Here at Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we seek to enlighten you. We want to make sure our clients are as informed as possible. Yesterday we were asked what “cabochon” meant.

Definition: A cabochon, often referred to as a cab for short, is a certain cut of stone that is very popular in numerous jewelry designs, especially those that include gemstones. A cab can be made from just about any kind of stone as well as ceramic, porcelain, or even wood. The materials doesn’t matter. The defining elements of a cabochon have more to do with the shape of the component: it is flat on one side and domed or rounded on the other side.

Cabs can come in all kinds of geometric and asymmetrical shapes, but the most important part is the flat side of a cab because that is where it will usually be secured with wire, metal, or even beads.

Source: About.com

And here are a few examples:

We’re often asked “Which gem offers me the most value?” There’s no easy answer to that question since gemstones and their corresponding market constantly fluctuate. One thing is for sure: the values of gems go up generally, not down. According to one service that tracked gemstone prices for the last 3 years, prices have risen an average of 20% since  2005. Those that have risen the fastest?  Tanzanite and Burmese ruby.

If you were to rate a good gemstone based on superior hardness (greater than 7 on the Mohs scale), durability, good transparency and clarity and depth of color, here’s what one expert considered the best value (or bang for your buck).

Sapphire

Pros: hardness of 9; no cleavage; high refractive index (so excellent brilliance); good dispersion (fire); good choice of colors though blue is the perennial favorite.
Cons: usually heat treated
Price range: $300-$600+ per carat for heated sapphire; $1000+ per carat for unheated sapphire

Spessartite Garnet

Pros: hardness of 7.5; indistinct cleavage; very high refractive index (higher even than sapphire); always untreated
Cons: available only in yellow-orange to orange-red
Price range: $75-$150+ per carat

Spinel

Pros: hardness of 8; indistinct cleavage; high refractive index; very good fire; wide choice of colors; always untreated
Cons: can be difficult to find, especially in larger sizes
Price range: $50-$400+ per carat, depending on size

Tourmaline

Pros: hardness of 7 to 7.5; indistinct cleavage; good brilliance and fire; amazing choice of colors; affordable in large sizes; usually untreated
Cons: stones tend to be highly pleochroic or multicolored
Price range: $25-$150+ per carat, depending on size; paraiba tourmaline $300 to $1000+ per carat

 

Price ranges are approximate.

 

Tourmaline

I can’t tell you how many nights I’ve struggled with putting on a necklace with a tiny clasp and no one around to help me. Sometimes I’ve just ditched wearing jewelry because its too darn time-consuming. Seriously, some jewelers need to design much better (and easier) necklace clasps. Someone sent me this video and while I haven’t tried this additional clasp, it sounds like a time saver…and sanity saver!

The Bahia Emerald is one of the largest emeralds (or more appropriately, emerald crystals embedded in a host rock) and contains the largest single shard ever found. The approximately 840 lb (1,900,000 carats) Brazilian stone narrowly escaped flooding during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 during a period of storage in a warehouse in New Orleans. This short video retells some of the lore of its discovery.

Pyrite is a common mineral that is called several other names, most notably Marcasite and Fools Gold. Pyrite is also a Greek word that means fire (for obvious reasons); it’s a beautiful mineral and resembles gold with its sparkle and luster.

It’s also appearing in a number of indie jewelry designers’ collections, such as Jamie Joseph, Melissa Joy Manning and Robindira Unsworth. Pyrite pairs nicely with this Fall’s 2012 fashions and is affordable.

Sanguedolce’s Pyrite Cuff

Heather Benjamin rainbow druzy pyrite ring

Anna Sheffield’s Pyrite bracelet

(above) A ring’s worst nightmare!

I know a friend who never takes his wedding band off…until he realized he couldn’t take it off! After about an hour’s worth of trying, he finally succeeded.

It got me thinking of the importance of knowing when to remove your wedding ring.

1. Remove it occasionally just to see that you can! Fingers change size due to weight gain, water retention, etc. It’s important to take off your ring and let your finger breathe a little. It might also be a good time to re-evaluate your ring. If it’s too constricting after years of wear, it might be time to resize it (which we can do).

2. Sports. Wearing your wedding band constantly might not be such a smart idea if you love surfing, for instance. Again, fingers can change in size and water can be the perfect slippery conductor for that precious ring of yours to slip right off and into Davy Jone’s Locker.

3. Work. For certain type of jobs (such a blue-collar work) rings can just be dangerous. Find a smart place to store it and always keep it in that place. (Having several places where you keep your ring can lead to “I thought I put it here…but sometimes I put it there.” One spot consistency can save you a lot of stress!)

4. The Dreaded Dishes. You’ve seen it in the movies but it happens in real life too. Slippery, sudsy hands practically beg for that ring to slip off and potentially down a drain. When doing dishes, we advise putting the ring somewhere other than the kitchen entirely, like the top of your dresser. Again, consistency: one spot where you put your ring when you take it off.

Estate jewelry can be a fantastic way to find a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry for a great price. But of course there’s a “buyer beware” aspect any shopper needs to be heed. Here are a few points from Christie Romero, a respected jewelry historian, gemologist, collector, and author of Warman’s Jewelry, a guide to 18th – 20th century jewelry.

What are the most important things to consider when buying estate jewelry?

I call it the seven criteria: condition, craftsmanship, color, design, demand, scarcity and size. Condition is huge and affects value a great deal. That’s why using a loupe is so important. The first thing I teach people in my workshops is how to use a loupe. Sometimes you can overlook things without magnification. Look for damage and to see if parts are original or if they need repair. Lead solder on precious metal is a bad thing. You have to train your eye to notice these things and anyone can do that. You don’t need special training, it’s just matter of training your eye.

Read more about buying estate jewelry.

 

	Style 102095 Estate Platinum Diamond Pear Shape Ring Starting from $5,995.00
Style 102097 Estate gents diamond and sapphire ring   Starting from $1,495.00	Style 102096 Estate Platinum Diamond Pear Shape Ring Starting from $1,995.00

In light of Lindsay Lohan’s recent theft charges (she was at a party where the owner’s jewelry went missing), we wanted to impart some advice regarding keeping your jewelry safe. Some of the tips are as simple as taking a photograph:

WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather

The comfort of jewelry is often drastically overlooked. That’s because jewelry captivates us. It’s that dazzling, pretty eye-catcher that defies logic. But anyone who has spent time with that magical little piece realizes quickly that it has some real life consequences.

Clasps can repeatedly catch on hair, earrings can be too heavy, necklaces can be hard to put on by yourself, sturdier rings can bang and break delicate items…and of course, there is ring fit; a critical component in its wearability.

Feel free to wear the piece prior to purchase and wear it around the store for a while. For a higher end purchase, this is imperative. Generally speaking, a piece of jewelry will not show its problematic side at first, but only after some wear. Buying jewelry is an investment; take the time to look beyond the dazzle!

Style 6860WB 14kt Yellow Gold Comfort Fit Ring, Satin Finish With High Polished Edges 14kt yellow gold comfort fit wedding band, satin finished with high polished edges, 6mm wide. Trade Up Our Guarantee

Most of us don’t realize the rich history of jewelry making. In communities throughout the world and through time, the jeweler was considered a powerful craftsperson, imbued with magical traits. This video exemplifies this tradition. Makes you think twice when you visit the jeweler!

Here’s an excerpt from a documentary about Ehadji Koumama, a Tuareg jeweler of the desert, and a demonstration of making silver jewelry in the lost wax method.