• Gold Jewelry: Is It Real or Fake?

  Jun 25, 2017 | TOM TIVOL

  As the price of precious metals has risen the past 25 years, the resale of old gold jewelry and its subsequent refining by jewelers has become an important service offered by our industry. What do jewelers do to determine whether gold is real or fake? And if it is real, what do jewelers do to determine its karat content?

  Read more: Is Your Gold Jewelry Real or Fake?

• 10 Tips to Care for Jewelry

  Jun 5, 2017 | TOM TIVOL

  Jewelry can be expensive as well as represent the most memorable moments of a long relationship. Like a fine car, once it is purchased, jewelry should be maintained by annual trips to your jeweler. Here are a few tips we recommend you follow to properly care for your jewelry. Read more: How to Care for Jewelry

• How to Upgrade Your Engagement Ring, Diamond Studs, and More

  May 3, 2017 | TOM TIVOL

  The 21st century has witnessed a substantial increase in the desire of couples to upgrade gemstone-based jewelry purchased at the outset and in the early years of marriage. While upgrading generally refers to the engagement ring diamond and or mounting, it also pertains to classic diamond studs as well as necklaces of the finer Japanese Akoya cultured pearls. In the case of diamonds, upgrading generally means increasing the carat weight accompanied by some change in the quality of the stone(s). For the ring itself, upgrading refers to a complete change of design, and for pearls, upgrading refers to purchasing both larger and finer necklaces of cultured pearls. Read more: How to Upgrade Your Jewelry

• The Case For and Against Lab Grown Diamonds

  Apr 26, 2017 | TOM TIVOL

  A lab grown diamond is a true synthetic diamond. This means it has the same chemistry, optics and structure as a natural diamond; however it is grown in quantities in laboratories. Synthetic colored gemstones have been grown and sold since 1905 beginning with synthetic ruby, followed by synthetic sapphire in 1915, then synthetic emerald in 1946. In the 1970’s, synthetic turquoise, opal, alexandrite and quartz made their market debuts. Read more

• The Pure Joy and Challenges of Custom Designed Jewelry

  Apr 9, 2017 | TOM TIVOL

  The authentic art of jewelry encompasses metal smithing, gemstone knowledge and the ability to connect with the creative soul of the client. All three require decades of academic study and practical experience. Other than appraising, designing and making custom jewelry is by far the most challenging service within the jewelry business, but almost always the most rewarding. Read more

• Clear Vivid Green Natural Emeralds

  Apr 2, 2017 | TOM TIVOL

  What makes Clear, Vivid Green Natural Emeralds Fine (and Available)?

  I have always been interested and curious when customers drop by and complain they have been shopping all over and have not found any emeralds that are either a fine deep vivid green color and or emeralds which are fairly clear, or both. Because of this, customers believe that fine quality emeralds must be either cloudy or a pale green or an overly dark blackish green color. Read more

• The Beauty of Various Colors of Rose Gold Wedding Jewelry

  Mar 27, 2017 | TOM TIVOL

  As most everyone knows, gold is manufactured in various colors. The color of the finished piece is based on the kind of metal alloys used to combine with gold in the manufacture of the ring as well as the quantity of gold, which is based on the karat content. More copper produces the rose color so very much in fashion currently, and I am frequently asked by clients to explain how some rose gold is a deeper more intense color and some is a light rose color. Read more

• 10 Most Important Things to Know Before Buying an Engagement Ring

  Feb 7, 2017 | TOM TIVOL

  No matter what style you prefer, there are a few things that everyone must know before shopping for and buying an engagement ring. This is our list of the most important to help get you started: Read more

• The Best Diamond Halos

  Dec 15, 2016 | TOM TIVOL

  Many women looking for engagement rings in 2016 look for a center diamond surrounded by what modern fashion calls diamond “halos.” Small round diamonds surrounding beautiful center gemstones have been part of jewelry design since ancient Rome. Read more

• Wonderful World of Jade

  Dec 6, 2016 | TOM TIVOL

  Jade jewelry can be quite stunning, especially for women who enjoy wearing jewelry not seen in most jewelry stores.

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