“Micro pave is the next generation of hip hop jewelry. You can get that diamond look without paying diamond prices. Some of our customers are entertainers who could easily afford diamond bling style jewelry, but choose to wear micro pave jewelry as the quality is practically indistinguishable from diamonds.” – Tom Diep of King Ice Jewelry

Yes, even the most diehard bling wearer is feeling the pinch of a tight economy. But all is not lost. There are alternatives – amazing alternatives like moissanite and Gemesis and Cubic Zircona – that offer that over-the-top jewelry experience for a fraction of the cost.

The tough economic climate also offers jewelry designers an opportunity to showcase their creative sides.

Take a look at some of these fun, micro pave pieces that let your bling sing!

Source: SoJones

So you received your dream moissanite engagement ring or a Gemesis necklace beyond compare. You show it off wherever you go. It dazzles in the sunlight and you hate taking it off at night. But guess what? The dream doesn’t stop there. You need to take good care of your piece. It’s an investment and deserves some proper tending to!

Here are some tips from Gem-Fashion to keep your piece sparkling for years to come:

Spots. To avoid dark spots, which appear when your wet skin influence the metals, clean your jewelry after taking it off with the wet flannel. It is recommended to take the jewelry off if you apply skin bleach as the substances it contains darken the jewelry. Iodine leaves dark spots on the jewelry. The spots can be cleaned with the help of hyposulphite solution. Take 1tbsp. of the substance for a glass of water.

About dust. To remove the dust from under the stone of your ring take cotton buds soaked in cologne or glycerin and wipe the stone. Then polish the ring with the flannel. Never clean the setting of the stone with sharp objects. Take off rings when washing your hands to avoid clogging.

How to clean gemstone jewelry. Stones have different levels of hardness. Diamond, aquamarine, sapphire, topaz, emerald and others have the point 5 in the level of hardness. Jewelry with these stones should be cleaned in the solution of any washing powder with the help of a soft brush, if the metal is gold or platinum. Then you can wash the jewelry in distilled water. Stones with the level of hardness under 5 are moonstone, malachite, turquoise, opal, apatite. They should be cleaned in the same way as the previous group with the only difference that instead of washing powder you should use soap. This method can be used with anything except coral and pearls, as the soap foam is extremely harmful to them. Try not to expose them to perfume, soap and hot water.

Never take medicinal baths wearing the jewelry. Don’t forget to take off the coral jewelry before going to a sauna, as the heat is destructive to it. Pearls and turquoises don’t like high humidity. At home you can wash them in the solution of ethyl alcohol and water (1:1) and then flannel them dry. However, it’s much better to have your jewelry cleaned at the professional jeweler’s.

How to clean gold. Use the washing powder solution (washing powder without the whitening effect). You can add 2-3 drops of liquid ammonia.

How to clean silver. Apply the previous method. Use the washing powder without active oxygen and chlorine. You can add liquid ammonia as well.

How to clean rhodium plated metal. Clean it with the soft cloth. Though rhodium is a precious metal, time rubs it out, so it’s important to be careful when cleaning it.

How to store the jewelry. All the jewelry should be kept in closed jewelry boxes. It’s necessary to keep the jewelry far away from the heating. You should be especially careful with amethysts, colored topazes and pearls. UV-rays make their color less intense. Don’t expose rubies and garnets to sun, too. Gemstone jewelry shouldn’t be exposed to temperature drops. For instance, ruby can completely lose its color when heated. Never store your jewelry in the bathroom (esp. silver jewelry) because all the metals and stones are afraid of damp.

Joseph Schubach Jewelers keeps in step with the traditional, classic look of jewelry but isn’t afraid to take some bold and innovative chances.

Take our Joe Jewelry line, for instance. These are personally crafted pieces by Joseph Schubach himself that break from tradition and showcase sharp, distinctive lines with stylish and inviting cuts.

Joe Jewelry is for the customer who’s not afraid to take make a bold statement with her choice of jewelry. Reminiscent of the Art Deco jewelry movement, these pieces are geometrically fun and love to grab attention

Take a look at this video on Joe Jewelry to see the artist in action:

If you’re looking for an inspired piece that distinctly one-on-of-a-kind, contact us directly at (888) 724-8222 or email us. Joe Jewelry is waiting for you!

Here’s a few more samples:

Artist and Custom Design Jeweler Joe Schubach

The Art Deco movement introduced styles that focused squarely on bold colors and sharp geometric shapes. Technology was evolving and Art Deco became part of the emerging look.

