A gem dealer and friend sent me this photograph of what he says is the largest Russian Alexandrite of quality currently on the market. His excuse for the quality of the photo is that it was taken with a cell phone camera in the lunch area outside the GJX show during this year’s Tucson gem […]
We’ve all heard that question, lately more and more in this difficult economy. Not an easy question to answer- it all depends on what it is, who’s buying, who’s selling. For a discussion of the issues related to appraising estate or used jewelry, visit the Mardon blog
The rebirth of the Burma ruby production in the early 90’s has all but vanquished the Thai ruby from the market place. What small production remained has been totally decimated by the current economic collapse- the miners have fled back to the rice fields just to survive. Yet, the Thai ruby has a following. A […]
The best rubies from Burma have long been designated as Pigeon’s Blood red, a rather poetic descriptive term that has come to be an actual grading term, signifying the most sought after color in ruby. Below are photos of some other Pigeon’s Blood stones we have known! In the second of several blogs on the […]
We sold this fine and rare 4 ct. Burma ruby, documented by the GRS lab in Switzerland as Pigeon’s Blood Red- it’s value has increased about 50% in 4 years, even in today’s turbulent economy. Great stones like this are now very difficult to find- not only are they increasingly rare in nature, but mining […]
Our client wanted a large wearable ring for her 8 mm diamond, with peirced work and floral elements reminiscent of Victorian and Edwardian times. We found a great matched pair of padparadscha sapphires as accents. Hand engraving was the key to making this design sing- see the finished product on the Mardon Blog!
Actually, more often than not, it is hers and his- we made her custom natural alexandrite and diamond engagement ring first. Then we made her matching wedding band. Then we made a custom wedding band for him, based on the her design. It’s really fun when both bride and groom are involved in the design […]
This gorgeous 6.85 ct. moonstone from Sri Lanka exhibits perfect adularescence. Moonstones like this are sometimes called Adularia, after their discovery near the Adula Mountains of the Swiss Alps. Adularescence is also referred to as schiller (shiller), and is caused by alternating layers of albite and orthoclase feldspar interfering with light. Interestingly, the more closely […]
While reviewing material for a recent blog on the plight of the Japanese akoya pearl farmers, I was struck by one index card from a presentation we made at the 50th Anniversay AGS Conclave in New Orleans in 1984. I worked in the pearl business with John Latendresse in the early 1980’s, and even then, […]
This Art Deco bracelet was either modified by the original seller or by an owner. The remnant tubing and center join indicates the middle section of the bracelet may have originated as a pair of clips or a buckle of some type. Pairs of diamond clips were de rigueur during the 1930’s, especially with the […]