Happy Stories From our customers

We talk a lot here about “fire” and “brilliance” and “scintillation.” But it doesn’t mean much if the lighting isn’t complimenting your diamond. Consider it like a dance, where two partners (the light and the gem) work together to create the best performance possible.

A GIA researcher has this to say:

If you think of a diamond like “a series of mirrors reflecting its environment,” it can help you understand how light and location can change the way your diamond appears. When you look at your diamond, you are also seeing a reflection of the surrounding environment, including yourself.

You can test this theory yourself:

Hold the diamond at arm’s length and look at how bright it is and how the pattern of dark and light appears. Now, gradually bring it closer to your eye. By the time it gets very close, the area of dark pattern in the diamond has grown and is much more prominent.

So when purchasing a diamond, what’s the best way to test its overall appearance? We believe its best to look at it in the type of lighting where you’ll most typically wear it. Ultimately your choice of a diamond is a highly personal choice so there’s no definitive right or wrong. Check out the example below.

These diamonds display high, moderate and low brightness under fluorescent light. Photos by Eric Welch/GIA

If you’re like many women we know, you’re a big fan of neutral colors. And we get it: neutral shades are easy to pair with other neutral shades. And if you have a busy schedule, you just don’t have time to match colors when you’re on the run.

But your outfit might not be speaking as boldly as you’d like. It’s easy to drown in a sea of beige, leaving your fashion choices to come across as nondescript. And we know you’re anything but boring, right?

That’s where accessories come in (and yes, jewelry counts…yay!)

Wikipedia defines accessories as:

Fashion accessories can be loosely categorized into two general areas: those that are carried and those that are worn. Traditional carried accessories include purses and handbags, eyewear, hand fans, parasols and umbrellas, wallets, canes, and ceremonial swords.

Accessories that are worn may include jackets, boots and shoes, cravats, ties, hats, bonnets, belts and suspenders, gloves, muffs, jewelry, watches, sashes, shawls, scarves, lanyards, socks, and stockings.

Now, we know you may not have many ceremonial swords in your closet, but accessories cover a wide scope. And that’s where color comes in.

Review your closet and see where you could brighten up your wardrobe with accessories. As jewelers, we see an increasing trend in customers searching out brightly colored jewelry, including brightly colored gemstones. Consider a custom design piece of jewelry packed with color, for instance. That alone can take a so-so outfit to a sensational outfit.

So dare to add some color to your accessory world. Just a splash of it goes a long way!

The diamond market is an interesting barometer of purchasing trends and our economy as a whole. This latest report indicates that millenials are making their mark as well as single and/or married women who are “self-purchasing” diamond jewelry more frequently than ever (good for you, ladies!).

(IDEX Online) – Total diamond jewelry demand from US consumers increased 4.4 percent in 2016 to exceed $40 billion for the first time, according to industry insight data published today by De Beers Group.

While slower US GDP growth in the first quarter of 2017 is likely to have impacted diamond jewelry demand in the short term, the US has recorded five years of consecutive demand growth. US consumers now account for roughly half of all diamond jewelry purchases globally – a level not seen since before the financial crisis.

Although bridal diamond jewelry continues to be the foundation of demand in the US, more frequent acquisitions and a higher value of spend from single women helped drive demand. Meanwhile, self-purchase trends increased among both single and married women.

Fifty-seven percent of self-purchased diamond jewelry is acquired by married women, while a third is from Millennials. Retailers also reported high levels of consumer interest for multi-diamond pieces.

To be noted, consumers are paying more for their jewelry, opting for quality over quantity:

The data showed that consumers are spending more per piece on diamond jewelry, with retailers reporting an increase in the $1,000 to $4,999 category, De Beers claimed.

This confirms our tried and true philosophy: when it comes to jewelry, you get what you pay for. If you’re interested in a custom design piece that defines you, reach out to us and let’s talk dreams. 

Degas “Dancer onstage with a bouquet,” circa 1878

Sure, we see them on the runway but did you know the history of chokers extends way back? That’s right, the simple choker has seen a vast history that keeps it trending to this day. Technically a necklace, you’ll find the choker throughout Chinese, Native American, Indian, and Egyptian cultures.

Take the French Revolution:

Women took to wearing red ribbons around their necks to pay homage to those who met their death at the guillotine. The ribbon could be worn around the neck, or another fashion came in the form of an X around the shoulders and back. [Source: Buzzfeed]

The choker become increasingly popular in the late 1800’s where fashionable ladies, ballerinas (as depicted in the Degas image above) and even prostitutes donned them (a black choker often signified a “lady of the night”).

Initially chokers were often simple cloth but that morphed into new material such as luxe diamonds, pearls, lace and velvet. They were frequently custommade (which we love!) so they fit just right (because a droopy collar just won’t do).

Looking for a custom designed choker? Let’s find one that keeps you trendsetting for years to come!