Happy Stories From our customers

We are in the process of hand fabricating a piece of custom jewelry – a palladium engagement ring for a client and thought we would show you how a hand fabricated piece starts out and explain a little how the process works.

A truly hand fabricated piece of jewelry is different from a traditional lost wax/cast process. With a custom lost wax process, the wax model is carved by hand or carved with a machine (CAM). This wax is then used to directly cast in metal the final piece of jewelry. With a hand fabricated piece, we start out with a piece of metal, like the metal rod shown here. The metal is then worked (filed, hammered, shaped, etc.) by hand into the shape of the final piece. So, rather than carve a wax and cast from the wax, a hand fabricated piece is literally made entirely from hand. It is a much more difficult process to do.

Some pieces are better off being hand fabricated than cast. For example, jewelry that has very fine scroll detail or gallery sections that require fine, intricate polishing are great candidates for hand fabrication. This piece will have very long, smooth curves, and hand fabrication will give us a smoother, more even finish when we’re through.

We’ll try to get some pictures of this ring mid process and post to the blog.

Looking for a platinum alternative? Try palladium (click here for additional information).

Jewelry has existed for eons. It was used in the past not only as a form of adornment but also as a sign of status or religious affiliation or a form of protection. Egyptian jewlery, some believe, is where jewelry making became more relevant and widespread. It’s influences are still felt in jewelry today.

According to one site:

Many consider the period of Egyptian jewelry as the dawning period for our modern form of jewelry. It was during this time that the manufacturing of jewelry became a profession and techniques and skills evolved to create a wide variety of styles and adornments.

Jewelry craftsman began to utilize artistic skill and an increasingly wide variety of materials. While artistic skill was valued the primary purpose of jewelry was to act as amulets and talismans. Gemstone and metal color was of greater importance than any other attribute. Gold was used extensively but this is primarily because it was readily available and very easy to work with. Many expensive gemstones we consider precious today like diamonds were very rarely used simply because they did not exhibit the color or symbolism of other gemstones.

Egyptian beliefs stipulated that every gemstone carried certain mystical powers which would be transferred to the owner when worn as jewelry. Symbols such as the sacred Egyptian scarab also formed an important part of jewelry and were also believed to carry certain powers.

Here are some pieces that still inspire. If you’re looking for a piece with a classic Egyptian feel, consider us. We can custom design a jewelry piece with your classic tastes specifically in mine.

un set cushion cut diamonds

It’s all in the make! That’s an industry term for stating the importance of a diamond’s cut, or proportions, which is what you ultimately see once the microscopes are put away and the diamond is set into a ring. This is what gives a diamond it’s ‘Wow’ factor and determines how much sparkle the diamond has.

We are currently helping a client choose a diamond for an engagement ring. As you can see in the picture above, we have three nearly identical cushion cut diamonds with three very different proportions giving us three different looking diamonds. All three diamonds have nearly the same weight and are similar in color/clarity.

Which do you prefer? Let us know.

Sure, sure we could mention Kanye West’s bizarre outburst at MTV’s Video Music Awards. But we’re keeping our priorities straight at Joseph Schubach Jewelers. Instead we choose to keep the spotlight on where it belongs: the jewelry.

Hoops were all the rage at this year’s VMA, donning just about every stars’ ears. They are simple, eye-catching and elegant. And during trying economic times, you’ll see this trend continue. Too much jewelry implies too much excess – a message any star does not want to send. But let’s not confuse simplicity  with expense:

Beyonce, who took home three Moonman awards including Video of the Year for her song Single Ladies, wore a short red dress and more than a million dollars worth of diamond jewelry by Lorraine Schwartz, including a gigantic pair of hoop earrings and three bracelets.

Okay, so these simple pieces weren’t bought at the local dollar store! At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we can create MTV award-style pieces for a fraction (and we do mean, a fraction) of the cost.

Pink joining the hoop-la, too, wearing Siera diamond triangle earrings and a white gold and pave diamond chain-link ring by R.S. Durant and an Irit Design oxidized sterling silver and rose-cut diamond multi-chain bracelet.

Other jewelry choices of the evening?

Jennifer Lopez went the dramatic route with slicked-back hair, a minidress and large platinum drop earrings featuring two interlocked asymmetrical links studded with black and white diamonds (another popular combination of the night), all by Lorraine Schwartz, whose pieces were all over the red carpet.

