Customer Testimonials

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/33067815[/vimeo]

See Steve and Gina's fabulous proposal and project page

We just received this information from Charles & Colvard on the new Forever Brilliant moissanite. Thought you might find it interesting!

“In creating the FOREVER BRILLIANT™ gem, Charles & Colvard^® hand selects and expertly polishes only the world’s finest moissanite.  Then, through a proprietary process using extraordinary, cutting edge twenty-first century technology, Serenity Technologies, Inc. transforms each gemstone to a higher standard of the Gemological Institute of America’s near-colorless spectrum, up to four color grades whiter.

Serenity’s advance treatment technology being applied to Charles & Colvard^® created moissanite stones, laser engraved on the girdle with FOREVER BRILLIANT™, is the most advanced whitening technique they provide.

The New FOREVER BRILLIANT™ Whitening process provided by Serenity Technologies, Inc. is NOT A COATING. The improved color of the FOREVER BRILLIANT™ moissanite stone is consistent throughout and has all the properties of the original moissanite.

NOTE: “HAS NO SPECIAL HANDLING REQUIREMENT”

Here are some key facts:

The FOREVER BRILLIANT™ Whitened Moissanite can be recut to a smaller size WITHOUT losing the color upgrade. (Note: if treatment was a coating, the moissanite stone would revert back to the original color)

The FOREVER BRILLIANT™ Whitened Moissanite can be boiled in concentrated acids (Note: if treatment was a delicate coating, it would come off in concentrated acids)

The FOREVER BRILLIANT™ Whitened Moissanite can be exposed to very high temperatures and extreme thermal shock (Note: all coatings will fail under extreme thermal shock)

The FOREVER BRILLIANT™ Whitened Moissanite can be polished using aluminum oxide. (Note: if the treatment was a coating, the aluminum oxide abrasive slurry which has a hardness of 9 would take the treatment off; the moissanite stone would revert back to the original color)”

These little guys are absolutely gorgeous! We discovered three different shades of mouth watering colors that are just waiting to be put into a custom design. The colors are Lemon Meringue – a beautiful vibrant yellow, Persimmon Pink – a darker, purpleish pink, and Lotus Blossom – a softer, orangish pink. All are diamond cut for maximum brightness and are perfect for micro pave’ setting.

Lemon Meringue Sapphires

Persimmon Pink Sapphires

Lotus Blossom Sapphires

The American Gem Trade Association Spectrum Awards is an annual natural colored gemstone and cultured pearl jewelry design competition, considered to be the most respected and prestigious creative award for the jewelry design industry. Launched in 1984, the awards honors, recognizes and promotes designers whose work uses natural colored gemstones and cultured pearls in finished fine jewelry design. What follows are some of the top award winners.

(above) Best of Show, Todd Reed - Palladium and 22k gold locket featuring blue moonstones, grey diamonds (24.51ctw.) blue sapphires (17.34 ctw.) and white diamonds opening to reveal a 76.03-ct. Moldavite Buddha.

(above) Best Use of Color, Deirdre Featherstone - Platinum earrings with removable opal enhancers (15.64 ctw.) accented with blue zircons (3.27 ctw.), tanzanites (3.53 ctw.) Paraiba tourmalines (0.40 ctw.)

(above) First Place Winner in Evening Wear, Ion Ionescu - Titled "Pillow for Dreaming," this palladium and black rhodium ring is topped with a 36-ct. carved labradorite accented with paraiba tourmalines

Remember, if there’s a piece that you see on our blog that inspires you, we can recreate it at a fraction of the cost!

Check out more of the winners here.

In case you aren’t “in the know”, red is all the rage this season. And while its obviously a drop-dead, standout color to wear, pairing jewelry is not always the simplest act. Red has a life of its own and the jewelry choice must balance its boldness – not overpower and not underwhelm. Here are a few pointers on how to wear red the right way and what jewelry compliments:

Rachel Bilson’s stylist, Nicole Chavez, shares her tips on wearing brightly colored pants in the September 19, 2011 issue of People, which features a photo of Bilson in the same ensemble that appears in InStyle. Chavez suggests: “Keep it modern. Don’t get too colorful! Wear a bold pant with a neutral top or add a great patterned shirt that coordinates with the color of the pants, as we did with Rachel.” People identifies both the pants and blouse as Erdem.

Rachel Bilson’s look appears a third time in the November 2011 issue of Glamour, which recreates the look with pieces costing under $50 each, including a Timex watch and goldtone drop earrings from Courtney Lee at Accessory Artists.com.

An important exception to the tone-it-down rule for red pants appears in ensembles of head-to-toe red. In this case, a bright punch of gleaming gold or shining silver at the ears, neck, wrist and/or fingers can provide a soothing respite from the intense hue, essentially acting as a visual neutral.

Anne Christensen, executive fashion director for Glamour magazine, writes in the publication’s October 2011 issue: “I’m Loving the Lady in Red Look,” adding, “This fall, clothes are all about standing out. Follow my lead and embrace this bold head-to-toe look.” Her choice of jewelry: a substantial gold (actually goldtone metal) link necklace from Fallon.

