Thursday, November 12, 2015
In today’s world, some things change rapidly and some stay the same. Just in the last 20 years or so, jewelry making has changed radically. Previously we used labor intensive processes like carving wax models by hand to create our original designs and master models. We now use technological marvels like computer aided design and modeling (CAD/CAM) and […]
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Just back from the shop, this stunning Benitoite & platinum engagement ring was made to order for our client R. This young man truly went the extra mile to create this symbol of his love for his fiancé. Wanting something beautiful, exotic and rare, he chose Benitoite. Our California State Gemstone is all of that. One of the […]
The creative process is one of the things that makes us human. All of us have creative impulses and abilities. From the raw data of our senses and our life experiences, our minds build ideas based on thought, image, and emotion. We use these ideas in our daily life for such mundane things as everyday speech, […]
We acquired this highly unusual Art Deco Pools of Light necklace almost by accident. We recently purchased an estate of wonderful early 20th century jewelry items, mostly rings and pins. This piece and another interesting rock crystal necklace were included in the group. Since they had no gold content, we didn’t think too much about them […]
These three recently completed custom rings show the versatility and craftsmanship of the experts at Mardon, in particular our gemologists, custom designers and hand engravers. The spectacular platinum custom ring shown above is set with a 2 carat natural ruby that we brokered to our clients. Gemstone brokering means that our gemologists find a gem that meets your […]
Filed in CAD/CAM, custom jewelry, Gemstones, Jewelry Industry Information, Jewelry Making, Jewelry Services
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Tagged Art Deco Ring, CAD jewelry design, Chatham Created Ruby, custom ring, fire agate, Gemstone Broker, hand engraving, natural ruby, Platinum Ring
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We recently completed the resurrection of a ring that had been severely damaged. Fine jewelry is made from precious materials that when properly cared for, will last for centuries. Gemstones are durable and ancient– diamond crystals are typically 1 to 2 billion years old. Gold is eternal. It doesn’t deteriorate and is never discarded– if a style […]
A client inherited this gorgeous antique Yogo Sapphire pin and asked us to appraise it. Sapphires were known to occur in several areas of western Montana as early as 1865. For the most part, these deposits produced only moderately good sapphires. The discovery of sapphires in Yogo Creek was different. In 1895, famed gemologist G.F. Kunz, […]
Filed in Estate Jewelry, Gemstones, Jewelry Making, Uncategorized
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Tagged American Gem Society, antique jewelry appraiser, antique jewelry restoration, Edwardian jewelry, G.F. Kunz, montana sapphire, Victorian Jewelry, yogo sapphire
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We were thrilled to acquire this pendant featuring an authentic Piece of Eight silver coin from the most valuable sunken treasure ever found. In 1985, after 16 years of searching, famed (and persistent) treasure hunter Mel Fisher discovered the mother lode of all treasures off the Florida Keys. Valued at over 500 million dollars, the Atocha treasure contained […]
We recently had the pleasure of examining this superb antique chatelaine. Centuries ago, the lady of the house wore the chatelaine, a strap or bag looped over a belt at the waist. Typically, the various tools necessary for her to deal with her daily tasks, items such as keys, scissors, watches, etc. were attached with chains. During the last half […]
Filed in Estate Jewelry, Jewelry Industry Information, Jewelry Making, Jewelry Services
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Tagged basse-taille, chatelaine, French Revolution, guilloche, Marie Antoinette, painted enamel, Robert Robin, rose cut diamonds, rose engine
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Saturday, February 15, 2014
This exquisite necklace from the Edwardian period, circa 1900-1915, exhibits the fine craftsmanship we associate with antique jewelry. The piece was made by fabricating and forming raw metals into the parts of the jewel. The main body and dangles began as thin sheets of platinum. The chain and bezels were made from hand-drawn wires and […]
Filed in Estate Jewelry, Jewelry Industry Information, Jewelry Making, Jewelry Services, Precious Metals
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Tagged antique jewelry, Art Nouveau Jewelry, bead and bright cut, chasing, Edwardian jewelry, mil grain, piercing, repousse, trumming
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