Call for expert help (888) 724-8222

Colored Diamonds

  • Color Enhancement of Natural Diamonds

    Fancy Colored Diamonds

    You may or may not know that diamonds come in all of the colors of the rainbow, from reds and pinks to blues, greens and yellows. However, not all fancy colored diamonds get their color naturally. Below is an article explaining the color enhancement processes of natural diamonds.

    COLOR ENHANCEMENT OF NATURAL DIAMONDS
    TREATMENT OF DIAMONDS TO CHANGE THEIR COLOR HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1940’S. INITIALLY IT WAS DONE BY EXPOSING THEM TO RADIATION FOLLOWED BY HEAT TREATMENT (ANNEALING). THIS PROCESS IS SIMILAR TO SANITIZING FOOD PRODUCTS. THE RESULTING DIAMONDS ARE FREE OF RADIATION AND SAFE TO USE. THIS TREATMENT PRODUCES COLORS OF BLUE, YELLOW, GREEN, AND VERY RARELY PINKS AND REDS. WHILE THESE COLORS ARE PERMANENT, INDUSTRY TEST SUGGEST CAUTION BE USED FOR EXPOSURE TO TEMPERATURE ABOVE 300-400 C.
    Since the 1990’s, the color of diamonds has also been altered by HPHT process (High Pressure High Temperature). Polished or rough diamonds (natural and synthetic) are processed in the lab under very high pressures and temperatures, mimicking conditions deep in the earth where diamonds are formed. Depending on the composition of the diamond the results could be colorless as well as yellow, green, orange, and very rarely pink and blue. Colors produced by HPHT are permanent and they have the same features as a regular natural diamond.
    There are other methods of diamond treatment such as PVD (pressurized vapor deposit), a color coating scheme, and clarity enhancements such as lasering, [fracture filling] treating, or filling. Color treatment can be done on any synthetic or [natural/minded] diamond. In the US these processes are done under strict and safe conditions.    Article written by Cendico Diamond

  • Quick and Easy Jewelry Tips

    I found this article to contain some easy tips on purchasing costume jewelry (it’s not all created equal!) and jewelry/fashion matching.

    Here are some guidelines to follow when choosing a new piece of jewelry:
    1. Quality: Even inexpensive costume jewelry can be well-made. However, it can also be shoddily put together. Inspect the jewelry and look for the following:
    Are any scratches, stones missing, or chips?
    Is the setting sturdy?
    Will it bend and dent easily?
    How are beads and gems strung together? On cheap elastic or sturdy wire?
    Is it flexible?
    Are the gemstones glued into settings or set with prongs?
    2. Signed vs. Unsigned Jewelry: When purchasing costume jewelry purchasing a signed piece means it comes from a specific designer. Remember that buying designer jewelry does not guarantee better quality!
    Like clothing, sometimes designer-wear is more about the name than the quality of the item. Signed vintage pieces of jewelry can cost an arm and a leg more than unsigned pieces.
    However, you can often get the same look and excellent quality with an unsigned bracelet or pin. Check for quality, and don’t get hung up on names, whether buying a vintage piece of a new piece of jewelry.
    3. Do your research. Are you a person who cares about the latest trends? Check fashion magazines to spot what’s new in the world of accessories. If purchasing a piece online, check out the dealer or the artisan’s reputation.Are previous customers happy with the quality or the product?Did the jewelry arrive just as described?
    Also, don’t purchase jewelry that does not accommodate your lifestyle. Choose styles that will accentuate your style without compromising comfort.
    Bright jewelry stands out best against black or grey clothing. Choose rubies, turquoise, or bright-colored beads to accessorize a simple black outfit.
    Silver works best with cool-colored clothing while gold works best with warm-colored clothing. Silver looks beautiful with blues and greens while gold coordinates well with browns, reds, and yellows.
    Lower-cut shirts and dresses call for a beautiful necklace. Turtlenecks and cowl-necked sweaters look too heavy with a necklace; consider a pendant or a delicate pin instead.
    Earrings that dangle are for evenings out; at the office, earrings should never fall more than an inch below the earlobe. Studs and small hoops work best with suits and professional attire.
    A patterned outfit calls for simple jewelry. A plain gold chain and bracelet is a great way to accent a colorful dress. With jewelry, less is always more. If the piece isn’t adding anything to your outfit, save it for another day.
  • The History of Earrings

    We know how much you love learning at Joe’s blog. And  trust me, we have a lot of information to share! Today, we’re going to impart to you a little history lesson on earrings. Now sit back – you may learn something. And thanks to AnnieSherman.com for the great info:

    Did you know earrings originated in the Middle East? The oldest earrings were unearthed at the royal graves in Iraq!

