• Fascinating Amber

  Nov 28, 2016 | TOM TIVOL

  Amber is a light, organic substance of fossilized resin that once eons ago dripped out of the bark of trees, hardened in the earth beneath and finally transported by rivers and streams to the places where it is found. It is usually yellow or orange and is often transparent. Because it is simple to carve and polish, it has been made into jewelry for thousands years. Read more

• Queen Victoria (1819-1901) Loved Jewelry

  Nov 14, 2016 | TOM TIVOL

  The 19th century witnessed a significant proliferation of jewelry available to both the common man and the aristocracy. New jewelry designs along with reproductions of ancient techniques of granulation, cloisonne enameling and filigree, use of multiple jewelry metals as well as the availability of diamonds, pearls and colored gemstones reached an all time high, influenced by the industrial revolution along with fabulous archeological discoveries in Greece, Cyprus and Italy. Flowers, branches, leaves, grapes, berries, crescents, swirls, scrollwork, rosettes all could be found in both common and aristocratic pieces. It was Queen Victoria herself and her love of these jewelry forms and gemstones who led by example, and her subjects in England and then many in Europe and America followed suit. Read more

• Art Deco is Not Square

  Nov 7, 2016 | TOM TIVOL

  A small amount of jewelry from the 1920’s and 1930’s reflects a kaleidoscope of curves, angles and shapes, including negative space, delicate filigree wires and platinum frames surrounding beautiful colored gemstones, pearls and diamonds as well as lustrous precious metals cast and fabricated into jewelry for the entire body. So stunning is this body of jewelry that it has retained a place in the history of 20th century design far beyond its early adherents. Read more

• A Gift of Pearls: INEXPENSIVELY, the Most Beautiful and Important Gem in History

  Oct 31, 2016 | TOM TIVOL

  The 20th century witnessed the development of the Japanese cultured pearl, and the great achievement made by Koichi Mikimoto in the development of pearl farming, making pearls available to consumers the world-over. The Japanese pearl, cultured from the Akoya mollusk, became the mainstay of pearl jewelry, and continues to this day to represent the highest quality of pearls and pearl jewelry. Read more

• 50 Years to Open My Own Jewelry Store

  Oct 25, 2016 | TOM TIVOL

  I have been entranced with gemstones and jewelry design from childhood. By the time I reached high school, I knew my future profession and I also suspected that some day I would want my own store. The day has finally arrived. It took me 50 years to get here, and while I am chronologically middle aged, I have the energy of my millennial graduate students.

  My store is compact, designed with warm blond and cherry woods, artistic modern lighting and a full library of books and auction catalogues which I use to research and create designs for my clients. My students intern with me and help me with client requests to appraise, repair, re-design older pieces and of course to show and teach the art and science of designing jewelry with diamonds, colored gemstones and pearls.

  

  At Tom Tivol Jewels, you will find modern, vintage and antique jewelry, in multiple colors of gold, silver and platinum, exquisitely cut diamonds, crimson red rubies, clear and deep green African and Colombian emeralds and lovely blue sapphires from all the geographies where they are mined around the globe. Ethiopian opal bursting with vivid colors and almost flawless deep red spinel represent the more unusual colored gemstones that I have always admired. You will see cultured pearls from China, Japan, Australia and Burma with skin so smooth and luster so bright, you will know instantly why gorgeous pearls represent the most desired and worn gemstone in history … until the last 50 years of the 20th century when diamond finally earned the honor as “the” engagement ring gemstone of choice for American women, and since then has revolutionized the international jewelry business.

  Welcome to Tom Tivol Jewels in Park Place:
  11553 Ash Street, Leawood, Kansas 66211
  We’re open 7 days a week!

• Appraising Jewelry While Customers Sit with Me

  Oct 24, 2015 | TOM TIVOL

  For all customers who either make appointments or just walk into my office to have jewelry identified and appraised, I have my customer sit with me while I examine, measure, photograph and perform my appraisal. This creates 100% security for my clients, who then depart with their pieces when the examination ends. I follow up with research, preparation of the report and then emailing, faxing and or mailing the appraisal same day or the following day, depending on the number of pieces and length of the final report. Please click to continue

• Diamond Coated CZ Engagement Ring

  Nov 4, 2014 | TOM TIVOL

  Last week I was presented with a lovely engagement ring to appraise. The ring was constructed of platinum. The young couple represented the round center stone as a diamond, and it was surrounded by a typical round diamond halo. There were two additional small round diamonds, each wrapped in a platinum bezel, each positioned at the base and between the prongs. Please click to continue …

• Synthetic Diamonds

  Sep 29, 2014 | TOM TIVOL

  Scientists have been working for more than 100 years to develop a process for creating diamond in a laboratory. The creation of a synthetic diamond would bring significant benefit to a number of industries which require a material of its hardness and durability. Of course, it might also be of interest to buyers of jewelry, depending on its availability and cost. Please click to continue

• Pearls: Genuine or Synthetic?

  Jul 5, 2014 | TOM TIVOL

  I am asked about pearls frequently, and there are really two questions to consider: First, how do you distinguish a genuine pearl from an imitation pearl? And second, how do you distinguish a natural pearl from a cultured pearl? The correct answer to both questions is of course … show your pearls to a GIA graduate gemologist whose practice includes the buying, selling, and appraising of natural and cultured pearls! Please click to continue

• Diamond Laboratory Reports are NOT the Same!

  May 17, 2014 | TOM TIVOL

  These days, most diamonds of 1.00 carats and over, and many diamonds under 1.00 carats, are sold with independent laboratory reports which authenticate the natural origin of the diamond, provide its weight, measurements and quality information. Most jewelers purchase their diamonds with laboratory reports, and most jewelers rely on the report to represent the diamond. Historically, even though the 1950’s, jewelers relied on their own knowledge of how to judge a diamond’s quality and value, and communicated that knowledge to each client, creating the trust so necessary for the purchase. In the 21st century, the public appears to rely on the content of the report itself, and may assume, correctly or incorrectly, that their jeweler has enough independent knowledge to be able to explain the report, and to make certain the report does in fact represent the diamond. This transfer of the public’s trust in a jeweler to their trust in a report, made by unknown persons in a laboratory thousands of miles away, is at the heart of the problems presented by these reports, and how they are used and misused to create representations about the quality and value of a diamond. Please click to continue

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