Jewelry & Trends

Jewelry has been around since the dawn of mankind. It certainly didn’t look like the jewelry we wear today though! It was made of the natural items found in their environment, feathers, bones, shells, colored pebbles, etc. The earliest jewelry find is dated about 25,000 years ago and is a necklace made of fish bones found in a cave in Monaco.

Many types of jewelry still worn today began as functional items. Pins and brooches evolved from the clasps that held clothing together. Ring and pendants were used as seals and signs of identification, rank and authority. Later, jewelry came to symbolize human connection and commitment like wedding rings or signs of wealth and power.

Jewelry will continue to evolve as humans do. What story does your jewelry tell about you? Share your story and favorite piece of jewelry on Bridgewater’s Facebook page.

Best known as a symbol of Irish ancestry, the Trinity Knot has quite a history. The Trinity Knot is also called triquetra which is Latin for three-cornered and has been found across the globe with significance in many cultures. It has been found in India, tracing back to 3000 BC. It also appears on coins from early Lycia (modern day Turkey) as well as Germanic coins.

Different cultures and religions have different interpretations for the design. In Christianity, it symbolizes the holy trinity, the father, son and holy spirit. In Celtic culture and religion, the Trinity Knot represented anything important that came in threes including the three elements of fire, water and earth, and the three-fold form of the Goddess – the Maiden, the Mother and the Crone.

With no beginning and no end, the Trinity Knot is also represents eternal love. In jewelry, it can be found in earrings, charms and rings. Due to the association with eternal love, it is popular as a gift for anniversaries, engagements and weddings.

Stop by Bridgewater’s to find your perfect piece of jewelry with this beautiful design.

The Star of India is 563.35 carats, making it the world’s largest gem-quality blue star sapphire. It also has stars on both sides of the stone which is highly unusual. It is over two billion years old, but was only discovered about 300 years ago in Sri Lanka. Based on where it was discovered, it should be named the Star of Ceylon (Sri Lanka’s name until 1972) and the difference is likely due to confusion over its origin.

Very little is known about the stone until it became part of J.P. Morgan’s collection of gemstones exhibited at the Paris Exposition of 1900. He later donated the Star of India and the rest of the collection to the American Museum of Natural History in New York where it is on display to the public.

In October 1964, the Star of India was stolen, along with 21 other gemstones and diamonds, from the American Museum of History by thieves who left a toilet window open after visiting the museum during the day. While the Star of India was protected by its own alarm, the alarm was either not working or deactivated during the robbery. Luckily, the thieves were arrested within two days of the robbery and one of the robbers led police to a bus locker in Miami where the Star of India and other gems were recovered.

An amazing story about a beautiful gem. What other famous gems would you like information about? Share on Bridgewater’s Facebook page!

Choices in jewelry for men used to be limited, but jewelers are now pursuing men with many more options. Consider elevating your look with these trendy styles:

• Stacking Bracelets: Look for 2 – 4 thin bracelets that look great together and/or have a similar theme. Try bracelets of the same metal or material. Pair with your watch for a casual, individual look.
• Top name brands like Gucci, Dior and Versace are now offering quirky rings for men. Cool designs featuring everything from animals to skulls to geometric shapes can help you match your personal style with a new favorite ring.
• Personalized chain necklaces are a great way to incorporate something meaningful into your look. Dog tags, medallions or even charms with your child’s name or initials are a way to personalize your look. Bridgewater’s can also create a beautiful pendant using a spent ammo casing and a birthstone.

Stop by Bridgewater’s to see what is new and fun in men’s jewelry. We’ll help you find your perfect piece to compliment your look.

Watches are on the wrist of many people in these modern times, but did you know that until about 100 years ago, most men carried a pocket watch instead? Wrist watches were originally designed for women who didn’t carry pocket watches. The history of watches and time keeping is fascinating, so read on for some fun facts!

• Egyptians were the first to use a physical object to keep time, creating large, stone obelisks and using the shadow created by the sun to estimate time.
• World War I was the first time soldiers began to wear wristwatches which helped with synchronizing attacks.
• Watches are most often displayed in stores and in ads at ten minutes past ten. This is known as “Happy Time” because the numbers look like a happy face which projects positivity to viewers.
• Black is the most popular color for watches due to its versatility. Black can be styled for any type of occasion, formal or casual, very easily.
• One of the most expensive watches ever sold at auction was $17.8 million. It was a Rolex, which usually cost around $300,000, but because the watch had been owned and worn by actor Paul Newman, it’s sale broke world records.

Thinking about a new watch or need a favorite repaired? Bridgewater’s has a large selection of watches to choose from. We also provide watch repair including battery replacement. Stop in and see us!

