The Imperial State Crown is worn by the Queen at each State Opening of Parliament. It is one of the youngest crowns in the collection and holds a number of much older gems. The crown was remade in 1937 after the previous frame weakened under the weight of the gemstones (!)
Other facts about the Crown Jewels?
The British crown jewels include the massive Cullinan Diamond, the biggest ever gem-quality rough diamond ever uncovered. Discovered in 1905, it weighed 3,106.75 carats.
The Crown Jewels are kept in the Tower of London and are the ceremonial treasures acquired by English kings and queens. They have been used by English kings and queens since 1660 or earlier. The Crown Jewels are part of the national heritage and held by The Queen as Sovereign.
We strongly advocate wearing jewelry as much as possible. (Why spend a single day unadorned afterall?) These easy jewelry hacks help you clean your jewelry easily (using household ingredients) and keep your jewelry safe and untangled (like using a simple straw).
Remember: the more you know about taking care of your jewelry, the longer it will last and look amazing!
There are many different cuts of gemstones; so many that our customers are often left scratching their heads when it comes to choosing a cut that is right for them.
We’re privileged to be working with The Diamond Foundry (a lab grown diamond company from San Francisco). One of their master cuts is the Rose Brilliant Cut.
So let’s clarify:
What is a Rose Cut?
Considered of one of the original diamond cuts of antique and heirloom jewelry, the rose cut dates as far back as the 1500’s and is considered a precursor to the brilliant cut.
The stones are cut to resemble a rose (hence the name) by reflecting the narrow, spiral effect of their petals. This means a flat bottom and a larger surface area to truly showcase the stone’s brilliance.
Historically, by the 1900’s, advanced technology made the brilliant cut popular, leaving the rose cut to fade away…at least for the time being.
Decades later, Tiffany’s created a popular rose cut solitaire setting, made with an open mount so the light could shine through even more and provide the utmost in dazzle effect. Some innovators added even more sparkle by baking thin layers of gold or silver with the stone, increasing the reflective capabilities.
Today the rose cut has once again seen a resurgence (everything old is new again afterall) with celebrities like Camilla McConaughey and her breathtaking Cathy Waterman Rose cut engagement ring.
What is a Brilliant Cut?
A brilliant is the name of a cut (not of a stone, as often misunderstood). It generally has 57 or 58 facets, which creates maximum reflection of light for the diamond. It is one of the most popular cuts since it provides extreme “dazzle” effect.
Okay, so what exactly is a Rose Brilliant Cut then?
The Diamond Foundry’s Rose Brilliant Cut is a modernized version of the Jubilee Cut (aka 20th Century Cut or Jubilant Cut) which was designed for Queen Victoria’s 60th Year of Reign for Diamond Jubilee.
This unique cut normally has a total of 88 facets (compared to the 58 facets found in round brilliant diamonds). There is no culet which provides an extra glittering effect. Some consider it the brightest cut you can find in a diamond.
Combining the sparkle power of a brilliant cut diamond with the historically dazzling beauty of the rose cut and Jubilee cut diamond, the rose brilliant cut diamond has a unique optical power of its own.
But enough of the shop talk. Simply let the video below do the talking!
Spring has returned. The Earth is like a child that knows poems. – Rainier Maria Rilke
When I saw this colorful spindel pendant on JCK, it got me thinking of Spring. Then (more importantly, for the sake of this blog post): Spring jewelry. To me, Spring jewelry should be colorful or designed in a manner that elicits feelings of Spring (a floral or leaf design for example).
Most people don’t think in terms of colorful jewelry, but nothing catches the eye like it. (Imagine someone wearing the necklace above against the backdrop of a black shirt, for example. It would “pop” visually, right?) Colorful jewelry is also a natural spirit lifter (though we’ve done no scientific studies!).
So what’s on tap for your Spring jewelry this season? Here’s a list of colorful gems to spark your imagination. Then contact us and let us create a piece to welcome in many Springs to come!
About the pendant above:
Designed by Susan Wheeler, necklace is 18k yellow gold with Vietnamese spinel, Brazilian tourmaline crystal, and fair-trade Malawi padparadscha sapphires.
