Stories of Gems

In this post, I’d like to focus on how jewelry can create beauty and hope in times of war. Like a previous post about the bird pins made by the Japanese during their internment, these bird pins are also from the World War II era. They also have real sentimental value. But our location has changed. Instead of America, we find ourselves in occupied France. With Cartier. Perhaps you think of watches when I say Cartier, but Cartier was all about jewelry. Founded in 1847, they wer

I’ll be honest, I was slow to get on board with rose gold. I was convinced it was a fad, and so I stayed away from it, and tried to wait it out. But then I got a great set of stacking rings in rose gold, and I LIKED them. I mean, I REALLY liked them. That surprised me. I also got lots of friends and family who complimented me on my rings, and I thought I might need to rethink my aversion. Although rose gold first started appearing on the scene back in 2014, it continues to be

Learn more about the history and beauty of halo rings.

I bet you didn’t know that today is Appreciate a Dragon Day! Yes, indeed, every January 16th has been decreed (by who, I wonder?) to “encourage you to explore the cultural significance of the dragon in your society and history!” And so I will. But with a focus on jewelry, of course. What is a dragon anyway? Since dragons aren’t real, it seems a little silly to talk about what they are. But the creature who breathes fire and has wings and can fly is a really a more recent dr

Today, I want to tackle one of those terms the retail industry uses – “precious gemstones.” When I was studying to be a gemologist, I learned that diamond is the ultimate precious gemstone. In the land of colored stones, ruby, sapphire, and emerald are the only three considered precious. We call the them “the big three.” That means all other gemstones are merely semi-precious. So of course I wondered why that was, and who gets to decide. Precious versus semiprecious gemstone

Fun facts about the jewelry worn when America was just a baby!

It's true! The best American jewelry is made by Italian designer Bulgari. Learn the history of their Stars & Stripes collection.

Besides my wedding ring, there’s another piece of jewelry I wear daily – earrings! In my opinion, they’re one of the most versatile kinds of jewelry out there. From time to time, I have gone through phases where I experimented with wearing other pieces of jewelry on a daily basis – a statement necklace, perhaps, or a bracelet. Or several bracelets. But those efforts never lasted. The truth is, for me, earrings are part of my everyday jewelry-wearing. Big hoops, pearl drops, o

We are past the World War II era, but we’re still talking about beautiful bird pins that tell a story. Today, I’ll tell you about a stunning Cartier flamingo pin that belonged to the Duchess of Windsor. The Duchess, Wallis Simpson, was an amazing collector of many beautiful jewelry pieces. Who is Wallis? Now, perhaps you don’t know about the Duchess of Windsor. To this day, she’s something of a controversial figure in Britain. She had a torrid love affair in the 1930’s with

Dive into the history of signet rings, and check out some modern examples.

Turquoise is one of my favorite stones. I think it’s always pretty, and you see it in variety of colors and styles. It’s always been used in jewelry, going back to ancient Egypt. It was all over the place in King Tut’s tomb. And 7,000 years ago, it was considered a sacred stone with mystical powers. Today, it still has people who consider it a stone of protection with healing properties. Regardless, I’m a fan. Let me share six of the reasons why it’s a big part of my jewelry

t’s very possible you already have a cocktail ring in your jewelry box or collection. The ring is a little bit show-y, perhaps borderline ostentatious. They are sometimes called statement rings, or right hand rings.

Learn what salt and pepper diamonds are and why they've become a popular stone for engagement rings.

Today I'd like to feature a very particular father and son who are jewelry designers. Fred and Michael Kabotie are Hopi silversmiths and artisans, and their story has some interesting things to say about jewelry in America. I discovered them because I recently became an auntie to a Native American niece and nephew. While I was researching their heritage – they are Hopi – I came across all this beautiful silver jewelry created by the Kaboties. Michael Kabotie necklace Jewelry

Today, watches and jewelry are often grouped together, sold together at department store counters and combined in lots at auctions. Beautiful timepieces and beautiful gemstones have a lot in common - attention to detail and superb craftsmanship. But it wasn't always that way. Watches have a unique history, their connection to wartime and how we came to wear them on our wrists. You may think wristwatches are a thing of the past, because now you have your phone. But don't forge

Let's celebrate the amazing female jewelry designer Suzanne Belperron!

By now, you should all know how much I love brooches and pins. I have a great little collection of owls and other animal pins. But one day, a good friend showed me something like I had never seen before! In his hand was an exquisitely carved wooden bird pin. Now, some jewelry designers do incorporate wood into their pieces, but it’s pretty unusual. And to have a whole piece made entirely from wood, it’s quite rare. So I had lots of questions. And I learned a fascinating story

Today let's talk about one of the most influential jewelry design houses, Van Cleef and Arpels. A favorite of royalty and celebrities, they are known for their amazing craftsmanship. This fabulous French jewelry house was started with a marriage in 1896 between Alfred and Estelle. Both came from families in the jewelry industry. Alfred was the son of a stone cutter, and Estelle was the daughter of a gem dealer. These two loved jewelry and loved to travel. They had an eye for

Learn more about claddagh rings and their symbolism and history.

What kind of jewelry inspires that hopeful feeling? And I thought of the beautiful, magical fairies that Van Cleef & Arpels made during Word War II. So if you don’t know about these lovely, sparkling creatures, read on! I’m happy to tell you all about them.