Happy Stories From our customers

When it comes to buying jewelry, men can get quite…exasperated. What kind of jewelry will she like? What expresses how I feel for her without being too over-the-top? What won’t break the bank?

During the early phase of a new relationship, it can be particularly hard to strike the right chord when it comes to gift-giving. This is when we suggest a pendant necklace. It’s subtle, sweet and touches the heart of just about any woman.

What is a pendant necklace exactly?

If a necklace has a charm hanging from it, that charm is known as a pendant. The pendant is generally attached to the necklace (normally a chain of some sort) by a small hoop so it can move freely on the chain, creating a sense of movement and flow. It’s perfect for casual wear.

What pendant you decide upon is completely up to your taste. It can be a heart, a circle, a symbol, an animal shape, the letter of a first name…the choices are practically endless.

But one thing for sure: pendant necklaces are people pleasers. Because of the long history of wearing symbols as a form of protection or sign of love, pendant necklaces feel good to the wearer – like she is wearing a personal message gently sent out to the world.

Here’s one of our staff favorite pendant necklaces:

Currently 30% off!
Oval cluster pendant with approximately 1 1/3ct t.w. (dia equiv) Charles and Colvard created round moissanite set on an 18″ cable chain. Available in 14kt white gold only. Pendant measures approximately 1″ from the top of the bale to the base of the pendant. Each circle moves freely within the bale.
Use coupon “Discount30” at checkout. (Discount will be calculated at checkout)

Hand engraving

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.

While there are a wide variety of Harry Potter-related accoutrements to currently choose from, we took notice of this recent jewelry line that seems to be a “cult” above the rest. Hailing from eco-conscious jewelry company Alex and Ani (and partnering with Warner Bros.) this sophisticated jewelry line is geared toward the grown-up lovers of all things Potter:

According to The Daily Dot:

The 11 pieces in the collection—including necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings—are classy enough to wear to the office or more formal occasions, while providing a clear nod to J.K. Rowling‘s magical world. Fellow fans will recognize unique symbols like the Deathly Hallows and Harry’s iconic glasses crafted in sterling silver and gold plating. Even better, the collection is pretty affordably priced. The wrap rings start at $28, while the set of three expandable bangles top out at $98.

If you have a particular film or book whose symbols inspire you, we can custom design wearable art just for you!

We’ve covered smart jewelry for years here at Joseph Schubach Jewelers. And while we’re amazed by their ever-increasing life-tracking abilities, we’re not often as impressed by their aesthetic appeal. Often bulky or just plain awkward looking, smart jewelry can be the nerd of fashion.

But this comprehensive and well-written article by Ars Technica details the progress smart jewelry has made, not only in relation to its technological capabilities but (for us, as importantly) its appearance. Finally, these pieces are getting smaller, more subtle and (yes, its true!) well designed.

Below, an example:

Bellabeat’s Leaf activity tracker will likely appeal to nature-lovers at first glance. The device’s design mimics a minimalist plant with a metal leaf-shaped case surrounding the activity tracking module.

Undoubtedly you’ve heard the expression “a diamond in the rough” but do you know what it truly means?

From a gemological standpoint, a diamond found in nature isn’t particular dazzling. As a matter of fact, it looks like an opaque rock more or less. But after a cutting and polishing process, it becomes something extraordinary.

How does it apply to we humanoids? Well, just like diamonds, someone might appear quite ordinary at first glance. Nothing quite stands out about them. But either over time or with closer examination, something more powerful and beautiful arises.

How are you a diamond in the rough? What qualities of yours remain hidden to the world? Conversely, do you often overlook the hidden qualities of others, not seeing their beauty and power because of preconceived ideas and limited views?

Today, remember that we’re all diamonds the rough to some extent. Dare to shine in spite of personal limitations and insecurities…and dare to see the beauty in others as well!

We talk a lot here about the powerful element of sparkle when it comes to gems. It’s that visual dazzling effect that flies off off a diamond (for instance) when light hits it. But did you know that you can sparkle without the enhancement of jewelry? That’s right: eyes sparkle…but how?

According to body language expert Jack G. Brown:

The primary reason why the eyes “twinkle” is that when there is a momentary partial closure of the lids – this squeezes the tear film (the very thin layer of a highly specialized fluid on the surface of our eyes) into a smaller space – thus this swallow layer of fluid gets “deeper” for a few seconds. This extra “depth” reflects light more effectively – so the eyes appear to twinkle.

And just like gems, the light source is key:

To give the greatest twinkle, light must be positioned behind the viewer (e.g. you). The source of the light may certainly influence the twinkle as well. If it is too bright – as very often is the case – it will cause the pupils to contract – thus detracting from the “twinkle”.  A candle’s light source has the advantage of being dim (so as to engender larger pupils) and dynamic. This constantly changing flicker adds considerably to the twinkle-effect. And you wondered why candles were romantic?!

The takeaway? If you want your eyes to sparkle, be authentic when you laugh and smile…and do so in a dimly lit restaurant!