Happy Stories From our customers

According to one expert:

The winning trends for Winter 2009-2010:

¨ Big and bold
¨ Dramatic, unique, unusual necklaces
¨ Huge cuff bracelets with big stones
¨ Natural stones, eclectic natural look
¨ Black
¨ Multi-strand necklaces
¨ Pearls
¨ Cocktail rings with huge stones
¨ Big hoop earrings

And the color choices? Yellow and coral. It stands to reason that these colors that elicit a sunshine effect would be popular in the darker months. The nice part is, at Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we can provide jewelry that’s priced right for you, with colors you choose.

When it comes to yellow, for instance, we can provide you with citrine, yellow topaz and of course, Gemesis cultured diamonds, whose gems possess some of the brightest, most vivid hues of yellow around.

Take a look or check out our Gemesis gallery:

Style 8570GM

Bypass Gemesis Diamond Earrings

Classic “bypass” stud earrings featuring 1/2ct t.w. Gemesis cultured diamonds in fancy yellow or orange color.

Available Metal: 14kt White Gold And Yellow Gold
Available Stone Size: 1/2ct t.w.

Style GM1014

Yellow Round Gemesis Earrings With Marquee And Round Diamonds

.84ct t.w. of deep fancy yellow round brilliant Gemesis diamonds of VS clarity set into 18kt white gold earrings accented with approximatley 1.50ct t.w. marquee and round white diamonds.

Metal: 18kt White Gold
Stone Size: .84ct t.w.

Sapphire gems dazzle and attract the eye like no other. But what is it and where does it come from? What magical properties does it contain – and more importantly, is a sapphire pendant, necklace or other piece of jewelry in your budget range? Here’s a few tidbits to school you on this rich and intense gem:

• Sapphire is the official birthstone for the month of September.
• Sapphire is given as a gem for the 5th, 23rd and 45th wedding anniversaries while a star sapphire is given on the 65th wedding anniversary.
• Sapphire is the non-red variety of corundum (the red variety of corundum is ruby). A 9.0 on the Mohs scale of hardness, sapphire is the second hardest natural mineral.
• Blue is by far the most popular color for sapphires, but they can be almost any color, including yellow, green, white, colorless, pink, orange, brown, and purple. Padparadscha is the name for a rare orange-pink variety of sapphire and has a higher value than blue sapphires.
• Sapphires with inclusions of tiny, rutile needles exhibit an optical property called asterism. This is the star shaped effect seen in star sapphires and is usually only seen in cabochon cuts.
• Star sapphires usually have six ray stars, but twelve ray stars are also known. Rarely, when sapphires are cut en cabochon, they can demonstrate a cat’s eye effect. This effect displays a thin band of light down the center of the stone and is known as chatoyancy.
• Heating colorless and very pale blue sapphires to high temperatures is done to give them an intense blue color. This treatment can also improve the clarity of the stones by removing tiny inclusions.
• A rare variety of sapphire, known as color changing sapphire, exhibits different colors in different light. A color change sapphire is blue in natural light, and violet in artificial light. A similar effect is also seen in alexandrite.
• Sapphire was first created synthetically in 1902 and is hard to distinguish from natural sapphires except by gemologists. Lab grown sapphires range in price and smaller stones are frequently used in less expensive jewelry.

Source: Bernadine Fine Art Jewelry

Sapphires can radically range in price but are generally more affordable than diamonds. Contact us if you’re interested in a sapphire engagement ring or a sapphire pendant necklace or even a sapphire broach. Sapphires are guaranteed to catch all eyes, so be prepared to draw a lot of attention.

Here are some possibilities:

Fabergé, jeweler to the last Russian czar and creator of the legendary Imperial Easter eggs, made a comeback of sorts Wednesday when it presented its first jewelry collection in more than 90 years, even as other luxury goods makers are bracing for a tough year.

The collection is the result of a two-year effort by Fabergé’s owners, a group of investors led by the British private-equity firm Pallinghurst Resources, to revive the brand by reuniting it with two heirs of the Fabergé family.

The firm also assembled a management and design team that includes Mark Dunhill, former president of Alfred Dunhill, a leather and accessories maker owned by the Swiss luxury goods company Richemont, and Frédéric Zaavy, an avant-garde Parisian jeweler.

And in an unusual twist, Fabergé said it would not sell the colorful gemstone earrings, rings and brooches through retail outlets, but through its Web site and 15 sales representatives.

“Rather than replicating inventory and investing capital in bricks and mortar, we can invest in making unique jewelry,” Mr. Dunhill said Wednesday.

Created in St. Petersburg in 1842, Fabergé grew to become one of Russia’s largest and most successful producers of jewelry and art works. When Czar Alexander III commissioned Peter Carl Fabergé to make an Easter present for his wife, he created the first Fabergé egg; 49 more followed.

The new collection does not include any eggs, but it is strikingly colorful and based on motifs, like flowers and animals, from collections created more than 100 years ago. Prices range from $40,000 for a ring to $7 million for a bracelet inspired by Monet’s “Water Lilies.” The company said it expected to turn a profit within five years.

