The year is 1837. President Andrew Jackson is in power, until he is succeeded in March by Martin VanBuren. The state of Michigan is admitted into the Union as the 26th state. Both Houston, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois, are granted… Keep Reading
The Rise Of The House of Cartier
Today we start a series exploring the various jewelry houses that have become household names and legends in the jewelry arts. Their designs, innovations and sheer beauty put them head and shoulders above other jewelers of their time. Many of… Keep Reading
Topaz – It’s All Greek To Me
Greece. Home to blue skies and even bluer waters. Gorgeous islands and, theoretically at least, those epic Greek Gods we all learned about in middle school. Turns out the Greeks had their hands in a lot of things back in… Keep Reading
The Final Frontier: The Retro Modern Period
It is often said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” And in our next historical jewelry manufacturing period, that couldn’t ring more true. We left off last with the Art Deco period and its grand geometric shapes, where the diamond was… Keep Reading
Prohibition, Flappers and King Tut: The Art Deco Period
So, let’s see where we are in our series about the different historical periods in jewelry manufacturing. We left off with the French stepping out from the watchful eye of the Edwardian period with the curvy lines, soft colors and… Keep Reading
What’s So Nouveau About Art Nouveau?
So far in our series focusing on the various periods and eras of jewelry production, we’ve been pretty myopic in looking at the impact the British had on the industry. But the Brits weren’t the only one influencing the trends…. Keep Reading
The Edwardian Era: The Birth of Platinum Jewels
Continuing on as we chronologically explore the various eras in vintage and antique jewelry, we’re leaving Queen Victoria behind and instead focusing on her first-born son. It’s not that the Edwardian period began the day Victoria passed on to be… Keep Reading
Opal: Is It Really The Thunder From Down Under?
Oh, October. How did you get to be so lucky? You have as your birthstone what some call the gem of all gemstones: the opal. Opals, which are also used to celebrate the 14th year of marriage, are really just… Keep Reading
Victorian Era Jewels: Thanks, Vicky!
As we continue to meander down the chronological lane from one jewelry era to another, today we’re making a pit stop at the Victorian Era. It’s simple and yet so complex. Simple, in that we owe much of the jewelry… Keep Reading
Emeralds: The Greenest of the Greens
Emerald Isle. Emerald City. Emerald Coast. Emerald Buddha. Emerald Ash Borer (we may have taken that last one too far, we realize). There’s a reason that things vividly green are associated with the lovely emerald. As Rome’s Pliny the Elder… Keep Reading
The Georgian Period: Four Georges and a William
Today marks the start of a series talking about the different periods in jewelry. We’ve glazed over them with a paragraph dedicated to each in this post. But let’s start breaking them down one by one.
Sapphires: The Stuff Of Which Rainbows Are Made
We know them as the birthstone for September and for their deep blues to medium violets. But there’s so much more to sapphires than that. The ancients believed they could provide healing (but then again, what stone didn’t they think… Keep Reading
Tips For Finding A Vintage Engagement Ring to Last A Lifetime
Martha Stewart knows weddings. That’s a given. But does she (and/or her team) know engagement rings? VINTAGE engagement rings to be specific? We decided to check out her article 11 Tips for Finding A Vintage Engagement Ring You’ll Cherish and… Keep Reading
Rubies: The Mysteries and the Myths
Once upon a time, many moons ago, diamonds didn’t rule supreme in the jewelry world – there was a more colorful King of the Hill – the ruby. Many know the ruby to be the birthstone for July (our owner… Keep Reading
Colored Diamonds: Are They Real And Are They Valuable?
Since we’re on a bit of a diamond kick lately, I thought I’d talk about colored diamonds next in our series on gemstones. Almost everyone knows about a colorless diamond. But did you know that diamonds come in all shades… Keep Reading
The Big Reveal: April and May Jewelry Auction Results
April and May are notorious for bringing us a few staple items. Rain showers. Spring flowers. Weddings. Graduations. But this year, they brought us something we weren’t counting on. Record breaking jewelry auctions. Like, the crazy record-breaking kind. Let’s go… Keep Reading
The World’s Most Romantic Gemstone: Diamonds and Their History
We all think of them when we hear that someone got engaged. And some of the biggest and best are literally word famous and worth untold sums of money. But what do we really know about diamonds? When were they… Keep Reading
Those Tricky Victorians And Their Hidden Messages
For the most part, the beginning of the Victorian Period (during the time of Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901) was a jovial one. It was a pretty good time to be alive. The Industrial Revolution was brewing right… Keep Reading
The 10 Pieces Of Jewelry Every Woman Should Have In Her Jewelry Box
I’m often asked by women (mostly) if they had to pick one item of jewelry to purchase, what should that one item be? Ironically, I was reading an article in Harpers Bazar UK that suggested that it’s not about owning… Keep Reading
How The Marquise Cut Got Its Name
Here come the royals, fiddling with our jewels again. This time they’ve got their hands in naming a particular gemstone cut: the marquise. However, it’s not the British this go round, but the French, their King and his Chief Mistress (yup –… Keep Reading