The August 2011 issue of Elle pictured a look of solid red except for white ankle boots from Giuseppe Zanotti for Balmain. The model wears a leotard from Capezio, Guess jeans, and a knitted fox-fur jacket from Michael Kors Furs. On her American Apparel suspenders she wears a vintage cat head pin from Melet Mercantile. She also wears a Y-shaped feather drop necklace from Isabel Marant, a snake ring from Tom Ford, and an 18k gold ring from Beladora.

A seismic shift in color palette requires a reconsideration of one’s jewelry. When red pants are combined with neutrals, coordinating prints or metallics, one bold, architectural piece of jewelry such as a statement necklace, cuff, or eye-catching earrings will finish the look. Although red pants will be the first thing a viewer notices, jewelry must be visually strong enough to work with the ensemble. With a head-to-toe look of saturated hue, use jewelry liberally to provide a visual counterpoint and add a dash of unique personality. When wearing red, this is no time to be a shrinking violet in your choice of jewelry.

Source: JCK

Sure, we all want a dazzling stunner of a ring. But often comfort is an afterthought…until you start wearing it! And if you’re wearing a wedding band, my friend, you’re wearing it for a looong time (at least we hope!) So here are a few tips to finding a wedding band or engagement ring that fits comfortably and well.

1. The inner shape. A comfortable wedding band usually has soft, rounded edges. There should be a slight curve on the inside ring which increases comfortability. This doesn’t mean that a flatter band always means discomfort – a well-constructed flat band can feel equally comfortable. Hence the importance of trying one of our wedding bands on in our Scottsdale, Arizona showroom!

2. A comfort fit ring. These rings are not lacking in style; they are simply constructed with fit in mind. Comfort fit wedding bands are perfect for people with an active lifestyle or hands-on jobs.

3. A good fitting. When you try on a wedding band, it’s important to keep it on for a while. Often rings feel just fine at first, but as you probably know, your finger sizes change slightly throughout the day. Spend some time with your wedding band. Move your fingers about. Even if you just notice the ring on your finger, it could be a problem for some. It may not hurt per se; it could just feel too weighty or cumbersome. The idea is to find a band that is a natural extension of you and your lifestyle so spending some time wearing it before purchasing is a smart move.

Style 6887WB Yellow Gold Comfort Fit Band With Hammered Center And Polished Sides 14kt yellow gold comfort fit wedding band, hammered center with high polished sides, 8mm wide.

Style 6797WB

Comfort Fit Titanium Band With Satin Finished Center

Titanium comfort fit wedding band with satin finished center, 6mm wide.

Style 6795WB

Black Titanium And 18kt White Gold Comfort Fit Band

Black titanium/18kt white gold comfort fit band, 7mm.

Metal: Black Titanium/18kt White Gold
Ring size: 4 – 13

Style 7129WB

Black Titanium/18kt White Gold Comfort Fit Band With Diamond

Black titanium/18kt white gold comfort fit wedding band with a .16ct tension set diamond, 6mm wide.

Metal: Black Titanium/18kt White Gold
Stone size: .16ct
Ring size: 4 – 13

We recently received a very nice note from a customer. We helped them with a custom engagement ring around the first of the year and they just got engaged. It’s a great story! Click here for the full post. Thanks Matt and Kim!!!!

We’re often asked what is the best way to clean jewelry. Unfortunately, there’s no one answer. It depends on the metal and the stone, the piece of jewelry as a whole, and the setting. But here are some basic pointers to abide by to add some shine to your pieces, thanks to Home Made Simple.

What to Use: For cleaning most jewelry, a soft bristled toothbrush and warm water is the perfect pair. Toothbrushes help you gently clean the surface of your jewelry, while also getting into nooks and crannies of a setting. Warm water helps break down the dirt faster. Jewelry Cleaning Tips:

• Gold: Soak gold for about 15 minutes in a simple solution of warm water and two drops of mild dish liquid. Gently clean using the toothbrush, rinse with warm water and dry with a soft, lint-free cloth.
• Silver: Rinse silver with warm water and clean with a soft cloth. If the silver is tarnished use silver polishing cloths or bottled silver cleaning fluid.
• Diamonds: Soak diamond jewelry in a solution of one-cup warm water and 1/4 cup ammonia for 20 minutes or use the same solution you would for gold. Gently clean with a toothbrush, rinse with warm water and pat with a lint-free cloth.
• Gem Stones: You can use the same solution used for diamonds for most precious gems except for soft, specially treated stones like emeralds or opals. For these stones, use a small amount of warm water and a soft, clean tissue or piece of silk to clean.
• Pearls: Rub pearls individually with a soft cloth dampened with warm water and a few drops of mild dish liquid.
• Costume Jewelry: Simply wipe costume jewelry down gently with soft, damp cotton cloth as needed. Don’t over clean, as you may damage the finish.

Tip: To keep inexpensive costume jewelry from tarnishing and rubbing off on your skin, brush clear nail polish on the backs of each piece and let dry before wearing.