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Archive for April, 2009

A Brief Lesson in Gemesis Diamonds

April 29, 2009

Gemesis cultured diamonds are becoming increasingly popular for a vast array of reasons but the main ones include extremely high quality, affordable price and ecological conscientiousness. The consumer of today wants to feel decked out in jewels but in a way that's in step with our time.

Gemesis began creating diamonds in its laboratories in the 1990's. According to Wikipedia:

Since then, the quality and craftsmanship of their product has steadily increased. We have a wide array of Gemesis diamond jewelry to choose from – or better yet, tell us what you'd like to create and we can make your dream piece for you.

Hand made "half moon"
chandelier earrings with 1ct t.w. Gemesis cultured diamonds in fancy
yellow or orange color, 1/4ct t.w. pave natural round diamonds and
1/2ct t.w. natural princess cut diamonds (1 3/4ct t.w.). Earrings
measure approximately 1.5" without the ear wire. 
 
Available Metal: 14kt White Gold, Yellow Gold And Platinum

Posted in Gemesis Cultured Diamonds

Big, Bold but Affordable Jewelry Still the Trend

April 28, 2009

From moissanite to Lucite, the focus of today's jewelry is big, bold and clean. A simple outfit can be accentuated in a big way with a statement piece that gracefully takes center stage.

"It's the jewelry that actually makes the look," says fashion stylist
Jesse Garza, co-founder of Visual Therapy, a New York wardrobe
consultancy, and co-author, with his Visual Therapy partner Joe Lupo,
of Life in Color: The Visual Therapy Guide to the Perfect Palette for Fashion, Beauty, and You!. Says Garza,

"I love a flattering, clean backdrop with a statement piece–a pop of color."

According to Forbes:

 

Hand Made And Engraved Moissanite Ring With Yellow Sapphires And Pave' Diamonds

Hand
made/hand engraved platinum ring with a 4.50ct (dia equiv) Charles and
Colvard created round moissanite, 1/2ct t.w. yellow sapphires and 1/3ct
t.w. pave' diamonds. Also available with pink or blue sapphires.

Posted in General Jewelry Info

D.I.Y. Contestant Thrilled with Results!

April 27, 2009

One of our D.I.Y. Custom Design Jewelry contestants is already raving about the finished product. (Frankly, he was the mastermind behind it – we just did the legwork!)

You have a few more days to toss your hat in the ring, so what are you waiting for? Our contest allows YOU to choose the design and the material (from diamonds to moissanite to cubic zirconia, for instance.)

Since you choose the material, you ultimately choose the price. Just by entering, you receive a 50% discount on our design fees. And if you win? $500 toward your purchase.

