Are you looking to turn your old gold coins or jewelry into cash? If you’re in Ashburn, VA, and seeking to maximize your profit, you’ve come to the right place. Selling your gold items can be a smart move financially, especially when you know the right strategies to use. Whether you’re a novice seller or…

You might be thinking about pawning an old flame’s bracelet, your engagement ring, a dusty Rolex watch, or perhaps some antique gold jewelry at your local pawn shop… but think again. When you consider selling your unwanted jewelry or antique precious metals, pawn shops may pop into your head first, but seller beware: you probably…

Your jewelry says a lot about you. Whether it’s a piece you wear every day and is a natural part of your aesthetic, a piece that holds special sentimental value, or a valued family heirloom, your jewelry can be like a family member.   When you find yourself in need of jewelry repair, selecting a…

We see people looking to sell their jewelry all the time. Perhaps they are items they no longer use, items that have been inherited or passed down that they’d rather have cash for, jewelry that can fetch a reasonable amount for resale in order to buy other jewelry, or something else.   But how do…

Since its discovery in human civilization, gold has been a valuable commodity. As centuries have evolved, that socially constructed agreement has made gold a valuable precious metal which has seen a significant increase over the past fifty years.   But just what exactly goes into determining the price of gold? Several factors are relevant in…

You probably have some jewelry, watches, or items made of precious metals hanging around your home. Do you have to stop to try and guess where those items might be hiding? Do you remember the last time you wore or used them?   If so, pull up a chair because we need to chat. The…

It’s hard to believe, but the holiday season is right around the corner! Before the holidays get hectic, here’s no better time to start shopping for the perfect gifts for your loved ones to unwrap.   You’re already off to a great start if you’re here, since you know that jewelry is a popular holiday…

You can find answers to just about everything on the internet, but some questions are better left answered by experts. Something like “What day of the week is Halloween this year?” is a great search engine question. But “What is the best way to sell your used jewelry?” is a question where you definitely want…

As a savvy jewelry shopper, you know that your gold jewelry is worth cold hard cash in your hand. You also know that Loudoun Jewelers is one of the premier buyers of gold jewelry in the Ashburn, Virginia area. But do you know what your other jewelry is worth? Is it even worth anything? Absolutely!…

You know the story – you’re digging through your jewelry box and come across an old, broken bracelet you’ve been meaning to get fixed, but you just keep forgetting about it. Maybe you should just throw it away, right? No! Don’t do that! Your broken bracelet still has value. In fact, you probably have a…

This morning, before I sat down to write this post, I came across an advice column letter from a newly engaged woman whose fiancé bought her an enormous diamond that cost him an entire year’s salary. She hated it. It wasn’t her taste, she found it ostentatious, and she hated the idea that he’d spent…

It’s the day you’ve been waiting for, the last day of our four-part discussion about the four Cs so that you can best fit your budget to the best diamond. Next week, we’ll wrap up with how to set that budget, and then we can move on to other things, like hot spring jewelry trends…

No, we’re not talking about colored diamonds, but the third C in our list: color. Even though colored diamonds do exist—in yellow, pink, blue, and even rare red—when it comes to white diamonds, what we really want is absence of color. The Gemological Institute of American (GIA) grades the whitest of diamonds D (A, B,…

In our continuing series on helping you buy the best diamond for your budget, this week we talk about Cut, one of the four Cs, and an important one that will determine the appearance of the stone you purchase when you shop for jewelry in the DC area. In its simplest, non-esoteric terms, cut refers…

The four Cs of diamonds—clarity, color, cut, and carat—were introduced in the mid-1900s and provided a universal tool for evaluating the quality of diamonds, even down to minute variables that can’t be seen with the naked eye. Last week, we talked about how to work toward your budget when selecting a diamond, and said that…

You’ve got your money, you want to buy the diamond gift—a ring, a pendant, earrings—for a special someone, but you want to be sure you’re getting the best you can buy. But how? If you don’t know much about diamonds before you head off to buy jewelry in the DC area, it’s good to bring…

If you caught that photo of our president with this tie TAPED on the flip side, you know how important it is to learn about tie bars. Not only do they hold the tie in place with a little more class than tape, they’re a genuine way to demonstrate your fashion sense. A tie bar…

Whether you want to show off, subtly broach the subject of rings, or pepper your proposal with some trivia, here are some things you don’t need to know about engagement rings—at all—but which you nonetheless might not mind knowing. 1) The average cost of an engagement ring in 2017 is $5,500. This could lead to…

Nothing says vintage like a brooch, and hand-carved brooches using gems like the coral and carnelian shown here, add a classic touch to any ensemble. Hand-carved jewelry has been around for millennia and precedes the most complicated faceting technique. Mesoamericans, Sumerians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all carved jewelry, often with animals and beetles, and wore them as amulets. In…

When a person opts to “put a ring on it,” the overwhelming popular choice for that ring is still a diamond. The ring custom itself is said to descend from a Roman custom that had wives wearing rings attached to keys, a symbol of their husband’s “ownership.” The diamond idea took off among European upper…

Everything old is new again, which means that flora and fauna jewelry is back in demand for 2017. This is amazing news for jewelry lovers who love to browse their favorite pawn shops in Northern Virginia, because if anything is a mainstay of estate jewelry inventory, it’s those quirky animal and flowers designs that perennially…

Beautiful amethyst, a quartz variety with color that can range from deep violet to light lilac or pinkish purple, has long been the birthstone associated with the second month. And February birthdays have been lucky, because not only are amethysts gorgeous, but they’re also said to protect wearers from drunkenness and keep them clearheaded and…

Heart jewelry is trending for 2017, not just for little girls, but for women of all ages, even those who have resisted heart jewelry for years. If your mind is still picturing those cutesy lockets of yesteryear, take another look at the sophisticated heart styles that jewelry designers are rolling out—and have been rolling out—to…

