Happy Stories From our customers

In exciting news for our industry, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has officially expanded its definition of “diamond” to include those grown in a laboratory:

“When the commission first used the definition [of diamond] in 1956, there was only one type of diamond product on the market — natural stones mined from the earth. Since then, technological advances have made it possible to create diamonds in a laboratory. These stones have essentially the same optical, physical and chemical properties as mined diamonds. Thus, they are diamonds.”

What does this mean for you, the consumer? This means you can be fully confident in this scientifically proven and legally sound fact:

Laboratory-Grown Diamonds are Diamonds!

According to Scottsdale, AZ custom jewelry store owner Joseph Schubach:

Lab grown diamonds are identical to mined diamonds in every sense, chemically and optically. Currently, only the large labs such as the GIA and IGI have the equipment to determine whether a diamond is lab grown or mined, so even your local jeweler or gemologist won’t be able to distinguish between the two, except for a microscopic laser engraving identifying the diamond as lab grown.

When it comes to the lab grown versus diamond battle, test yourself and you will see it is nearly impossible to tell the difference. To the naked eye it appears just as, if not even more, brilliant than it’s expensive natural counterpart.

Dare to care by making your next custom jewelry design the perfect home for a lab grown diamond, knowing you’re contributing to a healthier ecology and a truly beautiful (and affordable) piece of jewelry.

We LOVE repurposed jewelry. Its an eco-friendly move that turns old jewelry into something wonderful and new.

This video provides some interesting suggestions. Don’t worry. You don’t have to be a jewelry maker to repurpose your old jewelry. You’ll just need the aid of a few basic tools.

Do have an old heirloom that you’d like to give a new look? We can help you repurpose your old jewelry in the most creatively beautiful way possible.

Um, no. 

That’s the short answer.

The long answer? Even if bathing products feel soft to the touch, they can be abrasive to certain gemstones and metals. There are also products that are straight-up abrasive (think exfoliants) which are obviously more damaging.

Of course, you don’t notice those little scratches at first. Its only over time that those micro-abrasions accumulate and create a dull appearance.

And its not just abrasive components in your bath products; it’s also oils in those same products. Oilsgather over time and dull the finish of your engagement ring.

And let’s not forget the big elephant in the room:

THE DRAIN!

It can happen in an instant and cause you hours worth of pain and expense (call your plumber and ask how much he or she charges for a visit).

Don’t think you ring will slip off that easily? Think again. Fingers change size all the time, even throughout a day. (Did you know your finger is thinner in cold weather? It’s true.)

OUR ADVICE: Take your ring off before every shower. Get in the habit of taking it off in a room other than the bathroom (which has several danger zones for an errant ring). Every time. No exceptions.

Trust us, you’ll be grateful. So will your ring.

Just. Don’t. Do. It.

There’s an order to doing things right. And nowhere is this more true than preparing for your wedding. So what comes first? The wedding gown? The hairdo? The jewelry?

This quick and easy (and helpful) video details the best 1-2-3 method when choosing the best look for your upcoming wedding:

First off, no. Fake pearls are not bad. As a matter of fact, costume jewelry has a place in our fashion repertoire and if you’re a jewelry lover, undoubtedly you have some. (Or like me, a lot.)

And for obvious reasons: we can’t always afford the best of the best. But more than just cost, costume jewelry is a great way of experimenting with a look to see if you’d like to invest in better jewelry in the future, even custom designing the jewelry you’d like to wear.

When it comes to fake pearls, fashion experts have a lot to say on the topic. Some say its a perfectly fine way to dress up an outfit, especially if you’re wearing a three-strand pearl necklace (which could be quite expensive in its “natural” state).

Some wholly disagree. One expert had this to say:

Imitation pearls are made from a shell or glass bead coated with a solution containing fish scales or other iridescent material. They will never have a fine pearl’s lustre and depth, and their iridescence (should they have any), is like poly satin compared to silk charmeuse. Fakes are usually “too-too”: too perfectly matched, too round, too sharply lustrous. The overall effect is like being hit by high-beam lights, and about as soulful.

We laughed in agreement. Because obviously, there’s some truth there. But again, certain outfits and certain occasions would fit nicely with pearls of the non-authentic variety.

Freshwater Cultured Pearl Necklace, 10mm-11mm, 18″ long with a sterling silver clasp.

Did you know: 

Before she was Coco, Gabrielle Chanel sold wide-brimmed hats, fisherman’s sweaters, and striped beach pajamas on the seaside promenades of Deauville, France?

Outwardly, that might not seem like the chicest job in town but one can be sure: Ms. Chanel brought her own signature style to it. Undoubtedly, even then, detail and quality mattered to her, as much then as it did later in her storied career.

What’s the takeaway message?

Your style, your “chic” quotient, can be part of whatever you do for a living. Whether you’re a bartender, a traffic cop or a grade school teacher, your style can been imprinted in the way you do your work.

Let’s face it: many of us are stuck in jobs we don’t like very much. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have opportunities to showcase who we are stylistically or professionally.

Undoubtedly, Ms. Chanel brought her best game to the table, regardless of the stature of her position. She took her job seriously and saw it as an opportunity to grow and expand artistically and creatively.

How can you highlight the best of yourself at your job, even if its not perfect? What lessons can you learn? What ways can you enhance your burgeoning and evolving self? 

Sure, sometimes it takes some searching. But you’ll soon find, like Ms. Chanel, a job is just another chance to become your best self possible.