                                                                     

~~~~~~

Here's last year's D.I.Y. Contest Winner:

Posted in Customer Testimonials

Choosing the Right Necklace for your Neckline

April 22, 2009

If you are like me, you haven't thought much about where your necklace falls in relation to your neckline and how it can accentuate an outfit. I recently purchased a gorgeous moissanite pendant necklace but didn't think much about the way it worked on me, in relation to my size or my clothes. But there is an art to choosing the length of your necklace, depending on your wardrobe and your body type.

Here's some advice from the experts:

1. Consider the occasion. Opt for a simple, understated piece for daytime and a more precious or extravagant piece for evening.

2. Accent a V-neck with a drop pearl necklace or solitaire pendant. This
same piece also complements boat-neck and crew neck tops. Match gemstone
colors to those found in your outfit and earrings.

3. Accessorize strapless and off-the-shoulder necklines with a necklace
that remains close to the neck. Pair a faux gem choker on an invisible
string with a top made of satin or silk. Add elegant sophistication with a short strand of pearls.

4. Pair an open-collar blouse with a thicker, chunkier piece of costume
jewelry. Faux silver or gold interlock chains that lie flat on the
collarbone accent a dressy casual outfit or business suit. Coordinate your earrings and belt with the tones in your necklace.

5. Enhance a jewel-neck or turtleneck sweater with a long string of
colorful beads. Precious stones work well with a thicker day look,
while crystals bring a little glamor to an evening ensemble.

6. Pair a square-neck top with a pendant that dangles from a long chain.
Consider lengths that fall between the collarbones.

Posted in General Jewelry Info

Deadline for D.I.Y. (Dream it Yourself) Custom Design Jewelry Contest Extended!

April 21, 2009

We're pleased to announce that our D.I.Y. (Dream it Yourself) Custom Design Jewelry contest has been extended until May 1st. This contest is particularly dear to us, at Joseph Schubach Jewelers. Not only does it give you the opportunity to design your own heartfelt piece of jewelry but it gives us the chance to bring it to fruition.

It’s as simple as 1 – 2 – 3: 

1. You dream it.

You can have that piece of jewelry you’ve had your eye on. Just give
us a sketch or photograph or online image. If it’s just an idea
floating around in your head, talk to one of our skilled staff members
who will be happy to translate it for you at (888) 724-8222 or send us
an email along with any photos to support@schubach.com.

2. We create it – affordably.

Your jewelry dream can come true at a price you design as well! We
know exactly how to bring your dream to life cost-efficiently using
traditional and alternative materials: from moissanite to natural
diamonds; synthetic gemstones to those found in nature; from platinum
to palladium.

3. Save big!

Simply by entering, you instantly save 50% in custom design fees. In
addition, your creation is automatically entered into our 2nd annual
DIY Custom Design Jewelry Contest, where you could win an additional
$500, if your piece is chosen.

As we create your masterpiece, we’ll place it on our online Gallery
for your friends, family and site visitors to see. At the end of the
promotion, we'll hold a contest and the winning contestant will receive
$500 towards their custom purchase.

Our DIY Custom Design Jewelry Contest allows you to be the artist
that you’re meant to be. So give us a call at (888) 724-8222 or send us
an email to support@schubach.com and we'll help you get the piece of
jewelry you've been dreaming of!

Here’s last year’s winner, Courtney Semeniuk and his wife Nikki’s "Azure Dream"

Now get busy dreaming!

Posted in Custom Jewelry Design Contest

During a Tough Economy, Moissanite Shines Through

April 20, 2009

As wedding budgets continue to shrink and extraneous gift items become, well, extraneous, moissanite stands out as a viable, politically savvy alternative for jewelry choices as sales for this diamond alternative continue to increase amidst an ailing market.

One of the biggest pros, obviously, is the cost. Not only is moissanite less expensive than a diamond but more durable. It also has more "fire" – a term to describe the radiance and refractive quality of a gem.

Take a look at the example below:

                             Moissanite (on the left) with 2½ times more fire than diamond

Moissanite is also lacking in the stigma of other diamond alternatives. As the diamond mining process is experiencing more public scrutiny because of its political and ecological ramifications, moissanite is becoming a smart, politically correct alternative.

In other words, a moissanite choice isn't simply based on affordability but consciousness.

Take a look at our vast array of Joseph Schubach Jewelers moissanite products. If you can't find what you are looking for, we'll be happy to create it. At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we're more than just jewelers, we're artists!

Posted in General Moissanite Info

Celebrity Engagement Rings – From Antique to Custom Design to Over the Top!

April 16, 2009

Celebrity engagement rings come in all shapes and colors and sizes with only one thing in common: size! Now, where you average Joe and Jane can afford a replica of one of these over-the-top pieces (in moissanite or cubic zirconia, for instance), these people wear the real deal. (Though even celebrities feel the pinch of our latest economic woes!)

Here are some literally stunning examples:.