Great news! When choosing your hand-fashionwear for the evening, you no longer have to limit your selections or worry that wearing too many rings will create the wrong kind of attention. Making your hands attention-getters is the whole point of wearing multiple rings, and if you need more in order to keep up with the…

We all have our preferred pens, but, chances are, they don’t cost more than a few dollars. But perhaps you remember when your grandfather had a pen and pencil set, or when a pen was an appropriate retirement gift. No less than GQ magazine maintained in 2013 that every gentleman should still have a good…

Though garnets come in a rainbow of colors, when we think about the January birthstone, it’s the red variety—in fact, the world garnet comes from the Middle English gernet, meaning dark red—that seems to emerge. Thought to represent friendship and trust, as well as peace, wealth, and good health, there’s no reason not to love…

As we’re fond of saying, you can never go wrong with diamond jewelry, and the sheer number of all-diamond pieces we regularly have here at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue is testament to that. But diamonds also make statements about formality, romance, and more that is replaced by festive sophistication when some of the piece’s…

Diamond jewelry is classic and beautiful, which is how it’s maintained such steadfast popularity over time. Engagement rings are still primarily diamonds, past/present/future necklaces were first designed with diamonds, and diamond earrings are still being touted as the jewelry staple every woman must own. But what if you would love to have a pair of…

The art of enameling goes back to ancient times when artisans discovered they could use fine particles of glass to substitute for precious gems. The effects were so stunning that we still see enamel used in fine jewelry today, with jewelers able to custom make hundreds of colors and incorporate them into bold designs (this…

If you do any shopping at all for jewelry in the DC area, you know that “fashion” rings are everywhere. But what are they? Are they costume jewelry? Phony stones? Cheaply made? If it’s a diamond, is it still a fashion ring? Just about the only obvious thing about such a nebulous term is that…

Bezel is more than just a fun word; it’s also a jewelry setting that can make your stones more secure—particularly good for active people who like jewelry—and protect the edges of softer stones (opal, turquoise, e.g.), or even hide small chips. If you’ve never seen a bezel setting, it’s one that features a metal rim…

Not just a fun word to say, filigree is a delicate jewelry metalwork made with tiny beads or twisted threads that are soldered together to resemble latticework or, at its very finest, lace. (The word comes from the Latin “filium” and “granium” meaning thread and grain; in fact, it was once called “filigrane.”) Around since…

Onyx—in any color—is a banded variety of the mineral chalcedony. It’s a cousin of agate, the difference between them being the type of band: agate bands are curved, and onyx bands are parallel. Both black and white are common, and while it’s nice to know all these facts, what matters most is how beautifully shiny…

Everybody’s heard of Rolex, but watch collectors—and pawn shops in the DC area—know that IWC Schaffhausen has been making luxury Swiss watches for men since 1868, when 27-year-old Boston watchmaker Florentine Ariosto Jones journeyed to Switzerland with the idea to combine his entrepreneurial spirit with modern engineering technology pioneered by the Swiss. It was a…

If Kwiat isn’t synonymous with diamonds in your mind, it’s because the nearly 110-year-old company wasn’t always in retail. Family-owned since its 1907 inception, the company was primarily private label. It wasn’t until around the turn of this last century that the company became a high-end brand offering collections, bridal jewelry, and one-of-a-kind items that…

Vintage jewelry is so popular that jewelers often manufacture lines to mimic vintage styles. And, of course, what they mimic are the most popular trends within the vintage aesthetic. Yes, vintage jewelry is timeless, but there are always market trends. So what’s selling well in vintage? One only need look to runways to see. And…

The second most abundant mineral on Earth’s crust, quartz comes in myriad varieties, including more than a few gemstones. Purple quartz is amethyst, greenish-yellow quartz is citrine, and so on. You may have heard of rose quartz, a frosty stone that exhibits a rosy red hue due to trace amounts of iron, manganese, or titanium;…

Somewhere along the way, some judgmental people—probably in the sixties or seventies—decided that hoop earrings were somehow an indication of questionable and unladylike character. Can you imagine anything so ridiculous? Hoops have survived so long, they’re classic—you might even call them a retro classic—and anything available in diamonds can’t be trashy. Aside from being classic…

If you every heard someone claim that “they” say you shouldn’t wear diamonds and pearls together, we sure hope you’re ignoring it. Let whatever fashion snobs who still adhere to it turn up their noses all they want: diamonds and pearls are two classic looks that look great together, and if it was good enough…

There are many reasons to choose a channel setting, which places stones—usually round, though emerald, oval, square, and baguette cuts are also seen—in a trough-like (or channel) setting, so that the stones are flush with the shank. First, it’s a secure setting that prevents the stones from snagging or being pried loose from prongs. Second,…

So what about it? Can you or can’t you mix metals—white, yellow, and rose gold? Can you do it every day or just on special occasions? And what are the rules? First off, of course you can mix metals. There may have been some antiquated rule once but, as you know, in fashion, rules are…

If you buy a diamond at a retail jeweler, it’s likely marked up 100 percent from its wholesale value. If you buy a diamond ring, you could be looking at 200 to 300 percent markup. So what do you think happens when you walk out of the store? That’s right: the value of that purchase…

You may have heard of colored diamonds and, of course, they’re fancy, but are they different from fancy colored diamonds? Not really. The difference is that the rarer colors—pink, blue, green, red—are usually called pink diamonds, blue diamonds, green diamonds, red diamonds. But the less rare ones, the yellows and browns, well, they get the…

Red, green, blue, and purple stones are rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and amethysts, right? Not exactly.  These familiar labels are actually trade names for certain color varieties of precious minerals that can occur in a wide range of other colors. The names are usually created in an attempt to make the stone seem more appealing—simple marketing…

