Happy Stories From our customers

Hello Joe,

–E

There’s no easy answer to the question. Most of assume the jewelry is “on loan” for the evening but that’s not always the case. Here are a few case in points:

CBS) Actress Anne Hathaway was reportedly paid a pretty penny just to wear a few flashy gems during Sunday’s Oscar ceremony.An insider tells Us magazine that the 28-year-old show host was paid $750,000 to exclusively wear Tiffany and Co. jewels throughout the evening.

For her red carpet appearance, Hathaway paired her strapless red Valentino bustle gown with a $10 million Tiffany Lucida Star diamond necklace, diamond earrings and ring.

Show performer Gwyneth Paltrow was reportedly also generously compensated to wear Louis Vuitton jewelry. Paltrow, who sang “Coming Home” during the ceremony, accented her shimmery Calvin Klein Collection gown with a pair of multi-toned earrings, ring and brooch from the fashion house’s “L’Ame du Voyage” collection.

Others stars to make a statement with their baubles include presenter Cate Blanchett, who wore a Van Cleef & Arpels vintage bracelet, which boasted 127 yellow and white diamonds, and best supporting actress nominee Amy Adams, who reportedly wore $1,350,000 worth of Cartier jewels with her sparkly, midnight blue L’Wren Scott gown.

Source: CBS News

Oh no…don’t look away! We all know that even men can overboard on the bling! Mr. T proved this in spades, but what is too much when it comes to men’s jewelry? And what are some “must have” pieces for men? This article explains that, with just the right touches, you can look elegant and polished…without hurting the eyes!

mr. t is unemployed

Okay, so maybe some guys built their reputations with the amount of gold wrapped around their necks. Heck, there’s even one rapper with flavor that became famous because he wore a huge clock around his neck. But the A-Team stopped production and Public Enemy isn’t number 1 anymore.

Although it is amusing to see the dude with the Mohawk strut his stuff with 75 pounds of jewelry draped all over his body, no one in the real world would be taken by such a fashion statement, or lack thereof.

When it comes to guys and jewelry, minimalism is key. Believe it or not, it is possible to portray an image of class and sophistication. And if you want the ladies to think you’re made of money, that’s possible too.

is that a gucci?

Of course, every guy has to own a watch — and I’m not referring to some contraption that has Mickey Mouse’s hands moving around the dial. Rather, every man should own a few watches, one of which is expensive, classy and timeless (ha, the irony).

Leave your Nike watch at home on those days when you’re trying to make an impression. There are plenty of watches that turn heads and from my Hugo Boss watch alone, I’ve been the target of many a woman’s interest.

Of course, that’s not to say that your watch will do all the talking for you, but rather, a beautiful timepiece can pique the interest of the honeys who know their brand names. And there’s no harm in that, at least not until they start asking for brand-name items of their own.

what else should guys wear?

Besides the typical watch, what other jewelry is acceptable or unacceptable for guys? Well, I’m glad you asked so that we can clear this up once and for all.

Rings
Unless your name is Fat Tony, I don’t recommend that you wear all kinds of 14K gold, diamond encrusted pinky rings.
Acceptable: A wedding band or a simple ring (read: no frills) is acceptable so long as it’s one ring per ten fingers.

Chains

Wearing a chain around your wrist isn’t the end of the world, so long as it doesn’t clash with the watch you’ve got on.
Acceptable: Wear a strong, sturdy chain (thick enough to suit your wrist); those are typical of men’s dress and look best on a man’s wrist.

Necklaces
Necklaces that have the ability to give you a sore neck or that possess some tacky pendant of a Play..boy bunny or that say “#1 Lover” should be chucked right this minute. Well, go on, I’m waiting…
Acceptable: Again, simplicity is key. So a thin necklace with a small pendant (cross, star of David, zodiac sign, etc.) or no pendant at all can go a long way. Even a beaded necklace can look great with the right outfit.

Earrings
I’m not sure if you’re aware of this just yet, but earrings for men went out of style in the mid-’90s.
Unacceptable: If you’re wearing earrings, then you’ll probably disagree with my assessment about earrings, but believe me, everyone who sees you with metal in your earlobes thinks you’re tawdry.