According to one Art Deco Jewelry website:

The economic and social pressures that immediately followed the First World War brought with them a new mood for a rigorous and clean-cut look.

Art Deco was an innovative design style popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Its sleek, streamlined forms conveyed elegance and sophistication. It was the age of the Flapper, the Jazz and the Machine Age.

Materials used ranged from rubies, gold, and pearls to plastic, chrome and steel. Platinum was the new luxury metal used with opaque stones like coral, jade, onyx and lapis lazuli. Costume jewelry became even more popular and outrageous.

Trend-setting couturiers were Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli. Influences were Pharaonic Egypt, the Orient, tribal Africa, Cubism, Futurism, machines and graphic design.

However, jewelry of the 1920’s and 30’s was in thrall to geometry: circles, arcs, squares, rectangles and triangles and so on. René Lalique, who created glass jewelry in the 1920’s and 30’s, created romantic designs from nature.

If you want to step back in time and create your own piece of Art Deco jewelry, contact us and we’ll create a piece from your mind’s eye. Custom design jewelry is our specialty.

Here are some ideas, to get the creative juices flowing:

Art Deco Ring
photo courtesy of Sandra Smith

Art Deco Diamond Clips
photo courtesy of Richard Whitehouse

French Art Deco Silver &Paste Clip & Pin

1920s Theodor Fahrner Earrings
photograph courtesy of Ramona Tung

At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we want to create jewelry pieces for life. Whether its moissanite or diamond, Gemesis or other gemstones, we’re in it for the long haul.

And we know how personal jewelry can be. From a lucky pendant to a beloved heirloom, you become “one” with your piece.

Brides.com has this to say, regarding the color of your jewelry and the deeper, mythic meanings:

A vibrant hue on your hand can be striking. Many members of the British Royal family would agree: Diana Spencer wore a sapphire engagement ring; Sarah Ferguson sported a ruby. As gem expert Antoinette Matlins, points out, “Colored gems are a more personal choice for brides, because [variations in tones make] each individual stone distinct from any other.”

Red has long been a popular choice, for its connotations of the heart and love. One of Matlin’s favorite crimson stones is the red tourmaline, which is an affordable alternative to the ruby. Others include spinel and garnet, and if money isn’t a consideration, red emerald. The rarest of the scarlet rocks, it’s only found in one spot in the world: Utah.

Green expresses faithfulness and continuity, but Matlins warns against choosing an emerald for everyday use. “Since most people don’t have the budget for stones of rare enough quality to be durable, it’s wise to buy them only in pieces of jewelry that will be worn on special occasions.”

In lieu of an emerald, she recommends tsavorite. This stone, which is found in Kenya, comes in a wide range of greens and is considered to be more brilliant and durable than emeralds, not to mention a tenth of the price. Many experts believe it’s poised to replace the emerald as the most popular green stone.

If you’re looking for a large selection of colors, your search ends with the sapphire. Not only is it one of the most durable stones available, but it also comes in an array of shades from yellow and peach to brown and black. For something that represents spirituality and purity, stick with the true-blue sapphire. Just make sure you go for a lighter shade. “Choose a sapphire in a rich blue color, but not so dark that it looks blackish,” Matlins says, since blackish stones are usually lower quality.

If you want something closely connected with love and marriage, an obvious choice is pearl. For 3,000 years it has been an emblem of modesty, chastity, and purity. Like emeralds, however, only the most expensive pearls are considered durable enough for everyday use, so Matlins suggests wearing them on your wedding day in the form of a necklace, earrings, or bracelet.

Our Latest Arrival – Gemesis

A High Quality Sapphire gem

The trend at star-studden ceremonies such as the MTV Music awards last week still remains subdued: a little understated but dazzling nonetheless. Many fashion critics raved over the Cameron Diaz’s simple but effective wide, textured metal white-metal cuff, sprinkled with diamonds set in yellow gold. More yellow gold encircles the cuff’s outer edges.

Vanessa Hudgens kept it simple as well with two pendant necklaces:

Sandra Bullock accented her outfit suitably, with little fanfare, with these mixed metal cylindrical earrings:

And any star in the know knows they can’t go wrong with diamond stud earrings, like these worn by Hayden Panettiere:

Take a look at our diamond stud earrings, bound to please any loved one and accent any outfit perfectly, whether its the red carpet or a simple night out on the town:

Style 1177MS-2.10ct

Cushion Cut Moissanite Stud Earrings

Antique cushion cut stud earrings, four prong wire basket settings with friction backs and Charles and Colvard created moissanite. 2.10ct t.w. (dia equiv, 6mm stones)

Whether it’s moissanite, diamonds of cubic zirconia, you can make your own lucky charm from your mind’s eye!

