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Sapphire Shimmer

April 26, 2024 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Sparkly Things

With a silky smooth and high-polish domed surface, the cabochon is one of the oldest gemstone cuts. Unlike most cutting techniques, there is no faceting in the cabochon. The absence of facets means that there are no spots for light to reflect from. Instead, this simple and refined cut allows us to focus solely on the rich color.

A clean, transparent gemstone crystal will produce the finest cabochon stone. Even distribution of color is of the utmost importance. Color banding (or zoning) is an unevenness in color. This natural happening would be easily spotted in a cabochon which is why lapidaries choose fine, clean stones for this unique cut. Sapphire is one of the most common choices for cab (as cabochon are often called) cuts.

Sapphire crystals are harvested from the Earth in a variety of shapes, colors and clarity grades. Each one is individually studied to determine how to best highlight the raw beauty of the crystal. After cutting, the stone is polished to a pristine shine – this step is especially important in cabochons.

This week, we are showcasing the cabochon cutting technique with a stunning pair of modern yellow gold sapphire and diamond earrings. These earrings center on a perfectly matched set of oval cabochon sapphires. Combined, these gems have a total weight of approximately 3.50 carats. Each deep blue gem is bezel set within a pear-shaped halo of round brilliant diamonds. With the point of the pear facing south, the bedazzled portion of the earring dangles from a sleek lever-back wire.

Forming each tear drop are sixteen round brilliant diamonds, thirty-two in all. These sparklers have a total weight of approximately 4.50 carats! The effect is exquisite… the simple refined look of the cabochon sapphires juxtaposes perfectly against the scintillating sizzle of the fully faceted diamonds. These luxurious earrings are available for $7,500.00 – stop by our showroom to make them yours today.

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Joe’s Special Box – Volume 148

April 22, 2024 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

The pieces from Joe’s Special Box are not ordinary, they’re extraordinary. Each one is unique, rich with character and vintage flair. Over the last few years, we have featured more than 150 charmers from Joe’s personal collection.

Many, many (many) years ago, Joe kept a small box in his desk. Inside the box were a handful of pristine antique treasures – a cache of riches… dainty Art Deco rings, an enameled locket, a tiny stick pin. Over the years, Joe’s collection expanded. Today, it fills three entire boxes! I love picking through them – anticipating the discovery of my next blog piece.

This time, I found the loveliest little ring. Made in the late 1940’s or very early 1950’s, this beauty is a delightful combination of 14-karat yellow and white gold. The ring is a classic style, offering fishtail prongs to hold the center stone.

Glowing warmly from the center of the ring is a stunning brown zircon. An unusual choice of gems, the stone shimmers like Tennessee whiskey. Weighing approximately 3.00 carats, the rich tone of this rarely used gem is truly something to behold.

A 14-karat white gold design accents the shoulders of the ring. It’s set with six tiny single-cut diamonds that have a combined weight of .10 carat. Milgrain beaded details highlight each curve and swirl of this late Retro ring. Perfect as a right hand ring or a non-traditional engagement ring, this piece is priced at just $750!

Like so many others, this ring represents the best of Joe’s Special Box. Super sweet and in near perfect condition, this brown zircon ring is available on our site. Click over and see it for yourself.

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

From Here to Eternity

April 19, 2024 by Joden Girl

Joden Girl

Baubles, Bling and Endless Things

Eternity bands… how do you feel about them? Are you Team Yes (give me ALL the diamonds!) or Team No (keep the diamonds on top, where I can enjoy them)? Admittedly, there are pros and cons of these endless rings of scintillating sparkle. Let’s make a list…

Pros:

Eternity bands are trés romantic! The diamonds encircle the finger with no beginning and no end. Endless diamonds = endless love.
If the ring spins around on the hand, no one would ever know! It looks the same all the way around.
More diamonds means more sparkle!
These unique beauties are often custom made, allowing for creativity and personalized style.

Cons:

An eternity band can be more expensive than a band with diamonds only on a portion of the ring.
Eternity bands are more difficult (and sometimes impossible) to size.
With diamonds all the way around, the stones themselves see more wear and tear than a half-round style.
Often, eternity bands are thicker to accommodate the depth of the stones. Some may find this to be uncomfortable.

Personally, I love eternity bands. I have been wearing my wedding ring since August of 2000, nearly twenty-four years. Perhaps I’m a hopeless romantic – I get the warm fuzzies just looking at my ring. I had a similar reaction when I saw this week’s featured piece for the first time.

Made entirely of platinum, this wide band reminds me of antique lace. The edges are scalloped, waving up and down. There are six small sections, each one features a unique combination of diamond shapes and sizes: one pear-shape, three marquises and five rounds. Combined, the six pear-shapes have a weight of .60 carat, the eighteen marquise diamonds have a weight of 1.50 carats, and the thirty rounds have a total weight of .60 carat. That’s 2.70 carats of endless sparkle!

Like Cinderella’s slipper, this beauty must be a perfect fit. It is a size six, and cannot be sized. The band has a silky-smooth interior and is quite comfortable to wear.

If you love a great eternity band AND you wear a size six, this band is simply too good to resist. It’s a stunning Mid Century Modern design, made in the 1960’s. Priced at $4,350.00, it’s available now. Give us a call to claim it today.

“You can go to a museum and look, or come to us and touch.”

Written by Carrie Martin

Photos by Dana Jerpe

Baubles, Bling and Sparkly Things

Baubles, Bling, and A Collector’s Things

Baubles, Bling and Endless Things

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