National Jeweler, a weekly trade publication, posted an article August 29 about “Gem Legacy”, a nonprofit trust set up by jewelry professionals to support education and vocational training in the local economies of East Africa. The countries of this region are major sources of colored gemstones and diamonds, yet many of those persons who mine these […]
A wonderful ring from the Belle Epoque with a 3.08 ct Fancy Yellow Diamond.
Alexandrite is a very rare and valuable natural gemstone, famous because its color changes almost magically, from red to green. Alexandrite is a variety of Chrysoberyl, a mineral found in nature. Chrysoberyl is well suited for jewelry because it is very hard and durable, and because it’s rare, beautiful and unusual. The colors we see in […]
Our client sadly thought this family heirloom .96 ct. Old European cut diamond had little or no value– after years of wear, it had been cherished almost to death and looked like it had been through the garbage disposal. Mardon to the rescue! A close inspection in our gemological microscope revealed that while the […]
Celebrity brides are becoming known by their engagement ring choices, and the colored gemstone ring is very much in the limelight. Princess Kate, in the wedding of the decade, wore “The Ring“, her famous heirloom sapphire and diamond ring, Penelope Cruz is setting style with her sapphire and diamond ring, and Jessica Simpson is stunning […]
from Pantone The annual Pantone color palette for fall 2009 can be downloaded at this link http://www.pantone.com/downloads/articles/pdfs/PANTONE_FCR_FALL09.pdf The colors are muted and sophisticated with subtle contrasts. Time to think about your wardrobe and pick out that special colored gemstone to accent and sparkle things up! Orange sunstones and Spessartine garnets, purple-red Rhodolite garnets, padparadscha sapphires […]
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 […]