Most of us believe, somewhere in the depths of our mind, that jewelry holds a certain degree of power. Of course, we all know someone (or we are that someone) who has a “good luck charm” of some sort.

My grandmother swears by her lucky pearl earrings. She had them on when she  married  her husband of 43 years. She wore them when she bought a winning lottery ticket (she only won $300 but still!) and she had them on when she graduated college years after her kids had grown.

Celebrity Heidi Klum has gotten a lot of recent attention for “clover necklace” which has double the luck, since of course, 4 leaf clovers hold tons of lucky power.

What’s your lucky charm? Do you have one? Is there a necklace or pair of earrings that make you feel stronger, protected?

If you don’t have anything, why not make one of your own. Our Dream it Yourself program allows you to be the designer of your own piece. At Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we’re more than just designers, we’re artists. We know how to translate your dream into reality.

From Moissanite earrings to stunning engagement rings, our customers are singing our praises…and rightfully so.

Here at Joseph Schubach Jewelers, we’re not afraid to show off a little. We pride ourselves in excellent service. And we don’t just talk about it, we live it.

Jewelry is a highly personal purchase for our customers. We lead our customers on the journey and stand by their side, making sure the experience is full and rich.

But let’s let our customers do the talking:

Hi Beth:

I received my rings and I love them! They are absolutely beautiful! Thank you very much for your personal and professional care that you offered. This will certainly not be the last piece of jewelry we buy from you. I will send you a name of the ring so it can be in your contest. I’ll think about it today and email you on Monday.

Thanks again,

Carol

∞

Hi Beth:

Got the ring on Wednesday. Opened it up and WOW!!!! The website just absolutely DOES NOT do it justice!  The ring turned out much better than I ever imagined. Did I say WOW yet!?!?

The fire and brilliance were sooooooo much better than anything I have seen in a retail store.  I proposed to Heather (my, now, Fiance!!) on Friday and she has not stopped staring at it.

Everyone that has seen the ring has had an eye popping response and given me all kinds of credit for doing such a good job (thanks to you guys!! Couldn’t have done it without you!!)

Joe has a long term customer thanks to you! Heather will be needing some earrings shortly to pair with the ring for our wedding.

The ring is beautiful, your service is beyond exceptional, and I am in your debt.  Thank you so much!

Daniel

∞

Dear Joe:

For our anniversary I just received a beautiful pair of Moissanite earrings from my husband, and was very impressed with their quality.  I kept comparing them to my engagement ring and, at least with my untrained eye, the Moissanite earrings look just as brilliant as my diamond.  I was interested in another piece of jewelry to complete the set, and saw the round three stone pendant (style 10099).  Could you please provide me details on it?

Thanks much!

Style 10099

Round Three Stone Pendant

Three stone pendant with round brilliant stones set on an 18″ cable chain.

Ever since J Lo’s engagement ring, there has been a movement toward fancy colored diamonds. What is it about these magical, richly hued gemstones that capture the hearts of the buyer? And how are they created?

For quite some time, any color found in a diamond was considered undesirable. Diamonds were meant to be clean and clear – devoid of any color or even the slightest hue.

But now that fancy colored diamonds have become popular, gemologists are purposefully creating diamonds in a wide array of colors.

Naturally, diamonds can have color due to the following factors:

• Trace elements in the diamonds can produce color such as nitrogen which creates a yellow diamond.
• Color can result when radiation is present during a diamond’s creation. For instance, green diamond hues are the result of radiation.
• Inclusions are undesirable in a colorless stone, but can contribute unique tones and flashes of color in a fancy color diamond.

More commonly, fancy color diamonds are treated in one form or the other. Synthetic colored diamonds are affordable and often very vibrant in hue. They are created in a laboratory but are still the “real deal.” With that said, you’ll want to do your research and find a company that creates a solid, authentic product (like Gemesis, for instance.)

Many people walk into Joseph Schubach Jewelers, confessing they know very little about engagement rings. Of course, we're more than happy to help them through the process. An ill-executed engagement ring, well…could end up in a lack of an engagement!

So here, for your amusement (and warning!) are several photos of some of the worst engagement rings we could find:

Okay, now erase those images from your memory…please. And take a look at one of our decidedly non-ugly engagement rings…so you know the difference:

Cushion Cut Moissanite Ring With Pave' Diamonds And Six Genuine Sapphires