August 19, 2008

Although the diamond is known as the hardest substance known to man, it needs to be properly cared for to keep its’ beauty and shine. The daily build-up of soap and cosmetics and the oils from your skin can dull your beautiful jewelry so if you wear your diamond everyday, it’s even more important to care for it properly.

Professional Cleaning – This is the best way to care for your precious jewelry. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to have your jewelry check the mounting and make sure the prongs or other settings are not getting loose.

Detergent Bath – The simplest way to clean your diamond is to let it set in a small bowl of warm, sudsy water. You can use any mild household detergent. Use a soft brush to clean your stone and the setting while it is in the water. Rinse your jewelry thoroughly in warm water and then dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.

Cold Water Soak – Mix together half cold water and half household ammonia. Let your diamond jewelry soak for 30 minutes. Then remove and brush the front and back with a soft brush. Run it one more time through the water mixture and then let it air dry on a paper towel.

Over the Counter Jewelry Cleaners – Your jewelry can provide a jewelry cleaner specifically made for diamonds. A good cleaner will help remove dirt and dissolve any oils or residue left on the stone.

Ultrasonic Cleaning – This involves a special machine that uses high-frequency vibration to clean the stone and the setting. It is placed in an enclosed cup with cleaning solution and in one minute, any dirt and oils are removed. This method can be done by your jeweler or you can purchase an ultrasonic cleaner for home use.

Posted by Linda at 9:51 pm   0 Comment(s)

August 19, 2008

The second you walk into a jewelry store, the lights begin to reflect on all those gorgeous stones sitting in those sparklingly clean glass cases. And most are instantly drawn to the diamonds, which is no surprise, but as you turn your glance to other areas of the cases you begin to see bright, brilliant colors. All the sapphires are in one group, next to that is the ruby, and then the emerald, all gorgeous. But do you wonder what all those colors mean. Most of us know the meaning behind red roses, love, and yellow roses, friendship, but do those color guides hold true for gemstones as well? Here is a little guide to the stone colors and their meanings.

Red – Just like the rose, it stands for love. But it also elicits a sense of excitement and adventure. So if you want to be noticed, treat your fingers to a little red gemstone.

Pink – This is pure femininity. It has the ability to steal someone’s attention and energy so if you want to make someone’s knees go weak, slip on a pink stone.

Purple – Vibrant and strong. This color brightens your mood and has the power to invigorate.

Black – This shows power and authority. It goes with anything and never goes out of style. If you’re looking to show confidence and strength, the black stones are for you.

White – Tranquility and peace are the feelings a white stone can bring. If you’re looking to be bold, yet subtle this is the stone for you.

Blue – Always one of the most popular colors, blue stands for loyalty. It’s a strong color that makes people feel that you are trustworthy and loyal.

Orange – The lighter shades have a sense of playfulness and enthusiasm, while the darker stones have a spicy and exotic side.

Yellow – This stone will get you noticed. But don’t go overboard. Yellow is a very cheerful color but can often be overpowering if overused. Just a hint of yellow can brighten your look.

Green – Makes us feel closer to nature. This color has a sense of calming and can bring balance to your day. 

Posted by Linda at 9:38 pm   0 Comment(s)

August 19, 2008

People often think that the most important part of an appraisal is the monetary value, but that is actually not true. Having an accurate and explicit description is the most important and most protective part. A good description will include information that accurately depicts the design, metal and the stones included in the piece.

An appraisal is an opinion based on knowledge gained through education and training, backed up by measurements from technical equipment and reinforced by experience. Appraisals are most often recommended for items worth more than $500. So when you get an appraisal on your precious items make sure you don’t try to save money. A professional evaluation you should expect to pay a fair fee, based on an hourly rate. If you have very intricate pieces it will take longer to examine it, so expect to pay a bit more.
An appraisal should include a complete description of each item appraised, including color photographs for identification and an estimate of the monetary value.

An average appraisal takes about 3-4 hours which means you won’t have to leave it overnight at your jeweler. But if you do leave it, make sure it is insured wherever you leave it.

Once the appraisal has been complete your documents will typically be ready in a few days. Verbal appraisals are fairly common and some jewelers will give you a verbal estimate of an items value, but it’s always best to have your jewelry professionally appraised in case something happens to it.

Posted by Linda at 9:36 pm   0 Comment(s)

August 19, 2008

Do you ever wonder what traditions lay behind rings and stones? We’ve all seen the classic engagement ring with the large center solitaire perched atop the shiny new band. But times have changed and now you’ll see rings that have multi-colored stones and rings that have no stones at all. So what is the history behind all these traditions?

The engagement ring is traditionally worn on the left ring finger and this dates back to ancient Rome, when people believed that the vena amoris (the vein of love) ran from the fourth finger of the left hand directly to the heart. Sweet right?

Here are some other interesting and fun traditions and their origins.
Why carry the bride over the threshold? Well, although it is chivalrous and very romantic the actual meaning came from a Western European tradition that if the woman tripped over the threshold the first time she entered it was bad luck, or if there were evil spirits in the home and the woman stepped on the threshold they would enter through the woman’s feet and doom the marriage. Although the history is interesting, I really like the chivalrous part better.

Old, New, Borrowed, Blue The saying, "Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue” is a common rhyme that dates back to the Victorian times. “Something old” represents the bond with the bride’s family and her attachment to her old life. “Something new” is a representation of the couple’s new life and hopes for their happiness and success in their future. “Something borrowed” is an item that is given by a happily married woman and its purpose is to share happiness with the new couple and finally the “something blue” stands for fidelity and constancy. I’ve seen this tradition a lot but I have to say the funniest fulfillment of a “something blue” had to be a blue Bic ballpoint pen that a friend of mine received from a bridesmaid who found it in a drawer at the church. 

Posted by Linda at 9:33 pm   0 Comment(s)

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