We just appraised this beautiful bright yellow ~2 ct. round diamond for a client. She had inherited the stone, which was accompanied by an appraisal from a gemologist which described it as a “Canary Yellow” diamond, which implied but didn’t state specifically that the stone was natural-color. Our client said the diamond had originally been [...]
We’ve just completed this gorgeous sapphire and diamond ring, inspired by the engagement ring of Lady Diana and soon-to-be Lady Kate. This basic design, where a colored gemstone is surrounded by a circlet of diamonds, has been a favorite for centuries. Since everybody and their uncle has been doing versions of the ring, we decided [...]
Also filed in CAD/CAM, Jewelry Industry Information, Jewelry Making
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Tagged Ceylon Sapphire, Crown Jeweller, digital rapid prototype machine, engagement ring, Garrard's of Mayfair, Kate Middleton, Lady Diana, Mardon Jewelers, Prince William, provenance, Rapid Prototype, royal, the royals
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Thursday, January 27, 2011
These days, we buy a lot of jewelry, used as well as new. Last week, I worked with a young lady, a bit down on her luck and on the rebound from a relationship that didn’t work out. She was looking to sell her white gold solitaire ring that was set with the one carat [...]
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The gem auction world is all a-twitter over this outstanding emerald cut diamond offered at the Sotheby’s Auction, November 16 in Geneva, Switzerland. Graded Fancy Intense Pink, the diamond is also unusually high in clarity, pronounced VVS2 by GIA. Described as pure pink with no secondary hues, the pre-auction estimate for this ultra-rare gem is [...]
Also filed in CAD/CAM, Jewelry Industry Information, Jewelry Making, Precious Metals
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Tagged CAD/CAM, CNC, fancy blue diamonds, Fancy Intense Pink, Geneva, Jenny Sweaney, JewelSmith, Jim Sweaney, ModelMaster, natural color in diamonds, pink diamonds, recycled diamonds
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Thursday, November 11, 2010
Every now and then, we see vintage jewelry that really excites us. Recently, while working with a client on her new custom ring, we were discussing what to do with some pieces of jewelry that she doesn’t use anymore. We buy cast off and damaged jewelry to recycle, as well as consigning resalable pieces. As [...]
Also filed in Estate Jewelry, Jewelry Industry Information, Jewelry Making
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Tagged Art Nouveau, bloomed gold, Edwardian, enameled jewelry, Estate Jewelry, Late Victorian, Old Mine, Old Mine cut, vintage jewelry
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These two sapphires are both from the island of Sri Lanka, both are heat enhanced, both are from the same vendor, both weigh about the same. Here’s another photograph, same stones, same photographer (myself), same camera, same photo stage, similar macro lens, slightly different lighting. Can you guess which one costs more?
We completed a most beautiful engagement ring a while back but weren’t able to post this blog till now. It was one of the most challenging projects we’ve ever done! Our clients Megan and Mike, big fans of antique and period jewelry, fell in love with a 1920′s Art Deco platinum ring in our estate [...]
28.79 ct. Deer Creek Fire Agate in 18K Gold My mission this year at Tucson included re-establishing some of my connections to the fire agate community– last year I finished this fire agate ring which has been drawing major compliments, so I figured it’s time to try a few new pieces in our market. Over [...]
Also filed in Jewelry Industry Information, Jewelry Making
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Tagged Bob Beaudry, botryoidal formation, Deer Creek, fire agate, Guy Paul, Howard Imboden, Larry Grey, Ryszard and Lynn Krukowski, Safford, Slaughter Mountain
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Shangri-La is a romantic name that evokes a vision of a heavenly land where people live nearly immortal lives in total happiness. Our friend, Michael Schofield, discovered a jeweler’s version of Shangri-La while visiting the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, nestled high in the Himalayas. Guided by his interest in indigenous forms of art and jewelry, [...]
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
It’s that wonderful week when the gem trade focuses on Tucson, the little desert city that could. For over 50 years now, our friends and colleagues in the colored stone business have been getting down to business in convention centers, under tents, in parking lots, and of course, hotel rooms. Merchants present everything from the [...]
