Happy Stories From our customers

We fancy ourselves educators at Joseph Schubach Jewelers. Every week, we instill upon you yet another history lesson connected to the wide world of jewelry.

Of course, we don’t quiz you at the end (though we might – you never know) but we hope you’ll become more informed buyers of moissanite, Gemesis, diamonds, gold, platinum and all the other special gems and metals we have to offer.

Today, a very interesting history of the engagement ring, thanks to the people at Ancient Jewelry Facts.

Since at least 5000 BC, men and women have worn rings – on their thumbs, fingers and even toes.

Some rings have been purely decorative, seal rings and archers’ rings have had useful purposes, while a few have been thoroughly nasty specimens, harboring poison that turned a handshake into a deadly clasp.

The earliest written reference to rings as love tokens is in the second century BC, in works by the Roman playwright Plautus.

The practice of exchanging wedding rings, apparently common in Rome, was “Christianized” by the 4th century AD.An early example of an engagement ring featuring Eros, the ancient symbol of love.

By the 14th century, wealthy Europeans had their wedding rings set with precious jewels, somewhat like modern engagement rings, but it was not until 1477 that the diamond engagement ring as we know it came into being.

That year, the Hapsburg Emperor Maximilian I gave a diamond engagement ring to his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy. This first instance of a royal engagement ring fueled the European passion for diamonds, already aflame by the taste for fine jewels promoted by Mary’s father, Charles the Bold (1433–77).

As the dukes of Burgundy controlled Europe’s major diamond–cutting centers in Antwerp and Bruges, Charles’ encouragement of wealthy Europeans to buy diamonds appears to have a commercial side.

By the 16th century, it seemed no royal marriage was complete without a diamond ring. Mary, Queen of Scots, chose one when she married Lord Darnley in 1565 and in 1673, James II of England sent a diamond ring to Mary of Modena for their proxy wedding in 1673.

In 1839, Prince Albert gave Queen Victoria a diamond ring as a memento of their first meeting, perhaps inadvertently setting the royal seal of approval on diamond engagement rings.

It was during the second half of the 19th century that the practice of giving two rings for the bride became firmly established.

Prince Philip carried on the royal diamond tradition when he gave his fiancée, now Queen Elizabeth II, an engagement ring made with diamonds from the tiara of his mother, Princess Alice.

Norwegian Crown Prince Haakon gave his fiancée a diamond engagement ring that he said was the same one his father gave his mother, and his grandfather King Olav gave to Queen Martha.

Not every royal lady has had diamonds in her engagement ring. The Queen Mother’s ring was sapphire and diamonds, as was Princess Anne’s. Lady Diana Spencer was given a £42,000 sapphire and diamond engagement ring by Prince Charles, while Sarah Ferguson received a ruby and diamond engagement ring from Prince Andrew.

However, Sophie Rhys–Jones took the more traditional line with a three-diamond ring when she became engaged to Prince Edward.

But for size, nothing comes close to the engagement ring Prince Rainier of Monaco gave Grace Kelly. She wore the 12ct diamond ring in her last movie, “High Society”, in 1956. In the film, Bing Crosby looks at the ring and quips, “Some stone, did you mine it yourself?”

A New Take on an Old Tradition - Style 9501M Tension Set Engagement Ring With A Round Moissanite And Side Diamonds

You’ve heard the expression – all this glitters is not gold. Nowhere is this more true than this latest exhibit in London, showcasing some of the best of the best in fake jewelry throughout history:

“Brilliant Impressions: Antique Paste & Other Jewelry,” from June 15 to June 29 at S.J. Phillips, an antiques and silver dealer in London, is a charming, slyly subversive exhibition of 146 pieces of paste, “Vauxhall glass” and semiprecious jewels that tell the flip side of the story: How women with more style than means adorned themselves in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

“Each of these pieces that has survived is by no means run-of-the-mill,” said Diana Scarisbrick, a world-renowned jewelry historian who wrote the exhibition’s catalogue — to which Anna Wintour, editor in chief of American Vogue, provided a foreword.

“The majority of the pieces are from the 18th century, a very high point in jewelry design, and the pieces are set the same as you’d find with beautiful diamonds,” Mrs. Scarisbrick said.

Mostly sourced from an anonymous English collector, the false jewels in the exhibition attest to a tradition of craftsmanship and beauty to rival that of the genuine jewels from which they took their inspiration. They offer a powerful testament to the timelessness of certain styles of adornment, in particular, those that offer substantial looks at modest prices.

