Happy Stories From our customers

Real pearls make a sound when rubbed across teeth!

Back by popular demand, here are some more interesting about jewelry and its history in the fashion world:

Men were the first to wear jewelry as a status symbol and as good luck amulets to aid them in battle.

Aaron, first high priest of the Hebrews, wore 12 gemstones (representing the 12 tribes of Israel) in his silver breastplate.
This is when birthstones originated.

The legendary Croesus was the first King to mint gold coins. He was the greatest collector of gold in history.

Agnes Sorel, the mistress of King Charles VII of France was the first woman to wear diamonds.

Initially, only one ring was used for an engagement and a wedding. Then in 1477, Maximilian of Austria gave an engagement ring to his beloved, Mary of Burgundy starting a tradition.

Although the hardest substance known, diamonds can they be chipped. They have a grain line and may be broken by a sharp blow along this line.

The largest diamond ever found was the The Cullinan. It weighed 3,106 carats, or about one and a third pounds!

The most important quality of a ruby, sapphire or emerald is its clarity of color. A natural or cultured pearl (unlike an imitation or simulated one) rubbed against the edge of one’s teeth produces vibrations one can actually hear.

58.3% of pure gold is an item marked 14k.

About 75% of American brides receive a diamond engagement ring.

Souce: SearchWrap

Some of have been good, some have been bad, but one thing for sure, celebrities love putting their names on jewelry lines. It’s sort of a Hollywood rite of passage. And Jessica Simpson is no exception. Let’s see how the public takes to recent foray into the diamond jewelry world.

JCK reported yesterday about the launch of the Jessica Simpson Diamond Jewelry Collection at Zales, and today, we have a first look at the designs (photos weren’t available until now). The motifs aren’t anything we haven’t seen before, but with the pop star/actress’ name attached, I’m sure they’ll do okay at retail.

A cross with 0.06 ct. t.w. diamonds is available in sterling or 10k white, yellow, or rose gold; $79.99 in silver and $149.99 in gold.

A heart with 0.05 ct–0.50 ct. diamonds is available in sterling or 10k white, yellow, or rose gold; starting prices are $79.99 in silver and $199.99 in gold.

A butterfly with 0.05 ct–0.50 ct. diamonds is available in sterling or 10k white, yellow, or rose gold; starting prices are $79.99 in silver and $199.99 in gold.

When we read about Sotheby’s and the like, we often figure the game players are high rollers with tons of dough. But this “little guy” just won a big gem at an online auction, reminding us all that gems as an investment are a possibility if you know what you’re doing:

Photo courtesy of Bid4Assets

A self-described “little guy” from Cortland, Ohio, who builds houses and dabbles in gems on the side, submitted the winning bid at this week’s bid4assets online auction, and is now the proud owner of a 43 ct. internally flawless yellow diamond.

While the company had predicted the price could climb as high as $20 million, the winner, Jerre Hentosh, scored with a $2.8 million bid.

The stone, once nicknamed the “Golden Eye,” originally belonged to Ohio businessman Paul Monea. Monea was later convicted of money laundering in a scheme to hide the proceeds of drug trafficking, according to court documents. Federal marshalls seized the stone and gave it to bid4assets, which auctioned it off Sept. 6-8.  (View the listing.)

Hentosh, whose name was first revealed by a local newspaper, tells JCK that he became interested in the stone after seeing it on the national news.

“I know a little bit more about diamonds than the average individual,” he says. “This one caught my eye so I figured I’d bid on it.”

Still, Hentosh never expected to win, and is “still in shock” from it. And while he’s not sure exactly what he will do with the gem in question, he is entertaining offers.

“I’m hoping someone calls me up and throws me out a nice number,” he says. “I already heard from a museum. This stone is so rare. I see Christie’s is auctioning off Liz Taylor’s jewelry. This stone is bigger than her 30-carat stone. It’s bigger than Kim Kardashian’s.”

And if he gets no buyers, there is always a fallback plan.

“My 45th anniversary is tomorrow,” he says. “My wife is thinking what a nice present that would be.”

Source: JCK Online

This 1-minute video is a great visual example of why gem shows can be so amazing: up close and personal opportunities to “meet” some of the most amazing gems and jewelery in the industry. Prepare to be dazzled (except for the soundtrack, which is just plain annoying.)

Sotheby’s is at it again, stunning the jewelry world with its amazing pieces. On September 20, Sotheby’s kicks off its Fall season with some amazing pieces…at some amazing prices. Bring your check book!

A “Tutti Frutti” bracelet, one of Cartier’s rarest and most iconic Art Deco designs, will headline the Important Jewels sale at Sotheby’s in New York on September 20. The bracelet has a pre-sale estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.

