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A Look at Oprah’s Earrings

July 1, 2009

Oprah Winfrey - one of the most influential women in the entertainment history…and beyond! Her fashion choices matter. Every day, the average woman “checks in” with her look to see what Oprah’s wearing…and how they can wear it more affordably!

At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we’re happy to take a celebrity look and make it distinctly your own. If there’s a pair of earrings on Oprah (or a necklace on Madonna or a ring on Beyonce) that you long for, but is out of your budget, we can make a piece tailor made for you…and your wallet!

Here’s a look at some of Oprah’s earrings, for ideas:

Posted in Celebrity Jewelry

What do Queen Victoria and Gwen Stefani have in Common?

June 30, 2009

Joseph Schubach Jewelers can create pieces made in your mind’s eye: from a stunning moissanite solitaire necklace to a heirloom-inspired engagement ring. We’re in step with any current jewelry trends as well, such as the very “in” charm bracelets.

Charms are all the rage this season, popularized by pop star Gwen Stefani. Though of course, they’ve been in vogue for quite some time.

According to one Victorian website:

Queen Victoria may also get the lion’s share of credit for popularizing the charm bracelet and charm necklace, as we know it. She had a series of charms designed and produced to give as gifts to her extended family and circle of friends every New Year.

In 1861, Prince Albert died, and again Queen Victoria influenced the direction of jewelry design and production. She went into permanent mourning- only wearing black clothing and black jewelry for the rest of her life.

For several years all of England followed her example. Jet, a fossilized driftwood, suddenly became the material of choice for jewelry.  And what a stroke of luck that was for the good people of Whitby, on the coast of Yorkshire. They were sitting on the finest Jet deposits of the world. Carved Jet chains, Jet Crosses, Jet pins and earrings - indeed every style heretofore offered in colorful gems, glass and metal, were now produced in Jet.

Victorian double strand of jet beads and an ivory cherub brooch worn by Her Royal Highness. The Princess Louise, Marchioness of Lorne. She was the 4th of Queen Victoria’s daughters.

A vintage Charm piece from the Victorian era

Today’s Charm Bracelet

Posted in Jewelry Education and Advice

Summer Jewelry Trends - Back to Nature

June 29, 2009

It’s arrived in its typical splendor and fashion. Summer. Time to show a little more skin and dress with a little more pizazz and color. Put your beige and navy blues aside and let some brighter hues shine through.

The “bigger is better” trend still continues when it comes to jewelry. It’s time to find a piece that really shows off. Subtly is for another day! This summer, find a piece that showcases all that Mother Nature has to offer: bright, blooming jewelry that practically grows on you!

According to one expert:

Charms, Charms, Charms

As sleeve lengths become shorter and necks become more exposed, expect to see necks and wrists dripping with colorful charms. Taking a lead from such celebrities as Gwen Stefani, charms are a way to express your individuality and your personal interests. Whether you wear a bracelet or necklace with a few carefully selected charms or chains overloaded with them, they’re sure to make a statement this year.

Silver

With the economy in the doldrums, a flash of silver adds a touch of brightness. Gold may be out of most people’s price range, but silver is still an affordable option. You can also expect to see silver mixed with other metals including brass, copper, and gold-filled for a fun and affordable jewelry alternative. Oxidized silver will give a slightly vintage look will be seen. The good news? Silver is timeless and never really goes out of style.

A Natural Touch

Although bright colors will dominate, stylish trendsetters still want their jewelry to have a natural, organic touch. Think natural beads and gemstones such as turquoise, jade, and coral for a splash of color straight from Mother Nature. A newer natural material that will be showcased in necklace and bracelet creations is bamboo which is the new “wood” for spring. Don’t forget about the standard semiprecious stones such as onyx. If it’s natural, it’s in for spring and summer 2009.

Botanicals

This is another play on nature. You can expect to see nature blooming on the wrists, ears, and necks of fashion forward women this spring and summer. Leaf and floral themed pendants and charm will bring fashion closer to nature while adding an elegant touch to spring fashions.

Drama

Jewelry for summer 2009 is anything but demure. If you can’t afford to make a statement with a new designer outfit, you can at least layer on the necklaces and bracelets for high impact. Expect to see multiple eclectic necklaces and bracelets worn on wrists and necks, creating visual drama. What better way to express yourself?

Focus on the Wrists

If you want to make a strong fashion statement this season, rediscover your wrists. From jewelery cuffs to bold bangles, wrists and arms will be in the spotlight. “Arm candy” is an inexpensive way to update your spring and summer wardrobe for 2009. Think statement making!

With so much jewelry excitement, you can quickly update your wardrobe without spending a fortune this year and still step out in style.