Body piercings
Bellybutton, tongue, eyebrows, chin, nose… I strongly disapprove of most of these. If you have model appeal, then maybe you can pass with an eyebrow ring.
Unacceptable: Under no circumstances should guys have a piece of jewelry stabbed through their navels; leave that for the ladies. And that goes for the tongue and nose rings too.

go alongs are no-nos

You still have to keep a few things in mind when you sport jewelry. If you’re wearing a ring, that’s fine, but for God’s sake, don’t let your pinky nail grow. In fact, keep all your nails trim and dirt-free.

If you’re wearing a necklace, don’t unbutton your shirt down to your chest and have the necklace hanging between your nipples. All necklaces should hang just past your collarbone.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to wear jewelry whichever way you see fit. What looks good through your eyes, however, may not seem so through mine. To each his own, but the next time you see some babe laughing in your direction, it’s quite possible that it won’t be because she’s impressed by the silver bunny hanging from your neck and caught in your chest hair…

Source: Ask Men

Gent's Comfort Fit Wedding Band, 14kt White Gold Men's 14kt white gold comfort fit wedding band, diagonal design, 6mm wide. Metal: 14kt White Gold

Jewelry as a form of art and investment is becoming increasingly popular. Read on (and click on image below to enlarge):

What do the following trinkets have in common: Jackie O’s gold handbag; Joan Crawford’s Raymond Yard tennis bracelet; journalist and ambassador Clare Boothe Luce’s gold, diamond, and sapphire necklace; and automobile heiress Bernice Chrysler Garbisch’s Van Cleef & Arpels diamond and ruby earrings? If you guessed they were the inventory of a Hearst heiress’ safe deposit box, you’d be wrong. They’re all, ahem, valuable works of art.

These pieces are included in the Museum of the City of New York’s current “Notorious & Notable: 20th Century Women of Style” show. It’s the latest in a growing number of exhibitions treating vintage jewels and accessories as miniature sculptures and objets d’art.

With the art market still very much in recovery mode, collectors are turning to jewelry not only for its artistic value but also for its investment potential. “Since the start of the recession we’ve seen a growing number of new and established collectors come into the market with particular interest in buying jewels as an alternative asset or as a hedge against inflation,” says Rahul Kadakia, Christie’s head of jewelry.

Feeding the craze, museums and galleries around the world are hosting more historical and thematic exhibitions than ever dedicated to 19th and 20th century jewelry. Last year, Lalique and Cartier curated museum shows that toured the country. Next year, Van Cleef & Arpels will mount a retrospective of its work at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York. “The public’s perception of jewelry has absolutely changed. Clients and collectors now have a greater appreciation for fine jewelry as an art form,” says Kadakia.

To a point. Many savvy collectors are also drawn to such pieces because of the increase in the investment value of diamonds and gold, and recent auction sales have reflected this enthusiasm. Kadakia cites Cartier’s multicolored- gem-encrusted “Tutti Frutti” bracelet as an example of the market’s extraor- dinary growth. The limited-edition designer piece fetched about $300,000 at auction 10 years ago. Today prices consistently exceed $1 million. In April, Sotheby’s sold a gold, platinum, and diamond David Webb panther bracelet for $134,500, nearly three times its pre-sale estimate. That same month, Christie’s sold a diamond and emerald brooch once belonging to Catherine the Great for $1.65 million—$400,000 more than its anticipated price.

More experienced collectors are trending toward unique period jewels and pieces from top-tier jewelry houses. It’s a good strategy, Kadakia says, one that has canny buyers seeing positive returns over the long term. One example of a period piece with currency is the Bulgari Blue Diamond ring, a gold band flanked by two enormous triangular diamonds, which will headline Christie’s New York’s Jewels sale this month. Purchased for $1 million in the 1970s, when it was designed, Christie’s expects it to field more than $12 million this time around.

 

Read more at Bloomberg Business Week

We’re looking to add yellows, blues and pinks along with a few new shapes to our line of Radiance® diamond sims. Let us know what you think!

(above) One of the earliest shots of our store

Why buy jewelry online? Finding an online jewelry company you can trust seems like no easy feat.

I spoke with a friend of a friend a few days ago who didn’t know I was in the jewelry business. We began talking about shopping online. She said enthusiastically that she buys tons of items online…except for jewelry. When I asked her why, she said, “I just wouldn’t take that chance.”

