If you’re going to spend a lot of money on a piece of jewelry, you want it to be gorgeous! That goes without saying. But you also want to get what you pay for. So while some things about jewelry are pretty obvious, others are a bit more complicated. In this post, I’ll go through some of my key tips to help you get a piece you absolutely love! And get good value for your money. Good as Gold Let’s be real, most jewelry is either gold or silver, and most women have a preference

Now that lab grown diamonds are becoming more and more available, and more companies have them as as option, it only makes sense that more people would have questions. One of the biggest ones I hear is “are they really better for the environment? Eco-friendly? Sustainable?” There’s lots of different ways to essentially ask the same question. I mean, you’d think a lab grown diamond would be better, because mining in general is pretty bad for the environment. But lab grown diam

Lab grown diamonds are here, gem gals! And they’re pretty amazing. I mean, they are diamonds, after all! If you are thinking of getting a beautiful, sparkly one to wear for the rest of your life, I’m here to answer all your questions. For those of you who aren’t familiar with lab grown diamonds, they’ve been around since the 1950’s. And it’s not just diamonds that can be grown in a lab. Sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and opals can also be created in a lab. But let’s stay focuse

Mother’s Day is coming up, and if you’re like me, you want to WOW your mom with a great, thoughtful gift! And so, gem gals, if you are looking for unique jewelry gifts, Etsy is the way to go! If you’ve never shopped at Etsy, I’m here to encourage you to give them a try. Etsy is all about handmade and vintage goods from individuals and small businesses. They just provide the platform. You can buy almost anything! I’ve bought purses, stationery, bath bombs, pottery, and all sor

Whenever I tell people I’m a gemologist, they always ask me about their wedding rings. And since most wedding rings have diamonds, I end up talking to people about diamonds quite a bit. Mainly, people want to make sure they got a “good deal” on their diamond. I interpret that to mean they didn’t overpay or spend a bunch of money, only to end up with a cubic zirconia. Buying a diamond online Now, if you’ve been around the blog, you’ll know I’m an avid online shopper and I firm

It’s 2018, people! And yet, I feel like the jewelry industry still acts as if we’re in the 1950’s. So let me say this loud and clear: Women purchase jewelry for themselves! A lot! And I’m not just talking about picking up a pair of earrings at the mall. Women are buying expensive jewelry for themselves. America is still the leading nation of consumers (although Asia is closing in on us fast!). And women are the best consumers of all. With successful careers and disposable i

If you’ve been shopping around for a diamond, chances are you already know about the 4 C’s. But I understand it can still be confusing. After all, there’s a lot of details in each of the 4 C’s. My advice – focus on just one C. The most important one! The one that makes the biggest difference, both to your pocketbook and to the person wearing the ring. Want to know which one it is? It’s carat! That’s right! Carat weight is by far the most important C when you’re buying a diamo

If you’re shopping for a diamond, it’s likely you’ve heard of the 4 C’s. You might think they’re helpful, and you’re ready to go to town with all your diamond knowledge! But maybe you feel like they’re hard to remember….. and you’re not sure they’re really all that great. Fear not, consumer! I am here to tell you WHY the 4 C’s are so important! And best of all, it’s for your benefit. So let’s get started. What was it like before the 4 C’s? Diamonds and frankly, gemstones in g

Hey there, gem gals! Today I want to tell you why Macy’s is NOT the place to buy a ruby. Now, before you think for even a second that I don’t love Macy’s OR rubies, know this: I. LOVE. RUBIES. And I love Macy’s. Just not them together. And here’s why: it’s probably really a ruby. You may think you’re buying a ruby. The salesperson may tell you it’s a ruby. But no. It’s not. Unfortunately, we live in a place where sometimes it’s hard to be a consumer. I say that because it see