Lab Created Alexandrite vs Natural: what are the differences? Is one better than the other? Where can I find natural alexandrite? For some reason, alexandrite is one of those gemstones that causes people to ask questions.  It is unclear why though.  There are tons of stones out there that come

What Is Filigree is not an uncommon question asked by potential jewelry buyers. Fans of antique and vintage jewelry mainly edwardian and victorian know exactly what it is.  However, the rest of the public, not so much.  In this post, we will discuss the history filigree and what it entails.

How To Travel With Jewelry is a question many people have asked.  Nobody wants to have something stolen, broken, or damaged while on vacation.  But it happens.  We had a relative who had an 11 carat sapphire signet ring stolen on a cruise!  And there was nothing he could do

What Is The Mohs Scale? Have you heard of The Mohs Scale, but didn’t know what it is? In a nutshell, it is a system of grading the hardness of gemstones. It tells you things like their durability and wearability.  For example, a diamond is a 10, the highest score

Non Diamond Engagement Rings Non-Diamond Engagement Rings have always been more popular than you would think.  And for a variety of reasons you might not expect either.  They were quietly bought without much fanfare. Unfortunately, thanks to DeBeers‘ insanely effective marketing campaigns, there has always been the idea that an

Hidden Halo Engagement Rings Hidden Halo Engagement Rings are benefitting from the last round of halo engagement ring mania. Halo engagement rings were so hot for awhile that a natural backlash began to form.  People loved the halo idea, but there were too many people wearing them. So, they tried

What Is Asterism In Gemstones? Star Gemstones display what is know as asterism.  What asterism is was a question we didn’t know the answer to until we got into gemology.  However, we were familiar with the stones that exhibited it.  We just didn’t know the stars were called asterism.  This

White Topaz vs. White Sapphire White topaz and white sapphire are two gemstones used as diamond replacements in a lot of jewelry. However, they are very hard to tell apart just from looking at them. While sapphire does have more fire as it has a higher refractive index. A well

Diamond Custom Pendants Are you having a hard time finding Diamond Custom Pendants that won’t break the bank?  We get it.  Custom jewelry can be expensive.  And it can be  very expensive if you go to the wrong place. Unfortunately, not all custom jewelers truly create custom jewelry.  We do. 

Gold Wedding Rings For Men Gold and silver have a rich history that spans thousands of years. These precious metals have been valued for their beauty and rarity since ancient times. Gold, with its vibrant yellow color, has been associated with wealth and power. Silver, with its cool white hue,

Letter Pendants are a wonderful way to personalize a gift for someone you love. Letter Pendants, and ones that form words, bring a wonderful and personal meaning to gifts for someone special.  With almost endless choices of fonts and all the 26 letters in the alphabet, the possibilities of that

White Gold Vs Silver.  Which is the right metal for you? Both are 2of the most popular metals for jewelry, but for different reasons. While they do look similar, they are very different physically.  While we do consider white gold superior to silver, it is not always the right choice. 

Diamond Jewelry For Women is one of the most popular gift ideas there is.  And for good reason. Diamonds are stunning stones that have captivated people for over 2000 years. They are the hardest natural material on the planet while possessing an unmatched brilliance as well.  Although Diamond Jewelry For

Garnet Vs. Ruby It is not uncommon for people to mistake a ruby for a garnet or vice versa. Those are the 2 most popular red gemstones and can look a lot alike.  However, they are very different stones.  There are a few physical properties that make them pretty easy

Best Places To Buy Diamond Earrings The Best Places To Buy Diamond Earrings are not the ones that might pop into your mind at first. When most people think of Best Places To Buy Diamond Earrings, they think of the jewelry stores that advertise the most. That makes sense.  However,

Diamond Tennis Necklaces Bracelets Diamond Tennis Necklaces & Bracelets are iconic pieces of jewelry. They are also one of the most luxurious.  Even using smaller melee stones can easily end up being 3 carats worth of diamonds on a bracelet.  A necklaces is at least double that!  Begin looking at

How To Keep Diamond Rings Clean How To Keep Diamond Rings Clean is an often asked question.  Despite being one of the hardest materials on the planet, they are also dirt and grease magnets.  Literally the moment you walk out of the store with a diamond ring on, it starts

White Sapphire Vs Moissanite There are a number of diamond alternatives out there. You have both lab made and natural stones that can be substituted for diamonds.  However, there are very large differences when you go past what a stone looks like at a glance.  If you really examine a

December Birthstone Jewelry December Birthstone Jewelry generally contains blue gemstones.  Blue topaz, blue zircon, and tanzanite are all considered acceptable gemstones for December Birthstone Jewelry.  However we go with tanzanite.  Topaz is already the november birthstone and zircon is too soft, especially for rings. Plus, tanzanite is a stunning stone. 

November Birthstone Jewelry makes a great gift for those born in that month.  And unlike most months, november babies have the luxury of 2 birthstones!  Both Topaz and Citrine are used as november birthstones.  We aren’t sure for the reason as topaz comes in the same colors that citrines come

Why Custom Jewelry Make The Perfect Mothers Day Gift Opal Jewelry is the prefect gift for a jewelry lover born in October.  A good opal specimen is stunning. Period.  They are one of our favorite stones and only have 1 issue with them. They aren’t very durable.  However, we will

Peridot Jewelry Peridot Jewelry is the prefect gift for a jewelry lover born in August.  Not only is it a beautiful stone.  It is also relatively durable and more affordable than other green stones like emerald, tsavorite, or tourmaline.  Peridot is an ancient stone long revered for its color and

Were you or a loved one born in July?  If the answer is yes, then Ruby Jewelry would make the perfect gift!  Rubies were one of the first gemstones discovered and have been revered for thousands of years.  However, buying rubies is not always straightforward. There are natural and lab