Here’s a Joseph Schubach Jeweler piece de resistance from our Joe Jeweler line that simply screams summer:

Style 7380GM

Yellow Gemesis Sun Pendant

“Sun” pendant with a 1/3ct Gemesis cultured diamond with fancy yellow or orange color, and .14ct t.w. natural round pave’ set diamonds. The pendant sits on a 16″ black rubber cord with a 14kt gold clasp. Approximately 5/8″ tall.

Available Metal: 14kt White Gold, Yellow Gold And Platinum
Available Stone Size: 1/3ct

Posted in General Jewelry Info

Elizabeth Taylor’s Love Affair with Jewelry

June 24, 2009

Taylor’s long lasting love affair with jewelry has been memorialized with her book “My Love Affair with Jewelry” where she takes the reader on a tour of her astounding jewelry collection.

She writes “I mean, how many young women get a set of rubies just for doing something wholesome like swimming laps? Or win a diamond ring at Ping-Pong with their husband…? Well, I did, and for all of these memories and the people in my life I feel blessed.”

Elizabeth Taylor wearing the Taylor-Burton pear shaped diamond pendant

Taylor wearing the famous Krupp Diamond

(above) This platinum-set diamond ring is from the Elizabeth Collection of House of Taylor Jewelry, a Los Angeles-based international jewelry company whose principal shareholders include movie legend Elizabeth Taylor. The 5.98-carat oval-cut diamond in its center is “internally flawless” and surrounded by 3.96 carats of round brilliant diamonds in a floral design. Of course, star power doesn’t come cheap. This ring will cost you a cool $1.3 million.
(House of Taylor Jewelry)

Taylor’s book can be an inspiration for all sorts of jewelry choices. If there’s something that catches your eye, contact us and we can bring your dream to life!

Posted in General Jewelry Info

The Diamond…Is Bigger Always Better?

June 23, 2009

Oh, the big rock! Many of us think a big, stunning diamond is the only way to go. But is it right for you? Let’s address the “bigger is better” myth for a second:

1. Consider your personality. Are you an extroverted type? Do you really like the “wow” factor? Then maybe a big diamond (or moissanite or Gemesis) is perfect for you, so you can dazzle with the best of them.

2. Consider your style. Are you an understated dresser? Or do your fashion choices scream, “Look at me!” A ring will be something you’ll be wearing for a long, long time. While a big ring looks great while showing it off to friends, it may not be appropriate for the long haul.

3. Quality counts for me than size. There are many large stones out there that have no life to them. Or they may be poorly cut. Or have visible inclusions. A subtle, smaller gem may speak more loudly than a big, ol rock.

4. Setting counts more. You can often have a big diamond feel on an appropriate setting. Diamond shapes such as marquise, pear shapes and oval can exude a larger feel, especially when set properly.

5. Diamond Alternatives. If you simply must have that big experience (but don’t have such a big budget to match it), you’ve never been luckier than now. There are fantastic alternative such as moissanite and Gemesis that are affordable and “wow”able!

All of these factors - and more - come into play when purchasing a piece of jewelry. Big gems may impress…but they may not be right for you. Or perhaps you can have a big rock experience based on a smart cut and setting choice. Bottom line: wowing people is great but a ring needs to match you and your soul. Then it’s a big ring, no matter what!

Here’s a ring of ours, where the simplicity and clean cut speak volumes:

Style 9915-7.5mm

Round Solitaire Engagement Ring With Pave Diamonds

Four prong solitaire engagement ring with 1/10ct t.w. pave’ diamonds. Fits an 7.5mm round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone)

Posted in Diamond Engagement Rings

How to NOT Overaccessorize!

June 22, 2009

While statement pieces have been all the rage this last year, it’s important to realize when you’ve overdone it! Many of these statement pieces, for instance, are meant to to standalone - meaning that piece and that piece only! Not only do you muddy the look of your central piece when you add too many extras, you also resemble a 3-ring circus desperately in need of a ring leader!

Here are some sage words of wisdom from Heather Edden, a specialist in the field:

Jewelry is one of the more commonly thought of accessories but there are simple rules that should be remembered with jewelry. There are classic pieces which everyone should have gold hoops and pearls. Pearls are especially important because they can go with most anything. A nice string of pearls can be used to make casual outfits look classier. Also remember when accessorizing with jewelry do not drown yourself in it. If you wear a thick/large necklace avoid wearing large hanging earrings, settle for simple studs instead. Like wise if you do decide to wear large earrings wear a thin chain or avoid a necklace all together and show off your natural neckline. The same can be said for wearing bracelets, though bangles are fun too many of them just becomes distracting. Remember pearls and diamonds go great with black, think Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Also pay attention to accents and buttons in your clothing. If the outfit you are wearing has gold buttons or accents try to wear gold jewelry with the same finish.

