The Modern Jeweler

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Emeralds – The World’s Most Expensive Gemstone

One thing that most people know is that emeralds are a major gemstone and that they are expensive. That’s largely because emeralds are a type of the mineral beryl and they are rare. They come in varying shades of green.
It is chromium, vanadium or iron elements in the stone which make that lovely green color. [...]

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Diamond Wedding Ring Guide: No Nonsense Guide For Choosing Your Ring

One activity that you will undoubtedly appreciate when preparing for your wedding ceremony is the wedding ring selection. Like most young girls, you have probably spent most of your life dreaming of the perfect diamond wedding ring. Hopefully, you and your fiance have decided to shop for rings together, or you have informed him of what you like. You will wear the wedding ring for a significant amount of time and it only makes sense that it’s something that you like. If your knowledge of diamond wedding rings is limited to size, it’s a good idea that you obtain more information before you make your wedding ring selection.

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Colored Gemstones: Forever Fascinating

The universe of colored gemstones is endlessly fascinating, for centuries, nearly every culture has held the belief that colored gemstones possess magical powers or the ability to provide the wearer with certain attributes.
This way of thinking has motivated the world of fashion. Natural gemstone jewelry is mystical in all of its beauty. Women need to [...]

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Crystal – The Gem Of The Stars

There is something very mysterious about crystals. And, therefore, as soon as you don them, they lend a very enigmatic touch to your whole persona. Even if it is just one small little crystal, it can work wonders for you. No, this is no future prediction, though crystals have always been one of the favorite [...]

Richard Wise to speak at GIA Thailand – 33rd Gemstone Gathering

Another great opportunity to hear Richard Wise  speak!  Richard is a noted bench jeweler by trade on top of being an excellent writer and speaker.
For its 33rd Gemstone Gathering, the Gemological Institute of America GIA Thailand has invited Richard W. Wise, a graduate gemologist and president of R.W. Wise, Goldsmiths Inc., to share his experiences. [...]

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Digital Bling: Diamonds For Sale Online: NPR

An interesting article about buying expensive diamonds on-line. The story goes into great detail about how these on-line dealers can explain and show consumers just what they are getting and how the prices are determined. Truly a great read for anybody looking to purchase diamonds and bridal jewelry on-line.

Valentine’s Day isn’t just a celebration for lovers. It’s also a time when jewelers step up their advertising for precious stones like diamonds.

Traditionally, consumers have gone to jewelry stores to purchase engagement rings and other fine gems. Now, a small but growing number of people are buying diamonds online and spending thousands — even tens of thousands of dollars — to buy something they have never seen.

Alok Kapur proposed with champagne, chocolate and a diamond ring. It was classic and romantic. But he bought his ring in a much less traditional way. He purchased it online from Blue Nile — the nation’s largest online seller of diamond engagement rings.

Initially, Kapur was skeptical. Buying such an expensive item sight unseen required a leap of faith. But his concerns were put to rest.

“They answered all of my questions — explained everything about the diamonds,” he says. “The transparency was great.”

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Diamond shares set to sparkle, at long last | Reuters

A very interesting spin on whats been happening in the world diamond markets and investment opportunities that may now exist.

LONDON (Reuters) – Shares in diamond producers, which failed to join a mining sector rally last year as consumers shunned luxury, are set for a boost from a recovery in gem prices.

Hot Stocks

The diamond sector, a key supplier to the jewelry industry, was one of the hardest hit when consumers shied away from swanky purchases during the economic downturn amid worries about household debt, mortgages and jobs.

When prices of rough, or unpolished, diamonds dived in late 2008, stocks tracked the decline, but they have yet to fully react to output cutbacks by No. 1 producer De Beers and others that have nurtured a rebound in gem prices.

“The rough diamond market is recovering and prices are close to where they were prior to the downturn; the diamond stocks haven’t reflected this yet, trading relatively flat over the past six months,” said Tyler Broda, an analyst at Canaccord Adams.

“There was also no re-rating on the back of the better-than- expected Christmas numbers and the valuations still appear cheap. We think there is an opportunity here.”

Investors seeking pure diamond exposure must look to mid- and smallcap stocks since the biggest producers are parts of diversified groups or unlisted like Russia’s state-run Alrosa.

De Beers is 45 percent owned by mining group Anglo American (AAL.L) while Rio Tinto (RIO.L) (RIO.AX) and BHP Billiton (BLT.L) (BHP.AX) also have diamond divisions.

Around three-quarters of the London-listed diamond companies underperformed the wider UK mining index .FTNMX1770 in 2009, with a handful of firms, including Petra Diamonds (PDL.L) and Gem Diamonds (GEMD.L), seeing their value drop over the year.