And if you see it when you shop for jewelry in the DC area, should you buy it? If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you know that we’re always in favor of buying what you like, so if this gorgeous blue stone appeals to you, then yes! You should buy it. But if…

In evaluating the four Cs of diamonds, Cut is probably the easiest, because it’s clearly discerned just by looking. Of all the cuts, the most popular is round, or brilliant (sometimes even called diamond cut), developed by Marcel Tolkowsky in 1919. Shop for jewelry in the DC area and you’ll see that the majority of engagement…

We all know that one of the four Cs of diamonds is cut, but when it comes to diamonds, you’re not going to see another C-cabochon. We thought, then, it might help to know about this cut when you go shopping for jewelry in the DC area. A cabochon—or cab as is often heard—cut means…

The minute something becomes a trend, somebody is already bucking it. In the case of diamond engagement rings, it’s taken a while. But over the past decade or so, engagement rings don’t have to diamonds alone, or even diamonds at all. A betrothal can be marked with just about any ring at all, and colored…

Everybody knows what jade is—sort of. Well, it’s green; you know that right? So is jadeite, which is a relative of jade, but a different mineral. Simply put: jade is nephrite. The similar-looking mineral, but rarer and more expensive, is jadeite. Jade comes from China, and jadeite comes from Burma; the most expensive jadeite contains…

Everybody loves diamonds, but not everybody can afford them—at least not in the big and dazzling sizes. But the smaller diamonds are, the less they cost, because they are more plentiful, take fewer cuts, and can hide flaws more easily. But they can still beautify a piece of jewelry with their simple cuts. As such,…

For the conservative man, there are few avenues through which to express personal style. Ties have always been an easy one, and, now, socks are becoming a new form of individual expressions. But when it comes to jewelry, the options have always been fairly limited: pocket watches, rings, tie bars, and, of course, cufflinks. Though…

Pawn shops have always been a great go-to for traditional wedding jewelry; think lots of diamonds and pearls. But this year’s hottest trends are a far cry from your grandma’s wedding jewelry, but maybe not so far a cry from the other stuff in her jewelry box. Here’s some of what’s hot for 2016, and…

Have you noticed how when you need new clothes, you go out and see what hits your eye? But when it comes to jewelry, you have specific wants: diamond stud earrings, a mother’s ring, a gold bangle. Why do we shop for clothes impulsively, and plan our jewelry purchases so meticulously? The obvious reason, of…

July babies are lucky: their birthstone is the gorgeous ruby, which is not only a stunning gemstone second in durability only to the diamond, but also said to guarantee health, wisdom, and success in love! Perhaps that’s why it is also the traditional stone to celebrate 15th or 40th anniversaries. Though these stones are expensive,…

Clear across the country, Gump’s in San Francisco sells everything from home décor to its exquisite artisan jewelry using the brightest gems and precious materials. Gump’s has been a San Francisco staple since 1861, when Gertrude Gump began the business, along with Solomon and Gustave Gump. Over the years, the enterprise survived the San Francisco…

You know how hard it can be to find just the right prom dress, the one that will make a statement, won’t cost too much, and will have no risk of being duplicated by your worst enemy come prom night? You can not only buy prom dresses and even shoes at pawn shops in Northern Virginia,…

The fashion gurus have spoken: pearls are trending for fall 2016 and into 2017. This is great news for jewelry lovers who favor classic and estate jewelry, where pearls abound. That means you can dig out your retro strands and pearly styles and be as hip as can be. And, if you’re looking to add…

Everyone knows Rolex and Cartier, but Zenith has a pedigree of its own, and the company’s watches are worth a look. In 1865, the company was founded by Georges Favre-Jacot, who revolutionized watchmaking when he instituted the concept of the Manufacture, whereby all watchmaking professions worked together to create timepieces. The first chronograph came out…

Everybody knows estate and vintage jewelry is all the rage, and if you’ve browsed enough of it, you’ve seen enough pins and brooches to know that they were hot commodities back in the day. Check out old pictures of your Grandma; there’s probably a brooch pinned to her upper breast. That stodgy style may be…

Customers who have jewelry to sell always want to get the most for their items as possible, but where is that? At a retail jewelry store or a pawn shop in Northern Virginia? There’s no simple answer to the question, but there is information that’s useful to have. Let’s start with gold. Gold is an…

These days, when you want to buy something, you head to the Internet. Not only does online shopping offer unsurpassed variety, but very often, we can find cheaper-than-brick-and-mortar prices and maybe even free delivery. It’s kind of irresistible. But what about big ticket items like cars or jewelry, even diamonds? Can we still get the…

Jewelry is expensive, among the most expensive discretionary purchases we make. But when you shop for jewelry at a pawn shop, you can save about half of what retail jewelers are charging; doesn’t that make it worth investigating? Consider that if there weren’t great pieces on offer at considerable savings, if there weren’t jewelry lovers…

Beautiful jewelry is always the perfect Mother’s Day gift, but when you go shopping for jewelry in the DC area, don’t forget to visit pawn shops. Because pawn shops acquire jewelry through estate sales and loan collateral, they have a collection unlike any typical jewelry store. If nothing in particular catches your eye, consider one…

We can thank movies and television for perpetuating the myth that pawn shops are full of stolen goods. When a fictional thief steals something, he heads to a shady pawn shop to unload it. But the truth is, less than one percent of pawn shop merchandise is stolen, and if it’s there, it’s not intentionally.…

When you take an item to a pawn shop in Loudoun, VA to sell or serve as collateral, the pawnbroker has to determine a cash value for your trade, starting with assessing the condition of your offering.  If it’s jewelry, are there broken parts; is it tarnished; is it collectible? Are electronics in working order;…

