Care

Earlier this month, we did a blog on jewelry appraisals and the importance of understanding your jewelry’s value. One type of appraisal is used for insurance purposes to determine the replacement value or cost to replace the item with one of similar kind and quality at current retail prices. Having an up-to-date appraisal ensures your insurance coverage is adequate to cover the cost of replacement.

So what do you need to know about getting jewelry insurance? You can get jewelry insurance through your homeowners or renters insurance company or from stand alone jewelry insurers. Let’s review the details of both these options:

Homeowners or Renters Insurance:

• Jewelry is covered un the personal property section of your policy along with other items like clothing, furniture, etc.
• Events such as theft and fire are typically covered, but floods, earthquakes, manufacturer defects or accidents (like dropping your ring down a heat vent) are not typically covered.
• There is typically a cap on what will be paid out for stolen jewelry which may not cover the replacement cost of the item.
• You will have to pay your deductible before the insurance money pays.
• Filing a claim can lead to higher policy premiums.
• Homeowners or Renters Insurance is good option if you don’t have much jewelry or their value is less than the limit.
• If the included coverage isn’t enough, you might consider either Blanket Coverage or buying dedicated coverage for an item through your existing policies:
  • Blanket coverage increases the limit on a type of valuable item and would be good if you have a collection of jewelry, but none are extremely valuable.
  • Dedicated coverage or “scheduling” a piece of jewelry is good if you have one or more pieces that are worth more then your policy limit.

Stand Alone Jewelry Insurance:

• There are companies that specialize in jewelry insurance and offer more coverage than a homeowners or renters policy. You should check what coverage is included, but it may include preventative maintenance, flood and/or earthquake. Be sure to check for any events that are specifically excluded.
• With a stand alone policy you will not impact the cost of your homeowners or renters insurance.
• Stand alone policies are typically 1% or 2% of the item’s value per year.

Whatever your choice, having coverage in line with the value of your jewelry is important in the case of loss, damage, etc. Bridgewaters can help with appraisals of your jewelry. Stop by and see us!

It has been a while since we talked about appraisals (see our blog on Diamond Appraisals Versus Certificates) and, if you own jewelry, it is important to understand its value. An appraisal helps you understand the worth of your jewelry or monetary value. Performed by a certified appraiser or gemologist, an appraisal is based on many factors including the type of metal, the quality, type, cut, color, clarity and size of any gemstones, the craftsmanship, and the current market conditions. Once complete, you will receive a written document with a detailed description of the jewelry and its value.

Why might you want to have your jewelry appraised?

• To ensure adequate insurance coverage: this is the cost to replace the item with one of similar kind and quality at current retail prices.
• To understand current market value: if you plan to sell your jewelry, it will help understand current market value to ensure you receive a fair price and provide a basis for your asking price.
• To provide value for each piece in an estate: this would be needed when dividing assets in an estate or among family members.

What does an appraisal include?

• A Detailed description: This includes the type of metal, the weight, the dimensions, the type and quality of gemstones, and any unique features or markings.
• Photographs: High-quality images of the jewelry from various angles.
• Market value: An assignment of value based on current market conditions.
• Appraiser’s credentials: The appraiser’s qualifications and certifications should be included.

What can you do to prepare for an appraisal?

• Provide documentation, if available: a certificate of authenticity and/or previous appraisal, for example.
• Information on the history of the item: provide details on any significant history, for example if the piece is an heirloom in your family for generations or if it was made by a notable designer or jeweler.

Between appraisals, maintain the value of your jewelry by having professional cleanings and checks and storing your pieces properly. Due to fluctuating market conditions, an appraisal should be done every 3-5 years to help keep insurance coverage accurate. And remember, if you make changes to your jewelry, an updated appraisal will be needed. Stop in to Bridgewaters to learn more about appraisals or have one completed on your jewelry.

This past weekend, we launched our own “Bridgewater” line of jewelry. Featuring everything from rings to necklaces, bracelets to earrings, there is something for everyone! Staff and friends helped to design our first pieces which can be purchased “as is” or made into your own by changing the color of the stones, metal or even adding a little personal touch. Our in-house designers will help you make your most important moments extraordinary.

