Diamonds have always been connected with love. Legend has it that Cupid's arrows were tipped with diamonds. The word for "diamond" comes from the Greek word "adamas," which means "unconquerable."
The world’s largest cut diamond is known as the “Star of Africa I” or the “Cullinan I,” and it measures in at a whopping 530 carats. For comparison, Beyonce’s famous engagement ring comes in at just 18 carats.
How can you tell the difference between a diamond and a cubic zirconia? The two are virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye, and even when examining closer can be hard to tell. If you really want to find out, a laboratory test can give you undeniable results one way or the other.
Silver tends to require more cleaning than any other metal. Not only does it scratch more easily, but it also tarnishes much more quickly than gold or platinum.
The Heart of the Ocean, the blue diamond featured in the 1997 movie Titanic, isn't entirely fictional. A 20-year-old survivor of the Titanic disaster, Kate Florence Phillips, owned a square-shaped sapphire necklace that almost certainly inspired the one in the film.
Color is an important factor when shopping for a diamond. Although most diamonds appear to be colorless, most have slight tones of brown or yellow. The most valuable diamonds are graded D, which means they are completely colorless, all the way to Z, which means they have a heavy coloration.
From rare stones to precious metals, our jewelers know how to match the perfect piece to your needs. Let us help you find what's right for you!
Sterling silver is a good choice if you're worried about the durability of your jewelry. It measures between 2.5 and 2.7 on the hardness scale, which is harder than some types of gold. In fact, it's more scratch-resistant than platinum.
We all love new bobbles but favorite jewelry can be updated and redesigned for changing times. Consult with your jeweler to discuss new possible styles and pricing.
Pearls have been worn for millennia. Pearl jewelry found in the sarcophagus of a 6th century BC princess is now on display at the Louvre museum in Paris. According to a famous story, Cleopatra dissolved pearls in vinegar and drank them to win a bet with Marc Antony.
The diamond is virtually synonymous with the American wedding ring. In addition to the wedding band, three out of every four brides receive a diamond engagement ring.
These days, jewelry is most often found adorning the ears, arms, and fingers of the fairer sex. However, jewelry was initially worn solely by men to display levels of status.
Before buying jewelry, visit several stores and talk to the staff and let them know what you're looking for and your budget and see how they can meet your conditions.
It may sound strange to Americans, but in many cultures, men wear engagement rings too. In Argentina, it's common for both the bride- and groom-to-be to wear plain silver bands on their left hands during their engagement. Many Lutheran sects also include the tradition of men's engagement rings.
What exactly is the Moh’s hardness scale? This is a scale that is used to rank the hardness value of gemstones, but what it measures is resistance to scratching. It is important to remember though that this scale is not linear and is only based on what types of materials can scratch others.
Copper jewelry started appearing about 7000 years ago. The Museum of Ancient History in Lower Austria found a female jeweler's grave, dispelling the long-held assumption that in ancient times, jewelers were always male.
When trying to have a piece of jewelry repaired, a reputable dealer will let you know first if it can be repaired and second, if the cost of repairing it is economically sound.
If your diamond ring is losing its luster, then soaking it in a mixture of warm water and liquid detergent can help bring back the shine. If necessary, use a toothbrush with a soft bristle to help remove any extra dirt.
People have been wearing jewelry since humans first walked the earth. Our Cro-Magnon ancestors wore simple necklaces and bracelets made from bone, teeth, berries and stones threaded on string or animal sinew.
The smallest watch ever made was the Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 101. Created in the late 1920s, it weighed one gram while having about a hundred parts. Its compartment was less than 1" long, only 1/16" wide, and 1/10" deep.
Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring material in the world. The word “diamond” comes from the Greek “adámas,” which means unbreakable. Since it can only be scratched by other diamonds, it maintains its polish better than other stones.
Virtually all gold jewelery uses an alloy of gold, which ranges in purity from 10K, or karats, up to 18K. Gold that is 10K is nearly 42 percent pure, while 18K gold is 75 percent pure. Higher purity levels tend to be too soft to use.
Before shelling out a lot of do-re-mi for a diamond, check for certifications. Look only for gems that have been certified by the AGS, GIA or other reputable agency.
The Crown Jewels of England are some of the most famous pieces of jewelry in the world. One of the more famous pieces is the Imperial State Crown, which Queen Elizabeth II wears during major events.
Jewelry is more than just beautiful. It can also be a great investment which gains value over time. Why not choose the perfect piece for your first investment?
Of all the gemstones in the world, diamonds are the hardest. They boast a perfect ten on the Mohs scale of hardness. In fact, the only element that can cut a diamond is another diamond.
Did you know that the Indians have been making fine jeweler for more than 5000 years? This practice of jewelry creation started off by the Indus Valley Civilization.
Even though a Diamond is known to be the hardest material mineral known to man, if you hit it with a hammer it will crush into a powder. This so called "hardness" relates to its ability to scratch other materials.
When shopping for a diamond, keep in mind the four Cs - cut, clarity, color and carat weight. These four factors combine to determine the quality and cost of a specific diamond.
The Blue Hope diamond is the largest dark blue diamond in the world, according to gemstone historians, with quite a murky history. Two different owners of the nearly 45-karat stone died in poverty.
Did you know the diamond engagement ring wasn't always the standard in pre-wedding rings? Prior to a diamond marketing campaign, people frequently wore simple bands or their favorite gemstone.