If your only impression of pawn shops is what you see on television and at the movies, you may be doing yourself a great disservice—particularly if you’re someone who likes a bargain. Pawn shops are in the business of making loans but, because people sometimes default on those loans, they become retailers by default—retailers who…

When you’re shopping for jewelry in the DC area, sometimes you’re looking to browse and sometimes you know exactly what you want. In the latter case, particularly if you’re looking for certain items, pawn shops are a great place to start. Below are five items you’re sure to find in abundance when you visit pawns…

It was more than 30 years ago, in 1983, that Breitling created its first aviation chronograph in response to a bid from the Italian air force acrobatics team, Frecce Tricolori. The resulting aviation watch – created in close cooperation with the squadron—was so innovative, professional, and functional that Frecce Tricolori made it the team’s official…

You’ve seen them—those brown diamonds—and you know they’re unusual, but do you know anything about their history? They come from Le Vian, a family with a jewelry making history that goes back to 1500 Persia, and continued to grow as they renown as jewelers to royalty and beyond. In 1922, Abdulrahim Ephraim LeVian was born…

Because platinum is popular, customers often want that look, but not that price. That leads to questions about white gold. What is white gold? Pawn shops in Northern Virginia can show you several examples, but here’s a brief and simple explanation. Twenty-four karat pure gold is always yellow, never white. But jewelry isn’t generally made…

Gone are the days when a simple gold cross for communion was as nice as religious jewelry ever got. These days, you can find every religious symbols—cross, chai, hamsa, stars of David, Islamic star/moon and more—made from all manners of precious metals and adorned with diamonds and assorted precious gems. It’s interesting to note that…

“Diamond studs are a must-have for every jewelry wardrobe.” Aren’t you SICK of hearing that? Sick of hearing how classic they are and how they go with everything? That may be true, but there are a lot of women who don’t like studs and won’t wear them no matter who “perfect” they are—and they shouldn’t…

When people go shopping for engagement rings, they often want the best and biggest diamond they can afford without breaking the bank. But with the markup of jewelry at retail stores—often three times the amount—they may be disappointed by the rings in their budget range. Next stop: pawn shops in Northern Virginia. Pawns shops have…

Of course diamonds will never go out of style, but if the recent trend toward colored stones in engagement rings tells us anything, it’s that they no longer have a lock on any jewelry purchase.  That’s good news for colored stone lovers, who know that, while rainbow jewelry is a timeless look that has been…

Though any pawn shop can clean your jewelry for you, you want it looking its best when you take it for sale or loan. Dirty pearls aren’t going to make a great impression if they look like far less than the gleaming gems they should be. And if you’re taking it to sell or pawn…

Several legends seek to explain the origins of Valentine’s Day; they may not all be true, but they are all romantic. Some say the day has links to the feast of Lupercalia in ancient Rome, where young people paired up by drawing names from a hat. The feast was later renamed for St. Valentine, a…

Could be. Which is probably a better answer than you expected, given that that costume generally is taken to mean “fake” which often equates to worthless. Take the time to go through Grandma’s jewelry and you might find some surprising treasures. While some costume jewelry isn’t worth much, other stuff—especially that kind made by actual…

If you’re planning to take Grandma’s ring to a pawn shop to sell, it might help to know if the stone is real or Grandma was just fooling everybody all these years. Some simple home tests can illuminate the truth: Print that: Place a loose stone on top of magazine print; if you can read…

If you’ve never stepped foot in a pawn shop, you’re likely forming your opinions about them from their depictions in movies and on television. Unfortunately, the most regular customers at pawn shops—shoppers looking for value or people needing fast loans—aren’t as dramatic as thieves and addicts looking to score money for a fix. Here’s a…

We talked last week about the various places you can sell your jewelry, and how a pawn shop is the best place to go if you’re looking for fast cash. While pawn shops may give you less for the item than selling it direct, you don’t have to accept whatever they offer. Not only are…

When you need cash quick, raiding your jewelry box for items you don’t seem to be wearing anymore might be an easy way to get it. But keep in mind that jewelry sells at incredible markup, so you’re not going to get the appraised value—which is retail replacement cost—so you should only sell jewelry you’re…

Put aside any preconceived notions about pawn shops and know that they are a legitimate source for short-term collateral loans, or pawn loans. In other words, customers bring property—anything from jewelry, electronics, musical instruments, tools, firearms, and more—as collateral, and the pawnbroker issues a cash loan. The amount of the loan is based on the…

When we lose a loved one, we often worry that they won’t be remembered, particularly if we’re talking about our children and a grandparent they may not have had many years with. It’s important for parents, even as they’re coping with their own grief, to know that the task of keeping Grandma’s memory alive falls…

Doing an annual cleanout? Before you take the boxes to the nearest charity, be sure you don’t have any of these valuable items in them. Old Lego sets: Seriously, they don’t even have to be that old. My son has five box sets in the basement, and we checked the going rates on Amazon and,…

It might seem obvious that when you need money, you get a loan, but getting a loan isn’t always as simple as it is obvious. You can get money from a bank, or you can get money from a pawn shop, but where you go is going to depend on how fast you need the…

Whether you’ve got your own collection of jewelry castoffs, or you just inherited a boxful from a relative, selling off unwanted pieces is a great way to make some fast cash—if it’s actually worth something. But how do you know? While an expert like those we have at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue can give…

It won’t be long before the holiday season’s here and you’re a little short. How can you come up with some fast money to ensure your budget covers your shopping list? We’ve got a few ideas: 1) Give up what you don’t need to give you what you do. That might sound confusing, but it…

For Immediate Release – November 1st, 2015 New Year’s Snowfall Means Big Jewelry Savings Loudoun Jewelry has announced a promotion whereby all purchases between November 1st and December 24th will be fully refunded if NOAA National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia records a snowfall of at least three inches on January 1st, 2016. David Sackadorf,…

