Happy Stories From our customers

We’re happy to share with you a few of the winning pieces at AGTA’s (American Gem Trade Association), revealed at the AGTA Spectrum Awards in New York City last week. To see all of the winners, check them out here.

This platinum and 18-karat yellow gold Samuel Getz Designs necklace won first place in the "Classical" category of the Spectrum Awards. It features yellow and blue sapphires, red spinel and diamonds.

First-place winners were:

Best of Show
Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc.
Palladium cuff bracelet featuring a 22.40-carat aquamarine accented with 6.90 carats of grey diamonds and 2.2 carats of white diamonds.

Best Use of Color
Martin Key, Martin Key Co.
22-karat yellow gold “Frame” ring featuring a 1.50-carat blue tourmaline accented with four Mexican fire opal baguettes, total carat weight 1.82.

Best Use of Platinum and Color
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc.
Platinum “Princess of Ratnapura” bracelet featuring nine round sapphires (14 carats total) and 8.48 carats of round diamonds.

Best Use of Pearls
Llyn L. Strelau, Jewels by Design
Sculpture titled “Who Are You” (pictured above) featuring two-tone gold and silver with freshwater baroque pearls, South Sea keshi pearls, akoya seed pearls, demantoid garnets, a 0.20-carat ruby and 0.03 carats of cognac diamonds on a crystal quartz base.

Fashion Forward
Gregore Morin, Gregore Joailliers
18-karat white and yellow gold earrings featuring a 22-carat lemon chrysoprase accented with 2.38 carats of garnets.

SPECTRUM AWARDS

Bridal Wear
First place:
Niveet Nagpal, Omi Gems, Inc.
Platinum and 18-karat yellow gold ring featuring a 5.55-carat oval tsavorite garnet accented with fancy yellow diamonds.

Business/Day Wear
First place and Best of Show:
Todd Reed, Todd Reed, Inc.
Palladium cuff bracelet (pictured above) featuring a 22.40-carat aquamarine accented with 6.90 carats of grey diamonds and 2.20 carats of white diamonds.

Classical
First place:
Samuel Getz, Samuel Getz Designs
Platinum and 18-karat yellow gold necklace featuring 68.77 carats of yellow sapphires, 24.34 carats of blue sapphires and 24.20 carats of red spinels with 22.38 carats of diamonds.

Evening Wear
First place:
Cynthia Renee Zava, Cynthia Renee Zava
Palladium necklace (pictured above) featuring a suite of green tourmalines, 75.89 carats total.

Men’s Wear
First place:
Mark Lauer, Mark Michael Designs
18-karat yellow gold cufflinks featuring jasper agate and lapis lazuli composite accented with 2-mm spessartite garnets and sapphires.

CUTTING EDGE AWARDS

Classic Cut Gemstones
Open Category Classic Gemstone
First place:
Joseph Ambalu, Amba Gem Corp.
8.04-carat pigeon blood ruby.

Open Category All Other Faceted
First place:
Ruben Bindra, B & B Fine Gems, 9.59-carat trillion-cut red spinel.

Phenomenal Gemstones
First place:
Robyn Dufty, DuftyWeis Opals, Inc., 36.73-carat Mexican fire Opal cabochon.

Pairs & Suites
First place:
Clay Zava, Zava Mastercuts
Suite of pastel Cuprian tourmalines, 127.40 carats total weight.

Faceting
First place:
Jeff L. White, J.L. White Fine Gemstones
48.83-carat square, cushion-cut morganite.

Carving
First place:
Joseph August Voss, Joseph August Voss
220.30-carat crystal quartz carving.

Combination
First place:
Thomas Trozzo, Trozzo
66.48-carat square, dimple, concaved, scissor-cut aquamarine.

We work with a variety of gems here at Joseph Schubach Jewelers. Today, I’d like to highlight some of the breathtakingly beautiful blue stones. Many people will think of sapphire or lapis or even tanzanite, but there are a number of other blue gemstones which come in different shades including azure, cobalt, navy and indigo.

Lapiz Lazuli

Rainbow Hermatite

Titanium Drusy

London Blue Topaz

Blue Moonstone

Tanzanite

Spectrolite

Boulder Opal

The “Star of Lanka” is a 193-carat, oval, cabochon-cut, high domed, blue star sapphire with a distinct six-rayed star positioned at the center of the dome-shaped face, with its arms extending down to the base of the stone. In terms of the quality of the star, the “Star of Lanka” rivals its more famous cousins such as the “Star of India” and the “Star of Bombay.” The stone is opaque and milky, which tends to reduce the tone of the blue color of the sapphire. The color of the sapphire is a grayish blue. The dimensions of the gemstone are 30mm x 27mm x 23 mm.

