Jewelry & Trends

Did you know that jewelry used in movies is often real and sometimes created just for the movie? Remember the gorgeous ruby necklace presented by Richard Gere to Julia Roberts before they visit the opera in Pretty Woman? The necklace is white gold with diamonds and 23 rubies. Created for the film, the necklace is worth about $1.35 million.

Moulin Rouge also created one of the most expensive necklaces for film. The character Satine is gifted a necklace of 1,308 diamonds set in platinum with a 2.5 carat sapphire as the clasp. The necklace is estimated to be worth around $1 million.

 

And, could we talk about jewelry in movies without mentioning the Heart of the Ocean, a 56-carat blue diamond in a heart-shaped cut, created for Titanic? Sadly, the necklace never existed. Kate Winslet wore a replica made with zircons during the movie. The necklace was inspired by three famous diamonds that are part of the history of French royalty – the Regent, Marie Antoinette Bleu and the Hope diamond. Celine Dion wore a replica of the Heart of the Ocean during her 1998 Oscar performance of My Heart Will Go On, a 170-carat sapphire necklace set with 65 round diamonds worth about $2.2 million.

What other films have you seen with stunning jewelry? Share your favorites on Bridgewater’s Facebook page.

Start the new year off with these fabulous jewelry trends and you’ll look your best all year long!

• Color, Color and More Color: The minimalistic look is gone, replaced by beautiful bright, eye-catching colorful gems. With a rainbow of colors to choose from, you are bound to find just the right one! From reds to blues, to the greens of emeralds, brighten up your look with any one (or more!) of these beautiful gems.
• The New Chunky Gold Chain: Chunky gold chains have been a staple for years now, but this year they are being elevated with the use of diamonds and other stones and bright colored enamels. The best part? These necklaces go with everything, from t-shirts to suits.
• Maximalism: Where one piece is great, more is even better. So stack those bracelets, layer the necklaces and combine stud earrings with dangles. With no wrong way to style this trend, you can mix metals and colors to find your unique look.

Tired of your jewelry from 2021? Give it new life with these great trends. Stop in to Bridgewaters to find new and exciting pieces to combine with your old favorites!

The Taylor-Burton Diamond, so named for the man who purchased it – Richard Burton – and the woman who wore it – Elizabeth Taylor, was the first diamond to exceed the $1M price for a diamond. In fact, the previous record price for a diamond was just $305,000 while Richard Burton paid $1.1M.

The rough stone that would become the pear-shaped diamond known as the Taylor-Burton diamond was sourced from a mine in South Africa and weighed 241 carats. The stone was cut into a 69.42 carat pear-shaped gem and was first mounted into a platinum ring with two smaller side diamonds. The diamond was put up for action in 1969 and Richard Burton bid on it as a gift for his wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor. Burton lost the auction because he had set a $1M maximum and the stone was sold to Cartier jewelers. Burton was so upset he had been outbid, he offered Cartier $1.1M.

There were several interesting provisos to owning the gem. As part of the sales agreement to Burton, the diamond was displayed at Cartier’s in Chicago and New York where 6,000 people stood in line each day to see it. It finally reached Taylor in Monaco in November of 1969. She felt it was too large to be worn as a ring and it was placed in a necklace. The insurance policy also stipulated several requirements – the diamond could only be worn 30 days out of the year and Taylor must be accompanied by armed guards when wearing it in public. It also had to be stored in a vault. Taylor did wear the necklace, most notably to the 42^nd Academy Awards. Sadly, after Burton and Taylor divorced for the second time, Taylor sold the diamond for an estimated $5M.

A beautiful gem with a fun history! What other famous gems would you like to know more about? Share on Bridgewater’s Facebook page!

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 many colors. Diamonds that are colorless to light yellow and brown are within the normal color range. Colorless diamonds are the most rare and so, the most valuable. The GIA D-to-Z color scale measures the degree of colorlessness by comparing a stone under controlled lighting to masterstones of established color value. D on the scale represents colorless and continues to Z with increasing color.
• Clarity: This is the relative absence of inclusions (internal features) and blemishes (surface irregularities). Each diamond is evaluated for the number, size, relief, nature and position of the inclusions and blemishes as well as how they affect the overall appearance. There are 11 clarity grades ranging from flawless, very, very slightly included, slightly included and included. Most stone sold are in the middle range. It is important to have clarity assess by an expert as many inclusions and blemishes are too tiny to be seen except by a trained diamond grader, but can have high impact on the overall quality of a stone.
• Cut: While cut is most often thought about as the shape of a diamond (round, emerald, etc.), cut is really about how well a diamond’s facets interact with light. Diamonds are evaluated on seven components: the first three, brightness, fire and scintillation, consider the diamond’s overall face-up appearance, while the remaining four, weight ratio, durability, polish and symmetry, assess the diamond’s design and craftsmanship.
• Carat Weight: Diamonds are weighed very precisely and, overall, price increases with carat weight because larger diamonds are more rare. However, pricing isn’t based just on carat weight, but a combination of the values of the gem’s color, clarity and cut as well. This is why two stones of the same carat weight can have very different values and prices.

Armed with this knowledge, you will be able to have conversation with your jeweler so that you understand the overall value of the stone you buy. Stop in to Bridgewaters to learn more!

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 (you guess which ones!).

In the ancient world, Egypt, Rome and Greece, it is theorized that it is based on a species of giant fennel called silphium as the seed of that plant closely resembles the heart symbol. Silphium was used to treat many ailments including sore throat, coughs and warts, but was most famous as a form of contraceptive. The plant was so popular that it was cultivated to extinction by the 1^st century BCE.

