Mardon Jewelers at the Mission Inn

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

We just delivered this lovely pendant, set with the diamonds from several treasured family pieces, to a very happy client. Her son had us make the pendant to celebrate her 50th wedding anniversary, so it was a very nice occasion to deliver the new piece– both son and mother loved the new piece and she left […]

As our country debates the role of firearms in our society, this small pendant is a poignant example of how gun violence affects American families. A couple came into our store and the wife asked us if we could make something from a memento they had– and then she told us about their experience of […]

We’ve been working hard this season creating pieces based on our original designs and one-of-a-kind jewelry. So what’s the difference between a one-of-a-kind and a designer original?

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 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.

Jewelry making is an ancient craft dating to the dawn of civilization. Prior to the mid 1800’s and the Industrial Revolution, fine jewelry of precious metals and gems was made mainly for royalty and the very rich. Today, through advances in technology, almost anyone looking for a quality piece of jewelry can afford one-of-a-kind custom […]

Because of significant price increases for diamonds, colored gemstones, and precious metals over the past few years, we are advising many of our clients to update their jewelry appraisals and to increase their jewelry insurance to reflect current pricing.

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 […]

Sapphire is one of the loved of all gemstones– it’s bright beautiful color, extreme durability, and rarity have made it desirable and sought after for centuries. Because sapphire comes in a wide range of quality, it’s cost can range from very reasonable to crown jewel expensive. Here are some valuable tips that will help you […]