Here is a classic of ours that goes with just about anything:

Freshwater Pearls - 8.5mm - 11.5mm

Freshwater pearls, 17″ with 14kt yellow gold clasp

8.5mm-9.5mm: Now $299
9.5mm-10.5mm: Now $399
10.5mm-11.5mm: Now $499

Posted in General Jewelry Info

Lost and Found Wedding Band

June 17, 2009

Here’s a great story about Mr. and Mrs. Marzec who live in St Petersburg. Mrs. Marzec, who is 88 years old, was a seamstress for the famed New York City designer Adolfo and worked on such famous items of clothing as the red dress and hat that Nancy Reagan wore to her husband’s first innauguration. This wonderful story showcases how Mrs. Marzec’s ring was lost and later returned to her and what her wedding band means to her. It’s a great read.

Posted in Uncategorized

Your Daily Dose of Good News

June 17, 2009

We thought it would be nice to post a little bit of good news on our blog every day.  We found these two little news feeders, one posts a positive news story and one posts a very nice thought for the day. Both are non-denominational so they should be good for everyone. Check back daily and let us know what you think.

Posted in General Jewelry Info, Uncategorized

The First Synthetic Diamonds - a Brief History

June 17, 2009

Before Moissanite and Gemesis became popular diamond alternative, many people searched furtively for a way to make diamonds that didn’t require all that difficult and messy mining. They wanted diamonds on the easy, basically!

According to ABC Science:

The first successful synthetic diamonds were made in the mid-1950s by the General Electric Company in New York. They began back then with tiny industrial diamonds, and can today make tiny gems – but they are more expensive to make, than to dig the natural ones out of the ground.

Nature makes diamonds some 200-or-so kilometers underground, where the temperature and pressure are high enough. Then a strange geological phenomenon called a Kimberlite Pipe erupts, a little bit like a volcano, towards the surface, carrying diamonds with it. At the surface, the cooled-down Kimberlite pipe is anything from 100 to 1,000 metres across.

Once you have found your Kimberlite, you’re on Easy Street. You just dig into the hard Kimberlite, bring all the rock to the surface, and extract the diamonds. In Kimberley in South Africa, the Big Hole has been dug out to a depth of about one kilometre.

Worldwide, the current annual diamond production is split – the mines give us about 20 tonnes of industrial diamonds and 6 tonnes of gems, while the labs provide about 100 tonnes of synthetic diamonds.

Today, more people are concerned about the ecological damage that diamond mines cause as well as the political implications in fractured countries. Diamond alternatives such as Gemesis, moissanite and Cubic Zirconia are extremely high quality - offering the full diamond experience for a fraction of the price.

Take a look at some of our moissanite offerings, for instance:

Style 8714M

Hand Made Cushion Cut Moissanite Ring With Pave’ Diamonds

Custom made fashion ring featuring a 2.50ct (dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created cushion cut moissanite and 1/3ct t.w. pave’ side diamonds with a bezel set diamond on each end in platinum. This piece is hand made and has hand applied filigree engraving and scroll work on two sides, approximately 5mm wide at the top. Also made to accomodate round, cushion & princess center stones starting at 2.0ct

Metal: Platinum
Stone Size: 2.50ct
Ring Size: 4 - 8
Call For Pricing

Style 6851M

Genuine Yellow Sapphire And Moissanite Ring

Customized and handcrafted version of style 1250M: 6.80ct yellow sapphire center with 1.50ct (3.0ct t.w. dia equiv) moissanite trillions on either side set into 14K white gold.

Metal: 14kt White Gold
Stone size: 6.80ct
Ring size: 4 - 8

Posted in General Moissanite Info

The Micro Pave Movement

June 16, 2009

“Micro pave is the next generation of hip hop jewelry. You can get that diamond look without paying diamond prices. Some of our customers are entertainers who could easily afford diamond bling style jewelry, but choose to wear micro pave jewelry as the quality is practically indistinguishable from diamonds.” - Tom Diep of King Ice Jewelry

Yes, even the most diehard bling wearer is feeling the pinch of a tight economy. But all is not lost. There are alternatives - amazing alternatives like moissanite and Gemesis and Cubic Zircona - that offer that over-the-top jewelry experience for a fraction of the cost.

The tough economic climate also offers jewelry designers an opportunity to showcase their creative sides.

Take a look at some of these fun, micro pave pieces that let your bling sing!

Source: SoJones

Posted in Jewelry Education and Advice