Pure 24k gold is extremely soft; therefore, it is commonly alloyed with other metals such as copper, palladium or silver in order to create jewelry. Different proportions of metals can be used in the alloy to create the color, hardness, and ductility desired by the jeweler.
Your loved one will love nothing more than a beautiful gift on a special occasion. For most, jewelry is the best possible way to offer them just that, and you can find a great piece of jewelry at a price you may not expect.
Did you know that the largest gold nugget found in the U.S.A. was in California and it weighed 195 pounds?
Why are 100% natural pearls so very rare? Because a pearl only occurs in an oyster naturally in about 1 out of every 10,000 oysters. Most of the pearls used in jewelry are created on pearl farms where oysters are “seeded” with materials that promote the growth of pearls.
In school, getting a grade of "D" on a test was nothing to be proud about. However, when it comes to diamonds, a color grade of "D" is considered to be the best grade possible, because a "D" is colorless.
What’s your birthstone? If you were born in July, jewelers identify the ruby as your birthstone. Top-quality rubies are a clear, vivid red. Diamonds are the only gemstones harder than rubies, so rubies are not just beautiful, they’re durable enough for daily wear.
With the right help, you can select jewelry specific to your tastes. We can make sure you find a unique piece to match a unique personality.
How old is your rock? Did you know that all natural diamonds are approximately three and a half billion years old? Now that's vintage.
A variety of studies have shown that the top three markets for the world’s luxury jewelry are Europe, United States, and the Republic of China.
What makes pearls so unique? Unlike most gemstones, pearls are created by living creatures. Natural pearls come in colors ranging from white to violet-black and they’re more expensive than cultured pearls. The most valuable pearls are untreated and free from enhancements.
If you’re planning to buy jewelry for a friend or family member, it’s a good idea to pay extra attention to the type of jewelry they wear most often. This will ensure that you don’t pick a piece of jewelry that’s radically different from their style.
Diamonds are made of a single element—they're nearly 100% carbon. Under the immense heat and pressure far below the earth's surface, the carbon atoms bond in a unique way that results in diamonds' beautiful and rare crystalline structure.
There are two main methods to resizing rings: stretching or adding a bridge. Stretching uses the material you have and just stretches it to fit, but it can weaken the strength of the band. Adding a bridge of gold is your best bet.
Some of the most enduring and popular fashion styles that had a direct impact on jewelry manufacturing trends include Victorian, Romanticism, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Renaissance and more.
It’s important to remember that the jewelry you wear doesn’t have to be little more than a final accessory to the outfit you’re wearing that day. Instead, some people like to select a few pieces of jewelry that they can wear all the time, regardless of what else they might be wearing.
There are four different categories given to all gemstones in the world, from precious down to organic. The second-most-valuable category is semi-precious, which includes jade, turquoise and onyx.
Not sure exactly what the best gift would be? A great jeweler can help you find just the right thing to make the special person in your life smile.
Jewelry is an investment, one that should last you a lifetime. Thus, a certain level of care should be taken in the wearing, cleaning, and storing of each piece of jewelry you own.
A baroque pearl is a type of pearl with an ovoid, pinched, or otherwise non-spherical shape. Cultured pearls cultivated in freshwater are commonly baroque, though some saltwater varieties can be tear-dropped in shape. The most valuable baroque pearls are produced in Tahiti and Western Australia.
Did you inherit a ring, but its design is not quite your style? Bring it to a jeweler. He or she can remove the stones, and then rearrange them in a new setting made to your specifications.
In its purest form, gold is labeled at 24 carats. However, due to the softness of pure gold, it is often mixed with other metals to improve durability. Thus the availability of 18 carat, 14 carat and other numbers.
Did you inherit a ring, but its design is not quite your style? Bring it to a jeweler. He or she can remove the stones, and then rearrange them in a new setting made to your specifications.
One of the attractions of gold, which dates back thousands of years, is that it doesn't take an elaborate production process. Gold often was discovered in a nearly pure state, making it easy to work with.
The modern list of gemstones associated with birth months was created in 1912. In the past 100 years, only one gemstone has been added to that list. Tanzanite, which was discovered in the 1960s, was linked to the month of December.
In its purest form, gold is labeled at 24 carats. However, due to the softness of pure gold, it is often mixed with other metals to improve durability. Thus the availability of 18 carat, 14 carat and other numbers.
Did you inherit a ring, but its design is not quite your style? Bring it to a jeweler. He or she can remove the stones, and then rearrange them in a new setting made to your specifications.
Did you know that rubies are almost structurally identical to sapphires? They are both made of aluminum oxide, but rubies possess another element called chromium that gives them their red coloring. Without enough chromium, rubies are just pink sapphires.
The diamond is virtually synonymous with the American wedding ring. However, not as many brides receive a diamond engagement ring as you might think. Only three out of every four brides receive a diamond ring.
One of the attractions of gold, which dates back thousands of years, is that it doesn't take an elaborate production process. Gold often was discovered in a nearly pure state, making it easy to work with.
The modern list of gemstones associated with birth months was created in 1912. In the past 100 years, only one gemstone has been added to that list. Tanzanite, which was discovered in the 1960s, was linked to the month of December.
In its purest form, gold is labeled at 24 carats. However, due to the softness of pure gold, it is often mixed with other metals to improve durability. Thus the availability of 18 carat, 14 carat and other numbers.
Did you inherit a ring, but its design is not quite your style? Bring it to a jeweler. He or she can remove the stones, and then rearrange them in a new setting made to your specifications.