Petra shed 24 percent last year, underperforming the UK mining index by 64 percent as most miners shot up, while Gem Diamonds lagged the index by 57 percent. The UK mining index doubled.

So far this year Petra has given up another 7 percent while Gem has gained almost 10 percent.

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New Jewelry Designs by Michelle Trachtenberg for Coach

New cutting edge jewelry line from Coach will have them all standing in line. We love these new jewelry designs!

News & Trends: Michelle Trachtenberg may be one of Hollywood’s hardest working actresses. The star of Gossip Girl and Mercy has teamed up with Poppy from Coach to create her first jewelry collection.

The Michelle Trachtenberg for Poppy collection is as multi-faceted as Michelle’s roles, combining pretty gemstones with chunky hardware. Poppy describes the look as “confident yet romantic, rockin’ yet refined.”

The collection is filled with colorful Swarovski crystals handset in Coach’s signature hardware.

Each item is a statement in itself including rings, earrings, chunky multi-strand necklaces and cuff-style bracelets.

Personally, I love the Jackie O pearls meets Mr. T, “Pearl and Chain Necklace” combo that perfectly reflects a hardcore girly-girl.

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Gems Find From Roman Times (Basingstoke Gazette)

A GOLD ring and a gemstone found in a field near Upton Grey date back to Roman times, an inquest in Basingstoke heard.

The ring dates back to the third century, and the gemstone from the first or second century. They were found on January 18 last year by Martin Barker, a plumber and amateur treasure hunter from Middlesex, using a metal detector.

Sarah Whitby, deputy coroner for North East Hampshire, ruled at an inquest into the find, held at the Civic Offices, that the items were treasure.

They will now be valued by experts at the British Museum and are thought to be worth a few hundred pounds.

Ralph Jackson, curator at the British Museum’s department of prehistory and Europe, prepared a report for the inquest having studied the items.

The inquest was told he believes the carnelian gemstone bears a picture of a maenad – a female worshipper of Dionysus – the ancient Greek god of wine.

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Vail Jeweler’s Secrets: Evaluating a gemstones’ worth

VAIL, Colorado — There are thousands of minerals lying on the surface of the earth and buried within its depths. Yet of these thousands, only about 90 are considered worthy of the name “gemstone.” What are the qualities that make us willing to give several months’ salary in order to own one?

Two very basic characteristics would be beauty and wearability. In considering the beauty of a stone, we look at color, clarity and the manner in which light plays on its surface or within its facets — a quality referred to as brilliance. Some stones are more likely to bend light and break it up into its spectral colors, two variables known as refraction and dispersion.

There is a continuum of each of these characteristics, and the higher a stone rates in these areas, the greater its rarity, and the higher its value. Let us consider a hypothetical pair of rubies: one is a rather pale or pinkish color; specks of matter or “inclusions” are easily visible within. Examining it under direct light, it seems somewhat lifeless.

Our second stone is a rich scarlet. Despite its depth of rich color, we can clearly see into the gem. No spots mar its interior and light sparkles and dances within its facets. Obviously, this second stone is far more valuable, even though the first may be several times larger. In evaluating our gemstones, then, quality has counted above quantity.

Just because a stone is beautiful, does not mean it is strong enough to be wearable.

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Lab-Created Diamonds: Review Of Simulated Diamonds And Manufactured Diamonds

There has been a great deal discussion about lab-created diamonds. Along with that talk, there is much misinformation and perplexity. The jewelry lover, who is interested in realizing the huge savings and aesthetic beauty that simulated diamonds offer, is often bewildered by the manufactured diamond industry jargon and available options. This article will categorically break it down in easy-to-understand terms so that anyone can make an intelligent decision when choosing a simulated diamond.

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Fun Ways to Wear Your Jewelry

As with everything else in life, sometimes we fall into habits in how we wear our jewelry. We put the brooch on out left shoulder, we wear the same necklace with the same dress and the same earrings.

This article will help stimulate your thinking about how you wear jewelry. It’s not exhaustive — if you have other ideas of better ways to use jewelry, let me know. Pins are perhaps the most versatile of jewelry. In addition to the usual shoulder or lapel, they are often worn with scarves. Try these other ways of wearing your pins to extend your jewelry vocabulary.