Earrings can complete your look for sure. But did you know that different styles can complement your face shape and help create symmetry? Here are some rules of thumb to make your earring choices shine:

• Round Face: Dangle earrings are a great choice to provide balance. Try to avoid round earrings or earrings in the shape of circles.
• Oval Face: Almost every style looks great with this face shape, but especially pearls, teardrops and ovals. Experiment to see what types of earrings are your favorite!
• Heart-Shaped Face: Earrings that are wider at the bottom work well with this face shape. Soft curves like teardrops are also great.
• Square Face: Medium to long length earrings such as hoops are great choices. You could also try earrings with angular or rounded edges to grab attention.
• Narrow Face: Short dangles and pearls work really well to balance your face’s length. You can also try studs, cluster earrings and medium/large hoops.
• Diamond Face: Earrings with more width than length are great for this face shape. Also those earrings with a combination of curves and straight lines.

Thinking about trying out some new styles to add more WOW to your beauty? Stop by Bridgewater’s and see how different shapes and sizes can increase your sizzle!

The Hope Diamond has been called the most famous diamond in the world due to its rare blue color and size of 45.52 carats. Earliest records of the diamond are from 1666 when the original stone, a 112 3/16-carat diamond originally from the Kollur mine in India, was purchased by French gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Tavernier.

The stone, called the Tavernier Blue, was sold to King Louis XIV in 1668. In 1673, it was recut, yielding the French Blue which was set in gold and worn via a neck ribbon by the king. In 1791 the jewels of the French Royal Treasury were turned over to the government after Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee France and the diamond was stolen in 1792. The Hope Diamond then traveled to England where it may have been owned by King George IV before being sold. Somewhere along the way the stone was recut, with the largest section becoming the “Hope” diamond when it appeared in a catalogue of the London banking family, Hope, in 1839.

Many years and owners later, the Hope Diamond was purchased in 1949 by Harry Winston, a New York gem merchant, who eventually gave it to the National Museum of Natual History in Washington, DC where it is on permanent display. The Hope Diamond is set in a pendant with 16 white diamonds, both pear-shaped and cushion cut. The necklace chain contains 45 white diamonds.

A beautiful gem with a colorful history! Have you seen the Hope Diamond in person? Check out Bridgewater’s Facebook page and share your favorite famous gem!

The big day is getting closer and you are working through all the items on your to do list. As you begin to tackle bridal party gifts, here are a few helpful hints:

• What to get? You can choose to pick out one gift for everyone in the bridal party, however, you can also decide to get different gifts. This might allow you to personalize the gift to each person so they know you took the time to pick something just for them. And don’t forget to take travel logistics into account – if someone is flying, consider whether the gift will be easy to take home as well as pass through airport security.
• When to purchase? A good rule of thumb is sooner than later. One to two months before the actual day is a good idea so that you can focus on other things as the wedding approaches.
• How much to spend? Two items to consider with this – one, what will your budget allow and what you’ve asked of them financially. It is also typical for the maid or matron of honor and best man to receive a slightly more lavish gift, so take that into account in your budgeting. And don’t forget any flower girls or junior bridesmaids!
• When to give them? Often these gifts are presented at the rehearsal dinner. If your gift is something to wear on the wedding day, consider giving them on the day of as you are getting ready.

Bridgewaters has great gift ideas for you from wine tumblers to single pearl necklaces to monogrammed bracelets. We love weddings and would love to help you pick out just the right gift for each member of your bridal party!

The summer months are a very popular time for couples to become engaged. Engagement rings can be traced back as far as Ancient Egypt in 3000 BC and were designed round to symbolize eternity. Today, the most popular style of engagement ring is a round cut diamond, followed by a princess cut. White gold and platinum are the most popular metals.

Before jumping into the dizzying array of choices, there are a few things to think about:

• Know what you want to spend as this will help your jeweler to find the right ring to fit your budget.
• Knowing your intended’s diamond or stone preferences is important. Do they prefer classic or modern pieces? Do they wear more gold or silver? Are their pieces more ornate or simple? These answers can help you narrow the choices quickly.
• Know the ring size. Borrow a ring they already wear to get the right size. You can trace the inner circle on a piece of paper or press the ring into a bar of soap to make an impression.

If you are in the market for an engagement ring, stop by Bridgewater Jewelers and let our staff help you find the perfect ring!

Are you looking for the perfect engagement ring, necklace or bracelet? Knowing more about the types of gold can help you narrow down what you are looking for. There is no single type of gold used for all gold jewelry and it is rarely 100% pure gold. Gold comes in many different purity levels – 10K or karat, 14K, 18K and 24K are the most common. The differences are in durability and price. Here is some specific information on each level of purity:

• 24K gold isn’t often used for jewelry because it is extremely soft and bends and warps easily. It also scratches easily and will look scuffed very quickly. Being pure, it is also extremely expensive.
• 18K gold is the most pure gold that is typically used in jewelry and its rich, yellow appearance is very attractive. If you are active or work where your jewelry might bump into hard surfaces, it may not be the best choice for you as it will scratch easily. It is also the most expensive of the golds used for jewelry.
• 14K gold is the most popular gold for rings and wearable jewelry because it is more durable and affordable than 18K. It has a rich color making it a great choice.
• 10K gold is the most affordable and durable gold used in jewelry. It is often used in earrings and more affordable pieces. If you work with your hands, this might be your best bet as it is very difficult to scratch, bend or scuff.

Now that you know a bit more about gold, stop by Bridgewater Jewelers and check out all the options!