Author Archive
Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
Our clients often ask “What is the best color blue sapphire?” There are two answers– the obvious is that personal preference should dictate your color choice. Every person has unique abilities to perceive color, based on such things as age, health, culture and genetic gifts. Some people prefer light pastel colors, others prefer rich intense […]
Tags: Australia, blue sapphire, Burma, Ceylon, heat treatment, hue, Kashmir, Madagascar, Montana, saturation, Thailand, tone
Posted in Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones | 3 Comments »
Saturday, August 29th, 2009
A couple of years ago, a local attorney’s wife was in our store, browsing some colored stone jewelry in the estate case. I asked if she had any favorite gemstones– “none in particular”– so I asked about her birthstone. She replied “Oh, I don’t like my birthstone, it’s peridot.”
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts | Comments Off on Peridot- the “I don’t like my birthstone” Birthstone, Part 3
Saturday, August 29th, 2009
Last August, our client, Meryl, was in our store getting a ring sized when she mentioned that she had never liked her birthstone, the peridot. A challenge like that is hard for a jeweler and gemstone lover to refuse, so I showed her this grand 5.o6 ct. peridot from Burma. She was delighted and entranced […]
Tags: Burma, CAD, Custom Jewelry, jewelry designers, JewelSmith, peridot
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones | Comments Off on Peridot- the “I don’t like my birthstone” Birthstone, Part 2
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
One of the great things about the jewelry business is that every so often, we get to see and handle truly wonderful jewelry and gemstones. This classic Art Nouveau enameled brooch is exquisite– the sculpting of the woman’s face is delicate and lifelike while the swirls of her hair and the floral elements are beautifully […]
Posted in Estate Jewelry, Jewelry Services | Comments Off on A Perfect Flower from the days of L’ Art Nouveau
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
We often hear statements like “I don’t like my birthstone” from folks born in August. In most cases, these people have never seen a really good peridot, so we make it our mission to show them gorgeous gems like this magnificent Burmese Peridot.
Tags: August, birthstone, Burma, green, Hawaii, mined in the US, peridot, San Carlos peridot
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones | Comments Off on Peridot- the “I don’t like my birthstone” Birthstone, Part 1
Saturday, August 1st, 2009
Only 5 days left to vote for your favorite merchants, food, entertainment, etc.
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Estate Jewelry, Jewelry Services, Mardon Happenings | Comments Off on Vote for Mardon, Reader’s Choice, Riverside Press Enterprise
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. […]
Tags: gahnospinel, natural color gems, non heated gems, Phil Zahm, spinel
Posted in Estate Jewelry, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Mardon Happenings | Comments Off on Spinels on Sale!
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 […]
Tags: Balas Ruby, Black Prince's Ruby, Burma, spinel, Vietnam
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts, Jewelry Services | Comments Off on The Other “Ruby”
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.
Tags: brooch, Engagement Ring, GIA cert, Gothic, Heidi Klum, hoop earrings, pendant, Radiant cut diamond, Victorian Jewelry
Posted in Estate Jewelry, Gemstones, Mardon Happenings | Comments Off on Christmas in August-Our Famous Annual Sale-7 days and Counting
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 […]
Tags: color change, GJX, Russian Alexandrite, Tucson
Posted in Gemstones | Comments Off on “World’s Largest Russian Alexandrite on the Market