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General Jewelry Info

  • How Gold is your Gold?

    It always important, especially when buying online, to know your seller. A company like ours has 3 generations of service under its belt and an impeccable local and online reputation.

    But there are other ways to identify your product and ensure you are getting the real deal. Take gold for instance:

    Here’s some information on how to tell if the gold on your bracelet or necklace is really gold. The chlorine in bleach is dangerous to gold jewelry, so it’s best not to test gold in bleach, or else you’ll ruin your jewelry. Stress points like where the metal has been hammered, bent over stones in prongs, formed by chain making machines and the like are the most affected by chlorine. Soldered areas are sometimes affected by chlorine. White gold is most easily damaged but apparently this happens with yellow gold also at stress points in the metal.

    Chlorine will cause a darkening on gold, but on yellow gold it looks almost like a very pale gray color. White gold reacts the same way but sometimes goes darker. This is the chlorine reacting to the metals in karat gold. All jewelry metal of 18k, 14k and 10k has other metals in the recipe when the metal is made. Pure gold is mixed with mostly silver and copper (with nickel or palladium with white gold) to make metal strong enough for jewelry.

    The karat mark shows how much pure gold is in the mix. For instance, pure gold is called 24k. Now, 10k will have 10 parts pure gold and 14 parts of the other metals, all adding up to 24 part. 18k gold will be 18 parts pure gold and 6 parts other metals, all adding up to 24 parts. That is how it goes with karats.

    Yellow gold is not as dangerously affected by chlorine in bleach and a good buffing should make it okay, that is, if it is really gold. The best way to see if it is real karat gold is to have it tested. That means an acid test or a test using one of the newer electronic gold testers some jewelers use.

    Girls Disney Snow White Tiara Bracelet

    Girls Disney Snow White tiara bracelet with .12ct round brilliant diamonds and .29ct natural pink sapphires, 14kt yellow gold. Bracelet adjusts from 5″ to 51/2″






  • Specialty Items

    We’ve recently added a few more items to our Specialty Items category. This category contains items that are a little more unusual than what’s on the rest of our site. You’ll find one of a kind pieces, items that are available as custom orders, special deals that we run across and other interesting items that we think you’ll like. Some of these items are available for immediate purchase. Others can be used as examples or as a jumping off point for making your idea come to life! As usual, these items can be made using any metal and stone combination and can incorporate your own ideas.

    Here are a few recently added pieces. The sapphire pieces and the ruby piece have gorgeous, natural gemstones. They are some of the finest gemstones we’ve seen. The settings are all one of a kind and hand made. The diamond tennis bracelets are also gorgeous with very nice, well proportioned matching diamonds. All of these items are in stock and ready to ship.

    Natural Blue Sapphire and Trapeze Diamond Ring

    Natural Blue Sapphire and Trapeze Diamond Ring

    Natural Ruby and Diamond Ring

    Natural Ruby and Diamond Ring

    18ct t.w. Radiant Cut Diamond Tennis Bracelet

    18ct t.w. Radiant Cut Diamond Tennis Bracelet

  • Joe Jewelry Maltese Diamond and Pearl Crosses On Sale

    We added a couple of items to our sale page that I’m especially fond of. I’m fond of them because I designed them! Anyway, they’re great pieces, in my opinion anyway, and would make terrific holiday gifts! They’re in stock and ready to ship!

    Maltese Cross Diamond And Tahitian Pearl Necklace

    Maltese Cross with Diamonds And Tahitian Pearl

    Maltese Cross Earrings with Diamonds and Tahitian Pearls

    Maltese Cross Earrings with Diamonds and Tahitian Pearls

  • What Do You Think of these Pendants?

    Initial pendants with pave stones and pave initials

    Initial pendants with pave stones and pave initials

    Initial pendants with pave initials and no border

    Initial pendants with pave initials and no border

    Hi everyone. We’re wondering what you think about these potentially new items. We keep seeing these pave initial pendants and are wondering if we should carry them. If we do, you’ll be able to order them with all of the usual options that we offer: 14kt white, yellow or rose gold, 18kt white, yellow or rose gold, palladium or platinum. For the stones, we’ll offer them in diamond, moissanite, Radiance, sapphire, ruby, emerald and just about anything else you can imagine.  And, they can be made with a high polish or brushed finish.