    In the Renaissance era, earrings were not popular. Women wore wigs, elaborate hairstyles and high collared dresses obscuring the ears. It was not until the 17th century when women wore their hair back that earrings were back in fashion. In the early 18th century, women wore bonnets with wide ribbons covering the ears and chins. Once again earrings became obsolete. In late 18th century, however, hair went back up and earrings were popular again!

    In the early 20th century, piercing of the ears was considered uncivilized and a screw back type of fitting was invented so that ear piercing was no longer necessary. The beginning of emancipation for women! Around 1930’s, clip-ons were invented and then screw-ons. Both styles were widely used for earrings for the next 40 years. Since then, earrings have indeed been revolutionized. Earrings are fun, lots of movements, made of all shapes, sizes, materials and stones and are worn day and night!

    Beginning the 70’s, ear piercing became the fad. Most contemporary earrings are for pierced ears nowadays. For those who don’t like poking holes in their ears (like me), thank goodness that vintage clip-on earrings are still around!

    This stunningly intact 2,000-year-old gold, pearl, and emerald earring was discovered under a parking lot just outside Jerusalem's Old City.

  • Necklaces and the Dreaded Clasp

    Oh, I’m sure you’ve been there. Ten minutes to get ready and half of it is spent on trying to get on your necklace. You ask for some help and even your loved one has trouble! Soon, you find yourself not wearing said necklace as often because it’s just too much of a hassle.

    As Terri Rocker, fashion expert, puts it:

    “The best necklace clasps are easy to fasten, stay secured, match the style of the necklace, and endure the wear and tear of being repeatedly fastened and unfastened.”

    Reminder when you are thinking of purchasing jewelry, consider the clasp! It could make or break your wearing experience:

      Spring Ring and Lobster Claw

    1. Operate a spring ring or lobster claw clasp by lifting the tiny lever that compresses the spring to release the clasp. Quite secure, both of these clasps are popular, with lobster claws usually being easier to manipulate.
    2. Hook Clasp

    3. Fish hook, S-hook and hook-and-eye clasps secure necklaces using hooks. While easy to fasten, these are not very secure and may slip out.
    4. Magnetic Clasp

    5. Magnetic clasps use magnets to secure the necklace. Most magnetic clasps are best suited to very lightweight necklaces, as they easily come apart.
    6. Barrel Clasp

    7. Barrel clasps are barrel-shaped screws that require some dexterity to twist and untwist. The larger ones are quite secure, although they are prone to looking bulky.
    8. Toggle Clasp

    9. The toggle clasp is also known as the bar-and-ring clasp. With a long bar on one end that fits into a wide ring and then “locks” into position, the toggle clasp is one of the easiest to fasten for arthritic hands.
    10. Box Clasp

    11. An elegant-looking clasp that often uses a filigree design, the box clasp has been known to come undone by accident. Open a box clasp by pushing the lever, and close it by clicking it into place.
    12. Multi-Strand Clasp

    13. A multi-strand clasp may have hook, slide locking or box clasp fasteners. Multi-strand clasps come with 2 or more loops per side to secure multi-strand necklaces.

    Spring Ring Clasp

    Toggle Clasp
  • The History of the Engagement Ring

    In my end is my beginning. ~ Mary Queen of Scots

    Here at Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we consider ourselves educators of sorts. We want our customers to be as knowledgeable as possible, so their choices are sound and right. And the history of jewelry is no different; when you understand the past, you realize the power that it holds. A diamond ring is not just a diamond ring – its a symbol of love and strength that stretched back centuries:

    Since at least 5000 BC, men and women have worn rings – on their thumbs, fingers and even toes.

