Archive for July, 2009

Spinels on Sale!

Friday, July 31st, 2009

As a followup to yesterday’s blog, I thought it would be nice to show another side of the spinel family.  This lovely 4.28 ct. spinel is chemically a bit different than the classic red stones we looked at yesterday– spinels are members of a family of minerals, all of which are oxides of 2 metals.  […]

The Other “Ruby”

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

A few years back, we found this gorgeous red gem for a close friend.  She wanted a rich dark red stone and being a true princess, she wanted it big and dramatic. Rubies of this color and clarity are astronomical in price, usually reaching at least six figures. Even though hubby was very successful, the […]

Christmas in August-Our Famous Annual Sale-7 days and Counting

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

Look for fabulous values at our upcoming Annual Sale, Saturday, August 1 thry Saturday, August 15. You’ll find great designer pieces, classic estate jewelry, and Mardon originals drastically marked down.

“World’s Largest Russian Alexandrite on the Market

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

A gem dealer and friend sent me this photograph of what he says is the largest Russian Alexandrite of quality currently on the market. His excuse for the quality of the photo is that it was taken with a cell phone camera in the lunch area outside the GJX show during this year’s Tucson gem […]

Our Famous Annual Sale is Coming!

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

We’d like to announce our upcoming Annual Sale, to be held Saturday, August 1 through Saturday, August 15. Unlike many retail businesses, we have just one sale per year. Rather than having constant “sales” with big discounts off unrealistically high prices, our philosophy is to price our merchandise fairly to begin with so that you, our […]

Vote For Me!

Saturday, July 18th, 2009

In the true spirit of democracy, we at Mardon, proud of our small but mighty business, would like to direct you, dear readers, to the Riverside Press Enterprise Reader’s Choice ballot, http://www.pe.com/readerschoice/, where you’ll have the opportunity to vote for your favorite local businesses, restaurants, entertainments, etc. Of course, we hope you’ll vote for Mardon […]

What Is It Worth? Appraising and Valuing Estate Jewelry

Friday, July 17th, 2009

Yesterday, a rather imperious elderly lady came into our store with husband in tow, and asked me to look at a yellow metal pierced cuff bracelet. She said “I just want to know what it is worth” (and of course, didn’t want to pay anything for the service). I began to explain that I needed […]

What is Pigeon’s Blood Red, part 3

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Within the gem trade, the color of the best rubies has for centuries been called “Pigeon’s Blood Red.”  As mentioned in a previous blog, the term has actually become a grading term. Part of the way to understand this color is to know what it it not. For the most part, better rubies from Burma […]

Pigeon’s Blood or Not? Part 2

Friday, July 10th, 2009

Pigeon’s Blood Ruby always commands a premium- it’s intensity and beauty strikes a chord deep within the human psyche, and naturally, it’s the most rare of rubies. Within the gem trade, the term Pigeon’s Blood is in essence a color grade, denoting the most beautiful and desirable ruby color. And the color is generally associated […]

What is Pigeon’s Blood Red?

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009

Pigeon’s Blood Red – the phrase evokes images of tropic forests, crowded bazaars, and  exotic palaces. Pigeon’s Blood Red is actually a traditional name in the gem trade for the finest color of ruby.  The term probably originated centuries ago in Burma, for many centuries the source of the best rubies.

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