Skip to content

Category Archives: Jewelry Industry Information

Christmas on Main Street

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Yes, it’s that time of the year again. We retail jewelers all look forward to having a busy and profitable holiday season, but dread the long hours and hard work. Our open air walking mall was the perfect place for a kickoff party for the upcoming holidays. Lots of folks in the store, schmoozing and […]

Also filed in | Tagged | Comments (0)

How Consumers Can Get a Fair Price for Their Gold

Friday, October 16, 2009

Along with record prices for gold, we in the jewelry industry have had to contend of late with bad press about the bad gold buying practices of some in our industry– The Consumerist has run a series of articles blasting Cash4Gold, and Consumer Reports just published the results of tests they ran this last summer […]

Also filed in Precious Metals | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (0)

The Last Word on Blue Sapphire

Friday, October 9, 2009

In the final installment of our series on how to evaluate the color of blue sapphires, we examine various ways to choose color, including personal preference, grading, science, and market price. The most controversial issue is whether or not the sapphire has been heat treated.  We briefly review the history of heat treatments of sapphire […]

Also filed in Gemstones | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

What Is My Jewelry Worth?

Friday, July 17, 2009

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

Also filed in | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Thai Ruby, a Different Red

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

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 […]

Also filed in Gemstones | Tagged | Comments (0)

Magick Gems #1– The Moonstone

Saturday, June 20, 2009

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 […]

Also filed in Gemstones, Jewelry Making | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

Is Japan Losing its Pearl Farms?

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

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, […]

Also filed in Gemstones | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Waking Sleeping Beauty-Restoring Emeralds

Saturday, May 16, 2009

One of the skills we learn as gemologists is how to evaluate damage to gemstones.  Most jewelers know that diamonds can be repaired or recut, but what about other gems, like this emerald?  Emeralds are usually enhanced with oils or resins, complicating the process. Our Blog, Recutting Emeralds tells success stories of three different emeralds, […]

Also filed in Gemstones, Jewelry Making | Tagged , , , | Comments (3)

Exquisite Japanese Metalwork

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

This wonderful panel, one of nine in a hinged link bracelet and less than one inch high, shows the superb craftsmanship and artistic vision of an unknown Japanese metalworker. We think the piece might be Meiji period or a little later-we’ve only seen this quality of work on samurai objects. After the Meiji Restoration, since […]

Also filed in Jewelry Making, Precious Metals | Tagged , | Comments (5)

How Insured Jewelry is Replaced Really Matters

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Beware of the pitfalls when you insure your jewelry—not all jewelry insurance policies are equal.  Begin with a good appraisal by a qualified appraiser, shop carefully, and ask the right questions. For a full discussion of these issues, read our latest Blog, Jewelry Insurance 101C

Also filed in | Tagged , | Comments (0)