Take a look at these amazing (and ancient) pieces of jewelry from the Middle East.

Every artifact serves as a symbol of information. Apotropeic emblems, borrowed from everyday life, epos, or myths, and used in the art of jewelry making, carried a certain magical connotation. Popularity of a particular mythological plot line was connected to the very zeitgeist of the given time period, since the jewelry maker lived through it and tended to be deeply involved with the contemporary events. The art reflected the master’s interests in what was currently happening with the society.

The simple-style earrings- as a ring, can be dated precisely by using radioisotope analysis, especially consider the items’ popularity. Earrings of that type are well-known from the images of the Achaemenian era (guards of Persepolis wore a single earring similar to the one in our collection; today youths and young men prefer this type as well). Earrings of this type were produced by casting method followed by polishing.

It is known that diadems were a special sign of a god or royalty. Gold garlands were kept in temples as parts of gold funds and were given as rewards for special achievements. Fragments of diadems were found among the finds of Oxus (see Treasure of Oxus, Dalton, London, 1964), and Tillya-tepe (Bactrian gold, Leningrad, 1985). Characters crowned by similar head jewelry can be found on coins, intaglios, pottery, paintings, frescos and reliefs, which allow us to recognize them as royalty or god-like creatures. Most of diadems were gold. Sometimes they are made by the stamping method. Details and fragments of diadems are made in the shape of leaves, trefoils or rosettes.

Gold earrings, from Jerusalem, represent a miniature nude male figure stamped in thin sheet gold. Each is bent into shape of ring and soldered to the hoop, together forming an earring. The man is wearing a wide headband, which fastens the top of the figure to the hoop. A miniature disk, in the shape of an eight-petal led rosette adorned with granulation, is soldered to the hoop above the figure's head.

Neck adornments were mostly worn by members of high social standing; perhaps this is the reason that the museum collection does not have a lot of samples of neck ornaments.

Source: Kunstpedia

We’ve recently seen several of our customer requesting not one, but two wedding rings – one for each side of the engagement ring. I recall many years ago hearing about this trend in Australia and New Zealand. Has it finally caught on here?

Here is an example from one of our customers. They purchased a ring very similar to our style 9617 and added an anniversary style band on each side.

At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we are concerned about eco-consciousness. That’s why we use diamond alternatives, like moissanite. And we all use recycled materials in our jewelry making.

But there are some actions you can take with your old jewelry to give it a new look. Take a look at these interesting suggestions. And blow the dust off that old jewelry box of yours!

Sell Your Old Jewelry Pieces on EBay or Etsy

You can list old jewelry for sale on eBay as pieces of jewelry, or as jewelry parts that can sell as components to create new pieces. Old jewels are popular sellers among jewelry makers for the parts, so don’t hesitate to add orphan earrings or broken jewelry to the lots.

Etsy is another website where you can sell your jewelry parts or your vintage jewelry. Visit a number of Etsy storefronts to get an idea of what is selling and at what price. To sell your items, you will then need to open up your own “store”.

Donate Your Old Jewelry To CharityUnwanted jewelry can be put to good use by various charities. If a favourite charity of yours is holding an auction, donate your old and unused jewelry so the charity can make a little money. You might even be able to ask for a tax receipt.

Use Jewelry in Unexpected Ways

If your brooches or earrings are missing bits, you can still recycle them as gift toppers and add a bit of bling to perhaps a ho-hum gift. It’s fun and eco-friendly and your recipient is getting two gifts in one.

• Decorate a picture frame, lampshade, plain box–the options are endless. Practice making a pattern before gluing the jewels to their new home.




• Dress up pretty bottles with beribboned brooches or earrings. Fill the jars with bath foam and oil for a jewel-charmed gift.




• If you have old clip-on earrings you will never wear, clip them on as shoe clips to glamorize a pair of plain high heels.




• Wrap unused gold or silver chain necklace around your wrist several times and wear it as a multi-strand bracelet.