I tried to explain to her that she could be taking advantage of the best prices out there – wholesale prices instead of retail. But she needed some more convincing.

We realize there’s some natural and healthy skepticism when it comes to buying jewelry online and trust. And we don’t blame them!

But we have plenty of proof of our trustworthiness:

• One hundred years in business. That’s right – you read correctly. I’m a third generation jeweler, deeply instilled with the same ethics of my father and grandfather: provide our customers with the utmost respect and offer the best value possible.

 

• Guaranteed Quality and Workmanship: We use the highest level of skill when creating each piece of jewelry we sell, regardless of its size or price. If you ever have concerns about the quality of your jewelry, rest assured that we will be there to help.

 

• Guaranteed Accurate Grading: We promise your diamond, moissanite or other gemstone will meet the size and grading standards listed on our website and in your invoice. If your gemstone doesn’t meet the standards you expected, call us and we’ll make it right.

 

• Guaranteed Customer Service: Our commitment to your absolute satisfaction doesn’t end after the sale. If you should ever need service or assistance with your jewelry, please call us. Whether it’s been weeks or years, we’ll be there to help.

 

• 30 Day Return Policy: If you are unsatisfied with your purchase for any reason, you can return it, no questions asked – and with no restocking fee.

 

• We are a BBB-accredited business.

 

We’re more than an online business. We’re a long-standing jewelry institution with a showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona. We have an intimate staff, hand-chosen by me – the best of the best. So if you’re like my friend and feeling a bit hesitant about purchasing your jewelry online, give us a call directly. Talk to a real, live human being – maybe even me. We can put your fears to rest and get you some of the best jewelry prices available.

I'm Joseph Schubach, a third generation jeweler...and a real, live person.

We love to show off other talented jewelry designers almost as much as we like to show off our own! There’s a twofold reason: jewelry design is a relatively small community. It’s good to support like-minded craftspeople. Secondly, if there’s a piece you see that you’d like to recreate, we’re glad to take a design as a starting point and build your own individual piece from there.

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Haute Betts:

Haute Betts is manufactured in the USA and is sold at many fine boutiques throughout Southern California. Founder and designer, Heather Betts has created each statement piece with names just as creative as the jewels themselves.  Betts, a native Angeleno has named her pieces after iconic figures that truly represent Southern California culture. The creative, flirty and edgy designs will make any outfit, whether elegant or casual, come to life. Haute Betts is a definite must have for one who exudes a fashion forward personal style – the true fashionista. For more information and to purchase Haute Betts please visit www.hautebetts.com.

Haute Betts, known for its designs inspired by the bohemian and rock n’ roll styles that have graced many Hollywood fashionistas, is pleased to announce its inclusion in the upcoming film, Beastly. Beastly stars Mary Kate Olsen and Vanessa Hudgens, both style icons for Haute Betts designer Heather Betts. Having both actresses don the Haute Betts collection throughout the film is a career accomplishment for Betts.The “Lindy” bracelet, a one-of-a-kind piece created especially for the film, captures the essence of Vanessa Hudgens character, Lindy, to perfection. An earthy, multi-chain, Jade-chip bracelet falls effortlessly on the beautiful star, as seen in the movie. The “Flutter,” also repeatedly adorned by Hudgens character is an added splash of color that compliments the whimsical yet down to earth nature portrayed by the role of Lindy.  “Flutter” is made of turquoise beads and gold butterfly charms. “Lust,” “Sacred,” “Outsider” and “Dream Catcher” also developed in mind for Lindy’s character add a distinguished allurement the beast is drawn to.

The “Immortal” bracelet developed with Mary Kate Olsen’s character Kendra in mind, brings forth a beguiling yet bewitching element to her performance.  Stockpiled on Kendra’s wrist throughout the movie, the gorgeous jewels enhance her temperament as well as her strong opinions and beliefs.  The “Immortal” is made from Ivory colored skulls and gold plated findings. All Haute Betts Jewels made for the film Beastly originate from the highest quality of gems, stones and findings. Each piece is meticulously created to enhance each characters mindset and fashionable persona and captures the dark and emotional spirit of Beastly.

"The Vamp"

Breast Cancer Awareness bracelet