For the past couple of weeks, we’ve been talking about vintage jewelry, first defining it, and then talking about eras through the nineteenth century. This week, in our last post on the topic, we’ll cover the twentieth century, which is probably most of what you’ll find in pawn shops in Northern Virginia. Arts and Crafts…

Last week, we defined vintage, a task that took an entire post! This week, we’ll get a little more specific about the distinct eras of vintage and antique jewelry. It would be so much easier if we talked about jewelry from the thirties, forties, etc., but no, instead we talk about eras: Victorian, Edwardian, Art…

You hear the word “vintage” thrown around, but what does it really mean? Some people thing it means antique, some think it means costume, some just think it means used. But what’s right? The reason for the confusion is that the word “vintage” is actually used in two ways. The first, and most common, definition…

Last week we talked about the provenance of halo jewelry and its resurgence in popularity. That popularity is particularly evident in engagement rings. Why? Because in a halo setting, quarter-, third-, or half-carat diamonds can look up to as much as half a carat larger, and who does want to up their ooh and aah…

Halo jewelry is believed to have made its debut in the 1920, alongside the Art Deco style, and the style has had a resurgence of late. The settings—which are found in rings, earrings, pendants, and broaches—feature a ring (which is not always circular) of precious gems or metal around a larger center stone. Center stones…

Chances are you have a tennis bracelet in your jewelry box, but do you know how it got its name? At the 1987 U.S. Open, tennis star Chris Evert snapped her bracelet clasp during a match, then asked the officials to pause the match until she found it—and the eternity diamond bracelet got a new…

If you take a look at the new fall jewelry trends, you might think that nothing you own is going to be cutting-edge. Everything is so BIG—big chokers, earrings, brooches—so big you might as well not even worry about the clothes you’re wearing, because nobody’s even going to notice them. If you’re looking for something…

When it comes to pretty and affordable blue stones, tanzanite tops the list. It’s actually a mineral, but the real name—zoisite—doesn’t sound nearly as exotic as the moniker that Tiffany & Co. came up with, which eponymous with Tanzania, where it was first discovered. So popular has the gem become that the American Gem Trade…

When it comes to birthstones, those born in September get good news and bad news. The good news is that the birthstone is sapphire, one of the most beautiful precious gems. The bad news? They’re rather pricey. Shopping at pawn shops in Northern Virginia is one way to find these beautiful birthstones for less than…

The diamond solitaire, for all its simplicity, is jewelry at its most mesmerizing. Though the rich and famous might sport diamond pendants of mammoth proportions, solitaires are not a luxury reserved for the upper class. Featuring anything from a square-cut white diamond to a pear-shaped blue, a solitaire pendant is all about the glamour and…

Stephen Dweck designs could be described as fine fashion jewelry with funk and flair; there is nothing about his pieces that anybody would call classic—and that’s their appeal. Dweck jewelry are fashion pieces, accessories meant to make statements and start conversations. As such, you’ll find that the price points are a little more affordable than…

One of the things that turns jewelry lovers into fine jewelry investors is knowledge. When you can look at two pieces of jewelry that seem identical, it can be hard to justify buying the more expensive piece. But when you know that the fine piece isn’t hollow, is expertly soldered, has a higher gold content,…

Last week, we talked about the decision to start a fine jewelry collection, and maybe starting with a pair of earrings you absolutely love. And the reason we say “absolutely love” is because that’s rule number one when shopping for fine jewelry in the DC area: you’d better love it. Just as with art, you…

If you love jewelry, the time will come when you realize you’re going to have to invest in some fine jewelry for your collection. Fine jewelry makes us feel special, can lend confidence, make a statement and, most importantly, it lasts. While we recognize that inexpensive pieces can give you more fashion for your buck,…

The beautiful thing about jewelry that never goes out of style is, well, it never goes out of style. Those ageless pieces are exactly the sort of thing we keep our eye out for at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue, because classics are always in demand. Here are few to keep an eye out for:…

Last week, we talked about the liquidation value of estate jewelry, the price you might get for it if you bring it to a pawn shop in Loudoun, VA. There are several other values that can be assigned to your piece of jewelry: Estate value: the amount determined if the item will be taxed for…

People often visit pawn shops in Northern Virginia with a piece of estate jewelry and want to know what it’s worth. It sounds like a simple question, but it really isn’t. If you’re trying to sell a piece of jewelry, you’re talking about its liquidation value, the amount of cash you can get for the…

With the Rolling Stones finishing up their Zip Code tour, and ruby being the birthstone for July, we at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Ave. thought it might be fun to combine both things and share a little trivia about the Stones’ 1967 hit, “Ruby Tuesday.” The iconic Rolling Stones have a career that spans more…

While platinum is always extolled, yellow gold has had a resurgence this year. And why not? The price of yellow gold has dropped thirty-three percent in the past two years, which means it’s more affordable than it’s been in a long time and just as beautiful as it’s always been. If you’re in doubt, check…

Headquartered in Madrid, Carrera y Carrera is a premier Spanish jewelry company that dates back to 1885, when Saturio Esteban Carrera opened a small jewelry workshop; that business was carried on by a son and his four nephews. In 1960, when Queen Fabiola of Belgium planned her nuptials to King Baudoin, the company was commissioned…

Everybody knows that gold is yellowish and silver is whitish. Right? Beyond that, there are distinctions that should be made clear and bear repeating, even if you’ve heard them before. For starters, there is no such thing as “pure” gold, at least not in jewelry. The purest gold is 24 karat, where a karat is…

Ladies, this is just about the best news you’ve ever heard, particularly if you have a jewelry box full of single earrings that have lost their mates. According to Bazaar, one of the hottest trends this spring is mismatched earrings. Just pick two of your favorite that you’ve missed wearing and pair them up to…

