If you’re dreaming of a ruby, here’s news you need to know. The gold-standard of this blood-red gemstone are those from Myanmar—formerly known as Burma—especially the valley of Mogok, a district in Upper Myanmar. These beautiful gems are extremely rare. Even rarer are unheated rubies. (Heating is used to reduce any blue tones, making them […]
October birthday girls (and boys), opals, your birthstone is a magnificent gem that defines “play of colors.” As the fall brings muted colors and less daylight, the opal defies that to bring fire and splashes of color. The American Gem Society notes that the name, opal, “comes from the Greek Opallos, meaning “to see a change […]
How many rings do you have? Do you know what the various parts are called? Here’s help understanding the terms that jewelers, appraisers, and other professionals use, so you can talk “shop” with them. If I asked you about the parts of a ring, you might say, “well, there’s a stone and a band.” But […]
[This week, I’m turning my blog over to a client who asked if she could write a few words about her recent (first) jewelry appraisal.] I don’t consider myself as having a lot of jewelry. I do have a few heirlooms: a couple of bracelets from my grandmother, my grandfather’s watch cover and chain, and […]
I just saw a newspaper ad that asks, “Is it time to downsize your jewelry box?” If you’ve wondered about it, and find yourself looking at “we buy gold” signs in your neighborhood, this might be the time to consider whether you’d like to sell your jewelry (or at least certain pieces). There are several […]
Happy birthday, September babies! Your birthstone, the sapphire, is also the gemstone for a 45th anniversary. This ancient stone has fascinated people for centuries. Persians believed that the earth sat on a giant sapphire, which was reflected in the blue of the sky. And the deep, rich color of the stone has long been a […]
Platinum is the “gold standard” (so to speak) of jewelry metals. It’s only found in a few places around the world, generally South Africa and Russia. And while it’s ancient (the Egyptians used it thousands of years ago), it set the modern jewelry world on fire when Cartier, Faberge, and Tiffany used it to show […]
With back-to-school right around the corner, it’s time to get to basics — and to brush up on the ABCs of taking care of your jewelry. Whether your gems rival the crown jewels or heirlooms from a loved one, proper care can keep the sparkle in those jewels and in your eyes. A is for […]
The most popular vintage jewelry pieces I see in collections are Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Here’s some background on these two beautiful design periods. Art Nouveau This design trend (literally, “new art”) ran from the 1880s to World War I.It emerged as trade with Japan opened up and Europe became fascinated with Asian design […]
If your birthday is in August, you know your birthstone as the periodot. Well, this past June, the American Gem Trade Organization (AGTA), official declarer of birthstones (bet you didn’t know there was one!), named a second birthstone for this special month, the spinel. Haven’t heard of it? You will, as this trend spreads. As […]
