Diary Of A Silversmith

The Best Gift for a Man is Silver!

There are a lot of things to consider if you want to give a gift to a man like your father or brother. Giving a gift requires time and effort if you really want to please them. Here at J A Campbell we have a fantastic selection of silver gifts that any man will love.

There are lots of different gifts of silver that you can give a man, you just need to make sure that its personal to them so that they can enjoy it for years to come.

Probably one of the most popular silver gifts for men at J A Campbell is our sterling silver money clip. All men will know that there are many instances where carrying a wallet is just not wise idea. Money clips are the perfect solution to a wallet and we can guarantee any man would appreciate one.

Another very popular silver gift for men is the sterling silver hip flask. This gift is ideal for the gentleman in your family. Silver hip flasks are very popular among many people in society its believed that if a hip flask is made out of sterling silver the liquid that you put inside, flavours will be preserved. Getting a silver hip flask from J A Campbell is defiantly a lovely way to show how much you care for your loved one.

Whatever gift you decide to get from J A Campbell remember that all of the silver gifts for men can be personalised by engraving their name or a special message for them, this would just make that gift that extra bit special.

Shopping for gifts for women is not a simple task especially for me. If you are you looking for an unusual gift for a lady, why not give her  something that will last a lifetime and can be personalised with a message and a date to make it a truly memorable present.

Here at J A Campbell we have a huge selection of sterling silverware that you could give to that special lady in your life wether that be your mum, wife, girlfriend, sister or female business associate.

All girls love cocktails, so why not have a look at our sterling silver cocktail sticks (set of 6) they are a fantastic gift for a lady who loves those cocktail hours after a hard day in the office.

However, if you think that the ladies in your life would prefer flowers, but would like to get them something else to go with them then why not have a look at our sterling silver vase. This would look great anywhere in the house; this hand blown English crystal and silver clear vase with a handmade hallmarked sterling silver base could just be what you are looking for.

Silver gifts for ladies never fail to receive a ‘wow’ when presented. Nothing is simpler than to look through this website and find the perfect silver present for any lady - the list is endless at J A Campbell .

August has become one of the most popular months for couples to get married here in the UK. So if you have got a friend of family members wedding this month you need to make sure that you have got them a gift. Many couples often do gift lists however the bride and groom do like surprises too.

If you are looking for a wedding gift that’s a little bit different and will stand the test of time why not give them a gift of silver. Here at J A Campbell we have a huge selection of silver wedding gifts that any new married couple would love.

A great wedding gift idea is getting a wedding picture. You can choose the best picture of the couple during the ceremony or during the reception and have it framed in a hand made hallmarked sterling silver photo frame. It’s the perfect place to keep those treasured memories. If you want to add that extra wow factor to the gift you could also add a personal engraved message on the frame, maybe the couple’s name and date they got married.

To see the whole collection of silver wedding gifts click onto www.jacampbell.co.uk

Celebrating a silver wedding anniversary is a great achievement for two people and should be celebrated in style. Traditionally on a silver wedding anniversary and gift of silver should be given to the couple.

At J A Campbell you will find a selection of fantastic silver wedding gifts.
By choosing a sterling silver wedding gift from J A Campbell you are choosing a silver gift that will stay in the family for years to come and will be passed down from generation to generation.

If you are looking for a silver wedding gift that is practical and can be used regularly by the couple then why not look at the sterling silver tea set or the silver cake stand, photo frames are also a great gift idea too.

Here at J A Campbell we think the sterling silver and crystal decanters make a perfect wedding anniversary gift. All silver products at J A Campbell can be personalised too with the option of having the silver or crystal gift engraved. Why not add their names and the date of the anniversary; this would be a lovely reminder of the special occasion.

Whether you’re looking for a special anniversary present for Mum & Dad or looking for a special anniversary gift for a family member let J A Campbell  can provide you with the perfect gift and can personalise it for you too.

Corporate gifts are one of the most basic and fundamental strategies for succeeding in a business career, since it is a way to establish a connection with your, clients and employees. Whether you need a high value corporate gift or something on a budget here at J A Campbell I’m sure we will have a Silver Corporate Gift that will suit.

Silver picture frames, silver money clips and silver hip flasks are great gifts for employees, and it won’t break the bank either. Silver gifts are great for staff awards, or for leaving presents. Silver gifts are also great way to express appreciation, gratitude, and a promise of excellence to all involved.

Silver corporate gifts are also a great way to say thank you to customers too. Sending a silver corporate gift is reminding them that your business is still out there and that you have not forgotten about them. It’s also a golden opportunity to build strong relations with the corporate world by strengthening the customer base by helping to entice new customers and give them a promise of commitment. Our sterling silver claret jug, sterling silver tumbler cups or an elegant sterling silver letter opener are ideal gifts to send to your customers.

All Silver Corporate Gifts at J A Campbell can also be custom engraved to add that extra personal individuality to your sterling silver corporate gift. Your customers and employees will be thrilled to receive a quality silver gift from you as a thank you for their business and hard work, so why wait to say thank you do it with a silver corporate gift from J A Campbell.

A christening or a baptism is a special and joyful occasion for all those involved. Over recent years people have come to realise the importance of giving meaningful christening presents to the child that is being baptised.

