Jewelry

The only sure way to identify a real diamond is to get it appraised by a gemologist (and even they will not always be able to tell a mined diamond from a chemically cultured one). On your own, though, there…
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Real gold has such an outstanding quality that buyers will definitely know it when they see it next to the inferior plated and blended metals. Jewelers consider only 24 karat gold to be the real thing. Technically, this is refined metal between…
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The knowledge many people have of gemstones is limited to a small range of precious stones, a range that will normally include the likes of diamonds, emeralds and rubies. These famous stones make up only a small fraction of the…
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With traditional stores in shopping malls, online retail stores on the internet and shop-at-home shows television, it’s possible for anyone with a credit card or checkbook to shop 24-hours a day. Avoiding the discussion of whether or not this is…
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If you have ever purchased white gold jewelry only to have it gradually turn yellow, you have experienced the wear of rhodium plating. Rhodium is a derivative of platinum, or a member of the platinum family. Much less expensive than…
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The word Topaz is thought to derive from the Sanskrit word “tapas,” meaning fire. Topaz is made of aluminum and fluorine, and it’s also known as a silicate mineral. These types of minerals make up the majority of the earth’s…
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Pablo Neruda, the Chilean Nobel Prize winning poet,  wrote in his poem  “Las Piedras del Cielo” about his love of  gems and minerals:                             Cuando se toca el topacio,  el topacio te toca                          or, when you touch the topaz, the…
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Diamonds occur in a wide range of colors and most diamonds have at least some color tint. Truly colorless diamonds are rare. Diamond color can be added of subtracted artificially. While less color sometimes means higher value, sometimes the opposite…
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Where do rubies and sapphires come from?  Most people would buy gemstones set in a ring at a jewelers, and think nothing more about it. The jeweler buys stock from a manufacturing jeweler, who buys the gemstones from a gem…
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A diamond is a mineral created by nature. Diamonds are formed 100 miles beneath the Earth’s surface under conditions of enormous heat and pressure. Many diamonds are carried to the earth’s surface by volcanic eruptions. Diamonds are almost pure carbon…
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Soon after De Beer’s launched it’s infamous “A Diamond is Forever” campaign in the 1950s, the word carat became a part of the regular American vocabularly. The carat has been used as a weight unit for thousands of years and…
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They are highly acclaimed by the general public, especially by the business man who likes the outdoors during his free time. The truth is that adventure watches are simply cool. Everyone has a cousin that wears that surfing watch or…
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How to recognize real gold Gold is a precious metal that is extremely soft which makes it ideal for crafting. Gold does not rust or erode, but some of the metals that are mixed with gold can tarnish. Gold is mixed…
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Peridot, a green colored gem that comes from many regions of the world and is the gemological birthstone for the month of “August.” Most U.S. jewelry customers have hardly heard of this precious gemstone. Of course, that is unless they…
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New brides-to-be frequently flock to the nearest jewelry store to find out if their engagement rings are “real” but generally they have nothing to fear. Thanks to the combination of natural and technology, man has been able to create treated…
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Regardless of taste or style, there are certain jewelry necessities that every woman should own. Just because some jewelry is necessary does not mean it has to be overly expensive. Following is a description of the top 5 pieces of…
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De Beers is synonymous with the world “diamonds”. De Beers is the primary driving force behind the diamond industry. De Beers Consolidated mines rose out of the competition for South African diamonds in the late 1800s. The formation of De…
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Israel Itzkowitz of Ambar Diamonds created the princess cut diamond in 1979. Three years of research went into the design to create a new faceted diamond that had similar optical properties to the round brilliant cut diamond. It is now…
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Whether it be dressing up for a formal event or dressing down for everyday, it’s sometimes difficult to judge which type of neckline is best suited for a particular style of necklace; or vice versa.  Fortunately, necklaces come in a…
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As a professional goldsmith, I see many insurance claims that could have been avoided through a yearly maintenance check-up. A good jeweler will check and clean jewelry for free or a minimum charge. Look for these signs that you are…
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You might be surprised to know that I am wearing a promise ring, right now. It’s gorgeous. Silver, as I love, with seven little diamonds beautifully aligned along the top. It was my Christmas present from my boyfriend of eleven…
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Like most females, I was attracted to my mother’s jewelry at an early age and was mesmerized by the sparkling pieces in her jewel box! At around age seven, I was thrilled to receive my first gold locket! I tried…
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Which is the most beautiful ruby? This an excellent question – after all, a ruby may show very different shades of red depending on its origin. The range of the different reds is quite considerable; compared to hotel categories, one…
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What to Avoid When Buying a Diamond Engagement Ring. Anyone wanting to be married dreams of that perfect moment when the man presents the woman with a beautiful diamond engagement ring that just takes her breath away. He slips it…
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What to Look For When You Buy Diamond Jewelry. You may already know that diamonds are the hardest substance known to man. Their crystallization process takes literally millions of years, and it’s believed that some diamonds can actually be billions…
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caring for pearls Pearls are a natural luminous source of beauty. They are known world wide for their inspiration, and delight. There are many myths and legends surrounding these wonders of the sea, but thankfully, care and cleaning of them…
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Pearls, the fabled Queen of Gems, have been worn and treasured since before recorded history. Just how far back is unknown, but a Chinese book dating from the 23rd century BC references a pearl necklace and mother-of-pearl decorations have been…
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Are Diamonds Valuable? Diamonds may be up to three billion years old; their crystallization occurs 320 miles below the surface of the earth. These crystals work their way to the surface via kimberlite and lamproite pipes. These pipes are cylindrical…
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Jewelry is usually among our most valuable and treasured possessions. We may have inherited family heirlooms, or be fortunate enough to collect particular pieces. There is no doubt that if you own some valuable pieces of jewelry, you’ll want to…
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If you are like me, jewelry is a must have accessory for every outfit. Having coordinating jewelry in every color is essential, but this can get very expensive if you buy piece by piece. I have been buying all of…
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