There are many techniques to find out your love’s ring size without her knowing. Of course, that’s if you’re planning on a surprise engagement. Many couples are embracing the practicality of making engagement decisions together, including choosing the ring.
But let us not rain on the parade of a surprise engagement! Our friends at Brilliant Earth have several tried and true methods that don’t let the cat out of the bag!
We especially like the following suggestions:
BORROW ONE OF HER RINGS
Another method is to snag one of her old rings for a day. You need to be careful with this method because it might backfire on you! Make sure that you grab a ring that she wears on a similarly sized finger, the ring finger of her right hand being the optimal choice (unless, of course, she wears a ring on her left ring finger, which is less likely). Even if you bring in a thumb ring we can usually come up with a close approximation of what size her ring finger will be. If you choose this option, make sure that you choose a ring that isn’t overly important to her and wouldn’t cause any emotional distress if she notices it missing!
ENLIST A FRIEND
If one of your partner’s friends is engaged, ask her friend to let your girlfriend try on the ring. This will put you in a ballpark size range to start out with. You can also use this as an opportunity to ask what she thought of her friend’s ring (in private) and try to do a little sleuthing as to what style of ring she would like for herself.
Whatever technique you employ, take some time to get it right. A well-fitted engagement ring says almost as much about your choice as the ring itself.
We know firsthand the power of gems. Each and every gem possesses its own strengths and wonders and after years of working intimately with them, we’ve come to respect them all.
According to New Age experts, “Wearing gemstone bracelets allows the gems to make constant contact with your skin, infusing your aura and energy field with the vibration of each stone all the time.”
If you’re looking for a “power piece” of jewelry, tell us what kind of gem or crystal speaks to you and how you’d like it transformed into magical and fashionable talisman.
Crystals possess their own special powers. Here are some practical crystal wearing tips, according to Sage Goddess:
Change your crystals each day, if you feel called to do so.
Choose the stones you wear based on your intention for the day.
Perhaps you will intuitively select yours without consciously knowing why, and often later in the day, you will have an “aha” moment about why your intuition told you to wear that fluorite pendant or garnet bracelet.
Align your accessories with the current work you are doing, or the areas in which you feel you need assistance.
More formally known as a European Shank, the Euro shank is positioned at the bottom portion of the ring. It features a flattened bottom section (unlike the traditional round ring shank).
What are the benefits of a Euro Shank?
One key benefit of this design is that it reduces the range the ring will pivot or spin on the finger. This means a more secure feeling while wearing the ring. You’ll often see Euro shanks on more contemporary ring designs, so it adds a certain stylish element to a more modern looking ring. But mainly, it serves a practical purpose: to keep the ring securely in place. This is an important feature for those who have wider knuckles than base of the finger.
We get a lot of questions about the best way to travel with jewelry. Interestingly, some of the best pointers are found on YouTube. There are so many travelling fashionistas who are pretty serious about keeping their jewelry in tact and safe when hitting the road. It’s often these homemade videos that contains real “gems” of wisdom, like the one below.
We’re so excited about the jewelry images our clients around the world send us. Whether they capture the happiness of a young couple or the dazzle of a new engagement ring in the sunlight, they all make their own unique statement.
What’s even more interesting? We’ve seen the quality of these images improve over the years. Perhaps it’s because of social media (more people are shooting better pictures with their mobile devices) or our tips on how to shoot jewelry have actually helped.
Here’s yet another quick and easy video that provides pointers to improve your jewelry shots…oh, and keep ’em coming!!!
You’ll often hear the term “vintage” or “antique” when it comes to jewelry. But what exactly do those terms mean? What defines a vintage style or an antique look?
Technically, an antique engagement ring is over 50 years old (which means anything pre-early 1960’s–that doesn’t seem particularly old, does it?).
A vintage engagement ring generally means a new ring that’s styled to look like a ring from an older era (like the Victorian or Art Deco period, for example). Even the term “antique” can be used to describe a newer ring with an older influence.
In the example below, you’ll note the cushion cut to the gem–that is an older type of cut that’s gained a lot of popularity in the last decade.
