fashion Archives

Go Retro: The Beauty & Benefits of Estate Jewelry

May 15, 2015

By Amanda L. Colborn When it comes to jewelry, more and more people are looking to the past for their present jewelry inspiration. It’s not just about style and fashion, estate jewelry has benefits to both your wallet AND the environment! But first, what is “estate” jewelry? Estate jewelry is, in the simplest of terms, jewelry that has been previously owned by someone else. Is it the same as “antique” jewelry? Yes and no, estate jewelry is not considered an antique until it is at least 100 years old, according to 4cs.gia.edu. So, why would estate jewelry be something for

Jewelry designs perfect for Cinco de Mayo!

May 5, 2015

By Amanda L. Colborn Are you the kind of person who likes to express your holiday spirit with jewelry? Does the jewelry you wear often reflect the mood and occasion of a party you’re attending? If you answer yes to either of these, then maybe you’ve been thinking about how you’re going to capture the Cinco de Mayo spirit with your jewelry. Never fear! The American Gem Society is here to help you accessorize so you can walk into the party not having to wonder, “Is that salsa hotter than my outfit?” We’ve taken the colors of Cinco de Mayo and paired

Celebrating May Birthdays with Emeralds

May 1, 2015

By Amanda L Colborn As the birthstone for May, the emerald, a symbol of rebirth, is believed to grant the owner foresight, good fortune, and youth. According to Almanac.com, “The emerald, was one of Cleopatra’s favorite gems. It has long been associated with fertility, rebirth, and love. Ancient Romans went so far as to dedicate this stone to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. Today, it is thought that emeralds signify wisdom, growth, and patience.” Emerald, derived from the word smaragdus, meaning “green” in Greek, was mined in Egypt as early as 330 B.C. Today, most of the world’s emeralds

March birthstone: Aquamarine

March 6, 2015

By Amanda L Colborn Aquamarine The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin word aqua, meaning water, and marina, meaning the sea. This gemstone was believed to protect sailors, as well as to guarantee a safe voyage. The serene color of aquamarine is said to cool the temper, allowing the wearer to remain calm and levelheaded. Its pale, cool color beautifully complements spring and summer wardrobes. Aquamarine is most often light in tone and ranges from greenish blue to blue-green; the color usually is more intense in larger stones. This gemstone is mined mainly in Brazil, but also is found in Nigeria, Madagascar, Zambia,

Spooky Jewelry: No Tricks. All Treats.

October 17, 2014

By Amanda L. Colborn Halloween doesn’t have to be all face paint and bobbing for apples—it’s also a chance to explore a whole new realm of fine jewelry—spooky, Halloween jewelry! If there is any holiday that has a real, dedicated following, it is Halloween! True Halloween enthusiasts don’t just get into the spirit of the season, they live for it. Because of this, there are fine jewelry options for those who like their nights scary and their jewelry spooky. Such pieces can be worn year-round if that is your style, or just brought out to add a little sparkle to your

Instagram Favorites

September 12, 2014

By Kevin P. McVay We’ve been getting a lot of new followers on our Instagram account over the last month. Since we love reposting photos of our members’ fine jewelry pieces, we’d like to share some of them with you. Here’s a look at the top three posts that our followers absolutely loved: The top image of a 7.52ct diamond ring from Alson Jeweler’s sparked a positive note among Instagrammers. The brilliance of the center diamond is beyond compare! The middle image is a unique yellow pearl ring from Mastoloni Pearls. Accented in diamonds, this piece gathered quite a lot

Hand Bling to the Extreme

August 29, 2014

By Kevin P. McVay We recently stumbled upon an article that explains a recent fashion trend that has now hit the Hollywood stage—nails-as-jewelry. Rita Ora, a British singer, songwriter and actress, was seen with a completely customized manicure last Sunday at the MTV Video Music Awards. Her nails were coated with Azature Black Diamond Nail Lacquer in Ruby Diamond. Though her nail polish contained black diamonds, what was featured on top of them is what’s getting people talking. Her manicure, applied by celebrity manicurist Barbara Warner, featured tiny hand-crafted diamond spiders and ruby bows which have been priced at around $56,000! While

Garnet in Many Shades

January 3, 2014

By Anna Samsonova, CGA, Ben Bridge Jeweler This January birthstone has a deep history and comes in many colors. Although birthstones have now been established and represent the 12 months of the year, this wasn’t always the case. Birthstones were first associated with Aaron’s (Exodus) breastplate, and believed to be for the 12 zodiac signs. In modern times, most people only associate with their own birthstone, throughout history it was believed to be lucky to wear the birthstone for each month. Currently, the accepted zodiac and monthly birthstones are different, and some months are even lucky to have options! We

Let's Talk Jewelry

October 19, 2012

Welcome to our new blog! We are here to talk about jewelry with you. Whether it’s tips on buying jewelry, the latest trends, historic or celebrity jewelry or even proper care for your gems, we have information to share. Our blog is written by experts in the industry–usually people who work in jewelry stores or are designers. We all share a passion for fine, quality jewelry, and want to share our expertise with you, so that your experience with jewelry, from buying it to wearing it, is a great one. Want to tell us about your most treasured necklace? Have a question about

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