    The first picture shows the series with pave set stones around the border and in the in initials. It measures about 3/4″ in diameter.

    The second picture shows the series with just the pave initials and measures slightly wider, around 7/8″ in diameter.

    And, of course, they’re available in any initial!

    Let us know what you think by voting below. If we end up carrying them, we’ll let you know and send you a ‘special deal’ coupon, so make sure you’re signed up for our Jewelry Club newsletter (on the right hand side of the website).

    Thanks!
    Joe

  • Everything You Need to Know about Gold…and More!

    Golden Facts:

    Gold is the most popular metal used in jewelry making. Here are some other uses of this precious metal:

    • McLaren F1 uses gold foil in the engine compartment

    • Gold is used in astronauts’ helmets

    • Gold can be used in food. Goldwater, traditional herbal liquor produced in Poland and Germany, contains flakes of gold leaf. There are also some expensive ($1000) cocktails which contain flakes of gold leaf.

    • Gold is used in the connectors of expensive electronic cables like audio, video and USB cables

    • Gold is used in computers, communications equipment, spacecraft, and jet aircraft engines

    • Colloidal gold (also known as “nanogold”, is a suspension (or colloid) of sub-micromete-sized particles of gold in a fluid – usually water) is used in research applications in medicine, biology and materials science. Colloidal gold is also the form of gold used as gold paint on ceramics prior to firing.

    • It is used for the protective coatings on many artificial satellites

    • It is used in infrared protective faceplates in thermal protection suits

    • It is used in electronic warfare planes like the EA-6B Prowler

    • Gold is used as the reflective layer on some high-end CDs
    • The isotope gold-198 is used in some cancer treatments and for treating other diseases

    • Gold leaf, flake or dust is used on and in some gourmet foodstuffs, notably sweets and drinks as decorative ingredient

    • Gold alloys are used in restorative dentistry, especially in tooth restorations, such as crowns and permanent bridges

    • Gold can be made into thread and used in embroidery



    Source: Purple Slinky

    Styel 7233WB

    Ladies’ 14kt Yellow Gold Anniversary Band With Channel Set Diamonds

    Ladies’ anniversary band, 1.0ct t.w. channel set diamonds, 14kt yellow gold.

    Metal: 14kt Yellow Gold
    Stone Size: 1.0ct t.w.
    Ring Size: 4 – 8

  • A One of a Kind Diamond Destined to make Two People Very Happy

    The person who receives this diamond will love it for its beauty and mystique and the joy of wearing it. The person giving it will love the incredible deal and the smiles it brings. However, there’s only one diamond like this, so when it’s gone, it’s gone.

    Pear Shape Diamond
    5.01ct Pear Shape Diamond (14.5mmx9mm)

    A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

    As we are seeing in the current real estate market, unprecedented deals on important gemstones are popping up, where prices are marked significantly below average. We are able to present this rare and beautiful natural pear-shaped diamond for less than it would be wholesale in today’s market and markedly less than its retail price of a year ago.

    This diamond weighs 5.01 carats, has a color of F, a clarity of VS2 and is accompanied by a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) diamond grading report. The color places it in the highest “colorless” category according to the GIA diamond grading system. The clarity assures you that there are absolutely no visible inclusions to the eye.

    The beauty of this particular diamond lies with the cut, or the way this diamond is proportioned: to reflect the most amount of light that enters the stone. Unlike round diamonds, fancy-shaped diamonds do not have an exact mathematical formula or set of parameters to follow to allow for maximum brilliance. The diamond cutter is the artist, when it comes to creating fancy-shaped diamonds. It is his or her knowledge, expertise and skill that ultimately determine how brilliant and bright the diamond will be.

    And brilliance, after all, is what a diamond is all about. Brilliance is what makes a diamond speak to you or what captivates you.

    This particular pear-shaped gem has one of the prettiest cuts we’ve seen. It has an elegant, graceful, elongated shape and the radiance this diamond exudes is breathtaking. The color is crystal clear (again, it falls in the top “colorless” category, according to GIA.) These two factors – the fire and the color – assure you that this diamond will be a constant eye-catcher.

    To add to its rarity, this is a naturally occurring diamond, found in nature and not man-made. The size and quality of this stone make it even more rare. A search on a leading online diamond dealer shows a similar diamond with one color grade better costing over $100,000.00 more than the price of this diamond. One can only imagine the price this would command from any of the leading national or international jewelry houses.