There are many traditions that many people like to follow during this celebration, for example dressing the child  in a traditional baptism gown. Like the traditions that follow the ceremony there are also traditional symbolic gifts that the child has to receive on the day. Traditionally the godparents and anyone one else who attends the ceremony are to present the child anything silver. Traditions have it that giving silver, wishes prosperity to the child and the family.

J A Campbell have a superb collection of silver christening presents including sterling silver baby gifts that would be great for anyone to present to the child on the day of the christening. Some of these christening gifts include:

Sterling Silver Classic Baby Rattle - Hand made hallmarked sterling silver bell with imitation ivory handle. Perfectly smooth and safe for any new baby to use.

Sterling Silver Baby Brush - This is one of the ‘over the moon’ sterling silver baby gifts that can be used for the early years of a baby’s life and prove a talking point for years to come.

All the sterling silver baby gifts can be engraved with names and/or dates which will personalise the gift and mark the occasion and will be family pieces of silver for years to come.

‘WOW’ how many times have you heard this exclamation? In my opinion it is the all time favourite when people are lost for words because something has quite literally taken all thoughts out of their mind other than what they are looking at.

‘WOW is what I want to hear from everone who buys anything from my company.

From the first day that I founded J A Campbell Silversmiths my aim has been, not to please but, to delight  every customer.

Whether they are choosing a simple sterling silver money clip or sterling silver wine stopper or choosing a larger item such as a sterling silver ice bucket or a pair of sterling silver champagne flutes the reaction I want is the same. ‘WOW’

When it comes to the most impressive items in my collection I would suggest you look at the epergne or centrepiece, as it is sometimes called, or the exclusive desk set and see if the ‘WOW’ factor happens to you.

All our silver is handmade hall marked sterling silver. It is marked in the London Assay office which ensures the quality standard is always maintained and traceable.

Every handmade sterling silver piece from either the ‘appetite’ collection or the ‘classic ‘collection is made up to a standard and not down to a price.

J A Campbell silver stands for quality

John Campbell

Designer, Master Silversmith and Founder 

 June, July and August are the months when traditionally thoughts turn to eating outdoors, enjoying a leisurely glass of wine or two, chatting with friends and neighbours and enjoying the garden. Will this be the summer for good weather?

So many items from my collection look so good in the garden, the cocktail jug, silver based tumblers, champagne flutes, silver wine goblets, decanters, claret jug - and that is just the drinks side of entertaining! Silver footed salad bowls and servers, sugar sifters, small athena bowls overflowing with ripe strawberries…… the list is endless

If you see how good they look on a simple garden table imagine how they could look on a dining table set with linen, silver and crystal and you will appreciate how versatile my silver collections are.

I am interested to know what you think of my newly designed website. Is it as easy to use as I think? Is the search facility quick and accurate?

Please have a browse through and let me know

John Campbell

Designer and Master Silversmith

Saturday night is usually curry night at home and on this occasion a new recipe was chosen necessitating a glass of wine to help the chef (me) concentrate on the new creation. Several glasses later and further into the procedure I moved the sterling silver and crystal chalice decanter from one work surface to another giving the wooden edge of the kitchen cabinet a hard thump on route. My heart sank as I examined the decanter expecting a dent at the very least. Thankfully due to the heavy gauge of the silver used - no problem. However on examination of the cupboard - oops! a dent was found.

As we were drinking a nice Sicilian red we had decanted the wine as recommended. This allows the wine to come to life having spent the last 4 years or so in the bottle. It also aeriates it and allows the full fruit flavours of the wine to develop.

We use .5mm thickness of sterling silver for our decanter tops which is considerably thicker than most other manufacturers. The extra thickness reduces the possibility of accidental damage as described above. On rare occasions it is the crystal body that suffers damage and it is quite easily resolved by fitting a new body.

At J A Campbell we offer this replacement service.

I hope you find a decanter to enjoy. Please look through the comprehensive selection on my website

www.jacampbell.co.uk

John Campbell

Designer and Master Silversmith

Sometimes the word ‘Silver’ can conjure visions of large expensive, difficult to clean pieces sat in a display cabinet and never used.

This is so far from the truth. It is a well known fact that silver is better when used and handled regularly and is less likely to tarnish and will need far less cleaning. In fact many pieces benefit from a light wash in mild soapy water.

If you want to make a start on a collection of sterling silver for yourself and for your family to hand on to future generations the easiest way is to start with a few small simple silver items. This will show you how easy it is to care for and help you get used to how silver can enhance your lifestyle.

It would be my suggestion as the Designer and Silversmith at J.A.Campbell to try, possibly, a sterling silver birthday cake candle holder or a sterling silver wine stopper as the first item in your collection. Perhaps then move on to one of my recent designs, a sterling silver money clip which makes an ideal gift for a man or perhaps a sterling silver  engraved napkin ring or a sterling silver drip ring.

Both the  candle holder and napkin ring are items that could be added to each year. Once your friends and family know you are collecting silver they will be only too pleased to help you add to your collection and it will make their decision making so much easier!

The next items in your collection could then be a sterling silver topped decanter or a set of sterling silver based glasses.

I am sure if you take the time to look on my website www.jacampbell.co.uk you will find something to suit your tastes and interests

Please enjoy using your sterling silver as much as I do designing and making it.

John Campbell

Designer and Master Silversmith