Father’s Day is around the bend, so if you’re sick of aimlessly wandering department stores and malls only to wind up with another tie, try shopping pawn shops in Northern VA to find something unique this year. Here at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Ave., we have a fine selection of luxury brand watches, including Cartier,…

When it comes to expressing love—to a child, friend, partner, or parent—hearts are universal symbols, which is why you’ll find the heart motif well-represented when you shop for jewelry in the DC area. A gift of heart jewelry takes this simple symbol and lends it glamour and sophistication befitting the relationship it commemorates. And because…

For lovers of all things pink, there’s no better gemstone selection than the elegant pink sapphires, and you’ll see many examples when you shop for jewelry in the DC area. Available in colors from the palest baby pink to brilliantly vivid magenta, there are shades for all fans. The pink color usually is a result…

Though engagement rings are getting fancier and fancier—colored stones, diamond-studded bands, and complex custom designs—diamond solitaires remain popular for their timeless, classic elegance. Solitaires accommodate any diamond shape and match well with any wedding band, and if your bride-to-be hasn’t told you exactly what kind of ring she wants, they’re also the safest choice that’s…

Though we often talk about the things you can buy in pawn shops in Northern Virginia, we don’t often remind you Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue is also where you should bring the things you’ve already bought that are in need of some loving attention. Whether it’s broken or incomplete, our experts can make it…

In 1847, the now world-famous Cartier jewelry company was founded in Paris by Louis-François Cartier, whose son Alfred took over in 1874. In 1899, Alfred’s sons—Louis, Pierre, and Jacques—took the reins and established Cartier as a worldwide luxury brand name.  Not long after Pierre, the last of Louis-Francois’s three grandsons, died,  the great grandchildren sold…

So you’ve just inherited some vintage jewelry and you’re not sure if you should take it to a pawn shop in Northern Virginia or have it restored to wear yourself. While we at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue can help you with either option, we can also offer some advice to help you make the…

The founding of Mother’s Day in the United States did not, as some would like to believe, begin with Hallmark, but with Anna Jarvis, who sought to honor her own mother—Ann Jarvis, a Civil War peace activist who died in 1905. Anna held a memorial for her mother in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia,…

One of the choices to make in buying diamonds is cut (one of the 4 Cs), and one such cut is the marquise, a football shape named for the Marquise of Pompadour. But as the story goes, the shape has nothing to do with a football; allegedly, Louis XIV had a diamond cut to resemble…

For more and more couples, traditional gold or diamond-and-gold wedding bands aren’t reflective of their unique relationships. For second marriages, many couples even eschew the engagement ring, which allows for more freedom in choosing wedding bands because they aren’t restricted by matching needs. Often, couples don’t even find the need to match each other, but…

Though diamond gifts are traditionally looked on as promises of love, their position as the hardest substance known to man has also made them a symbol of invincibility, said to bring wearers protection and health. Once signifying wealth, diamonds are now enjoyed by everyone—not just the betrothed. If you’ve got a loved one with an…

David Yurman’s distinctive sculptural designs are easy to spot, and you’ll spot them often when shopping for jewelry at pawn shops in northern Virginia. A Long Island, New York native, Yurman met Cuban welder and sculptor when he was only sixteen years old; from Gonzales, the would-be jewelry designer learned the techniques that influence his…

Eternity rings have been in the trendy limelight as wedding bands, not just because they’re far more beautiful and stunning than their plain gold counterparts, but because both the name and the endless circle of those ever symbolic diamonds—hard, durable, lasting—ramp up the meaning of the ring by at least a carat. The style was…

When you see jewelry that looks as though it’s almost entirely made of diamonds, not only might you think how awesome it would look if you were wearing it, but you also might wonder how that look is achieved. It’s very likely pave diamond setting, which is the result of a piece of jewelry being…

We all know that diamonds are a girl’s best friend and the hardest substance on earth (right?), but there are so many other fun things to think about when you’re shopping for diamond jewelry in the DC area. For example, did you know that the largest diamond ever mined weighed a whopping 3,106 carats (you…

For watches as beautiful as they are functional, Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue is a great place to start. We have a rotating and varied selection of luxury watches with precision movements so stunning as to be art, and styles so classic they can be worn for generations and the Rolex Submariner certainly falls into that category. The Rolex Oyster…

Often dubbed the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day motivates lovers to find jewelry gifts worthy of their unique feelings. The most romantic of motifs—hearts—come in all jewelry forms, and you can find several by shopping at pawn shops in Loudoun, VA. Myriad designs ensure there’s a perfect gift of heart for daddy’s…

When it comes to bracelets, it seems there’s always a bandwagon to leap onto: there were tennis bracelets, and Italian charm bracelets, and now Alex and Ani bracelets have brought bangles back to the fore. But if you’ve been watching the red carpets and runways, you know that today’s bracelet fans are defying all trends…

When it comes time to buy the special ring that marks a decision to make a lifelong commitment, the jewelry store isn’t your only option. You can find beautiful antique and unique diamond engagement rings right here at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue, as well as at other pawn shops in Loudoun, VA. Loudoun Jewelry…

The opulent, multi-colored fabrics that have swept the fashion industry have naturally inspired the jewelry makers, as you’ll find when you shop for jewelry in Washington, DC. Why choose just one colored gem, when you can combine them into spectacular eye-catching accessories? Mixing colors means not showcasing just one stone, but emphasizing patterns and contrasts…

In the late 1990s, new deposits of pink sapphire were found in Madagascar, which made this previously ultra-rare gem both more available and more affordable. As you can see from our selection here at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue, pink sapphires can range from very pale pinks to violet pinks (when trace elements of titanium…