Source: NYTimes

You want to give her something special – something that represents your feelings…but her tastes as well. How do you eliminate the risk? Nobody wants to hear “Um…it’s…wow, that’s really nice. Hmmm…”

One simple thought? Inspect the jewelry she currently wears. Get a sense of her overall taste. Does she go for bold, bright pieces or subtle, understated pieces? Does she wear one piece of jewelry repeatedly or change pieces constantly?

If you’re really unsure, talk to your jeweler.  There are always a few pieces in any collection that just about any woman would love. A simple, elegant piece works in just about any situation.

Here’s a favorite of ours that we always feel confident suggesting (because we get nothing but good feedback from the wearers.)

Style 10119-4.5mm (1/3ct)

Classic Sweetheart Pave Necklace

Classic Sweetheart pave necklace with 1/5ct t.w. round brilliant stones set on an 18″ cable chain. Fits a 4.5mm (1/3ct diamond) round center stone. (setting only, does not include center stone).

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why jewelry sales have been slumping these last few years. People are more concerned about meeting expenses, so bling is taking a serious backseat:

Jewelry “sales were down 10 to 20 percent last year — I can’t imagine they won’t be again this year,” said Dione Kenyon, president of the Jewelers Board of Trade, a credit-reporting agency for the industry. “I hear people say, ‘Oh, things will [improve] and go back to the old days.’ You don’t go back to the old days — there is a new order.”

There is a new order…and maybe that’s not such a bad thing. The economy as well as an ever-emerging eco-consciousness is shifting. Jewelry purchases now include non-mined gemstones like Gemesis or moissanite, whose quality is only increasing. These are not “wannabes” gems. They are spectacular stones in their own right, surpassing the diamond in certain areas.

Maybe this new movement isn’t such a bad thing. The consumer still gets his or her “bling thing” for a better price and a greener world.

Stop by our MOISSANITE GALLERY and our GEMESIS GALLERY.

Be part of the new order!

Prong Set Seven Stone Moissanite Wedding Band

Seven stone, prong set wedding band with Charles and Colvard created round moissanite. This ring has the look of an anniversary band without the stones going completely around.

Available Moissanite Total Weight: .35ct-1.75ct

The person who receives this diamond will love it for its beauty and mystique and the joy of wearing it. The person giving it will love the incredible deal and the smiles it brings. However, there’s only one diamond like this, so when it’s gone, it’s gone.

A Once in a Lifetime Opportunity

As we are seeing in the current real estate market, unprecedented deals on important gemstones are popping up, where prices are marked significantly below average. We are able to present this rare and beautiful natural pear-shaped diamond for less than it would be wholesale in today’s market and markedly less than its retail price of a year ago.

This diamond weighs 5.01 carats, has a color of F, a clarity of VS2 and is accompanied by a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) diamond grading report. The color places it in the highest “colorless” category according to the GIA diamond grading system. The clarity assures you that there are absolutely no visible inclusions to the eye.

The beauty of this particular diamond lies with the cut, or the way this diamond is proportioned: to reflect the most amount of light that enters the stone. Unlike round diamonds, fancy-shaped diamonds do not have an exact mathematical formula or set of parameters to follow to allow for maximum brilliance. The diamond cutter is the artist, when it comes to creating fancy-shaped diamonds. It is his or her knowledge, expertise and skill that ultimately determine how brilliant and bright the diamond will be.

And brilliance, after all, is what a diamond is all about. Brilliance is what makes a diamond speak to you or what captivates you.

This particular pear-shaped gem has one of the prettiest cuts we’ve seen. It has an elegant, graceful, elongated shape and the radiance this diamond exudes is breathtaking. The color is crystal clear (again, it falls in the top “colorless” category, according to GIA.) These two factors – the fire and the color – assure you that this diamond will be a constant eye-catcher.

To add to its rarity, this is a naturally occurring diamond, found in nature and not man-made. The size and quality of this stone make it even more rare. A search on a leading online diamond dealer shows a similar diamond with one color grade better costing over $100,000.00 more than the price of this diamond. One can only imagine the price this would command from any of the leading national or international jewelry houses.

And again, to assure you of the quality of this diamond, it is accompanied by a Diamond Grading Report from the Gemological Institute of America, the world’s foremost authority on diamonds and diamond grading. A report by the GIA far outweighs any other kind of diamond grading report. The GIA is the final authority when it comes to diamond grading and identification. After all, they are the originators of the grading system and the place gemologists go for their training. Any important diamond sold in the market, whether wholesale, in a retail store or at auction, is accompanied by a GIA report. For more information visit the GIA website.

A diamond of this quality would be stunning in a hand-crafted ring or necklace or would be a great addition to an investment portfolio. In the diamond world, as in real estate, this is a “buyer’s market.” If you can take advantage of this rare opportunity, the time to act is now.

For additional information and pricing, contact Joe Schubach personally at 888-724-8222.

