Jewelry Education and Advice

Pearls are considered a timeless classic. And for good reason. Pearls have been a form of adornment and status for thousands of years, all around the world.

As early as 2300 BC, pearls were the go-to gift for royalty, symbolizing loyalty (from the giver) and wisdom (of the receiver). In the first century, Julius Caesar even passed a law that declared that pearls should only be worn by the ruling classes.

Meanwhile over in India, pearls were believed to pass on calm to its wearer, attracting both good luck and wealth. The Mahraja Khande Rao Gaekwad of Baroda donned a legendary seven-strand necklace, so much so that the prized necklace gained a name: the Baroda Pearls.

Pearls were also a significant part of trade, especially after they were discovered in Central and South America in the 15th century. This ushered in what was called the Pearl Age.

An obvious form of wealth and status, the demand escalated, especially in Western Europe, where royals and aristocrats wanted to emulate their peers in China, India and Arab states.

And by the 19th century, demand for pearl jewelry became so high that the supply of natural pearls began to dwindle, making natural pearl jewelry prices skyrocket to six or even seven figures at auctions.

Today people can choose more eco-friendly freshwater pearls who use sustainable practices to create the opalescent final product. See below.

Freshwater cultured white pearl necklace, 7.5mm-8mm with .06ct t.w. diamonds on an 18″ cable chain.

Okay, there’s a vast amount of opinion on this topic. Anywhere from “I pierced my daughter’s ears when she was a baby” to “I wouldn’t do it unless my child asked…and even then, she might be too young.” So needless to say, much of it lies in opinion and culture (in Venezuela for instance, there’s a tendency to pierce a child’s ears at a very young age).

But we decided to follow a practical path when deciding: responsibility. A piercing is a serious enough endeavor so your child should be old enough to take care of the new piercings (yes, that eliminates very young children). Just like owning a pet, a child should understand the importance of a new piercing and follow through on all the hygienic steps that are needed. (Ideally you should not be cleaning your child’s ears twice a day!)

Other points to consider (from a jeweler’s point of view): choose earrings made of surgical stainless steel, platinum, titanium or 14K gold. These are the least likely to provoke an allergic reaction.

Go an expert. Some pediatricians will pierce your child’s ears. If not, popular jewelry chains often have a stricter protocol of hygiene and expertise. Do your research first.

What the heck is padparadscha? Is it contagious? Does it bite? Can you get rid of it by using an over-the-counter cream?

While the word sounds exotic (pronounced pad-pah-raj-ah), it is a colored gem that fits in the sapphire family. It’s also one of the rarest colored gems on the planet. Why so rare? No other gem possesses its unique and magical blend of pink and orange.

More on the coloring: a “pad” has a range of hues: from a delicate light to a mid-toned pink orange to an almost salmon shade. While sapphires of deeper, more saturated hues are highly regarded, padparadschas most revered hue is in the mid-saturation range.

Chatham lab grown padparadschas often display a violet and yellow pleochroic colors, which expands its beauty and depth. Take a look at the video below to see the beautiful hues it casts.

Men, listen up: buying jewelry for the woman in your life does not need to fill you with crippling anxiety. All it takes is some basic observational skills and a little time. Speaking of which: if you’re short on the latter, watch this quick how-to video which covers any of the basics that we’ve suggested over the years to the clients that have passed through our doors.

We all know dressing well sends a powerful message to the world. It’s our shell, our exterior–the first aspect of our personality that everyone sees, before they get to know us on a deeper level. From the clothing you put on to the jewelry you wear, every element sends micro-messages to those around you.

Did you know you can also dress with a particular goal in mind? That’s right. When you think carefully about who you’d like to influence, you can craft an outfit accordingly. How? By reflecting on what your “audience” deems important.

[Note: your “audience” can be anyone, from a potential employer to the man/woman of your dreams.]

Ask yourself these simple questions: who are you talking to and what would make them trust you? Really put yourself in their shoes for a moment then dress accordingly.