The evolution of the modern cufflink coincided with the development of men’s shirt fashions. Once an undergarment that protected men from the rough fabrics of their outerwear, the shirt’s cuff and collars became visible—and ripe for decorative embroidery, ruffles, and ribbons to secure the cuffs—after the Middle Ages.  In the nineteenth century, when starched cuffs…

With diamond color, you’ve probably heard that less is more. This is true to a point: Trace colors in white diamonds do detract from the stone’s beauty and worth, but when the earth’s heat and pressure produce natural hues, the diamonds are even more stunning and valuable. Jewelers call these “fancy” colors, and they have…

To call platinum a trend is a bit of a misnomer. Hardly new, platinum was revered even in ancient Egyptians’ time. By the end of the 19th century, it was the preferred metal for jewelry design, remaining so until World War II, when the government declared platinum a strategic metal and banned its use for…

Emeralds were first mined in Egypt from at least 330 B.C.; Cleopatra was said to be enchanted by them, and today, we’re just as powerless to their delicate beauty. We often have a fine selection of these brilliant green gems at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Ave, because, well, we can’t resist them either! The emerald’s…

Nobody can deny the beauty of precious silver, but in its natural state, it’s too soft to use for anything functional, including most jewelry. Enter sterling silver, an alloy that 92.5 percent silver, and 7.5 percent other metals (usually copper) that give it strength and durability without taking way its luster and brilliance.  With sterling,…

When DeBeers coined that famous phrase, “A diamonds is forever,” they weren’t just talking about engagement rings and they certainly weren’t just talking about a solitaire. Diamonds in design, clusters, and shapes are just as eternal and infinitely more interesting. Vintage designers—Victorian, Edwardian, and Art Deco styles are most popular—knew this, and made use of…

It seems that earrings and necklaces get most of the attention when it comes to statement jewelry, but you when a bracelet is bold or bright enough to draw attention, it can do the job as well as any pair of chandeliers.  We dare anyone to not admire the diamond bracelets we’ve got at Loudoun…

Everything old is new again, so while you’re right in thinking that brooches are your grandmother’s jewelry, you’re totally wrong if you think that means they’re not hip. Here at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Ave., we get a lot of brooches through estate collections, and they’re among the most novel and unique pieces we have…

The wonderful thing about garnets—aside from being able to find them in abundance when you shop for jewelry in the DC area—is that they allow us to wear beautiful red gemstones in our jewelry at a fraction of the cost of rubies. The deep-red colored garnet is indeed the most frequently found shade—including in our…

Diamond rings aren’t just the betrothed and the billionaires, and that’s why here at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue, we don’t just carry wedding diamonds and things priced beyond your budget. For fashion and fun, we’ve got an assortment that covers both a wide range of styles and a wide range of price points. If…

If animal prints are back in style, it stands to reason that animal jewelry is, too, especially if the items coming through Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue are any indication.  Jewelry in the shape of insects and animals has been worn by women since ancient times, so we’re going to say that fine animal jewelry…

When making decisions about your big day, choosing wedding bands is one of the most permanent. After all, you’ll be wearing the rings you choose for the rest of your life! Before you shop for jewelry in Loudoun, VA, take a look at pawn shops in the area; you’ll be amazed at the unique finds…

When it comes to brand name jewelry, traveling to the store that sells it isn’t always an option. But because pawn shops in Northern Virginia source our estate pieces from so many places, finding a Tiffany piece right here at Loudoun Jewelry isn’t unusual.  Rings, pin, earrings—we get it all, and you never know from…

Right-hand rings have become even more popular as women realize that they don’t have to diamonds and that you can own more than one. Unlike engagement rings, right-hand rings are adornments women buy for themselves, as rewards for independence and good fortune. For a while, it was all about the diamond but why stop there?…

Statement earrings are all the rage, but if you’re still wearing diamond studs for every occasion, the only fashion statement you’re making is “I’m boring.” Big, bold, earrings are back, and we’ve got an assortment to choose from at our pawn shop in Loudoun, VA.  Any of these eye-catchers will uplift your ensemble more than…

Amethyst, the February birthstone, can’t help but be eye-catching when its glistening purple hues beckon from earrings, rings, and pendants. But when you shop for jewelry in Washington, DC, and an amethyst takes your breath away, it might interest you to know exactly what you’re looking at. As quartz family members, amethysts are naturally created…

Jewelry is often considered a luxury, but opulence doesn’t have to preclude practicality. Today’s trend toward bolder, more elaborate pieces means it’s easier than ever to choose golden gifts that make stylish transitions from morning to evening. No longer content to save their best pieces for special occasions, jewelry lovers are wearing their favorites every…

Perennially classic, diamonds never fall from fashion, but current trends have given them some eye-popping new looks. Recent discoveries of rich sources of larger diamonds have made diamonds of a half carat or more available in both greater quantity and quality, assuring these dazzlers an attention-grabbing place in the over-sized jewelry movement. At the same…

Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but colored stones are her confidantes. Though diamonds will always convey elegance, it’s the bright, reflective purples, ambers, reds and greens that reveal a wearer’s true colors. With large colored stones popping up everywhere from runways to red carpets, there has never been a better time to choose…

Gold never goes out of style, but the big pieces that dazzled two decades ago have returned to the fashion forefront. For women who aren‘t afraid of size, nothing commands more attention than the bright polish of big gold accessories. And if you’re buying gold in Washington DC area, pawn shops in Loudoun, VA are…

If you wouldn’t buy a purebred animal without seeing its pedigree or a new home without a thorough inspection—and who would?—then you shouldn’t buy a diamond in a Loudoun, VA pawn shop or anywhere else without a diamond certificate. Also called a diamond grading report or diamond dossier, the diamond certificate is a detailed report…