• Elizabeth Taylor, when engaged to her third husband, Michael Todd, wore a nearly 30-carat emerald cut diamond.
  

• Lady Diana Spencer wore an 18-carat deep blue oval sapphire circled by fourteen diamonds when she promised to become Princess Diana.
  

• Catherine Zeta-Jones’ nuptial promise to Michael Douglas was sealed with a 10-carat antique horizontal set marquise diamond.
  

• Despite the eventual cancellation, Jennifer Lopez’s finger sparkled with a 6-carat radiant shaped pink diamond while she was engaged to Ben Affleck, a stone reported to cost more than $3 million.
  

• Paris Hilton’s short-lived engagement was highlighted by the 24-carat emerald cut diamond ring.
  

• Donald Trump presented his bride-to-be Melanie Knauss with an overwhelming 12-carat emerald cut engagement ring reported to cost a cool $1 million.
  

Source: LovetoKnow.com

Lady Diana Spencer wore an 18-carat deep
blue oval sapphire

Jennifer Lopez’s 6-carat
radiant shaped pink diamond

Catherine Zeta-Jones
10-carat antique horizontal
set marquise diamond

If you don't have a rock star budget but want that same look, Joseph Schubach Jewelers can make your dream come true. Bring us a photograph or an idea and we can work together to make it happen.

Posted in Celebrity Jewelry, Uncategorized

Can the Sparkle Still Shine for the Jewelry Business?

April 15, 2009

Of course, jewelry seems like the first thing to go during a tough economic phase.

Zale Corporation announced in February that it planned to close 115
stores. Fortunoff, a prominent engagement ring source for generations, filed for bankruptcy in February. Even Tiffany & Company
reported that its profits in the fourth quarter dropped by more than 75
percent.

But that's the entire story. Entrepreneurs in the jewelry business and smaller businesses in general can actually thrive during trying times.

Jeffrey A. Carr, executive director of the Berkley Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at New York University’s
Stern School of Business, said entrepreneurs can thrive in recessions
because they can bargain more on fixed costs like rent and personnel.

Consumers are more willing to try out new brands when they have less
money to spend, he said.“When things are going well and you have
money, customers and consumers tend to get into patterns,” he said.
“There’s lots of reasons to start a business now.”
(Source: NY Times)

So not is all doom and gloom. As we watch big business and big corporations tumble like houses of cards, it could be the small businesses that really blossom now, as people are forced to think outside the box.

Check out our Moissanite Page which offers Charles and Colvard moissanite at the fraction of the price of a diamond. Do your part for the economy and good taste!

Posted in General Jewelry Info

“Under the Mattress” Gold Helping the Economy

April 14, 2009

By now, you've heard the commercials and ads: "Sell your unwanted gold jewelry for cold cash!" It's not surprising that this advertising plea is more common during tough economic times where people need the cash and jewelers need the extra business!

In Turkey, exports of "under the mattress" gold, as its called, is actually changing the face of the economy. it is being reprocessed into bullion, dramatically increasing the power of
Turkey’s exports. Exports of pearls and other precious stones are also
on the rise. Last year, the sector as a whole reached $5 billion in
exports, but it has already reached $2.6 billion in the first two
months of this year.

Of course, this isn't a trend seen only in Turkey. The United States and Western Europe are still the biggest export markets,
but countries in the Caucasus and Asia are increasingly important.

What does this mean to you the customer? It might be time to visit that jewelry box of yours and give it a good once over. If there are pieces you've been holding onto that are dated, broken or you just don't like, contact Joseph Schubach Jewelers and we'll turn that unwanted jewelry into cash – or a new piece of jewelry.

Posted in General Jewelry Info

April 8, 2009

Our Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace

A vintage
style pendant with round brilliant stones set on an 18"
cable chain.

A Timeless Heirloom for Any Occasion

Old is new. You read that right. Jewelry
that hearkens back to yesteryear is all the rage right now. Why? Well, antique jewelry has a classic, timeless
look to it and in these times, people want to make
purchases that are smart, “trend proof" and make them feel terrific!

That’s
why we’re particularly pleased to spotlight our Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace
this week. This piece reflects an aura of years past but with a truly
contemporary dazzle. And, it's a Joseph Schubach Jewelers DIY (Dream it Yourself) Piece where you dream the design and you set the price!

That's
right, you set the price. All DIY pieces can be designed to fit any
budget and are made to your specifications. You choose the metal, the
accent stones and the center stone. We’ll then craft your dream to your specifications using quality materials and expert craftsmanship for an heirloom that's guaranteed to be an all-time classic in your collection!

 

This version of the Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace boasts
a 1/3 ct center stone surrounded by 14 round brilliant cut accent
stones. It is a dainty and delicate piece, measuring approximately 3/8"
in diameter yet solid enough to last a lifetime since the setting is a
quality, sturdy cast piece, not a thin, lightweight stamped piece. The
