Owls seem to be everywhere…and not just in trees. They’re landing on pins. Nesting on rings. And perching on bracelets. Yes, the owl is a beautiful bird. But the symbolism associated with these lovely creatures is likely one reason jewelry connoisseurs are adding owls to their collections. (more…)
The stores have their decorations up, which means that the 2013 holiday shopping season has officially begun. To assist with a fine jewelry purchase you may be considering, GIA has put together a Holiday Buying Guide, a 7-part series dedicated to making you a more informed jewelry shopper, as well as a more relaxed one. (more…)
Tony Duquette and Hutton Wilkinson are two jewelry designers acclaimed for their original work.
More is More: Tony Duquette – Hutton Wilkinson Jewelry, the duo’s first-ever all-jewelry exhibit, debuted on Oct. 10 at GIA’s world headquarters in Carlsbad, CA. The inventive body of work, which will be on display through March 2014, embraces a wide variety of styles, periods and palettes often showcasing unusual gemstones paired with rare materials in whimsical designs. (more…)
Day of the Dead (the Mexican holiday honoring deceased loved ones) lingers long after its passing at GIA’s world headquarters with Faces of Eternity – a collection of 15 gem skulls by Peruvian artist and master carver Luis Alberto Quispe. (more…)
As the majority of the country heads into cooler temperatures of late fall/early winter, November’s birthstone, citrine, provides a much needed burst of sunshine. The warm, sunny color of this popular gemstone inspired its name, derived from the French word “citron,” meaning “lemon.” Its color ranges from saturated yellow to reddish orange to pale yellow. (more…)
More than a century after Bram Stoker’s Dracula was published, fascination with vampires continues, as seen in film, television, fiction, fashion, and jewelry.
Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series has not only dominated the New York Times Best Seller list and the box office, it’s also unleashed a torrent of vampire-themed shows and movies, including Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and coming in 2014, Vampire Academy. (more…)
Black never goes out of fashion, and this season it’s taking a prominent place in fashion trends, especially in jewelry.
Black diamonds. Black pearls. Black spinel. The love of black-color gems and jewelry ranges from the most affordable to the most luxurious, and for good reason. It’s incredibly versatile. It’s the color of sophistication and elegance. It’s both edgy and timeless. (more…)
The 4Cs – color, clarity, cut, and carat weight – describe a diamond’s appearance, define its quality, and greatly influence a diamond’s value. But did you know that before GIA established the 4Cs in the 1940s, there was no agreed-upon system by which diamond quality could be communicated? (more…)
As the creator of the 4Cs and International Diamond Grading System, GIA also established color grading standards and terminology specifically for colored diamonds, based on the color’s hue, tone, and saturation. Today, we identify some of the defining characteristics that help make fancy-color diamonds a true feast for the eyes. (more…)
Tourmaline has one of the widest color ranges of any gemstone. While October’s birthstone can be found in virtually every hue of the rainbow, the most popular varieties range from rich reds and pinks, to greens and yellows, to blues and violets. Some tourmalines are bi-colored and parti-colored, exhibiting two or more colors in a single gem – a feature known as color zoning. (more…)
Synthetic diamonds grown in a lab are virtually identical to natural diamonds, but that’s where the similarities end. In fact, there are two distinctive methods used to grow synthetic diamonds. (more…)
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