Mardon Jewelers at the Mission Inn

  Fresh green from our shop– our hand crafted classic 3 stone ring accents this fine 1.21 ct. natural emerald from the fabled Muzo mine of Colombia with a matched pair of trapezoid brilliant cut  diamonds. The cut and clarity of the stone show the color to its rich perfection. The soft yet vivid color of this gem […]

The Emerald is truly coming into its own as this year’s spring season bursts forth. On the rise for several seasons, emerald green is fashion’s Color of the Year for 2013. Pantone traces the color’s current popularity back to Angelina Jolie, who wore striking emerald earrings and a gorgeous emerald ring to the 2009 Oscars. Besides Angelina, today’s […]

We’ve always loved the ultra rare variety of fancy sapphire known as the Padparadscha. Early in my career, working in the gem indentification labs of GIA, I had the opportunity to see a few good examples of the natural Padparadscha Sapphire and to learn the subtle distinctions that make this gem so desirable. Our informational blogs about […]

As usual, our annual pilgrimage to the Tucson Gem Shows in early February was a fun mix of business and pleasure.

This beautifully made amethyst intaglio ring from ancient Rome, carved over 2000 years ago by master carver Hyllos, resides in the famous Hermitage Museum of St. Petersburg, Russia. Featuring the head of Apollo, it reminds us very much of this magnificent amethyst intaglio ring that resides in our estate case.

One of the missions Robert M. Shipley defined when he created the Gemological Institute of America was to rectify incorrect practices in the jewelry and gem business. One of the most common of these is the use of trade names and misnomers for gemstones.

We just acquired this gorgeous crystal opal from Ethiopia. Full of fiery reds and oranges, as well as golds, greens and  purples, this beauty will be the perfect drop of color for a magnificent necklace. While it’s been known for various unusual types of opal since the early 1990’s, Ethiopia burst onto the gem scene […]

We immediately fell in love with this sweet little opal and diamond pin of gold and platinum that was offered to us as part of an estate. A blend of Late Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Edwardian styling, the construction of fabricated platinum overlaid onto 14K yellow gold indicated the piece was made right around 1900.

If you think all sapphires are blue, take another look– this gorgeous bracelet is set with in an amazing array of beautiful sapphires, from deep purple to soft green to sunset orange to bright pink to golden yellow. In the gem trade, we call these unusual colors “Fancy” sapphires. Here are some handy insider tips […]

  Peridot is a beautiful lively gemstone that can be quite affordable. It’s an easy gem to buy because what you see is what you get and there are lots of great Peridot gems to choose from. Here are some tips that show how a professional gem trader buys.