Many of the pieces in the exhibition would be indistinguishable from today’s statement jewels, including a Carmen Miranda-esque pair of girandole pink and white paste earrings that date to the early 18th century, and a dramatic bib necklace of bullet-shaped beads composed of French jet, the black glass version of the organic gem that once littered the shores of Whitby, in north-eastern England.

At their best, the pieces in the show feel pregnant with history, as with a late 18th century aigrette, or plume-like ornament, composed of chrysoberyl and tawny topaz discovered during Portugal’s mid-century foray into the mineral-rich Brazilian interior. At £20,000, or about $29,000, the aigrette, designed as a headdress decoration, is the exhibition’s most expensive piece. The oldest is a cluster pendant of rose-cut rock crystal dating to 1670.

“It’s the first exhibition of its type and quality that’s been done,” said Francis Norton, a director of S.J. Phillips.

17th century blue paste bow pendant from Kunsthandel Inez Stodel

Source: New York Times

Moissanite is not the same as a naturally-mined diamond. It is a synthetic, lab-created diamond and not considered a fake. This differentiation is important to remember.

Listen, most of us would love nothing more than to give a big rock to our girl for that on-one-knee proposal. But most of us realize that’s financially difficult if not downright impossible.

So how do you broach the topic of buying a moissanite engagement ring with your wife-to-be?

1. Be honest. Don’t tell her its a natural diamond when it’s not. Trust us on this one – it could get you into some serious hot water later on, if she bothers to do some research.

2. Discuss your finances openly. Many feel that talking about the financial aspects of engagement is somehow…not romantic. Well, it may not be wine and roses, but it’s real. The way you handle finances together helps you understand very important lessons about one another. Your partner will respect that you honor her opinion and that you can discuss matters of import.

3. Visit a jeweler. Remember, a qualified jeweler can do a lot of the hard work for you!  He or she will detail the pros and cons of purchasing quality moissanite. The pros include a gem that is as durable and brilliant as a naturally mined diamond, the reminder that moissanite is in fact a diamond and that moissanite is an ecologically-sound and long-lasting alternative.

4. The rock size just grew! That’s right – all of a sudden a bigger stone is a possibility, which for many women is an exciting proposition. By choosing moissanite, shopping for  engagement ring can include a range of beautiful rings with a real “wow” factor.

5. Offer the option of an upgrade in the future. If you’re planning a surprise engagement, go for it! You can explain to her later that you’ve chosen moissanite for the reasons mentioned and if she’s unhappy with it, you can plan an upgrade when finances allow. Chances are, she’ll grow attached to her ring just the way it is…because it came from you. Really, isn’t that the most important part?

The idea here is to embrace the idea of buying moissanite. There’s no need to hide it, like a secret. In a day when naturally-mined diamonds are becoming a questionable prospect ecologically (mining is continuing to damage the earth and cause political disruption), moissanite is a smart, informed choice you can be proud of.

Style 9937-6.5mm

Contemporary Solitaire Engagement Ring

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

We’ve discussed the gold selling trend a few times in the last few months. But trends, in their usual fashion, are always changing. Here’s a recent article that details some pertinent information regarding selling gold. Remember, forewarned is forearmed. With our 100-year-old business, we understand buying and selling gold in all its complexities and all economical climates. Contact us directly if you’re thinking of selling your gold.

With the price of gold near record highs, many are selling their gold chains and broken pocket watches at Tupperware-style parties or by mail to outfits like Super Bowl advertiser Cash4Gold.

That could be a sign of the times – people are desperate for cash – or a sign that gold has more room to run.

“Bubbles never blow up without the American investor class being overexposed to the item that’s in the bubble,” says Nick Zaharias, a consultant to hedge funds who put 30 percent of his family’s assets in gold. If gold were near a peak, people would be buying, not selling gold at house parties and hotel rooms, he says.

If you want to cash in, here are some ways to avoid the Golden Fleece.

— Know the price. Gold is bought and sold at some percentage above or below the spot price, which changes constantly and can be found at sites such as Kitco.com or Coininfo.com. The more gold you sell, the better price you generally get. The price you see advertised might be what the dealer is paying for larger quantities, so be sure to ask.

Standard gold coins such as the American Golden Eagle, South African Krugerrand or Canadian Maple Leaf contain 1 ounce of gold and generally have no “collectible” value beyond their gold content, but check with a reputable coin dealer to be sure.

