Something remarkable happened to jewelry design and manufacturing in the past few years – it underwent a technological revolution powered by Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) hardware, such as 3D printers. (more…)
If Queen Latifah is wearing a modern take on chandelier earrings, you can bet they’re in style. Chandelier earrings may be hot now, but they have been depicted in European portraits since the mid-16th century. (more…)
The reigning world champion Seattle Seahawks sported new Super Bowl rings when they took the field against the Green Bay Packers, kicking off their season with a resounding win. (more…)
Clarity characteristics on a gemstone’s surface are called blemishes. Inside the stone, they are referred to as inclusions.. This post will focus on inclusions and how they are important factors to gem and jewelry professionals and consumers.
Inclusions can be very small, but they mean a lot. In general, the fewer inclusions, the greater the desirability. (more…)
The Old English rhyme “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” was intended to bring a bride luck in her marriage. Today, a bride likes to interpret this custom in her own unique way, often through distinctive choices in wedding jewelry. GIA offers some pointers, as well as points of inspiration, for the bride-to-be. (more…)
September’s birthstone, Sapphire, is one of the most beloved gemstones. Considered one of the “Big Three” (along with ruby and emerald), sapphire stepped into the spotlight with Princess Diana’s famous engagement ring, which Prince William then bestowed to Kate Middleton when he proposed in 2010. (more…)
“How did they make that?” It’s a common question that is asked the first time one sees micro-mosaic jewelry.
The astonished reaction is understandable. A square inch of micro-mosaic jewelry can have as many as 1,400 pieces of tesserae (a small piece of glass, stone, or tile) in just one square inch, and can shimmer in a dazzling variety of hues. (more…)
When buying a diamond, you know how important the 4Cs are in defining diamond quality. But well before buying comes dreaming. And when you envision the perfect diamond you’ll own one day, chances are the first thing that comes to mind is its shape. (more…)
Colored diamonds have a special allure, and rare natural color green diamonds may be the most intriguing of them all.
The green color in a diamond is the result of exposure to radiation. The source of the radiation can be naturally occurring or performed in a laboratory. Natural radiation is the result of the diamond being exposed to radioactive uranium from rocks near the earth’s surface. Artificial irradiation is achieved in a lab using either a linear accelerator (called a linac), gamma rays or a nuclear reactor. (more…)
If you’re intrigued by the origin of gemstones, then you’re probably going to love ammolite. Ammolite is iridescent fossilized ammonite shells found in Southern Alberta, Canada. (more…)
All gemstones are gifts of nature. But what about when certain gems glint or glow with subtle hues that defy description? Different light conditions can turn a dazzling gem into a phenomenal one. (more…)
Jewelry made of simple shapes has been cycling in and out of fashion for centuries, and it’s currently in vogue with designers and fashionistas. (more…)
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