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Pearl Grading: A No-Nonsense Guide to Pearls

Thanks to aggressive publicity campaigns sponsored by the diamond industry, anyone buying a diamond can confidently go into the transaction armed with enough information to ask the right questions. In the pre-purchase stage, you’ll likely query the seller about the five C’s: carat, cut, clarity, color and cost. As long as you trust the jeweler, you can be confident about the value of the gem you’re interested in based on his or her answers. But what about pearls? What questions do you ask? What does a high quality pearl look like? What are traits to avoid? Here we’ll tell you what makes a pearl valuable. We’ll also give you questions to ask your jeweler and tools to judge these lustrous gems yourself.

Pearl Value Factors

While there is no international standard for grading pearls, there is a system that is commonly used to evaluate these beautiful colored gemstones. Developed by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the world’s largest non-profit institute of gemological research and learning, this grading system considers seven pearl traits when determining value. They are: size, shape, color, luster, surface quality, nacre quality, and matching. Let’s take a look at each one as it relates to the beautiful cultured pearl.

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Simon G: Bridal Jewelry – A Family Tradition

“Designing jewelry is an all consuming passion. It is my hobby. It’s my life.” -Simon G Simon G Jewelry is a family owned and operated manufacturing jewelry designer, in its 30th year of business. Noted for staying a head of the curve in terms of design, Simon G Jewelry designs have won numerous awards and are recognized by the incorporation of various precious metals combined with natural fancy colored diamonds and gemstones. Over the years, Simon G Jewelry has created a reputation for producing an extremely well crafted product that appeals to the eye and budget of most jewelry consumers. It is the pride of ownership that keeps the customer wanting to collect more.

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Review Of Pandora Jewelry

Pandora jewelry is one of the most desired type of jewelry. Obviously, Pandora jewelry has some of those characteristics that it’s favorite among most of the people. The grace, attraction and looks of the Pandora jewelry attract many hearts towards it. One of the reason of it’s success is that when you buy Pandora bracelets or a necklace you will also need to buy more Pandora jewelry to make your pick look even better and attractive by customizing it. For, people who love jewelry this is one of the best type of jewelry to buy. Women normally, compare their jewelry to others and in this case you can look completely different from others jewelry as there are various designs of charms and beads to set on your particular jewelry. This is quite obvious that your jewelry wont look the same as of your friend or any relative.

People buying pandora style charms are mostly satisfied by their pick as they know what suits them and looks pretty on them. By that they choose the correct type of charms and beads to customize their Pandora jewelry. Consumers can feel ease and comfort while wearing Pandora jewelry as they can customize their jewelry accordingly. You can also get rid of the charms and beads when you’re bored of them and get the new style of beads and charms on your jewelry. Obviously, everybody who has bought the Pandora jewelry must put on different charms on it and make it look even better and attractive. While purchasing jewelry, make it sure that you buy Pandora jewelry as it will fill your heart with pleasure and make you smile while you’re moving out of your home.

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Do You Have Enough Jewelry Insurance?

Jewelry insurance comes in many forms and varieties and only an insurance agent can provide accurate and specific advice. However, it helps to know enough about jewelry insurance to ask your agent the right questions and to be aware of how the process works. The time to ask your insurance agent the questions is before you insure an item, not when you need to file a claim. Read the fine print in your insurance contract to be sure it provides the coverage you expect.

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Pink Diamonds Make A Nokia Supreme

Another diamond covered phone has been revealed. The Nokia Supreme takes a Nokia 8800 and armors it in solid platinum veneers and screws and covers it with 12.5 carats of pink diamonds. There are approximately 1225 stones set into the phone including a three-carat navigational button made of a flawless center stone. The phone has a total of 83 grams of platinum. Stuart Hughes designed the phone for Goldstriker. It comes in a granite box with a leather interior. Just three will be made and each sells for around $160,000.

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Sterling silver jewelry is a timeless beauty

Jewelry trends come and go, silver jewelry remains popular across all economic and spectrum of fashion. Silver has attracted human fascination for many thousands of years.

Ancient civilizations found silver deposits plentiful on or near the surface. Relics of these civilizations are jewels, objects of worship, food and vessels from durable, malleable metal format. This metal was near mystical qualities in marking important historical milestones throughout the Times and served as a medium of exchange.

Today, silver is considered a valuable commodity and industrial practice pursued as an attractive investment precious metal.

Although silver is relatively low, is the most abundant and cheaper than precious metals. Silver largest, producing countries are Mexico, Peru, United States, Australia and Chile

Thus, this pair of elegant sterling silver earrings shimmering look also appreciated by your late grandmothergreat news if you’re wearing silver jewelry casually or put them in a matter of form.

Of course, not everyone is passionate about real estate silver jewelry, silver jewelry which is fairly new and exciting, especially to buy something designed by one of today `s contemporary artisans. Are the same, you will receive a mini-boom for the economy of today, as the value of the property buyer quality silver jewelry and find out much cheaper than gold. Tight economy or not, if your creations are particularly interesting, you `ll attract the attention of buyers of common sense.

