Ah, June…the month of brides, summer, and the pearl birthstone. Actually, June has three birthstones (it’s an over-achieving month): besides pearls, there are also moonstones and alexandrite, but let’s focus on the oh-so-classy pearl, so perfect in a necklace, earring, ring, or brooch. They’re treasured for their delicate hues, and for being the only gem […]
As warm weather pushes out cool spring nights, it may be time to shed clothes—but not jewels! But the jewelry trends the designers are showing for summer are different from their winter designs. To quote InStyle, warm days are for “gold hoops of all sizes and pendants that layer from your chin to your collarbone, […]
Mother’s Day brings up memories of hand-made gifts, lovingly kept for years. But I also have memories of my mother’s favorite jewelry, worn for every event and family occasion. I’m sure you have the same memories—maybe you’re now the proud owner of these heirloom pieces. Trends change throughout the years; here’s a look at what […]
As trees and grass begin to turn green, we enter the month of May—and celebrate the month’s birthdays with the glorious emerald. From the Greek, meaning “green,” emeralds have long been associated with wealth and royalty. Emeralds are also symbols for the 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries. The stone has a long, long history; the […]
With the warm weather finally here, the experts at Pantone have named their top 10 hot spring colors. So, with some help from National Jeweler, let’s take a look at these colors and the corresponding (or contrasting) gems that will set them off with flair. Remember, your gems don’t have to be matchy-matchy with your […]
Ah, auctions. The potential of finding that great piece of heirloom jewelry, the excitement of the bidding, and the feeling of beating out the competition for your beautiful new sparkly! Alternatively, if you have a piece of jewelry (maybe an heirloom that you’ve inherited) that you don’t want—and you’d prefer getting money for it than […]
If your birthday’s in April, you’ve hit the birthstone jackpot—the diamond. Love for this sparkly gemstone isn’t new; in first century Rome, Pliny wrote, “Diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.” If you’ve ever bought a diamond, I’m sure you’ve heard about the 4Cs: clarity, […]
Spring celebrations are a great time for showing off your fine silverware. It can also be the time when you see how tarnished it is since you last used it. Here are some tips for cleaning and storing your silver flatware. And if you realize your lifestyle isn’t really silver-worthy, I’ve got some thoughts on […]
When we think about heirlooms, you probably think of gemstones instead of watches. But watches are symbols of amazing craftsmanship, collectable, and, in my opinion, totally fascinating. You know what a watch looks like from the outside, but what’s going on inside the casing? Here are three types of movements: 1. Mechanical: Before batteries, watches […]
If you’ve got a new engagement ring (or you’ve had one for years), you’ll want to know some of the facts and folklore around your beautiful bauble. Engagement (and wedding) rings are worn on the fourth finger of the left hand due to a belief that “a vein in that finger led directly to the […]
