Many people think jewelry insurance is very expensive and that it only covers for theft. For these and other reasons, some folks don’t carry any insurance on their jewelry when it’s really in their best interest to do so. The cost of insurance for jewelry is actually pretty reasonable in most areas of the USA. […]
The results of an insurance appraisal we did recently answer this question emphatically. A client brought us a ring set with a large round diamond and asked us to appraise and reset this stone into another ring she owned. During the take-in procedure for any work we do, we always ask our clients for the […]
Recently, I re-appraised a beautiful diamond ring and had some unsettling news for my client. We had appraised this ring several years back, as is, with no documentation from the client. At the time, I could see no inclusions whatsoever at 10x in our GIA DL microscope, and the nice high color 3 ct. round […]
Fine Gems, Full and Complete Grading, Great Photos—Easy Shopping for the Gem Connoisseur After months of hard work and much thought, we’re proud to introduce the Gallery of Gems, our unique catalog of colored gemstones. This initial posting is just a few items from our inventory— more to follow after the Tucson Gem Shows and […]
We posted this about a year ago–with the tough economy, this insider information is more pertinent than ever, so we’ve tweaked the original post a bit and reposted. In their quest for the best value, consumers looking to buy a diamond often make the mistake of giving equal weight to diamond grading certificates. Diamond grading […]
One of my favorite conversational riffs with customers is to tell them that the gold ring/pendant/bracelet/chain/tie-tac/cuff link/object that they are wearing is likely to contain a few molecules of the Pharaoh’s gold, or of the treasure of the Incas, or of Blackbeard’s loot, or even of the Ark of the Covenant, etc. Because of the […]
One of the fascinating things about jewelry is how often it reflects history. We have a very interesting pin that shows just how much our world has changed in the past two centuries– just compare this pin with the item described in our previous Blog, 3-D Precious Portraits! This may be the oldest item in […]
We recently followed a thread on the Orchid forum about “bloomed” gold. We have a beautiful example of bloomed gold in our estate department, a great Art Nouveau ring set with a very nice precious coral cameo and diamonds.