Robert Mish, of Mish International Monetary Inc. in Menlo Park, says he pays about 1 percent over the spot price for one or two such coins or 2 percent above spot “for reasonable volumes.”

With jewelry, don’t expect to get what you paid. “The retail markup is substantial, and a lot of the value is in the design and craftsmanship,” says Morningstar analyst Paul Justice. “If you melt it down, you will lose a lot of the value.”

Gold dealers generally won’t pay you for stones, so remove them before you weigh or sell your jewelry.

Gold that is 24-karat is considered pure, 18-karat is roughly 75 percent gold, and 14-karat is about 58 percent gold. In other words, one ounce of 14-karat gold contains about 0.58 ounce of gold. You can estimate the value of gold using the calculator at gold.yabz.com/jewelry.htm.

Just because gold is stamped 14- or 18-karat doesn’t mean it’s real gold. There are various tests to see if gold is real. One hint: Pure gold is not magnetic. Check with a reputable jeweler to make sure.

— Shop around: “Usually you are better off dealing with an established brick-and-mortar place rather than companies that spend three or four days in a hotel room and disappear.

The established person is dependent on return customers,” says David Lazier, assistant director of the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s division of measurement standards, which enforces the state’s weights and measures laws.

In undercover sales, “We found a wide difference between what Company A and Company B are willing to pay. Sometimes you can say ‘I think it’s worth more’ and they will adjust the price,” Lazier adds.

Last summer Consumer Reports sold identical 18-karat gold chains and pendants to three mail-order outfits offering cash for gold and to pawn shops and jewelry stores in three states. “The cash-for-gold companies paid 11 to 29 percent of the day’s market price for gold; the other venues, about 35 to 70 percent,” it reported.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/14/BUFU1DUU7F.DTL#ixzz0qvocl3F1

Hi Beth,
Your unexpected thoughtfulness touched my heart. My name’s V., you assisted my now-fiance M. in picking and delivering my dream ring. He gave me the ring earlier this week. I hold it up to look at it every other minute or so! I ADORE IT!! Its simple, it glitters, its feminine and comfortable. Actually we both love it, and M. is definitely pleased knowing that the hunt is over, no more bald spots from tearing his hair out(totally kidding). No easy task, website after website. Completely pleased with himself he told me about his search. He was going to take all the credit but he humbly confessed how utterly simple you made it for him. He mentioned how patient you were with him as he rambled on about the ring in his head vs the hundreds of rings he had seen. Thank you for going above and beyond. Thank you for guiding him and making him feel valued even with the limited budget you provided so many options. We look forward to continue to do business with you when we buy the bands as well as upgrade the center stone ;)

Very Sincerely,
V.

It’s Monday and class has officially begun. So sit down in your seat, take that baseball cap off and get that pencil out of your mouth!

You see, at Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we feel an educated customer tends to be a happier customer. They know the right questions to ask and we have the answers at the ready.

Today, let’s talk a little bit about metal finishes, which can make a big difference in the look of your final product:

Metal finishes

(above) An example of gold plated jewellery

For platinum, gold, and silver jewellery there are many techniques to create finishes. The most common are: high-polish, satin/matte, brushed, and hammered.

High-polished jewellery is by far the most common and gives the metal the highly-reflective and shiny look.

Satin, or matte finish reduces the shine and reflection of the jewellery and is commonly used to accentuate gemstones such as diamonds.

Brushed finishes give the jewellery a textured look, and are created by brushing a material (similar to sandpaper) against the metal, leaving ‘brush strokes’.

Hammered finishes are typically created by using a soft, rounded hammer and hammering the jewellery to give it a wavy texture.

Some jewellery is plated to give it a shiny, reflective look or to achieve a desired colour. Sterling silver jewellery may be plated with a thin layer of 0.999 fine silver (a process known as flashing) or may be plated with rhodium or gold.

Base metal costume jewellery may also be plated with silver, gold, or rhodium for a more attractive finish.

Source: Wikipedia

So there you go – a lesson in finishes. Now go forth and conquer!