We invite you to visit our shop and see the new pieces or design your own. We continue to be ready to serve your everyday needs including jewelry repair, engraving, awards, gifting ideas and finding your new favorite piece of jewelry.

As the oldest family-owned and operated jewelry store in the United States, Bridgewaters been part of countless family celebrations and memories. Stop by and check out our new line, to see which pieces will be perfect for your special moments.

So many of us have jewelry just sitting in our jewelry boxes for a variety of reasons. Maybe they were gifted to us or handed down through family and they just don’t suit us. Rather than just letting them sit, wouldn’t it be great to have them redesigned into something that fits our style and that we will wear?

The journey of the ring above is a great example of creating a new piece with treasured items. The wedding band was divided into two and each piece shaped into an infinity symbol, the symbol of something that is unlimited, endless, without bound. The two infinity symbols were connected, making a ring and the pearl was added.

Here at Bridgewaters, we love to help create jewelry pieces that match your style so that the gems and metals you have gain a new life and become pieces that you want to wear! Once you have identified a piece or pieces that you are ready to reimagine, contact us to set up an appointment. Check out our blog on Freshening Up Your Jewelry Box for more tips on redesigning jewelry.

Humankind has been using engraving since the very earliest of times. The first evidence of engraving is a chiseled shell, dating back between 540,000 and 430,000 years. Engraving on bone and ivory and on rocks (called petroglyphs) are found from may pre-historic periods around the world. In the ancient world (3000 BC – 500 BC), engraved gems, small, semi-precious gemstones that has been carved, were a major luxury art form. Glass engraving appears in the first century AD and was popular until the fifth century. Decorations based on Greek mythology, hunting and circus scenes and images from the Old and New Testament were popular. In the Middle Ages, engraving was used to decorate and inscribe metalwork.

Machines were created in the late 1800s to make engraving easier and more accessible. Since then different types of machines and processes have become available to offer endless options for engraving on different materials and for different purposes.

Bridgewaters offers machine, laser and hand engraving services. We can engrave awards and trophies, wine and other bottles and on many different surfaces. We love to help you create excellent gifts for bridesmaids and groomsmen, company logo’d items and much more. Stop by to see all that we can do!

You may have recently seen a post on our Facebook page about the redesign of beautiful 4.11 ct diamond earrings into two gorgeous rings. One of our favorite things to do at Bridgewaters is to help you redesign your jewelry pieces into something that you will wear. If you have some items that you would like to freshen up, here are some tips on how to get started:

• Contact Bridgewaters to set an appointment to discuss your ideas.
• Bring in the items you have to work with and any ideas, pictures, pieces that you love to help us get a sense of your style and what you might be looking for.
• Determine your budget and share it with us during our appointment. We want to build you the design you have in mind and keep you on budget. Nothing is worse than seeing exactly what you want, but having it be out of your price range. We can design to your budget.
• Keep an open mind. Sometimes the design you want doesn’t work in 3D. We can provide alternative ideas that will work and our goal is always to find something that you will love.

If you have pieces that are just not “you”, contact us to explore options for creating something that you will love and wear for years to come. Visit our Facebook page for contact information and to message us to set up your appointment.

In our fourth installment of our five-part series on caring for gemstones, we will explore the care and cleaning of rubies, the July birthstone. Check out our birthstone of the month post from July 5 for more information on the stone itself.

Rubies are the hardest stone aside from diamonds, but are prone to fractures and large stones are very rare. To increase their strength, most rubies are treated with heat. Heat treatment also removes purplish coloration which leaves the stone a purer red. Some rubies are subjected to lattice diffusion treatment which uses heat and chemicals to artificially change its color. Lower quality gems may have fractures and cavities filled with a glass.

