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Below you find past articles that we feature in our bi-weekly email blast to 1000's of customers. They are fun fast facts that keep you coming back for more. Learn stuff you never knew you wanted to know.
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February's Birthgem is a Royal Classic
Traditionally, Russia has been the most important source of natural amethyst. But today, most of this purple gem is found in Brasil. Transparent pale lilac to deep purple amethyst is the birthgem of February and has also become a popular choice for Valentine's Day gifts as well. This beautiful gem is often found in large sizes that are absolutely clear of all internal flaws. While affordable, it has been the choice of royalty throughout the ages. It was a favorite of Catherine the Great of Russia and is prevalent in the crown jewels of London. Amethyst is in the coronation regalia of England, in the king's scepter, and in the coronet of the Prince of Wales. For a taste of royalty yourself, consider the purchase of your own personal royal purple jewels.
Special Looks for Men This Holiday Season
Jewelry is a great choice for men this holiday season. In fact, masculine jewelry has become more popular than ever these past few years. Business suits, or at least respectable business casual, have totally replaced the grungy look of the late 90's. With, this change of style has come a renewed interest in jewelry. Cufflinks are hot again, and men- both young and more mature-are wearing them. White is the popular metal choice, with white gold, silver and platinum leading the charge. Forget the loud style of rapper bling. The current look is subtle, yet bold, with many men choosing thick, angular bracelets. Another trend to note is that more men are choosing wedding bands set with a row of diamonds. It's a smart and rich look for today's married guy.
Jlo's $2 Million Diamond JeansJennifer Lopez just can't stay out of the jewelry news. First there was that awe-inspiring pink diamond engagement ring from Ben Affleck. Then there was all that bling she wore to her wedding to Marc Anthony. Now she's in the news again, this time with the advent of her clothing line, Sweetface by Jennifer Lopez. There was a $2 Million dollar pair of jeans, set with twenty carats of diamonds. "The ultimate fashion indulgence" according to an industry insider. Now thats an understatement ! Lopez also included an additional $10 million worth of additional jewelry to complement to debut her clothing line. She wore a 50-carat diamond ring to the event, just to keep up. So what's next with JLo? IT's easy to guess it might have something to do with Diamonds.
How Long is Long Enough? Choosing a Necklace Length
If you're thinking of buying a necklace or pendant - here are some guidelines to help you make the right choice. Consider the height of the woman, her bone structure, and of course, her sense of style. The petite woman, who stands 5' or less, looks best wearing necklaces of collar length or longer, as chokers tend to look like a line that minimizes height, while longer and oval shaped necklaces tend to emphasize height. Women of the average height of 5' to 5.5' tend to look good in any necklace or pendant design. Tall women look great in anything from chokers to beads or chains that fall below the waist. A simple rule is that full figured women can carry off large vivacious styles, while small-boned women look best with delicate designs.
Sapphire Works Well AS Engagement Gemstone
Sapphire was the choice of Prince Charles as his engagement gift to Diana. And it is an excellent choice as this gem is both breathtakingly beautiful and tough enough to hold up to daily wear. In the Asian tradition, sapphire was said to ward off evil omens and bring good fortune. This gem, most popular in deep blue, is of the mineral group corundum. All red corundum is by definition ruby. All other colors are sapphire. The word "sapphire" alone indicates the beautiful blue we are accustomed to. All other sapphire is qualified by color, for example, green sapphire, pink sapphire, and so on. Sapphire is the September birthstone as well as the official anniversary gem for the 5th and 45th years of marriage.
August: The Month of Pirates and Peridot
The favorite of pirates, and worn as an amulet against all evil, peridot is the birthgem for August and the official gift gem for the 16th anniversary of marriage. It was mined for over 3500 years on the volcanic island of St. John in the Red Sea, and is also mined today on an Apache reservation near Globe, Arizona. The crusaders first brought peridot to Europe during the Middle Ages, where it found its way into magnificent cathedrals where they were mistakenly presented as emerald. Because of its beautiful brilliant green, peridot was sometimes called the "evening emerald." The best qualities of peridot are lively and free of any brownish or olive coloring. Peridot can be so brilliant, in fact, that it flashes even in dim light.