    Some rings have been purely decorative, seal rings and archers’ rings have had useful purposes, while a few have been thoroughly nasty specimens, harboring poison that turned a handshake into a deadly clasp.

    The earliest written reference to rings as love tokens is in the second century BC, in works by the Roman playwright Plautus.

    The practice of exchanging wedding rings, apparently common in Rome, was “Christianized” by the 4th century AD.

    An early example of an engagement ring featuring Eros, the ancient symbol of love. By the 14th century, wealthy Europeans had their wedding rings set with precious jewels, somewhat like modern engagement rings, but it was not until 1477 that the diamond engagement ring as we know it came into being.

    That year, the Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian I gave a diamond engagement ring to his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy. This first instance of a royal engagement ring fueled the European passion for diamonds, already aflame by the taste for fine jewels promoted by Mary’s father, Charles the Bold (1433–77).

    As the dukes of Burgundy controlled Europe’s major diamond–cutting centers in Antwerp and Bruges, Charles’ encouragement of wealthy Europeans to buy diamonds appears to have a commercial side.

    By the 16th century, it seemed no royal marriage was complete without a diamond ring. Mary, Queen of Scots, chose one when she married Lord Darnley in 1565 and in 1673, James II of England sent a diamond ring to Mary of Modena for their proxy wedding in 1673.

    In 1839, Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a diamond ring as a memento of their first meeting, perhaps inadvertently setting the royal seal of approval on diamond engagement rings.

    It was during the second half of the 19th century that the practice of giving two rings for the bride became firmly established.

    Prince Philip carried on the royal diamond tradition when he gave his fiancée, now Queen Elizabeth II, an engagement ring made with diamonds from the tiara of his mother, Princess Alice.

    Source: Ancient Jewelry Facts

    Style 9335M

    Split Shank Milgrained Engagement Ring With Round Stones

    Split shank milgrained engagement ring with approx. 1/3ct t.w. pave’ set side stones. Fits a 7mm round center stone. (Setting only, does not include center stone)

  • Caring for your Gold Jewelry

    Just because gold is known for its high durability doesn’t mean that your gold jewelry doesn’t need some love and care. Here are a few pointers that will extend the life of your gold jewelry and keep you looking dazzling:

    DOs

    * Keep your jewelry away from chlorine as chlorine can weaken its structure and lead to breakage.

    * Remove your jewelry and keep wrapped in a small soft cloth such as a chamois at the end of each day.

    * Clean at least once a week with an appropriate cleaner, this will ensure that your jewelry keeps the shine and luster it had when first purchased.

    * If you do not have a commercial cleaner a small amount of soapy water containing mild soap and a toothbrush will do just fine. Ensure that you leave your gold to air dry and then buff when drying is complete.

    * Get them professionally cleaned at least once per year at a jeweler especially if they have precious stones embedded into them.

    DON’Ts

    * Wear your jewelry while swimming in chlorinated pools.

    * Wear while bathing as soaps tend to leave a film on your gold rendering lusterless.

    * Wear your gold jewelry all the time, this will add to wear and tear to it and cause it to be more vulnerable. Keep some pieces only for special occasions.

    * Store jewelry in a place that it will rub on other jewelry or the storage container

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jayan_B

    Style 7231WB

    Ladies’ 14kt Yellow Gold Anniversary Band

    Ladies’ anniversary band, .50ct t.w. channel set diamonds, 14kt yellow gold.

    Metal: 14kt Yellow Gold
    Stone Size: .50ct t.w.
    Ring Size: 4 – 8

  • Jewelry Do or Don’t – Mixing Metals

    This is an often debated issue: if you’re wearing gold, where nothing but gold. If you’re wearing silver, where nothing but silver. That’s what my grandmother believed. She also believe eating candy before bedtime gave you nightmares. So maybe its time we revisit these old “rules of fashion.”

    According to one expert:

    We were once told not to mix metals, and this is one of the old-school rules (like no white after Labor Day) that designers now ignore. Wearing gold with gold and silver with silver creates a more traditional look, but isn’t true fashion all about looking modern?

    The trick is, if you want to mix metals, keep the style of the jewelry the same. A modern gold cuff won’t look right paired back to dainty, antique platinum and diamond earrings. The “stacking trend” lends itself perfectly to the mixing of metals. Stack square or round rings or bangles in different shades of gold. You can even layer gold and silver necklaces for a fashion-forward look. Sometimes rules were made to be broken.