When you buy, ask if your ruby has been treated and by which method as it will inform the care of your gem. As always, it is important to keep your rubies clean and well cared for. Here are some tips:

• Wash your gems with warm soapy water. Use a soft brush, like a toothbrush to get to hard to reach areas.
• Ultrasonic and steam cleaners are usually safe for untreated, heat treated and lattice diffusion treated stones.
• Glass filled or dyed stones should only be cleaned with a damp cloth.
• Rubies can be damaged by acidic substances like lemon juice or boric acid. Do not wear rubies when cooking or cleaning.
• Put on your rubies after you are done getting ready to go out. Oils on your skins, lotions and perfumes can create a film over the gem and make it look dirty. Always remove your rubies and put them back in safe keeping upon returning home.
• Store rubies in a fabic-lined box. Rubies can damage other stones that are not as durable.
• Regularly visit your jeweler to have your setting checked and diamond professionally cleaned. This helps to prevent the loss of gems in the case where your setting is damaged or the prongs holding your ruby are loose or broken.

Take good care of your rubies and they will sparkle like fire for generations. Stop by Bridgewaters for professional cleaning and having your setting checked.

In our third installment of our five-part series on caring for gemstones, we will explore the care and cleaning of emeralds, the May birthstone. Check out our birthstone of the month post from May 5 for more information on the stone itself.

While emeralds are very durable, but are not as hard as diamonds, rubies or sapphires. These other gems can scratch an emerald. Most emeralds are enhanced with oil or resin to fill in cracks or inclusions and improve their clarity.

As always, it is important to keep your emeralds clean and well cared for. Here are some tips:

• Wash your gems with warm soapy water, but do not soak them in soapy water. Use a soft brush, like a toothbrush to get to hard to reach areas.
• Avoid harsh detergents or solvents such as alcohol, acetone or paint thinner as these may dilute or remove the oils/resins from the stone.
• Avoid hot lights and other sources of heat as they may cause the oils and resins to dry out. Ask your jeweler if they remove the stone from its setting prior to using heat during a repair.
• Avoid ultrasonic or steam cleaners to preserve the oils/resins. The vibrations of these cleaners may also weaken stones that are heavily fractured.
• Store your emerald jewelry in a separate soft bag or pouch to avoid other gems scratching it.
• Regularly visit your jeweler to have your setting checked and diamond professionally cleaned. This helps to prevent the loss of gems in the case where your setting is damaged or the prongs holding your emerald are loose or broken.

Taking good care of your emeralds will keep them beautiful for generations. Bridgewaters offers professional cleaning and checking as well as full service repair. Stop by to have your gems checked and

We are starting a five-part series on the care for the five main gemstones over the next several months. We’ll start with Amethyst, the February birthstone, which is a lilac to deep purple stone. Check out our birthstone of the month post from February 1 for more information on the stone itself.

Amethyst belongs to the quartz species and is currently mined in Brazil, Bolivia, South Africa, South Korea, Uruguay, Zambia and the United States. It is a fairly durable stone with a hardness of 7.0 on the Mohs Hardness Scale (hardness is measured on a scale of 1 – 10 and is the resistance of a gem to being scratched).

As with all gemstones, it is important to keep your jewelry clean and well cared for. Here are some tips for the care and cleaning of amethyst:

• Although fairly durable, amethyst is not immune to scratching and wear. Store each piece of jewelry separately in a soft cloth or padded container to minimize the chance for scratches.
• While it is rare that amethyst may fade, it is still best to keep exposure to bright light to a minimum.
• Clean your amethyst jewelry with warm, sudsy water and a soft cloth.
• Ultrasonic cleaners are safe, except if your gem has been dyed or treated by fracture filling.
• Do NOT steam clean an amethyst as it should not be subjected to heat.
• Avoid exposure to chemicals. Household cleaners, perfume, hand sanitizers, hairsprays and chlorinated swimming pool water will damage the gem.
• Take your amethyst jewelry to a professional at least once a year for a safe, good cleaning as well as a check for scratches, loose settings and a re-polishing.

Knowing how to keep your amethyst jewelry clean and safe from damage will help to keep your gems beautiful for years to come. Bridgewaters offers professional cleaning and checking as well as full service repair. Bring your beauties in to keep them in excellent condition.