Leighton Meester of Gossip Girl fame wore a glittering silver minidress, studded sandals and platinum jewelry by Cathy Waterman, piling on a stack of platinum and diamond bracelets, including a red leather bracelet, multiple cocktail rings and earrings.

Another fashionista from The Hills, Lauren Conrad, was decked out in a black-and-white graphic-print dress accented with diamond floral band rings by Siera.

The hoops craze headed for The Hills too, with star Kristin Cavallari accenting a sequined silver tube dress with gunmetal and diamond hoop earrings by Sutra and a large cuff bracelet.

Country music’s teen queen Taylor Swift, who won for Best Female Video, wore a silver gown accessorized with oxidized gold and diamond mesh earrings and an oxidized gold cuff featuring 40 carats of diamonds, all by Lorraine Schwartz.

Source: NationalJewelryNetwork.com

Here are some of Lorraine Schwart’s pieces from various events. Remember, we can custom design these pieces. You’ll just have to find a red carpet!

At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we pride ourselves in personalized service. We have a strong base of clientele we’re served for decades. Why do people keep coming back? Because we know how to bring a human touch to the jewelry buying experience. We know how much the right piece of jewelry can mean at the right moment.

Here’s one of our latest pleased customers:

Hi Joe,

Robert surprised me with the most gorgeous bracelet last week.   It is so beautiful!!!

Robert told me what it symbolizes to him and there was such joy on his face when he gave it to me.

I love wearing it and to know you were part of it so special to me, THANK YOU!!!!

With appreciation,

Roseanna

 

Check out our gallery of bracelets to make your special someone smile!

Style 7064M

Antique Style Filigree Moissanite Bracelet

Antique style filigree bracelet with Charles and Colvard created moissanite. 3/16″ wide and the standard 7″ long.

Available Total Weight: 3.60ct t.w.

Whether you’re an active artist or the 9 – 5 type, we all have some rock and roll in us, waiting to come out. Well, tis the season.

One of the hottest trends for this fall are touches of “edgy” detail. No, this doesn’t mean wearing a dog collar to your next corporate event! These are just minor accoutrements that add a certain sharp, fun flair to just about any outfit.

At Joseph Schubach, we’re happy to create a piece made directly from your mischievous side. And we can make it affordably, with materials like moissanite or Gemesis or palladium.

“Rock and roll never forgets.”

Here are some examples to inspire:

Images: ShopFlick / Bergdorf Goodman

Custom design jewelry is a way to break off from the pack and claim your own style. And when it comes to something as important as your wedding or anniversary, why rely on someone else’s style?

You and your partner can create a piece that is forged directly from your imaginations to a tangible piece of jewelry that genuinely represents your love, your style and your creativity.

Here are a few pieces from our customers who wouldn’t have done it any other way:

Visit our Gallery of Custom Design Jewelry so you can get started!

Last week, you learned a little about platinum and its finer points. This week, we shift the spotlight to palladium, the lesser known “little brother” to platinum. What is this wonder metal and how can it add to your jewelry wardrobe?

According to Wikipedia:

Palladium itself has been used as a precious metal in jewelry since 1939, as an alternative to platinum or white gold. This is due to its naturally white properties, giving it no need for rhodium plating.

It is slightly whiter, much lighter and about 12% harder than platinum. Similar to gold, palladium can be beaten into a thin leaf form as thin as 100 nm (1/250,000 in).

So not is it only highly durable, it’s affordable – making it quite popular during a struggling economy. According to Pierce Mattie Public Relations:

A sure sign of its rise to fame came at the 2009 American Gem Trade Association Spectrum Awards where they announced that Palladium is finally gaining more acceptance in the designer world.  Many designers including Tenthio, Sasha Primak, and Michael Sugarman will be developing an entire palladium collection in conjunction with high-karat gold and platinum lines.

Additionally, retailers can expect to see an increase in palladium pieces at upcoming trade shows.  Solidifying the trend, some of the most highly acclaimed names in the design world will also be adopting the metal, including Robert Lee Morris, Paul Morelli, Zoltan David, Alishan, Michael Bondanza, and Barry Kronen.

(above) Wedding bands were in demand during the 1940s, and many were made of palladium. This diamond-set eternity band is engraved “E.A.E. & M.O’R. Oct. 20, 1943” and “Palladium – Tiffany & Co.” (see inset). Courtesy of Kurt Rothner, Excalibur, West Hollywood, CA.

