Archive for the ‘Gemstone of the Month’ Category
Wednesday, May 1st, 2013
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 […]
Tags: CAD/CAM, Custom Jewelry, gem trade, GIA, Natural Padparadscha, Padparadscha, pink gold, rose gold
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Featured Post, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Services | Comments Off on Padparadschas R Us – Rare Gems Are Our Specialty
Saturday, March 16th, 2013
As usual, our annual pilgrimage to the Tucson Gem Shows in early February was a fun mix of business and pleasure.
Tags: Burma Spinel, Ethiopian Opal, fire agate, Kazumiga Pealr, Natural Zircon
Posted in Gem Industry News, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts, Jewelry Services | Comments Off on Tucson Treasures
Friday, February 1st, 2013
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.
Tags: Ancient Rome, Cameo, Hermitage Museum, Hyllos, Intaglio
Posted in Estate Jewelry, Featured Post, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Uncategorized | Comments Off on A Blast from the Past
Thursday, November 15th, 2012
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.
Tags: American Gem Society, citrine, FTC Guidelines, GIA, Imperial Topaz, Robert M. Shipley, trade names
Posted in Featured Post, Gem Industry News, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts, Jewelry Services | Comments Off on Topaz or Not Topaz? That is the Question!
Wednesday, October 24th, 2012
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 […]
Tags: Ethiopian Opal, hydrophane, play of color, play of color opal, Welo, Wollo, Wolo
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Featured Post, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts, Mardon Exclusive Jewelry | Comments Off on Water Loving Opal from the Deserts of Ethiopia
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
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.
Tags: Art Nouveau Jewelry, carved opal, crystal opal, Edwardian jewelry, Estate Jewelry Buyers, jewelry restoration, Late Victorian jewelry, opal pansy, platinum and gold jewelry, Vintage Jewelry
Posted in Estate Jewelry, Featured Post, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts, Jewelry Services | Comments Off on Restoring Antique Opal Jewelry
Friday, September 21st, 2012
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 […]
Tags: AGTA, color change sapphire, fancy sapphire, Gemology 101, green sapphire, heat treatment, orange sapphire, Padparadscha, purple sapphire, yellow sapphire
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Featured Post, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts, Jewelry Services | Comments Off on Eight Tips for Buying a Fancy Sapphire
Friday, August 17th, 2012
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.
Tags: Burma, Custom Jewelry, Pakistan, peridot, San Carlos Reservation
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Featured Post, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts, Jewelry Services | Comments Off on 12 Tips on How to Buy a Peridot
Saturday, June 9th, 2012
Today, more and more brides are choosing colored gems for their wedding jewelry, a trend we love and appreciate. We just made this sweet white gold engagement ring, set with diamonds and an absolutely beautiful Benitoite.
Tags: Benitoite, California State Gemstone, Downtown Mall in Riverside, Engagement Ring, MissionInn, San Benito County, San Benito River
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Featured Post, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Facts, Jewelry Services, Mardon Exclusive Jewelry | Comments Off on A Benitoite Engagement Ring to Talk About
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012
We just finished this beautiful custom engagement ring that showcases a spectacular green garnet, highlighted with trapezoid shaped diamonds and set in 18K yellow gold. The center stone is a rare green garnet from Africa, known as Tsavorite. These lively and brilliant green wonders of nature are a variety of grossular garnet discovered by gemologist […]
Tags: Buckminster Fuller, CAD, Campbell Bridges, CNC mill, Custom Design, Custom Designed Jewelry, Green Grossular Garnet, Kenya, Tanzania, tsavorite
Posted in Custom Jewelry, Featured Post, Gemstone of the Month, Gemstones, Jewelry Services, Mardon Exclusive Jewelry | Comments Off on Garnets are Green, Right?