• Or combine that plain chain with an unused charm bracelet to create an unusual and original combination. If you have single charms in your jewelry box, you can simply slip one or two onto the chain necklace for a fresh look




• For a stunning new look, slip a few of your unused rings on to a kilt pin (those large safety pins used to hold kilts together) and create a one of a kind brooch instantly.
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  Kilt pins for Rings

Read more at Suite101: Recycling Old Jewelry: New Uses for Your Vintage and Unused Baubles http://www.suite101.com/content/recycling-old-jewelry-a218625#ixzz12vmckQ9j

Who doesn’t like Halloween? It’s the most perfect holiday – no stress, just plain weird fun! Today, we’re showcasing some of the stranger, spookier jewelry we’ve come across. Be prepared!

Jewelry made out of human hair!

Don't hate us, PETA!

Eye Jewelry?

Ground Beef Accessory

I discovered this a few days ago and just had to share. So many of the points this jeweler makes are true. It really is very gratifying being a Scottsdale-based jeweler and a third generation jeweler at that. My family has brought a lot of happiness to other people and for that, I will be eternally proud:

Selling that first piece of jewelry to a 13-year-old boy for $25 or less, for his first girlfriend. There’s nothing like witnessing the innocence and generosity of youth through older eyes.

People thinking all jewelers are rich and successful. They are wrong, but it feels good anyway.

Being the hit of any party. Everybody is curious and wants “the scoop” on their jewelry or they want me to tell their spouse what they want for a gift!

Knowing everyone in town.

On Christmas morning, HUNDREDS of folks squeal with delight opening boxes with my name on it!

Helping young men pick out engagement rings when they are so terrified they can barely speak.

You can tell all the fakes in the room!

That feeling you have when a piece is finished and it SINGS!

You can fix your kids toys at the store!

I am a goldsmith and it’s a lost art…. but its ancient and important and spiritual to represent events in a person’s life in an object of precious material.

Being able to say, “I made that!”

Seeing the look of joy on a customer’s face when they see something very special we have produced for them the very first time.

Meeting artists and designers and traveling to shows

The respect that comes with being a third-generation businessperson.

Working with some of the most awesome materials in God’s creation.

Always having the best jewelry on at any party.

All day long being surrounded by beauty.

Being able to hold thousands of dollars worth of diamonds in the palm of your hand.

The fact that as long as that door is open, you are one sale away from a great day.

Getting to see the new stuff first.

Working with my family.

Pretty women having fun.

You can travel pretty much anywhere in the world on business.

Wholesale jewelry for the wife.

Getting wedding pictures, and then baby announcements in the mail with a thank-you note addressed to the staff.

The True Tales.

The variety of things in my day from crunching numbers to design

That we have so much room to grow and change constantly. That’s what I love. It never gets old.

Giving service for free to clients who don’t expect it just to let them know that you do really value their business.

Looking down ladies tops, as they lean over the counter.

The trust people place in you and how they tell you everything so easily, as if you are their closest friend.

We get to see people at their happiest.

Helping show someone how much they are loved.

I get to make people happy just about every day I open the doors. I am associated with positive life events (births, weddings, birthdays). So usually when people think of me, they smile!

Imagining what the recipient will say/do when they receive the gift.

When you make a quality piece of jewelry you know it is going to be cherished for years, likely beyond my own life.

Being an important player in life’s most significant events for the fine folks who walk through our door everyday! 50 years from now they’ll still remember where and who they got their engagement ring and wedding bands from.

Being one of only three people that know what exciting (engagement) news

When Grams comes in with her grandchildren to show them where to get their jewelry because this is where Gramps shops.

Hearing great gossip.

Helping the people who have come up from nothing and have achieved prosperity. It’s inspiring.

Educating the consumer about diamonds, sapphires, rubies etc….

We get to hear all of the great romance stories when people are considering buying that very special gift to celebrate that very special occasion.

All the love we get to see.

Being invited to a client’s wedding.

The guy with no idea, who only spends a little but I know he is so proud that “he has a gift.”

When I run into a customer and they make a big fuss over me and tells everyone that I am their personal jeweler — even if it is only in the grocery store.

Getting to wear inventory.

Always having something to talk about with the ladies

Selling things that no one needs. If you come into my store — you 100 percent want to be here.

Source: InStoreMag.com

I can only say one thing about my experience with you and Schubach thus far…WOW! I got the ring today at work (thank you for changing the shipping address for me!) and it is amazing. I love it, and I’m sure she will too. It really looks fantastic.

I think your service was the best I’ve ever received, anywhere. Thank you again and I will be in touch for any jewelery needs in the future!

All the best,

M