Topaz is Enduring Golden and Blue Gift of November
Topaz, the birthstone of November, used to be most popularly known as a golden-yellow gem. In ancient times, most golden-yellow stones were called topaz. In fact, topaz occurs naturally colorless, as well as in orange-yellow, red, honey-brown, light-green, blue, and pink hues. In recent years, blue topaz, most the result of irradiation and heat treatments, have become an extremely popular and affordable gem. It was most likely named from the Sanskrit word topas, for "fire." The ancients used powdered topaz in wine to cure asthmas, insomnia, burns and hemorrhages. The gem was historically said to bring fruitfulness, faithfulness, and to prevent bad dreams. Blue topaz is the official gift for the 4th year of marriage, and Imperial golden topaz is the official 23rd anniversary gift.
Is It Real Gold? Pure Gold? Or Both?
Sometimes people want to know if their jewelry is "pure" gold or if it is "real" gold. The fact of the matter is that the only "pure" gold is 24kt. A piece of 24kt jewelry is 100% gold. This doesn't mean that a beautiful piece of 14kt or 18kt gold jewelry isn't real. It happens that 24kt gold is just a bit too soft for most jewelry wear. And that is why jewelry manufacturers add alloys (other metals, like copper, silver and zinc) to the mix. Eighteen karat gold is 75% gold and 25% alloy, and 14kt gold is 58.3% gold and 41.7% alloy. When shopping for gold jewelry, check the karat marking, along with the manufacturer's trademark, on the piece. European gold is marked 750 for 18kt and 585 for 14kt.
How to Travel with Fine Jewelry
A question I've been asked many times is what is the best way to travel with fine jewelry. There are two answers. Most reputable hotels will store your fine jewels in their safe. This is a practical solution if your jewelry is too formal to wear for daytime. The second solution is to wear only that jewelry that is versatile enough for both daytime and evening wear. If you travel often, you might consider treating yourself to some new jewelry that fits the bill. This way you don't have to worry about leaving your valuables with a stranger or worse yet, unattended in your hotel room. If you want to have a different look with your travel outfits, consider taking along some less expensive beads, earrings or even scarves.
Choosing Earrings to Highlight Your Face
If you've been thinking about a new pair of earrings, here are some guidelines to help you choose the right style. Take a look in the mirror and check out the basic shape of your face. If it is round, choose angular or geometric-style earrings drop or oval that draw the eye down from the ear. If you have a square jaw, you can soften the look with oval and marquise-shaped earrings. If you have a rectangular face, choose a round earring like a large button or a horizontal-designed hoop. If you have a heart-shaped face with a tiny chin, wide hoops, triangles and buttons will complement your look. The perfect oval face looks good with all of the above. But in all cases, try them on and see the effect for yourself.
The Mystery of the Diamond Stud Earring
There is no mystery about why certain jewelry items are classic. You will see them in jewelry stores ten years from now, just as you would have seen them 10 years ago (back in the 1900's). One such classic is the diamond stud earring. What a wonderful investment! This is a piece of jewelry that will look just as lovely and in fashion at a 50th wedding annivesary as it will at the 10th. Not only that, these earrings are comfortable and they look just as at home at a gala event as they do in the supermarket. With qualities like this, no wonder they are "classic." To keep your diamond stud earrings sparkling clean, soak in a commercial jewelry cleaning solution, brush, rinse well and pat dry with a clean, soft cloth.
Getting Rid of Smudge Marks on Gold Rings
If you've ever had a problem with a gold ring that creates a black smudge effect on your finger, you might think that there is something wrong with the ring or with your finger. Well neither is the case. It happens that the alloy metals mixed in with the gold in your ring can react to cosmetics and/or to humidity or smog. Fortunately, there is a way to prevent this problem. The solution? Simply wash your hands after applying makeup and before putting on your jewelry. Whether it is cosmetics or smog or humidity that is the culprit, it is a good idea to clean your jewelry often even every day, if necessary. A happy side effect is that you'll enjoy wearing your jewelry even more when it is sparkling clean.
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