Tips & Advice from the Jeweler

New! Gold Jewelry Guide

While we’re on the topic of materials, another common question we get here is “What’s the difference between solid gold, gold plate, gold-filled, and vermeil? Are they all the same? Which is better?” First, they are not all the same. As to which is better, well, that depends on what you’re looking for and what you want to spend on it.

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New! Fine Bridal Jewelry

A huge factor in the price of any piece of jewelry is obviously what materials have gone into it. This is especially true in bridal jewelry, where recent trends have tended to favor showier pieces that, to keep them in the average bride’s price range, are being made with less expensive ingredients.

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Handmade Earring Guide

What are usually called “French wires” or “French ear wires” are one of the most common accessories to a pair of dangle earrings. They are also almost never made by hand. The vast majority of jewelers will buy these in bulk from a finding manufacturer. Why? Because good ear wires are a hassle to make – expensive and time-consuming. Think about it: you have to cut a piece of wire (silver, gold, whatever) to the correct length, bend the curves in it just so, and then somehow either attach a ring to the end or ball up the metal with a torch so that your dangle won’t slip off. Make a mistake with the torch? Then you either cut off the end and try again, which means the final wire will be shorter than you wanted, or you add the wire to your scrap pile and get another one. Lots of bother.

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How to Recognize Handmade Jewelry

To kick off our occasional series of posts about jewelry and the jewelry business, I wanted to talk about a question we hear quite a bit at Saori C. Jewelry Designs – “I see lots of earrings and necklaces on different sites that look very similar. How come some of them are much more expensive than others?”

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Wedding Jewelry Guide

Jewelry is rapidly becoming one of the most important parts of the bridal ensemble. At the same time, though, brides are also looking to get more out of their wedding jewelry. Even though your gown and veil might go into a box the day after your wedding day, your jewelry doesn't have to. Wedding jewelry isn't just a keepsake, it's something that should be enjoyed time and time again. That's why it's especially important to take the time to select the right piece.

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Jewelry Care

Over time your sterling silver piece will naturally begin to develop a delicate silvery-gray patina. Some people love this color and the antique feeling it gives to a piece. However, if you prefer a bright shine, there are a few ways to maintain your piece's original luster. 

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Garnet has been used in jewelry since ancient times. Although deep red garnet is the most well known, garnet also comes in other colors ranging from green to orange-brown. The word garnet comes from the Latin word "granum," which means grain or seed, and it was quite common in Byzantine jewelry.

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Many cultures considered purple to be the color of royalty and therefore this beautiful purple stone was used by many ancient cultures in treasures and ornaments. Amethyst was also featured in the jewelry of many medieval Catholic bishops and popes, as well as kings and queens.

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Since ancient times turquoise has been prized for its fine blue or blue-green color. The name of the stone comes from the French word Turquoise, which means Turkish, and turquoise has been an important part of Arab and Islamic jewelry for centuries.

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