Mardon Jewelers at the Mission Inn

The results of an insurance appraisal we did recently answer this question emphaticallyThe 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 value of their items because we insure the jewelry while it’s in our possession.  In this case, the client said the ring had been originally appraised for $35,000.  Boy, was she in for a surprise!
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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 value of their items because we insure the jewelry while it’s in our possession.  In this case, the client said the ring had been originally appraised for $35,000.  Boy, was she in for a surprise!
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Check out this headline,  just in from AGTA Prism—Michelle Obama’s Favorite Jewelsmith Hits New York, Paris
http://www.blackbookmag.com/article/mrs-os-favorite-jeweler-sets-up-shop-on-both-sides-of-the-pond/6686

The saga of this unusual gem specimen has only just begun.  This one will make history—the story is straight out of Indiana Jones!

From the AGTA Prism, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123578111660297983.html?mod=article-outset-box

For a good description of the Emeralds worn by Angelina, along with good information about all the jewels worn by the stars, check out this link

http://www.agta.org/pressroom/200903-agta-newsflash.html#oscarscolors

I attended a meeting last November of the Orange County GIA Alumni to hear Richard Drucker speak. His firm, Gemworld International, and the AGTA Gemological Testing Center co-sponsored the Inaugural World of Gems Conference, held Sept. 2008 in Chicago. In February, we finally received Gemworld’s publication of the proceedings.

Richard, publisher of the Gem Market News and The Gem Guide price list and appraisal software, is one of the most dependable sources of information about gems, the gem trade, and gemstone prices that we know of.  We use his appraisal software and pricing information on a daily basis and find it to be consistently accurate and reflective of true market conditions.

The subject of Richard’s talk was the disclosure of gem treatments and how such treated gems are priced in the marketplace, along with an update of the latest gem news and issues.  He reinforced what we already know, that heavily treated gems can never be considered top quality.  Moderately enhanced gems are the general standard by which Gem Guide prices are set, but the level of enhancement considered moderate varies from gem to gem.  Additionally, the impact of enhancements varies with size, with the effects generally accelerating with increase in size.

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.86 ct Ceylon Padparadscha, Gem, no heat

Early in my career as a gemologist, while working the gem identification counter at the GIA Gem Trade Laboratory in Santa Monica, I fell in love with Padparadscha—a gemstone, not a girl. The privilege of seeing and handling a few magnificent specimens of this magical sapphire with the glorious sunset orange and pink color was like cupid’s arrow to the heart.

Since that time, I always seek out the dealers at the gem shows who’ve “got the goods” and have had the pleasure to own and sell a number of fine Padparadscha Sapphires. We recently sold this small but extremely fine example, a .86 ct. octagonal loupe clean Sri Lankan stone, perfect color and beautifully cut, certificates from GRS and AGTA showing no evidence of heat treatment.

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While Jim is our usual blogger and general font of wisdom, once in a while I’ll have some exciting (?) site news for everyone.  Today we’ve got four new inventory items up for your perusal, including three from Jenny Sweaney, the hot new designer taking Riverside by storm.

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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 had a faceted girdle with no bearding—tiny cracks common to the girdle (the outer edge) of round diamonds.  I gave the center stone a clarity grade of VVS1, not Flawless or Internally Flawless—standard practice when appraising a mounted stone because you cannot observe all of the stone.

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Fine Gems, Full and Complete Grading, Great Photos—Easy Shopping for the Gem Connoisseur

The Mardon Gallery of Gems

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 Valentine’s Day have passed.

Our gems are presented in an exciting on-line format that is packed with special features and valuable information. The Mardon Colored Stone Grading System combines and integrates the basic structure of the GIA Colored Stone Grading System with the Gem Guide International market and price data.  Building on these solid foundations, we’ve added high quality photography, gem enhancement and country-of-origin information, and links to our on-line grading system documentation. Our friendly mouse-over photographs show front, back, and side views plus a size comparison of the gem.  In addition to the description of color, clarity, weight and measurements, we’ve added cut grading of all our colored gems.

Each of the major grading categories, color, cut, and clarity is fully described and graded in the essential components that comprise that category.  For example, we don’t just describe the color; we break it down and grade each component of color in the terms of the GIA Gemstone Color Description System, which are Hue, Tone, and Intensity. Cut is treated similarly, describing and grading each component that makes up the cut grade.

We’ve made the effort to carefully document our techniques and methods because we believe in transparency and the free flow of information—see the Mardon Grading Guarantee at the Colored Stone Grading tab.  Even if you’re not in the market for a gemstone, the grading system descriptions alone will give you a good introduction to the methodology of grading fine colored stones.  If you are looking for a fine gem, you can buy with confidence from our Gallery of Gems because you have all the facts—we guarantee it!

Click here to visit the Gallery of Gems