cable chain slides directly through the setting so the pendant will
always sit straight in an optimal position on your neckline without
moving up or down the chain. The 18" cable chain is the ideal length
for most women to showcase a dangling pendant (longer or shorter chains
are also available, just call for details.) The cable chain is very
wearable and solidly made. It will not kink or bend and easily flows
around the curves of your neck and neckline. This pendant is very
versatile and can be dressed up for more formal occasions or dressed
down to be worn every day with a pair of jeans. It is one of the basics
for every woman's jewelry wardrobe. 

Choose between:

•  The Metal: 14
  karat, 18 karat or platinum

• The Side
  Stones: natural diamonds, moissanite, ruby, sapphire or you choose!

• The Center
  Stone: Whatever you dream, from ruby to sapphire, from natural diamond to clarity enhance diamond, from ______ to
  ______.

The
possibilities are endless since there are literally thousands of ways
to make this piece truly yours. You can alternate pave set sapphires
and diamonds or pave set rubies and diamonds around a white diamond. Or
set a fancy color Gemesis cultured diamond in the center with natural
white accent diamonds surrounding it. Or surround your birthstone with
pave set diamonds.

Whatever you dream, we can create.

The Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace
is one of our favorite signature pieces. The team at Joseph Schubach
Jewelers believes this piece has a genuine personality that can be felt simply by holding it.

Here’s
a few words from a client who chose this piece with blue
sapphire side stones:

“The magic begins when I
put on this necklace. I swear, it changes my mood! It’s so
elegant and timeless. I’ve worn it with a cocktail dress and
I’ve worn it with jeans and a white blouse. And every time I
wear it – and I do mean every time – someone comments on
it. People are just naturally drawn to it. I have lots of jewelry but
this is one piece that truly feels like mine, like it represents me.
It’s a very personal piece of jewelry.”

You
couldn’t ask for a better description of a signature piece –
jewelry that reflects and defines you. The Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace is
truly a piece with personality – a signature piece within your
reach.

Perhaps its slightly vintage feel
adds to its appeal. As we saw from the Oscars this year, old is new
(or “Old is the new new!) Fred Leighton’s classic pieces
adorned many a star on the red carpet this year:

Now while these vintage treasures
dazzle on the red carpet, our The Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace adds a certain sparkle
to your everyday. You get a little bit of that “statement
necklace” feel without the “style overload”
designed for over-the-top events such as the Oscars!

The
biggest trend in jewelry during these tough economic times is wise,
timeless choices. Women don’t want to forsake their jewelry
purchases but also need to choose something lasting with classic
appeal. This The Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace fits the bill
perfectly. Not only is the look of our The Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace
decidedly eternal,
but you can choose the stones or choose your price, making it
accessible as well!

If
budget is a real issue for you, then you can have the same classic
appeal of the The Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace for
a fraction of the price, if you choose moissanite or clarity enhanced diamond as your main pendant
stone.

If you’re new to the wonders
of moissanite and clarity enhanced diamonds, here’s a quick lesson:

Moissanite and clarity enhance diamonds have seen rising sales
despite a sagging economy…and for good reason. They're
durable, dazzling and decidedly doable, price-wise.

What is moissanite exactly?
Moissanite is the best diamond alternative available. It is a lab-created gemstone that reproduces (and in
some cases exceeds) the fire and brilliance of diamonds. Moissanite
is not a “fake diamond” in the true sense of the term.
It’s a diamond replicate that is becoming increasingly popular
because of its powerful, enduring presence. Moissanite
possesses a hardness of 9 1/4 on the Mohs’ scale, compared to
diamonds, which rates 10 so it wears extremely well. Moissanite also has a refractive index that
is higher and closer to diamonds than cubic zirconia. Its high
thermal conductivity transmits the same readings as a diamond on
standard heat conductivity-based diamond testers so it tests positive on some diamond testers. In a nutshell,
moissanite is often indiscernible from a diamond, even by a
professionally trained eye. For additional moissanite information, click here .

Another
option is clarity enhanced diamonds which are natural diamonds
enhanced to show their natural vibrant beauty at 1/3 less than the
price of a comparable, non enhanced diamond. CE diamonds are natural
diamonds with a flaw that reaches the surface. That flaw is then
seamlessly filled and completely hidden using century old techniques
with the final product that looks like a more expensive, better
quality diamond. For additional information on clarity enhanced diamonds, click here .

If
there’s one jewelry purchase to make this year, it’s our The Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace. We
guarantee classic, long-standing style with personality and a price
you can afford.

Make a statement for yourself this year. You’re
worth it!

And
please check us out on Facebook
and Twitter (joeschubach). We’d love to network with you!

Posted in Customer Testimonials