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Category Archives: Gemstones
Bead Stringers, What’s Wrong with this Picture?
Professional Pearl and Bead Stringers will instantly know what wrong with this picture. And, our reaction is the same “WHAT???!??” we experience in high end department or jewelry stores when we see jewelry with similar issues…which all too often we … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Gemstones, Manufacturing Tips
Tagged antique jewelry knots
Gemstones, Style and Reputation
As professional pearl and bead stringers, we’re often asked about issues that might seem a little far from our area of expertise, including questions about gemstones and cultural history. Rightly or wrongly, our ability to answer these questions influences the … Continue reading
Posted in Gemstones, Jewelry Design, Jewelry History
Tagged carved gemstones, tutti fruitti
Stretching Silk for Stringing
One of the issues confronted by all professional pearl and bead stringers is that most thread, including silk, stretches. Despite our best efforts and the best efforts of manufacturers, over time, the stretching results in gaps between beads and pearls, … Continue reading
Posted in Gemstones, Jewelry Design, Manufacturing Tips
Tagged silk, stretching thread, stringing thread
Protect Yourself & Your Client
A young relative of mine became engaged recently. Her mother, my sister, gave her an eternity band which had belonged to her husband’s mother. I’m not trying to confuse you with relatives. I looked at the ring years ago under … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Gemstones
Tagged jewelry repair, pearl and bead stringing, restringing jewelry, take-in procedures
A Happy Ending
More than once I’ve mentioned that one of the reasons for my continued fascination with jewelry is the history that can be associated with it. Here is a present-day story involving an important antique brooch with a happy ending. It’s … Continue reading
Posted in Gemstones, Jewelry History, Pearls
Tagged mine cut diamonds, natural pearl, Putilov brooch, saltwater natural pearl
Memo Transactions: Important Opportunity, but Use with Care
Although most pearl and bead stringers do not handle very expensive materials on a routine basis, some do. In addition, it is not at all unusual for a pearl and bead stringer to be asked to procure expensive materials for … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Gemstones
Tagged consignment, goods on memo, memo, memo transactions
Avoid Misleading and Unethical Gemstone Descriptions
The editor-in-chief of InColor magazine, Jean Claude Michelou, recently wrote a column about the usage of the terms “precious” and “semi-precious” in describing gemstones. Although for years gemologists have been taught to avoid using the terms, the issue has resurfaced … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Gemstones, Reference, Sales
Tagged gemstone, gemstones, misleading terms, precious, semi-precious
Synthetic vs Simulant: Know the Difference
Professional Jeweller, a UK trade publication, recently ran a story noting the increase in colored synthetic gemstones that are impacting what it calls the “mid-market,” that is, commercially priced jewelry. It’s no surprise that the trade is seeing an increase … Continue reading
Posted in Fashion, Gemstones
Tagged gemstones, simulants, synthetics
The Royal Asscher Legacy
Recently the Royal Asscher Company donated a sapphire ring to raise money for AIDS. The auction was run by the Human Rights Campaign and received a great deal of trade coverage. Why? The story of Royal Asscher Company is one … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Gemstones, Jewelry History
Tagged Asscher cut, Asscher family, emerald cut, Royal Asscher Diamond Company
Cambridge Scientists Create Artificial Mother-of-Pearl
For the first time, scientists have created a material that mimics mother-of-pearl in structure, mechanical behavior and optical appearance. Nacre, also called mother of pearl, is the iridescent coating that is found on the inside of some molluscs and on … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Gemstones, Pearls
Tagged Cambridge University, iridescence, iridescent, mother-of-pearl, nacre, pearls