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The Byzantine Fashionista

Perfect for a dinner party where you can wear earrings so classic they were worn in 300 A.D.

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Keep Your Jewelry Clean And Sparkling Throughout The Year

Everybody, especially women, loves jewelry. It’s an accessory that one cannot simply do without. However, people are hard-pressed to keep it clean and sparkling. You can of course take the help of a professional jewelry cleaner, but these can be pretty expensive.

There are numerous ways and means thorough which you can keep your jewelry in ship shape throughout the year. What’s more you can employ these methods from the comforts of your home. They are easy to do, and easy to learn. Here are a few tips on keeping your jewelry clean and sparkling throughout the year:
Cleaning Your Precious Diamonds

The process is quite simple. Take a glass bowl, and pour some Vodka into it. Take your diamond jewelry and swish it inside the bowl. Take it out and then rinse it with clean, clear water and wipe it dry with a soft cloth. Moreover, if your diamond jewelry is really very dirty, then it is advisable that you dip a soft toothbrush in the vodka and scrub the jewelry delicately. This process will clean and add the requisite sparkle to the diamond jewelry in no time at all.


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Jewelry References

  • Jewelry Information Center (JIC) Jewelry Information Center (JIC) is the public relations arm of the fine jewelry and watch industries. Founded as a non-profit trade association in 1946 in New York City, JIC is funded by its members (nearly 1,000 manufacturers, designers, and retailers o Jewelry Information Center (JIC) is the public relations arm of the fine jewelry and watch industries. Founded as a non-profit trade association in 1946 in New York City, JIC is funded by its members (nearly 1,000 manufacturers, designers, and retailers o
  • Fashion Conversations
  • AGS Laboratories AGS Laboratories is the world’s premier diamond grading laboratory for diamond cut, the first diamond laboratory to offer a diamond cut grade based on proven science and the first laboratory to offer cut grading for fancy shapes including princess, emeral AGS Laboratories is the world’s premier diamond grading laboratory for diamond cut, the first diamond laboratory to offer a diamond cut grade based on proven science and the first laboratory to offer cut grading for fancy shapes including princess, emeral
  • Cultured Pearl Association of America The Cultured Pearl Association of America, Inc is a non profit group founded in 1957, comprised of the finest manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers and suppliers of Cultured Pearls in the United States.  Our intention is to “cultivate” awareness, interest, The Cultured Pearl Association of America, Inc is a non profit group founded in 1957, comprised of the finest manufacturers, wholesalers, dealers and suppliers of Cultured Pearls in the United States. Our intention is to “cultivate” awareness, interest,
  • American Gem Labs (AGL) American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) is an international gemstone testing facility specializing in comprehensive colored gemstone analysis. AGL provides identification reports, detailed enhancement reports, country-of-origin or provenance reports, as w American Gemological Laboratories (AGL) is an international gemstone testing facility specializing in comprehensive colored gemstone analysis. AGL provides identification reports, detailed enhancement reports, country-of-origin or provenance reports, as w
  • The World Jewellery Confederation CIBJO is an international confederation of national jewelery trade organizations. CIBJO’s purpose is to encourage harmonization, promote international cooperation in the jewelery industry, and to consider issues which concern the trade worldwide. CIBJO is an international confederation of national jewelery trade organizations. CIBJO’s purpose is to encourage harmonization, promote international cooperation in the jewelery industry, and to consider issues which concern the trade worldwide.
  • AGTA Gem Industry Guide The AGTA is recognized within the jewelry trade as the authoritative source on natural colored gemstones: “The voice of the natural colored gemstone, pearl and cultured pearl industries.” The AGTA is recognized within the jewelry trade as the authoritative source on natural colored gemstones: “The voice of the natural colored gemstone, pearl and cultured pearl industries.”
  • Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s largest and most respected nonprofit institute of gemological research and learning.  GIA discovers (through GIA Research), imparts (through GIA Education), and applies (through the GIA Laboratory and GIA Instrument Established in 1931, GIA is the world’s largest and most respected nonprofit institute of gemological research and learning. GIA discovers (through GIA Research), imparts (through GIA Education), and applies (through the GIA Laboratory and GIA Instrument
  • Platinum Guild International The Platinum Guild International is the official website for platinum jewelry; offering advice and information, design inspiration, and where to find a recommended platinum retailer in your area. The site is brought to you by Platinum Guild International, The Platinum Guild International is the official website for platinum jewelry; offering advice and information, design inspiration, and where to find a recommended platinum retailer in your area. The site is brought to you by Platinum Guild International,
  • The Silver Institute The Silver Institute is a nonprofit international association that draws its membership from across the breadth of the silver industry. This includes leading silver mining houses, refiners, bullion suppliers, manufacturers of silver products and wholesale The Silver Institute is a nonprofit international association that draws its membership from across the breadth of the silver industry. This includes leading silver mining houses, refiners, bullion suppliers, manufacturers of silver products and wholesale
  • World Gold Council Founded in 1987, the World Gold Council is an organization formed and funded by the world’s leading gold mining companies with the aim of stimulating and maximising the demand for, and holding of Gold. Founded in 1987, the World Gold Council is an organization formed and funded by the world’s leading gold mining companies with the aim of stimulating and maximising the demand for, and holding of Gold.