Of course, you don’t always want to dress with the “other” in mind but its something to consider when you really want to send a powerful message for certain occasions. T

The beauty of this philosophy? Expense isn’t a factor. Often a simple outfit with understated jewelry can come across as powerfully as anything you’d buy at a spendy boutique.

Many of our clients go through a crash course in understanding jewelry terminology when they’re choosing an engagement or wedding ring. That’s why we write blog posts like this one: a little learnin’ goes a long way!

Today’s lesson? What’s a channel set ring and is it the right choice for your ring?

Rings that are channel set contain what is called “accent gemstones.” These are small gemstones (often diamonds but not always) that are incorporated into the design of the ring and add additional sparkle to the overall look.

“Channel” is used to describe this type of ring because these gemstone accents are placed in channels or rows, formed by two strips of metal. This is done by creating grooves in the metals so the gemstones are held firmly in place.

So who likes a channel set ring?

Someone who likes a real sparkle effect to their ring. And that’s not everyone. Some really like the simplicity and power of the center stone taking the stage and don’t want anything that deviates from it. Others think those accent stones add more to the overall look. Ultimately, its a matter of taste.

Many are concerned that channel set stones will eventually loosen and fall out. That’s where a reputable custom design jeweler comes into play (hint, hint). Channel set stones do need to be set with particular care, so they’re securely in place for the life of the ring ideally.

A friend of mine recently attended an Indian wedding. She decided she wanted to wear culture-specific jewelry (even though it wasn’t required). Afterwards she joked that it wasn’t that easy to keep in place, especially the Maang tikka which is worn on the head. 

Interestingly (after the fact, unfortunately) she found this video and shared it with me. Its fun to wear different types of jewelry but as always, consider the practical element so you can have a good time while wearing it!

The wedding band has been around for a long, long time. Back in the time of the Romans, a wedding ring was worn on the left hand ring finger because there was thought to be a vein there (called the “Vena Aromis” or Vein of Love) directly connected to the heart.

Symbolically, a ring is a circle with no beginning or end–a natural representation of infinity. Like eternal love, it goes on and on. There is also a sense of oneness, wholeness to the circle of the ring which reflects another level of meaning.

When a wedding band is custom designed, you decide its symbolism and significance. That means that every aspect of the ring can represent your love in its own unique way. Below is a custom design wedding band with wide floral design and intermittent diamonds (which symbolize faithfulness, love, purity, innocence).

An allergy to metal may seem rare, but its not. Maybe even you have scratched your ears or wrists a little after wearing certain costume jewelry, for instance. And for obvious reasons: the jewelry sits on your body for prolonged periods of time causing the irritation to worsen.

The most frequent metal allergen? Nickel, which is known to cause significant local contact dermatitis (skin reddening and itching).

Other frequent metal allergens include: cobalt, copper and chromium, not only found in jewelry but also cell phones and clothing items.

Some may think they are allergic to gold and silver but that’s almost always not the case. More likely, it is the alloy ingredients (the other metals, along with gold and silver) that are causing the irritation.

Here’s a list of the basics when choosing non-allergenic metals for your custom design jewelry.

Source for table: eBay

Blue is one of those uber-rich and mesmerizing colors. The deeper, the better. And what gem captures it better than the beloved gem we call sapphire? Whether mined or lab grown, the blueness of sapphire is what draws our eyes toward it, almost hypnotizing us with its heavenly shade.

So what makes a sapphire blue?

Interestingly, its the impurities in sapphires that create its majestic color. Like rubies (both rubies and sapphires derive from the mineral corundum), sapphires are allochromatic.

This means that when this gemstone goes through a developmental process within the earth’s crust and titanium enters the picture, a divine blue is created. Another impurity that factors in? The amount of iron, which affects the shading of blue.

The sapphire is also incredibly strong. It’s hardness is only second to the diamond.

If you were born in September, you can proudly call sapphire your birthstone.

Take a look at the Radiance Lab Grown Sapphire below. (Don’t look too long though–you might be carried away by its spell.)