fine jewelry Archives

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,

Going Gaga for Heart-Shaped Jewelry

February 27, 2015

By Amanda L Colborn In honor of Lady Gaga’s recent engagement (and her heart-stopping diamond ring), we’re celebrating the heart symbol and the heart cut diamond. Did you know that we can trace the heart symbol all the way back to the Ice Age era? It’s true. Cave paintings have been discovered with this symbol that trace back to the Ice Age. Though we do not know what this symbol meant to the cavemen who drew them, we do know that it was important enough for them to often paint it on the inside of their cave walls. The mysterious symbol

Finding Your Jeweler

January 2, 2015

By Alethea Inns, CG As a jewelry industry professional, I am often asked where to find a jeweler, how to find one that is trustworthy, or where to get professional appraisals. My answer is always the same. Find an American Gem Society credentialed jeweler or appraiser, and you are guaranteed a jewelry industry professional committed to your best interests. AGS credentialed jewelers are pledged to consumer protection, business ethics, and continued education. Jewelry stores that are AGS members are admitted to the Society after going through a series of approvals by an anonymous panel of fellow industry professionals, and their

Unique Wedding Bands for Men

November 26, 2014

By Amanda L Colborn For this week’s #WeddingWednesday we wanted to do something just a little different. Usually we pay tribute to all the gorgeous variations of women’s wedding and engagement jewelry. This week we wanted to get the men into the mix and shine the spotlight on just of few of the thousands of variations and options for men’s wedding bands. Have you ever wondered why men wear wedding rings in the first place? Is it just tradition or a true sentiment of love? Well, it is both! In ancient Egypt, both men and women wore wedding bands as a

How do you sparkle?

October 24, 2014

By Amanda L. Colborn How do you sparkle? You’re likely familiar with the 4 C’s of Diamonds: Cut, Clarity, Color and Carat – however, there is another very important aspect of diamonds to keep top of mind: Sparkle! Sparkle, or Scintillation as it is also known, is the play of white and colored flashes of light seen when the diamond is viewed in motion. Viewable with the naked eye, sparkle is the life of the diamond. Sparkle does have two different aspects, flash scintillation and fire scintillation. Flash Flash scintillation is the dynamic pattern of white sparkles observed across a

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

3 Reasons Why We Love Peridot, the August Birthstone

August 1, 2014

By Kevin P. McVay August’s birthstone is the magical peridot, a yellow-green to lime-green gemstone that is said to have healing properties that help bring its wearers power and influence. There are many reasons why we like the peridot, even if we weren’t born in August. The peridot might be what we need to complete the finishing touches to our perfect summer look. Here’s why we think it’s so popular: It has history. The Egyptians called it the “gem of the sun.” Some even believe that Cleopatra’s famous emerald collection might have actually been peridot. The Romans used the gem

March 2014: Jewelry Social Media Standouts

March 14, 2014

This week has been another outstanding week on social media for the American Gem Society. Our fans have been extremely engaged with our posts and there were a few that have really stood out. First, this yellow diamond pendant from Armadani. Our fans immediately fell in love with it, and rightfully so. It is stunning! Then today, we posted this pink diamond ring from Supreme Jewelry. It has been an instant hit! It has racked up more likes and shares in just a few hours than other posts will get in a week. Obviously, it is a special piece.

Style Pick of the Week

December 9, 2013

By Lauren Ruggeroli, Membership Sales Associate American Gem Society member Christophe Danhier aims to treat every piece in his collection “as an individual jewel, unique in its beauty.” Because of his pieces’ ability to stand out in the crowd, we picked two of his latest rings for our Style Pick this week. Both are sure to be a huge hit this holiday season! First up, a beautiful 18K rose gold diamond, sapphire and ruby ring. With this ring, Danhier experimented with new color combinations hoping to create a piece that not only stood out in the industry, but also

Answers to your Holiday Shopping Questions

November 26, 2013

Tips on Buying Jewelry this Holiday Season With the holiday shopping season approaching, the American Gem Society has been receiving questions from shoppers seeking jewelry buying tips and secrets. We thought we would answer a few of our most frequently asked questions to help ease the pressure off this hectic season. “How do I know if I’m getting a good deal?” Our answer is simple: trust your jeweler. Do your research, read reviews of their store, ask friends and shop with a credentialed jeweler. We take great efforts to vet all of our members, to make sure that they continue

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