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5 Reasons why Watches aren't Passé

By Preston Wallace, K-Jon’s Fine Jewelers The age of the smartphone has arrived. Everyone has one. At the press of a button, the time is displayed, and it’s always correct.  How can an old-fashioned watch compete with that?  The age of the watch has come and gone, right?  Nope.  I use my smartphone all the time, but I go nowhere without my watch. The wristwatch as a timepiece has not gone out of style, nor will it in years to come. Here are 5 reasons why. 1. A watch is a fashion piece. Yes, it’s true.  A watch has been

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What Can Pink Floyd Teach Us About Sparkle?

  By Donna Jolly Deputy Executive Director, American Gem Society We all love diamonds, right? They are a multi-purpose gemstone, filling in the blanks for an array of emotions and symbols. A diamond can represent love when given to someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, or it can be a calling card for status when worn as a big honker on the ring finger of your right hand. Diamonds can be passed down for generations, proving that, well, a diamond really is forever. We know we love them, but what about this romantic gem makes

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Emerald: May’s Birthstone

By Anna Samsonova, CGA, Ben Bridge Jewelers The Pantone Color of the Year is making a huge comeback! Often imitated, never duplicated. It’s a phrase that describes emeralds, May’s birthstone, very well. Since the beginning of time emeralds have been a hot commodity. Cleopatra is believed to have had a huge love and admiration for the gemstone, although most of her collection turned out to be peridot.  Roman Emperor Nero is believed to have had sunglasses made of emeralds, however this is unlikely due to their included and cloudy nature. Nero’s supposed sunglasses were a representation of the stone’s power.

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Denise Chislett from Underwood Jewelers: My Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

By Denise Chislett, RJ, Underwood Jewelers Everyone wants the best for their Mom! Here are some jewelry gift ideas to help you this Mother’s Day. My Mother is my best friend. She brought me into this world and gave me everything she could, even when I didn’t deserve it (oh, the teenage years!). My Mother didn’t do the best she could for me. She did the BEST. My Mother isn’t a fancy woman. She is beautiful and down to earth. She is simple, elegant and most of all she is one of the funniest people I know. She never had

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Considerations Cutters Take When Shaping Diamonds

Today’s blog post is written by American Gem Society member, By Marc Nanasi, from NEI Diamond professionals swear that Cut is the ‘C’ which has the most influence on a diamond’s beauty,and interestingly enough, it is also the only C that is controlled by humans (a diamond’s color, carat weight, and clarity are dictated from the rough stone found in nature). What most people don’t realize about cut is the extensive amount of consideration that goes into the cutting process.  Cut can influence a diamond’s value by up to 50%! The decisions which have the largest affects on the final

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What Causes Diamonds to Break?

Marc Nanasi with NEI Group is today’s guest blogger. Could My Diamond ‘Break’? It’s easy to think that diamonds are invincible, after all, they rank as the hardest substance known to man on the Moh’s scale. Unfortunately, diamonds are not without their vulnerabilities. So, yes, diamonds can break. This comes with good news and bad news. The bad news is that no diamond is impervious to breaking, but the good news is that it is an extremely rare occurrence. The most important step comes when selecting your diamond. Diamonds are formed within the earth and usually have identifying characteristics within them. These

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Engagement Rings Get Technicolor

JCK, one of the jewelry industry’s premier magazines, just published this article on trends in the bridal jewelry market. We love the look of a traditional solitaire engagement ring, but brides want a halo with their veil–make that a halo engagement ring. Other notable trends: colored gemstones, like sapphire and aquamarine. One of our favorites is by AGS Member Jack Abraham,  the emerald and ruby halo engagement ring featured below.

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PERFECT PROPOSAL TOOLKIT OFFERS LAST MINUTE VALENTINE’S PROPOSAL

If you are planning on popping the question, this one is for you: If you haven’t heard about our Perfect Proposal Toolkit, check it out. The Toolkit, available through February 15, 2013, offers a quirky collection of tips and suggestions for planning the perfect proposal, as well as a contest to win a trip to Las Vegas. Perfect Proposal WebsiteLocated on the American Gem Society website, the online resource offers consumers fun and unique suggestions for traditional and non-traditional proposals, recipes for romantic dinners, a list of the top mistakes to avoid when proposing, proposal trends, and many more tips

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Let's Talk Jewelry

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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