Happy Stories From our customers

The Kimberly Process is designed to certify the origin of rough diamonds from sources which are free of conflict funded by diamond production. The certification scheme aims at preventing “blood diamonds” from entering the mainstream rough diamond market and assure consumers that they were not indirectly financing war and human rights abuses. This week, it was brought into question by Human Rights Watch:

Human Rights Watch called on governments, companies and consumers to refuse to buy Zimbabwe diamonds until all members of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme agree the country is protecting people’s rights.

The Kimberley Process, which was created in 2003 to prevent so-called “blood diamonds” from financing conflict, said on June 23 that exports from Zimbabwe’s Marange fields could resume. The decision was broadly supported by African countries, while the U.S. and Canada objected.

“If diamonds from Marange are KP certified we’d be arguing for consumers not to buy those diamonds from sellers,” Tiseke Kasambala of Human Rights Watch said by phone from Johannesburg today. “The allowing of exports while there are ongoing abuses is a terrible decision.”

In 2009, restrictions were placed on the export of gems from the Marange field, which is near Zimbabwe’s border with Mozambique, after an investigation found human-rights violations and smuggling at the site. In 2008, more than 200 people were killed when Zimbabwean security forces took over the concessions, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

Kimberley Process President Mathieu Yamba said June 23 that Zimbabwe was now complying with the organization’s requirements and had guaranteed cooperation with civil society representatives and special monitoring of its exports. Yamba did not answer his phone when called for comment by Bloomberg today.

“Consensus cannot mean that everyone has to say ‘yes’,” he said June 23 in response to Canada’s objection.

Source: Bloomberg News

 

Read more about our eco-friendly jewelry.

We’ve talked about the many wonders of palladium in the past. It’s durable, light-weight, with a remarkable luster. Palladium is considered a sister-metal to platinum. though palladium is a relative newcomer in the jewelry market. Several celebrities have joined up with Palladium Alliance International to co-create a campaign extolling its virtues.

Toledo, Ohio–Palladium Alliance International (PAI) is partnering up with celebrities Pamela Anderson, Kelly Osbourne and Rose McGowan for a new campaign to promote the metal’s use in fine jewelry.

“The campaign, which will launch nationally in September, is a play on the attributes of palladium,” said Ellen Fruchtman, president of Fruchtman Marketing, which developed and is launching the campaign for PAI.

Former Baywatch star and humanitarian Pamela Anderson, E! Fashion Police host Kelly Osbourne and Charmed TV actress Rose McGowan will be featured in a series of ads that will extol the virtues of palladium jewelry.

The campaign will appear in publications including Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Glamour, W, and Elle. The PAI campaign is the largest for palladium and highlights intrinsic qualities of the metal as those matching the desires of an active, busy consumer.

In addition to print, the campaign will include extensive digital and social media aspects.

“The campaign has a lot of legs and is very consumer and media friendly,” Fruchtman said. “The celebrities we have selected are recognizable, and the headline associated with the campaign will be attention-getting.”

One of the lightest precious metals, palladium has been used in jewelry since about 1939, and is naturally white, durable and pure.

Source: National Jeweler

Palladium Comfort Fit Wedding Band With Milgrained Edges Comfort fit wedding band, high polished with milgrain edges in palladium, 6mm wide.

50% Off!! Comfort Fit Diamond Wedding Band In Palladium

 

Yes, I realize the boldness of suggesting that any piece of jewelry could attract love. Many of us want love in our lives, but don’t know how to go about it. So we quietly long for it and when it doesn’t happen, we curse the heavens. Or just blame it on fate and timing. Or just become lazy or apathetic, hoping it will just fall into our laps. But let’s think about it for a second: Being open to love requires action and a mindset…and maybe a little magic.

What if you could open up to love in real, tangible ways in your life?

What if you could envision what you want so strongly that you become a magnet to love?

What if you could write out a magic list that contained all the elements you really want in a partner?

What if you could have charms that you hold and “charge” with your desires, so every time you wear it, you are reminded, even subconsciously, of your true desires?

It’s called manifesting and it’s been around for a long, long time. And jewelry has been used as a tool the in process of manifesting wishes.

Here’s a necklace we believe holds strong powers. It’s one of the staff favorites. Consider it if you’re looking for some love in your life….or just want a charming piece to show off to friends!

Can a necklace attract love? We think so. Especially this one!

Heart Shape Pendant With Genuine Brazilian Garnets And Natural Diamonds

You might not know the word “Bakelite” but undoubtedly you’ve seen it.

Bakelite became popular in the 1930’s and 1940’s. It is a strong, fire resistant plastic invented by Leo Baekeland in 1909. At first it was used for industrial purposes until jewelry makers found that lightweight Bakelite made a perfect choice for designing inexpensive jewelry. Coco Chanel was one famous designer who created Bakelite jewelry and accessories.

Here’s are some Bakelite pieces in its various incarnations over the years.

Auctioneer John Haxell with the largest Bakelite object ever produced - a coffin with a guide price of £5,000 Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/mailonsunday/article-1082316/Plastic-fantastic-The-pre-war-Bakelite-auction-expected-raise-thousands.html#ixzz1Pv4vQzOr

Probably not much. But not to worry – we’re here to help. Zultanite is a trending gemstone that’s been showing its chameleon-like qualities in several prominent collections. Read on about this color-changing gem.

(above) Rhonda Faber Green’s Juliet flower ring is made in 18-karat yellow gold and features 19 carats of zultanite, 3.5 carats of diamonds and color-change garnet accents ($52,070).

Use of the color-changing stone zultanite was noticeable at Couture this year, as designers such as Stephen Webster, Erica Courtney and Rhonda Faber Green incorporated the gem into their collections.

Erica Courtney’s pyramid charm (above) is made in 18-karat yellow gold and features 28 carats of zultanite with diamonds ($62,000).

“I’m particularly interested in the phenomenon of color-change stones, and it’s compelling to be able to offer my customers a gem that has a point of difference from the marketplace,” Webster said.

Stephen Webster’s 18-karat white gold drop celestial earrings (above) feature zultanite and diamonds ($54,000).

Zultanite is marked by its chameleon-like nature, changing color from kiwi green with flashes of yellow in sunlight conditions to raspberry hues in candlelight, and a rich champagne color indoors. Named in honor of the 36 sultans who ruled the Ottoman Empire, the gemstone has been in commercial production since 2006.

John Buechner’s platinum ring (above) features a nearly 13-carat cushion cut zultanite and diamonds.

Only found at one location in the world, zultanite is mined from Turkey’s remote Anatolian Mountains exclusively by Ottoman Gem (Suisse), GmbH, at the height of just above 4,000 ft. Through increased mechanization, production of the stone is expected to double this year.

Daniel Gibbings’ 20-karat yellow gold teardrop earrings (above) hold nearly 34 carats of zultanite and ruby accents ($43,290).

According to Milenyum, most zultanite rough yields one- to three-carat gemstones and up, and is never enhanced. The company is a member of AGTA, MJSA, JBT and the International Colored Gemstone Association.

For more information, visit the official zultanite website.

Source: National Jeweler

It was amazing.  She could not have been more surprised or more excited.  Fits perfect and looks amazing on he finger.  Talk to you in 10 years when it is time for an upgrade;)