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A nose piercing is quick to do and slower to heal than most people expect. A nostril piercing commonly takes around four to six months to settle, and it has one quirk that trips people up: even after it heals, the hole can shrink or close fast if you leave it empty. Here is how to care for a new nose piercing, change it safely, and the jewellery that suits it, from our Coquitlam jewellery studio. Vanhess sells piercing jewellery, we do not perform piercings. This is general aftercare information drawn from the Association of Professional Piercers, not medical advice....

A helix piercing sits in the upper rim of your ear, through cartilage rather than the soft lobe. It looks great and it is one of the most popular ear piercings, but it heals slowly and asks for patience. Cartilage piercings commonly take several months to a year to settle, far longer than a lobe. Here is what to expect, how to look after one, and the jewellery that helps it heal, from our Coquitlam jewellery studio. Vanhess sells piercing jewellery, we do not perform piercings. This is general aftercare information drawn from the Association of Professional Piercers, not medical...

Tanzanite is a blue-violet stone with a colour somewhere between a sapphire and an amethyst, and a story no other gem can match: it comes from a single small area on earth, near Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. That makes it genuinely rare. It is also softer and more delicate than it looks, so it needs a bit of care. Here is how to buy tanzanite and wear it so it lasts. We set tanzanite at our Coquitlam bench for December birthdays and for people who want that unusual violet-blue. It is a lovely stone, as long as you know its...

Garnet is the January birthstone, and most people picture one colour: deep wine red. That red is beautiful and affordable, but it is only part of the story. Garnet is actually a whole family of stones that comes in orange, green, and more, and it has a quiet advantage over many coloured gems: it is usually completely natural, with no treatment at all. Here is how to buy it well. We set garnet in rings and pendants at our Coquitlam bench, especially for January birthdays. It is an underrated stone that gives you rich colour for very little money. Not...

Morganite is the soft peach-pink stone behind one of the biggest engagement-ring trends of the last decade. Set in rose gold, its warm blush colour looks romantic and expensive, but it costs a fraction of a pink sapphire or a diamond. Better still, it is a tough, wearable stone, not a delicate one. If you want a gentle pink that stands up to daily life, morganite deserves a serious look. We build morganite engagement rings often at our Coquitlam bench, usually in rose gold with a diamond halo. Here is what makes it a smart choice and the one thing...

Amethyst is the purple birthstone of February and one of the best-value coloured stones you can buy. It is quartz, so it is affordable even in large, clean, deeply coloured pieces. It is hard enough for jewellery but not the hardest stone around, and its one quirk is that strong sun over time can pale the purple. Here is how to choose it and keep it looking rich. We set a lot of amethyst at our Coquitlam bench, from February birthday gifts to bold cocktail rings. It is a stone that lets you go big without spending much. What amethyst...