Others argue that the symbol has roots in the writings of Galen and Aristotle who described the human heart as having three chambers with a dent in the middle. Beginning in the Middle Ages, artists began to draw the heart based on these writings. The shape was eventually drafted into the symbol of romance. It was very popular in religious art of the Renaissance and, during this time, was used as one of the four suits in playing cards. By the 18^th and 19^th centuries, it had become part of love notes and Valentine’s Day cards.

Do you have any jewelry with the heart symbol? Share its story on Bridgewater’s Facebook page.

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 traveling monk and became cursed.

The diamond came to the United States in 1932 with a diamond dealer, J.W. Paris. After finding a buyer for the diamond, Mr. Paris jumped to his death in New York City. He is believed to be the first victim of the diamond’s curse.

Prior to coming to the United States, the diamond was thought to be in the possession of Russian Princess Nadia Vygin-Orlov, who is the source of the stone’s name. In 1947, after fleeing to Rome 30 years earlier, the princess jumped to her death. Additionally, one month prior to Princess Nadia’s death, another Russian princess, Leonila Viktorovna-Bariatinsky, and owner of the Black Orlov Diamond also committed suicide.

This all sounds like a fantastic story, however, there is very little supporting evidence and is most likely untrue. We do know that the diamond was purchased in the 1950s by Charles F. Winson who had it cut into three pieces with the 67.50 carat portion being set in a brooch of 108 diamonds, suspended from a necklace of 124 diamonds. Nothing is known about the whereabouts of the other two pieces. And no other violent death has been associated with the diamond since.

Do you know any stories of “cursed” gems? Share with us on Bridgewater’s Facebook page.

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 style. Not to be confused with Antique jewelry which was made more than 100 years ago, vintage jewelry was made between 50 and 100 years ago.
• Classic: These are not bound by past eras, but have timeless appeal and blur the lines between modern minimalism and old-world extravagance. Designs include solitaire rings, three stone gem settings and princess cut diamonds.
• Modern/Contemporary: This style began in the early 1960s and is considered artistic, fun and self-expressing. It is when jewelry made the move from status symbol to an accessory. Modern jewelry often includes a mix of media used to create it and popular new styles which change with the decade.
• Artisan: These original, handmade pieces are one of a kind. They often include a blending of metals and lesser-known gems.

What is your style? Share your favorite piece with us on our Facebook page. And stop in to Bridgewaters to see how you can expand your jewelry collection.

A very popular symbol in jewelry, the Yin Yang which dates back to ancient China, represents the idea that an equal balance creates harmony. The two opposite characteristics, the Yin represented in black as the feminine side and Yang represented in white as the masculine side, complement each other and represent the interconnectedness of the world, in particular, the natural world. There are no straight lines dividing the symbol, but a soft S-shape, showing how yin and yang are connected and constantly flowing in and out of each other. The small circle of the other color within shows that nothing is absolute – there is a little yin in yang and vice versa. The circle which surrounds the elements represents the entirety of the universe, everything we know and all the things we don’t understand.

The Yin Yang symbol is perfect for anyone, as it is unisex. The Yin represents femininity, night, the moon and shadow while the Yang represents masculinity, day, the sun and light, among many other things. It is a great choice for couples to show the balance and harmony in their relationship or for best friends.

Looking for the perfect gift for your partner or best friend or just something beautiful for yourself? Stop in to Bridgewater Jewelers to find your perfect piece.

Centuries of turmoil surround the Koh-i-Noor diamond and the debate over its ownership is still under dispute. The Koh-i-Noor came from India, sifted out of the river sands and is first written about in 1628. The Mughals, who came from Central Asia, invaded India in 1526 and would rule India for 330 years. In 1628, the Mughal’s ruler created a magnificent, gem-encrusted throne which became known as the Peacock Throne and the Koh-i-Noor was lodged at the very top in the head of a gemstone peacock.

The throne was taken as part of the treasure when the Persians invaded in 1739 and the Koh-i-Noor remained in Afghanistan for 70 years. The diamond returned to India after decades of fighting and came to the attention of Britain. In 1839, as part of British expansion and colonization, the British gained the Koh-i-Noor. The stone was recut, reducing its size by half, but making it shine more brilliantly and was worn by Queen Victoria as a brooch, then in the crown of Queen Mary, Victoria’s grandson’s wife and finally in the crown worn by the Queen Mother, wife of George VI and mother of Elizabeth II. It is now part of the British Crown Jewels.

Debate is ongoing about who owns the Koh-i-Noor with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Britain claiming ownership. With many of the nations headed by rulers who once owned the gem no longer in existence it is very difficult to determine who has the first and most legitimate claim to the stone. For now, the diamond will remain as part of the Crown Jewels while research of its history and debate continues.

Have you seen the Crown Jewels and the Koh-i-Noor? Share your experience with us on Bridgewater’s Facebook page.

As summer slowly fades into the cooler temperatures of fall, you’ll want to get a jump on the coming trends for the fall and winter season! Here a just a few trends to consider:

• Chandelier Earrings: Long, often ornate earrings that dangle are just what you need in the coming seasons.
• Chunky Gold Jewelry: No one will miss these pieces! Often simple designs make a bold statement that completes any outfit.
• Charms: Fun and funky charms for bracelets, necklaces and earrings make putting your outfit together even more enjoyable.
• Lots of Pearls: These are not your grandmother’s pearls! Wear them layered and with mismatched pearls to really elevate your look.
• Bangles: These rigid bracelets come in a variety of materials from metal to wood to plastic. Whether you wear them stacked or as a single statement, you just can’t go wrong.

Jump on these trends and visit Bridgewater’s to fill out your collection. Show us your favorite trendy jewelry on our Facebook page.