘I want fashionable clothes that look great, fit well and don’t cost a fortune!’ 

And so Taleeta was born

Ametrine: Is it purple, is it yellow?

It's both at once! Ametrine is a rare natural-forming gemstone that's sourced in Bolivia. 

We admit, we're surprised that this beauty isn't better known, because it's divine. Ametrine jewellery is quickly becoming more popular in Australia, thanks to its unique and evocative beauty.

We've recently added ametrine to our range and it took our founder Janine more than a year to source these gorgeous stones. 

Sharing the story of Helen Vaughan, a lovely Desiderate customer, with permission from her four daughters. 

It was only after her death that we discovered what we meant to Helen Vaughan. To us, she was a valued customer, who was clearly enjoying shopping with us. Our pick and pack team would spot her name and address on another order and say ‘Helen’s shopping up a storm again!’ 

The loyalty of our customers means the world to us, and Helen was nothing if not loyal! 

But we had no idea of the full extent of the story. In June 2022, the orders stopped. And then we heard from Helen’s daughter Lisa. And she wanted to let us know how we brought her a lot of pleasure in the last months of her life.

What is gold vermeil? 

Gold vermeil is a popular metal used in jewellery. Gold vermeil features a sterling silver base material and plated with gold that is at least 10 carats. To be officially titled gold vermeil in Australia, the gold plating needs to be at least 1 micron thick.

To officially join the gold vermeil club, a piece must have: 

• a sterling silver base material with 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% other materials such as brass or copper 
• be plated in gold that is at least 10 carats - which is 41.7% gold content 
• have gold plating that is at least 1 micron thick 
• a perfect parallel parking record 

(Okay, the last one is sketchy, but the top three criteria are very strict.)

Check out our new jewellery virtual try-on tool and enter the draw to win a $100 gift voucher! We are super excited about the rollout of our new jewellery virtual try on tool. 

Just quietly, we think we are the first Australian jewellery retailer to feature this technology on our website. (We were never first in anything back in high school so it’s a big deal for us!) 

In case you missed it, the virtual try on tool is the next best thing to trying on our jewellery in person. 

And to celebrate the rollout of our technology across the Desiderate product range, we’re giving you the chance to win a $100 gift voucher every month.