    Hmmm…maybe candy before bedtime did cause nightmares.
  • Ancient Egypt meets New World

    Ancient Egypt still influences our choice of fashion today, if you can believe it. Or perhaps you are already aware, since any of the images below are hardly foreign to our eyes. Cleopatra and her wondrous ways certainly had a direct influence.  Kind of amazing to think of that kind of fashion lasting power!

    And remember, we know our jewelry and our history – if there’s a piece that makes you feel like an Egyptian queen, let us create one for you.

    Jewelry was extremely popular throughout the history of the Egyptian nation. Excavations of tombs have shown that queens of Egypt were almost always buried with a multitude of jewelry to be used in the afterlife. The amount of jewelry worn by an individual often indicated their social position and level of wealth.

    Even the poor, who could not afford much, attempted to adorn themselves with as much jewelry as was possible. While not nearly as expensive, the jewelry of the commoner was usually very brightly colored and was constructed of materials such as pottery.

    The Egyptians did not confine themselves to a limited selection of materials: a very wide variety of minerals were crafted into jewelry including amethyst, cornelian, jasper, onyx and quartz crystal. Today these stones are classified as semi-precious versus precious gems like diamonds, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.

    Tutanhkamun pendant (photo: J. Bodsworth)

    19th Dynasty inlaid diadem, or wig (J. Bodsworth)

    Source: Ancient Egypt online

  • Your Hand, Your Finger, Your Ring

    Many women face a problem when it comes to choosing wedding and engagements rings: they don’t like their hands.

    “My fingers are short and stubby.”

    “I don’t have time for manicures. My hands are a mess.”

    “My hands are bony. A ring just accentuates it!”

    We’ve heard it all here. But just like any other fashion choice, a properly chosen ring can enhance what you like about your hands and downplay what you don’t like.

    According to this fashion expert Melanie Spark:

    Rings can elongate your finger. If you choose a ring style that is longer than it is wide, it can actually make your fingers appear longer. If you have short fingers, perhaps you enjoy the look of an elongated and graceful hand.

    The length of a ring is measured from top to bottom or, visually, as it would appear from knuckle to knuckle. The width of a ring is measured from side to side or, visually, as it appears horizontally while sitting on your finger.

    See? There is hope for you and your hands. Here’s a simple, elegant engagement solitaire ring that we think works with most women’s hands, across the board:

    Style 9915-7.5mm

    Round Solitaire Engagement Ring With Pave Diamonds

    Four prong solitaire engagement ring with 1/10ct t.w. pave’ diamonds. Fits an 7.5mm round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone)

  • Is your Jewelry Green?

    No, we’re not talking about copper jewelry that turns green from oxidation. Eco-friendly jewelry is becoming an increasingly popular term in our world.

    More and more people are become aware of the damaging effects of mining around the world. And many are opting for jewelry that has an “eco-friendly” status. But what does that mean exactly? Is your jewelry of a lesser quality?

    From our website:

    Are recycled metals as high quality as non-recycled metals?

    Precious metals can be repeatedly recycled with no degradation in quality.

    Gold and other metals are refined in order to remove impurities. Since gold and silver are elements, they are the same in the pure form, regardless of the source. There is absolutely no difference in the quality of the product you buy.

    But there is a difference in how you feel purchasing recycled metals. It’s good to know that your jewelry purchase did not harm the ecosystem and you’re doing your part for this green planet!

    Joseph Schubach Jewelers prides itself in our responsible, earth-friendly practices and a deep sense of community awareness. That means we care about the effect our business has on the planet.

    In conjunction with the Harmony Metals program from Hoover and Strong, one of the greenest metal suppliers in the industry, we create pieces of jewelry that make you feel good on the outside and the inside!

    Here’s a stunning example of an eco-friendly engagement ring made of 100% recycled material. Notice any difference? We didn’t think so:

    This piece is made using 100% recycled metals and is proudly made in the USA. We strictly follow the Kimberly Process guidelines.

    Eco-friendly Round Engagement Ring With Side Stones