    And again, to assure you of the quality of this diamond, it is accompanied by a Diamond Grading Report from the Gemological Institute of America, the world’s foremost authority on diamonds and diamond grading. A report by the GIA far outweighs any other kind of diamond grading report. The GIA is the final authority when it comes to diamond grading and identification. After all, they are the originators of the grading system and the place gemologists go for their training. Any important diamond sold in the market, whether wholesale, in a retail store or at auction, is accompanied by a GIA report. For more information visit the GIA website.

    A diamond of this quality would be stunning in a hand-crafted ring or necklace or would be a great addition to an investment portfolio. In the diamond world, as in real estate, this is a “buyer’s market.” If you can take advantage of this rare opportunity, the time to act is now.

    For additional information and pricing, contact Joe Schubach personally at 888-724-8222.

    38ct D color, flawless clarity pear-shaped diamond necklace owned by Christina Onassis

    38ct D color, flawless clarity pear-shaped diamond necklace once owned by Christina Onassis

    Pear-shaped diamond ring29ct D color, Flawless pear-shaped diamond ring offered at Sotheby’s

  • The Modernity of Tension Rings

    Tension rings possess a unique look and offer certain advantages that other rings don’t. For the very active spouse-to-be, the tension ring assures that your stone will most likely stay put because the way the ring is designed.

    Tension rings are also chic and have a certain contemporary feel for people who prefer that style.

    Here’s what one expert has to say:

    Tension Rings

    For a more modern twist on the engagement ring, consider a tension ring. Instead of being held in place by clasps and prongs, these elegant alternatives stay in place by the sheer pressure of each end of the ring.

    Nothing says they have to be diamond, either. Why not consider getting your birth stone in it, instead, or another gem that means something to you and your betrothed? Because of the high tension involved, however, you will need to make sure your jewel can withstand the pressure, or it might need to be attached with hidden prongs or fasteners for a faux-tension look.

    Such a classy look comes with a high price tag, however. Your tension ring will need to be custom made, partly because everyone’s tension levels will differ, but mostly because you need a perfect fit. Because of the physics involved, you’re never going to be able to resize a tension ring without destroying the band.

    Our Gallery of Joseph Schubach Jeweler’s Tension Rings.

    Style 9500M

    Tension Set Round Moissanite Engagement Ring With Diamonds

    Tension set ring with .51ct t.w. round diamonds (setting only, does not include center stone)

  • Custom Palladium Jewelry

    We are in the process of hand fabricating a piece of custom jewelry – a palladium engagement ring for a client and thought we would show you how a hand fabricated piece starts out and explain a little how the process works.

    A truly hand fabricated piece of jewelry is different from a traditional lost wax/cast process. With a custom lost wax process, the wax model is carved by hand or carved with a machine (CAM). This wax is then used to directly cast in metal the final piece of jewelry. With a hand fabricated piece, we start out with a piece of metal, like the metal rod shown here. The metal is then worked (filed, hammered, shaped, etc.) by hand into the shape of the final piece. So, rather than carve a wax and cast from the wax, a hand fabricated piece is literally made entirely from hand. It is a much more difficult process to do.

    Some pieces are better off being hand fabricated than cast. For example, jewelry that has very fine scroll detail or gallery sections that require fine, intricate polishing are great candidates for hand fabrication. This piece will have very long, smooth curves, and hand fabrication will give us a smoother, more even finish when we’re through.

    We’ll try to get some pictures of this ring mid process and post to the blog.

    Looking for a platinum alternative? Try palladium (click here for additional information).

  • Three Cushion Cut Diamonds – Which one would you choose?

    un set cushion cut diamonds

    un set cushion cut diamonds

    It’s all in the make! That’s an industry term for stating the importance of a diamond’s cut, or proportions, which is what you ultimately see once the microscopes are put away and the diamond is set into a ring. This is what gives a diamond it’s ‘Wow’ factor and determines how much sparkle the diamond has.

    We are currently helping a client choose a diamond for an engagement ring. As you can see in the picture above, we have three nearly identical cushion cut diamonds with three very different proportions giving us three different looking diamonds. All three diamonds have nearly the same weight and are similar in color/clarity.

    Which do you prefer? Let us know.