The Winter Solstice is today, December 21. It is the shortest day of the year and marks the beginning of winter. In ancient times, it was called Yule and lasted for 12 days. It was a time of celebration as they knew that, following this time, the days would begin to grow longer. The traditions […]
Every diamond is unique and they come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors and with differing internal characteristics. Diamond professionals use a grading system, the 4Cs, developed by GIA to describe the quality of a finished diamond. The 4Cs are Clarity, Color, Cut and Carat Weight. Let’s look at each: Color: Diamonds come in […]
The color for December babies is blue – Blue Topaz or Turquoise. They symbolize honor and trust, prosperity as well as kindness and understanding. Blue topaz today is inexpensive and very attractive due to the discovery that clear topaz could be changed to blue by treating it with radiation and heat (note, there is no […]
Have you ever wondered when and why engagement rings came to be? Well, it goes all the way back to the ancient Egyptians who believed circles were symbols of eternity. Couples exchanged braided reed rings which were worn on the left hand ring finger which has a vein that runs directly to the heart (the […]
The weather here in Delaware is finally turning colder and the leaves are falling. It’s nearly Thanksgiving and everyone is rushing to get the last items on their grocery list for the big meal. So what is Thanksgiving really about? It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the […]
The Heart Symbol is known throughout the world as a symbol of love, affection and romantic love. But what is its origin? There are many theories including that it is from the shape of ivy leaves which are associated with fidelity or that it is based on the shape of some parts of human anatomy […]
The Black Orlov Diamond, also known as the Eye of Brahma Diamond, is a 67.50 carat diamond. It was once part of a 195 carat diamond that legend says was one of the eyes in a statue of Brahma, the Hindu God of Creation, in India. Legend also says the stone was stolen by a […]
Those born in November have so many great, affordable choices when picking jewelry featuring their birthstone! With both Topaz and Citrine as their gems, the options are nearly endless. Citrine is known for its beautiful yellow and orange hues. Citrine, derived from the French word citron meaning lemon, can be created by heat treating amethyst […]
Better known to us as Halloween, All Hallows Eve dates back to the day of the Celtic festival of Samhain. The day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the winter which was associated with death. They believed that the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead […]
While there are many styles of jewelry, we’ll focus on four – Vintage, Classic, Modern and Artisan. Vintage: With inspiration from eras past like Victorian or Edwardian, vintage jewelry often has intricate metalwork and gem placement. Ornate, decorative effects, like halo and pave settings, intricate side diamonds and milgrain beaded accents are part of this […]
