Author Archive

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.

Padparadscha and Hand Engraved Accents = A Grand Custom Ring

Saturday, June 27th, 2009

We recently completed this beautiful ring for a very elegant and sophisticated lady, let’s call her Liz. During our initial design consultation, it soon became apparent that we needed to do something extra special for Liz- well educated and artistic, her tastes were refined and she was looking for something exciting and new. She wanted […]

Custom Alexandrite Wedding Rings

Friday, June 26th, 2009

We recently completed the final step for our client Dan- we blogged about creating his engagement ring last November.  After his fiance Ileana received her engagement ring, we made a matching wedding band, and soldered the rings together when they were married this spring.  Notice how beautifully the rings fit together and how nicely the […]

Moonstone, a Gem that Magicks the Light

Saturday, June 20th, 2009

Light has a very special role of gems- in diamonds, it can dance and twinkle, in rubies, it can simmer with vivid passion, or in other gems, it can play tricks. In gemology, we refer to these special gems that magic the light as the phenomenal gems. The soft bluish glow emanating from this beautiful […]

Art Deco Bracelet is a Marriage of Two Items

Tuesday, June 16th, 2009

We just completed an estate appraisal for a client which included this nice looking white gold bracelet. During the take-in process, we noticed a missing stone and a broken hinge. And, somehow the bracelet just didn’t look quite right. When we turned the bracelet over, we immediately noticed some remnant parts that were out of […]

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