38ct D color, flawless clarity pear-shaped diamond necklace once owned by Christina Onassis

In what the New York Times is calling a “tectonic shift,” luxury goods traditionally auctioned off at houses based in New York City or Geneva are now moving the activities to Asia. This includes the upcoming auction of the bubble-gum 5 carat “Vivid Pink” diamond, which will take place in Hong Kong:

Christie’s and its rival Sotheby’s say that within the past few years, their hub in Asia, in the financial center of Hong Kong, has emerged as a top location for their sales of top-dollar jewelry, gems and fine wines. Asians have also become major buyers of ultraluxury goods at the auction houses’ sales in cities like London, New York and Geneva.

Rolls-Royce, which did not even have dealerships in Asia until 2003, immediately got 20 orders for its new $250,000 Ghost when it presented the car in Hong Kong last month, despite taxes that effectively double that price.

For Christie’s and the others, moving auctions and business to Asia is a calculated decision reflecting the shift in the consumer base.

In May last year, Christie’s sold its clear 101-carat Shizuka diamond in Hong Kong for $6.2 million. That sale and the one coming Dec. 1 of its big pink diamond “are both great examples showing how important this market has become at the very top end,” said Vickie Sek, head of jewelry at Christie’s Asia.

“Both stones would have been offered in New York or Geneva just a few short years ago,” she said.

Hammered by the financial crisis last year, many of the world’s economies are struggling to grow. Billionaires in Russia and the Middle East are taking a hit from lower oil prices. And consumers in the world’s traditional spending powerhouse, the United States, are weighed down by debt and expected to be much more cautious about opening their wallets for quite some time.

Tension rings possess a unique look and offer certain advantages that other rings don’t. For the very active spouse-to-be, the tension ring assures that your stone will most likely stay put because the way the ring is designed.

Tension rings are also chic and have a certain contemporary feel for people who prefer that style.

Here’s what one expert has to say:

Tension Rings

For a more modern twist on the engagement ring, consider a tension ring. Instead of being held in place by clasps and prongs, these elegant alternatives stay in place by the sheer pressure of each end of the ring.

Nothing says they have to be diamond, either. Why not consider getting your birth stone in it, instead, or another gem that means something to you and your betrothed? Because of the high tension involved, however, you will need to make sure your jewel can withstand the pressure, or it might need to be attached with hidden prongs or fasteners for a faux-tension look.

Such a classy look comes with a high price tag, however. Your tension ring will need to be custom made, partly because everyone’s tension levels will differ, but mostly because you need a perfect fit. Because of the physics involved, you’re never going to be able to resize a tension ring without destroying the band.

Our Gallery of Joseph Schubach Jeweler’s Tension Rings.

Style 9500M

Tension Set Round Moissanite Engagement Ring With Diamonds

Tension set ring with .51ct t.w. round diamonds (setting only, does not include center stone)

At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we pride ourselves in our local community of Scottsdale, Arizona. But of course, we’re an Internet-based business as well, which gives us the opportunity to make global connections.

Take Diane and Simon from France, who ordered two stunning sapphire rings from us:

Dear Beth:

Just a short note to let you know that our rings have arrived safely. We are absolutely thrilled with them. Simon’s ring is unique, elegant, discreet and fits perfectly (of course!) My ring is stunning and the blue colour of the sapphire is amazing. I would never have thought it possible to create something so beautiful. The white moissanite set the sapphire off perfectly. So, we are both extremely happy and send our thanks to you and your team for creating such beautiful jewellery. With our best wishes!

~ Diane & Simon

Some mines have all the luck! Take Petra Diamonds, who just stumbled across this beaut:

JOHANNESBURG — Mining group Petra Diamonds has discovered a 507.55 carat white diamond at South Africa’s Cullinan mine, one of the largest high-quality rough diamonds ever found, the firm said on Tuesday.

“This spectacular gemstone was recovered on Thursday 24 September and is currently with experts for analysis,” said a statement released by the London-listed company which operates mainly in Africa.

Initial examinations of the diamond which weighs just over 100 grams (3.5 ounces), have shown it to be of exceptional colour and clarity.

The diamond is undergoing colour grading, but is believed to be a rare Type II diamond, with very low traces of nitrogen — considered an impurity — making them among the most transparent and colourless of the gems.

“The Cullinan mine has again given the world a spectacularly beautiful and important diamond… we now eagerly await the findings of the expert analysis,” said Johan Dippenaar, Petra?s chief executive.

The precious stone was found alongside three other special white gems of similar colour and clarity, a large diamond of 168.00 carats and two other stones of 58.50 and 53.30 carats.

The mine which was previously owned by diamond mining giant De Beers, is renowned for the discovery of the famed Cullinan Diamond in 1905, which is part of the British crown jewels and weighed 3106 carats.

In May 2008, the mine produced a sparkling 101.27 carat diamond, roughly the size of a ping-pong ball.

The Cullinan Diamond Mine is the third richest diamond producing mine in South Africa.

Source: Canada.com

If a weighty diamond is a little out of of your fiscal comfort level, take a look at our Moissanite gallery. Not only is moissanite highly affordable, its quality is unsurpassed and eco-friendly.