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,…