 

Here are a few other stellar examples of palladium pieces:

Leave your children at home for this one: the infamous Hope diamond will be stripped of it’s current setting and show off its true colors for all the world to see.

That’s right- the world’s most famous gem is getting naked to celebrate it’s 50 year birthday at the Smithsonian.

To honor the rare 45.52-carat blue diamond, the museum is designing three possible new settings for the stone, inviting the public to vote for their favorite by visiting:

http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/site/smithsonian/hope.html

The winning setting will be announced this fall, and the gem will be shown in its new digs starting in May to celebrate the premiere of a Smithsonian Channel documentary on the diamond.

In the meantime, The Hope will be hanging out in the buff – a first for the storied gem.

“This is a rare and exciting opportunity for people to see the Hope Diamond as it has never been seen before,” said museum director Cristian Samper.

Formed more that a billion years ago, the diamond was mined in India and is believed to have been part of the French crown jewels. It later came into the possession of Henry Philip Hope, whose name it carries.

The Hope Diamond was long thought to have a curse, bringing bad luck to its owners, but Smithsonian officials say it has been kind to them, drawing throngs of visitors.

Source: Jewelry.com

Platinum is a bit of an elusive metal. We all have a historical understanding of gold and silver but platinum can seem like the odd man out. What is it exactly? And why would you choose platinum over other metals for a wedding band or other fine jewelry? Well, here’s a few points on platinum to ponder prior to purchase:

All the platinum ever mined would fit in the average size living room!

Annually, only about 133 tons of platinum are mined, compared to about 1,782 tons of gold.

Louis XVI of France proclaimed platinum the only metal fit for royalty!

10 tons of ore and a five month process is needed to make up one ounce of platinum.

lthough Platinum may seem new, it is also legendary. The Ancient Egyptians and South American Incas prized it. France’s Louis XVI proclaimed it the only metal fit for royalty.

egendary jewelers such as Cartier, Faberge and Tiffany created their timeless designs in Platinum. The world’s famous diamonds, including the Hope, Jonker I and Koh-I-Noor, are secured by the permanence of Platinum.

latinum reached its peak of popularity in the early 1900’s, when it was the preferred metal for all fine jewelry in America. When World War II began, the U.S. government declared Platinum a strategic metal and its use in non-military applications, including jewelry, was disallowed. To appease consumers, who preferred Platinum’s white luster, white gold was substituted in Platinum’s absence.

It is very fashionable to wear Platinum with your gold jewelry. In fact, many Platinum designs combine the two metals. Platinum’s white color beautifully contrasts with yellow gold and adds versatility to your jewelry wardrobe.

No other jewelry metal is more precious, more lasting or more appealing than platinum. Its rich white luster and understated elegance are beyond compare.  Discover why platinum is the metal of choice for today’s discriminating jewelry buyer.

It is the heaviest of the precious metals, weighing almost twice as much as karat gold. Its strength ideally secures diamonds and other precious gems.

Even after many years, platinum will not wear away or wear down. For example, after many years of wear, a gold wedding band’s shank will wear down and become thinner. This is not the case with platinum.

As with all precious metals (gold, silver, etc.), platinum can be scratched. However, with platinum, there is actually no material lost from the scratch as there is with gold. If your platinum jewelry becomes scratched, simply take it to your jeweler for a quick polish.

In America, platinum jewelry contains either 90% or 95% pure platinum. By comparison, 18 karat gold is 75% pure and 14 karat is 58% pure gold. Platinum will never tarnish or lose its rich white luster.

Ten tons of ore must be mined to produce a single ounce of platinum. It takes five months to process platinum ore into pure platinum. Only after this time can skilled hands work their creativity and craftsmanship, transforming platinum into pieces of wearable art.

Platinum jewelry is as versatile as it is beautiful. The choice is yours: platinum with karat gold accents for breathtaking new versatility or, for the purist, the subtle look of all platinum.

Whether inspired by classic or contemporary themes, platinum jewelry is perfect for any occasion under the sun, moon or stars. A quiet luxury in today’s world. A treasure to be worn.

Source: History of Platinum

Style 6813WB

Platinum Comfort Fit Band With Hammer Finish And High Polished Sides

Platinum comfort fit wedding band, hammer finished center, high polished sides, 6mm wide.