Jewelry Titans

  • Tiffany & Company The year was 1837. Charles Lewis Tiffany and his schoolmate John Young traveled from New England to New York City with an idea and a dream that were to become Tiffany & Co. While the first day of business brought a mere four dollars and 98 cents, the The year was 1837. Charles Lewis Tiffany and his schoolmate John Young traveled from New England to New York City with an idea and a dream that were to become Tiffany & Co. While the first day of business brought a mere four dollars and 98 cents, the
  • Harry Winston Harry Winston always possessed a gift; he had an eye for the best gemstones and a nose for what the customer wanted. Winston is still known for exquisite jewelry. His name is still linked to some of the most beautiful jewels and settings in the world. Harry Winston always possessed a gift; he had an eye for the best gemstones and a nose for what the customer wanted. Winston is still known for exquisite jewelry. His name is still linked to some of the most beautiful jewels and settings in the world.
  • Cartier Louis Francois Cartier the son of a powder horn maker, founded Cartier in 1847; the year his workshop master Adolphe Picard died. Cartier would take over Maitre Picard’s Jewelry shop located at 31 Rue Montorgueil, Paris. Louis Francois Cartier the son of a powder horn maker, founded Cartier in 1847; the year his workshop master Adolphe Picard died. Cartier would take over Maitre Picard’s Jewelry shop located at 31 Rue Montorgueil, Paris.

WhereToGetEngaged

  • Swarovski 'crystal forest' takes root in NYC
    Swarovski is continuing to put its crystal footprint all over New York City, with the brand currently preparing to open two Swarovski stores in Manhattan. […]
  • Canada to open first diamond bourse in late March
    The Diamond Bourse of Canada, a first for the country, will be fully operational by the end of the month in Toronto, bourse officials announced earlier this week. […]
  • Sharpen your retail survivor instincts for 2010
    The U.S. recession may be officially over, but are jewelers prepared to face a consumer base that may still be experiencing the aftershocks? National Jeweler asked members of America's Best Jewelers (ABJ) and the ABJ Network to join a retailer roundtable and discuss plans for 2010. […]
  • IDI, Rapaport host diamond events at BaselWorld
    Expect a strong diamond industry presence at BaselWorld this year that includes the unveiling of a new responsibility-focused ad campaign from the Israeli Diamond Institute (IDI) Group of Companies and Rapaport Group Chairman Martin Rapaport's presentation on diamond opportunities and his fair trade conference.  […]
  • Georgia jeweler closes shop, liquidates
    After 57 years in business, Andrews Jewelers of Lavonia, Ga., has closed shop, ending its operations with a final sale that the jeweler's liquidation company says exceeded projections by 59 percent. […]
  • WJA hosts educational events on both coasts
    The Women's Jewelry Association (WJA) will be holding educational events on both coasts this week, including a social networking seminar in Los Angles and the annual Women in the Know Conference in New York City. […]
  • GIA expands its educational kingdom into Bahrain
    The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) recently extended its educational services in the Middle East, with the recent wrap-up a series of gem identification and colored stone grading lab classes for students in the Kingdom of Bahrain. […]
  • Two industry marketing firms announce new hires
    Jewelry marketing firm Fruchtman Marketing and concept marketing firm United Brands both recently announced a number of key appointments. […]
  • LGI: Watch sales up 18 percent in January
    Same-store monthly watch sales rose 18 percent in January to $261 million, compared with January 2009, according to the LGI Network January Time Tracker Newsletter, which noted that the increase excludes the thousands of retailers who exited the business over the past year. […]
  • Jeweler crafts ring for Tiger mistress pageant
    Steven Singer, who has made a name for himself with his offbeat "I Hate Steven Singer" advertising campaign, has taken the concept of irreverent marketing to a whole new level. […]

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