Style 9504M

Solitaire Tension Set Engagement Ring With A Round Moissanite And Brushed Finish

Tension set ring with brushed finish (setting only, does not include center stone)

Do:

* Wear ivory and tortoiseshell, but only if they’re fake.
* Assemble a collection of good, basic costume jewelry:
* Wear a pair of matching gold bangle bracelets, or a gold cuff not wider than an inch and a half.
* Link necklaces in varying lengths.
* Own a pair of simple gold hoop earrings, or gold button-style clip-ons.
* Buy a two-tone watch so that you can wear it with silver or gold jewelry.
* Keep your jewelry organized. Even egg cartons or plastic silverware trays will do.
* Wear large earrings if you’re a large woman–you’re among the few who can carry them off.

Don’t:

* Wear jewelry that jingles when you walk.
* Pierce your ears more than twice in each lobe. Never wear earrings so heavy that they stretch your lobes.
* Mix your metals. Silver jewelry is out of the question if your jacket has
gold buttons.
* Wear rhinestones before 6 p.m.
* Squeeze a large neck into a dainty choker. It just doesn’t work.

And here’s a few additional fashion pointers:

Don’t pull up your stockings in public.
Do wear color near your face.
Do soften the hard lines of a suit with a lace top underneath.
Don’t wear sweaters so long that they make you look short.
Do borrow your husband’s clothes.
Don’t wear acid-washed jeans.
Cropped pants can make you look shorter.
Do wear a hipslip or minimizer under tight clothes.
Do have a stash of basics on hand: T-shirts, leggings, black socks and tights.
Patterned leggings can make legs look heavier.
Monochromatic outfits are one of the best slimming secrets there is.
Don’t overaccessorize.

Sources: Masterstech

(above) Sevan Bicakci, who presented this ring featuring diamonds set against darkened gold, was among the Couture 2010 designers that showed a flair for darkened metal designs mixed with diamonds.

Whenever we custom design a piece for you, whether its moissanite or mined diamonds, gold or platinum, simple or ornate, we consider it couture. It’s couture for you!

In the jewelry business, the Couture community celebrated the best of the best in design at the Couture Design Awards held in the Encore Ballroom on Saturday night.

After spending the first few days of the show perusing vitrines filled with jewelry and timepieces submitted to the competition, Couture retailers and exhibitors placed their votes for their favorite pieces in 10 categories, while jewelry editors selected their own designer favorite—Arman Sarkisyan—in the “Editor’s Choice” category.

In the Timepieces/Watches category, Erica Courtney snagged first place, with Gergé Swiss in second and Fendi in third. IsabelleFa came in first in the Platinum category, followed by Henrich & Denzel.

Best in Bridal went to Kamofie, with Katharine James in second and Mark Patterson in third.

In the Diamond category, Mattia Cielo came in tops, followed by Moritz Glik and Hulchi Belluni. The Diamond 20+ winner was La Reina, followed by Gebrüder Schaffrath and Nam Cho. Arunashi won for best in Colored Gems, with Federica in second and Kara Ross in third.

Best in Colored Gems 20K+ went to Damiani, followed by Monique Péan then Wendy Yue. Editor’s Choice winner Arman also took home best in Silver, followed by Armenta, and then Lois Hill and Atelier Zobel tied for third. Autore won best in Pearls, followed by Yvel in second and Yael Sonia in third.

Finally, Heather Moore won for best in Gold, followed by Paolo Costagli and Elena Votsi.

Winners by Category …

TIME PIECES/ WATCHES:

1st    Erica Courtney

2nd    GergÉ Swiss

3rd    Fendi

SILVER:

1st    Arman

2nd    Armenta

3rd    (tie) Lois Hill

and Atelier Zobel

BRIDAL:

1st    Kamofie

2nd    Katharine James

3rd    Mark Patterson

DIAMONDS:

1st    Mattia Cielo

2nd    Moritz Glik

3rd    Hulchi Belluni

DIAMONDS 20K+:

1st    La Reina

2nd    GebrÜder Schaffrath

3rd    Nam Cho

COLORED GEMSTONES:

1st    Arunashi

2nd    Federica

3rd    Kara Ross

COLORED GEMSTONES 20K+:

1st    Damiani

2nd    Monique PÉan

3rd    Wendy Yue

PEARLS:

1st    Autore

2nd    Yvel

3rd    Yael Sonia

GOLD:

1st    Heather Moore

2nd    Paolo Costagli

3rd    Elena Votsi

PLATINUM:

1st    IsabelleFa

2nd    Henrich & Denzel

EDITORS’ CHOICE:

Arman

Source: National Jewelry Network

Some of last year’s winners:

Ring: Conch Pearl,nat.pink Diamonds. 18K pink Gold, Platinum