As one of the softest precious gems, pearls demand gentler care than metal, diamond or colored stone jewelry. In fact, if we maintained our pearls the same way we did the rest of our collections, we’d likely do them irreparable damage. We at Loudoun Jewelry on Maple Avenue would hate to see that happen, so…

The French essayist Jean de la Brueyere wrote that the rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment, are diamonds and pearls. He may have been right about the spirit, but was a little off in the matter of rare gemstones.  To clarify, all gems are rare: the crystallized minerals we value…

If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then a diamond necklace certainly gives the relationship the attention it deserves. Astonishingly simple and superlatively stylish, the diamond solitaire is an essential accessory that shows off this white hot stone to its most brilliant advantage. From Paris runways to park playgrounds, diamond solitaires are everywhere, a testament…

Because of their rarity and beauty, large diamonds have a mystical and romantic allure that makes them the perfect stuff of legend – both historical and fictional. Films from The Pink Panther (which was a diamond, not an inspector) to Titanic have used rare gems to drive story, but in the real world, the tales…

In 1981, Prince Charles presented Diana Spencer with a breathtaking 18-carat sapphire and diamond engagement ring. Twenty years later, former Beatle Paul McCartney chose the same gem combination for his fiancee, Heather Mills. Today, the fiery love affair with sapphire is still most passionate and you can find beautiful and unique sapphire jewelry at Loudoun…

When you and your betrothed choose wedding rings to symbolize your love, you instantly become part of a rich tradition steeped in history. Nearly 5000 years ago, ancient Egyptians began weaving rings from plants they found growing along the Nile River, creating circles that stood for the wholeness and endlessness of the union, with openings…

Historical details regarding fine jewelry are often sketchy, but one thing is certain: We’ve been adorning ourselves with precious metal and jewels for more than 5000 years. Discoveries of jewelry—impressive hammered, soldered and engraved gold pieces inlaid with jasper, amethyst, turquoise or lapis—in tombs in Egypt, Iraq, and Mesopotamia have been dated to as early…

Whether your buy your diamond jewelry in Northern Virginia pawn shop, a Loudoun, VA jewelry shop, or an estate and jewelry sale in Loudoun, VA, these glittering gems need proper care. Despite their astonishing durability, diamonds are not indestructible. Hard blows can chip these stones, so removing them before any manual labor is a good…

It’s hard not to be intrigued by a company that names its watches ‘Avenger Seawolf,’ ‘Airwolf Raven,’ and ‘Bently Motors’ to name a few. Breitling, a respected name in watches, is well known worldwide for its amazing workmanship and quality. The company was founded in 1884 by Leon Breitling in the Swiss mountains. Breitling, known…

We can no longer assume that a bride will be dressed in white, wearing her grandmother’s pearls. Brides have finally discovered that on their biggest of days, they not only can – but should – present a look that reflects both their personality and taste. And you can find pieces from classic to full-blown diva…

Now is the time to buy Dad or your grad the watch he’s always wanted. Fine watches mark the sentiment of Father’s Day or Graduation Day like no other gift. At Loudoun Jewelry, a pawn shop in Loudoun, VA, we carry a large selection of world class, amazing timepieces. Rolex, Omega, Chopard, Breitling, the list…

Even a casual observer won’t mistake a Panerai watch for anther collectible brand. A Panarei is quite distinctive. They have a large face (standard size is 44mm, 1.73 inches). They have a strap and generally a dark face. Many have an interesting crown ‘protector.’ In short, they have their own look. And their own fan…

If you are buying jewelry in Loudoun, VA, there may be times when you’re in a blue mood. Or purple. Or a bluish-purple. Or even a nice lavender. Thanks to this truly interesting gemstone, a single Tanzanite may take care of all your favorite gemstone color needs!                …

Veritable watch company Rolex was founded in 1905 by 24 year old Hans Wilsdorf. Something of a visionary, he had great interest in watches that were worn on the wrist, something new at that time. He dreamed of an elegant, reliable version and began outfitting his timepieces with precise movements made by a Swiss company.…

Lagos, created and designed by Steven Lagos, was founded in 1977. Bright, bold and beautiful, his jewelry shines, announcing its presence by dazzling those nearby with classic design, precious metals and gemstones. Steven Lagos draws upon sights and sounds for inspiration. Often inspired by travels to Asia and Europe, his company keeps the customer as…

While these days, Mothers Day is an instantly recognizable holiday, Mothers Day is actually less than 100 years old! Mother’s Day origins trace back to the ancient Greek and Romans. Then, in the United Kingdom, a Mothering Sunday was celebrated. According to this Mother’s Day site, the tradition almost died out completely by the 1800s.…

David Yurman jewelry is distinctive and often combines elements of fashion and art. Really, that’s no surprise.  Yurman and wife Sybil are both artists; he a sculptor and she a painter. The jewelry that the company produces reflects their combined gifts and delights the wearers. The story goes that Yurman’s jewelry was recognized by a…

While the little blue box from Tiffany’s is instantly recognizable to most people, it’s still what’s IN that box that is truly delightful. Whatever it may be, jewelry lovers worldwide know that it’s beautifully designed. Tiffany was founded in 1837 in New York City. Today there are Tiffany stores around the world, all offering a…

Those born in April have the good fortune to have diamond as their birthstone. The word ‘diamond’ comes from the Greek word ‘adamas’ meaning unconquerable and indestructible, flawlessly describing a diamond’s durability. But then there’s the fire, the scintillation, the beauty that spills from a diamond. As one wears a diamond, it comes alive with…

Some watches are recognizable at a distance, so iconic is their look. Take the Tank line of watches by Cartier. Rectangular. Roman numeral face. Memorable. Fashionable. (The watch at right is a Cartier Tank watch with a metal bracelet. Image by Loudoun Jewelry.) The Cartier Tank watch was created by Louis Cartier in 1917. The…