Released by Cartier in 1928, the “Tutti Frutti” bracelet features  a flexible openwork foliate band set with carved sapphires, rubies and emeralds. It is set with old European-cut and single-cut diamonds weighing approximately 7.00 carats, and is applied with black enamel.

The auction also features signed pieces by Van Cleef & Arpels, David Webb, Buccellati and Tiffany & Co., with estimates ranging from $5,000 to $800,000. Collectors of high-quality diamonds will find a compelling selection of wearable white diamond rings ranging from 2 to 15 carats, as well as an array of fancy colored diamond jewels.

Among the items are a platinum and diamond Ring by Van Cleef & Arpels, set with an emerald-cut diamond weighing 9.19 carats, D color, VVS2 clarity, which flanked by triangular-shaped diamonds weighing approximately 2.80 carats.

Also featured is a diamond pendant necklace set with pear-shaped diamond of fancy intense blue color weighing 2.59 carats, VS1 clarity, surmounted by two diamonds weighing approximately 1.00 carat.

Another items expected to raise interest is a platinum and 18-karat pink gold and diamond Ring, set with a  round diamond weighing 5.56 carats, D color, internally flawless with excellent cut, polish and symmetry, which is flanked by two round diamonds each weighing  0.70 carat of similar perfect quality; and a platinum, gold, ruby and diamond Ring by Tiffany & Co., which is set with a Burmese ruby and diamonds weighing approximately 3.50 carats.

The Important Jewels presale exhibition will be opens to the public in New York on Friday, September 16.

Source: Diamond Dealers Club

In the last few weeks, we’ve highlighted the economic trends in relation to purchasing engagement rings. Now we have some more specifics. Overall, you’ll see couples moving toward more affordable engagement rings with smaller carat sizes and alternative gems, such as moissanite.

The average American engagement ring costs $5,200. That’s just one of the results of the just-released 2011 Engagement & Jewelry Survey from XO Group Inc., formerly The Knot Inc., and owners of TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com. The survey polled more than 10,000 U.S. brides and 1,000 U.S. grooms who were either engaged or married in the past year.

Below are highlights of survey data, featuring average prices, carat weights, and more:

1.		Engagement ring cost: $5,200
2.		Carat size: 1 ct. for center stone; 1.4 cts. t.w.
3.		Most popular diamond shapes: round (53%) and princess (30%)
4.		Most popular engagement ring metal: white gold (73%)
5.		Time it takes for groom to find engagement ring: 3 months
6.		Wedding band cost: $1,126 for brides; $491 for grooms
7.		Most popular wedding band metal: white gold (70% for brides, 34% for grooms)
8.		Luxury ring segment: About 12% of couples spend more than $8,000 on the engagement ring
9.		Luxury engagement ring cost: $13,500
10.		Luxury engagement ring carat size: 1.5 cts. for center stone; more than 2 cts. t.w.
11.		Luxury wedding band cost: $1,560 for brides; $731 for grooms

Other data reveals that just 14 percent of grooms claimed to have scaled down the size and cost of engagement rings purchased due to the economy, while 1 in 4 grooms spent more than he originally budgeted. Buyers are, however, still spending less than they did a few years ago; today, couples are spending just under $5,200 on the ring, compared with $5,800 for engaged couples in 2008.

Read more at JCK.

Style 10214-6.5mm Twisted Shank Engagement Ring With Side Stones Twisted shank engagement ring with just under 2/5ct t.w. pave’ side stones. Fits a 6.5mm (1ct) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone)

This story is getting quite a lot of online airplay recently, but we’re not surprised here at Joseph Schubach Jewelers. We see it firsthand: men want to still “wow” their spouse-to-be but how can budget not be an issue in this economy. Of course, our resounding answer is moissanite, where you get more bang for your buck as well choosing something ecologically sound.

Men planning their weddings are cutting back on what they spend on an engagement ring – and their fiancees are not happy. Traditionally, a ring has tended to cost around up to three months’ salary – but now many grooms-to-be are devoting only three weeks’ income to the crucial purchase. Research by home insurance firm LV found that nearly two-thirds of grooms are paying less than a month’s salary.  John O’Roarke, LV’s managing director, said: ‘It’s not surprising to see men tightening their belts in these tough economic times.

Regardless of how much a ring is worth, it is still a treasured possession.’ More than half of the women surveyed said they did not how much their engagement ring was worth. But most said they expected their man to spend at least one month’s salary on the ring. Nearly four in ten grooms refused to reveal what they paid, and three per cent admitted that they exaggerated the cost.

Source: GalTime

Cathedral engagement ring with two bezel set round brilliant diamonds. Fits a 6.5mm (1ct) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone)

Contemporary Solitaire Engagement Ring Contemporary solitaire engagement ring. Fits a 6.5mm round stone. (setting only, does not included center stone)