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Tag Archives: gemstones
Know Your Materials
Rob Bates, the news director of JCK, a leading trade publication recently wrote an article entitled “Jewelry is About Craft. We should tell Consumers.” His point is that manufacturers should take the time to tell retailers what goes into the … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Jewelry Design, Sales
Tagged gemstones, raw materials, sales, unfamiliar gemstones
Beading and Value
Artfix Daily has posted a terrific column about the upcoming Fine Craft Show at the Brooklyn Museum, November 22-23. Although the article is ostensibly about the show, its real value is that it briefly reviews the work of some of … Continue reading
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
Pearl and Bead Stringers: Be Wary of Bad Advice from “Experts”
The internet is wonderful for so much. However, and this is a big however, the publishing freedom it provides means that there is an awful lot of advice out there that is not only wrong, but destructive. I came across … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Gemstones, Pearls
Tagged destructive tests, fake pearls, gemstone tests, gemstones, nacre, pearl authenticity, real pearls
Key Concept for Making Jewelry
There are some tools and concepts that all jewelry makers, including pearl and bead stringers, should be familiar with. One of these is the Mohs scale of mineral hardness. The Mohs scale is named for Frederick Mohs, a German geologist, … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Gemstones, Manufacturing Tips
Tagged beads, breaking, gemstones, hardness, Mohs Scale, scratching, toughness
Sales Tests Imposed by Clients
Years ago a first time client asked me to identify the green gemstone she was wearing. When she asked, she was considering buying an ivory necklace–legal back then–from me. Whether or not she consciously framed it in this way to … Continue reading
Posted in Business, Sales
Tagged clients, gemstones, manufacturing, product knowledge, sales
Will We See Newly Discovered Indian Treasures?
An intriguing controversy over a $22 billion archeological find in India is playing itself out now in that country. For those of us who are fascinated by jewelry and gemstones, their history, sources, and design drivers, I would suggest we … Continue reading
Posted in Jewelry History
Tagged Cartier, fruit salad, gemstones, India, jewelry, tutti fruitti
Bead Stringers Seeing Blue
Posted in Fashion, Gemstones
Tagged bead stringers, blue gemstones, fashion trends, gemstones
Seasonal Risks to Gemstones
Antoinette Matlins, the author of Jewelry & Gems, the Buying Guide, has written a very helpful article describing the risks to jewelry posed by summer activities. Below are her tips along with some comments of my own. These may be … Continue reading
Posted in Gemstones
Tagged gemstones, protecting gemstones