Diamond Jubliee

http://www.thediamondjubilee.org/

Gem Therapy? Really?

       Really. Okay, so one of my clients today was telling me a little about "gem therapy." Don't get me wrong, I'll believe in what works, but I had to my research on her claim to it's ''100%' pure healing properties. " Gemstone therapy is based on the theory that certain stones possess specific healing energies. Physical and emotional problems can block the body's energy center, resulting in illness of some kind. Theoretically, when a gemstone comes into contact with the body, its energy is released and transferred to the person. My client urged me to use gemstone therapy to unblock negative energy or heal the body and gemstone meditation to heal the spirit.   As a wise woman once said "Yeah, diamonds do that for me. " 

I did, however, find a list of the intended aids to what ails you.

• Ruby: Liver, spleen, gallbladder, and pancreas. For stopping bleeding powdered paste is used. If worn, it is believed to maintain the hygiene of your mental health.
• Opal: For improving memory and for healthy brain
• Turquoise: Eye ailments, headaches, fever
• Emerald: Eye ailments, antidote for any insect or reptile poison, sores and wounds
• Amethyst: Insomnia, tension, headaches used for spiritual upliftment
• Diamond: Gastritis, cardiac ailments, blood circulation problems
• Topaz: ENT related diseases, epilepsy, insomnia, asthma, lung, catarrh and many gynecological ailments
• Pearl: For mental hygiene
• Moonstone: Illness related to the mind, epilepsy, fever

I Must Be Getting Old. The only...

          I must be getting old b/c the only candy jewelry we had was those gross cheerio shaped things around a necklace. Oh, and ring pops.  Well, this is a whole new level of culinary jewelry.   You just have to see this for yourselves!   

http://www.1finecookie.com/2012/04/rock-candy-jewelry-in-marshmallow-watermelon-peanut-butter-flavor-and-more-bling-bling/

A Literal Diamond in the Rough

            It's nearly 2013, and everyone's environmental awareness is peaking. There are desingers who have combined thier love for fashion with creative talents and created a whole new genre of jewelry. Earth is the echoed inspiration for each hand-crafted piece.  I see many diamonds daily but this marries classic modern design with natural, organic elements. Many of these "natural or rough" pieces I find stunning.
          The jewelry still has the fine art and design of traditionally cut stones but also link traditionals jewelry methods with a modern aesthetic, using fine recycled metals, and conflict-free gemstones and diamonds in each piece.These deisgners are takings risks with thier designs, but take pride in the continual growth and development of the way our generation views diamonds. Personally. I love it! You??      

Have a Gold Party!!!!

         Gold seems to be the magic word in these tough times. Gold parties are a growing trend. They’re like Tupperware parties, with mostly women gathering at someone’s house for food and drinks. But instead of selling plastic, they’re pawning off their precious valuables. Women of every generation can benefit from this.  A hostess invites friends and family to bring their unwanted gold to sell for extra income. The price is based on karat content, weight and the market price of gold that day. It's easy. We weigh each item … and examine them … verify the authenticity… separate the metals by karat, then weight to assess their sale value. Plain and simple.
        Guests benefit by getting rid of things like faded gold lockets, outdated earrings and bangles that have been sitting in the back of the jewelry box collecting dust since the '70s. They even bring scrap gold/broken jewelry to the party to be weighed by us, and they walk away with cash or a check in hand.
        In our society here we have a lot of parties, get-togethers and gatherings, and I think a lot of friends have broken jewelry and things that they want to get rid of, so this is the perfect excuse. Contact us at 631.651.6100 or visit us online at www.GoldBuyerNewYork.com.

The Non-Bloggy Blog. Trends, trends, trends.

Okay, if you're reading this, you will love this jewelry. I do at least.  http://www.jewelryrevelations.com/  , This second link is letting us know the top 5 trends in jewelry right now. Mine, obviously, is the last. Green jewelry :) Enjoy!  http://www.overstock.com/guides/top-5-jewelry-fashion-trends

An Oldie, but a Goodie

                                              An Oldie, but a Goodie.

     The cover of a magazine tells it's contents. An ad, however, shows many different things. So, I've collected old advertisements which are mighy interesting. This, my first choice, is from 1869.

Redfield & Rice Manufacturing Co.

. I can't tell you how many ads there are in our early archives that involve an image of a fork. If I were I spoon or butter knife, I'd be very offended.

The Watchmaker and Jeweler September 1870

Adams, Chandler & Co.

One can never have enough firemen's parade trumpets. How close was I to blowing my rent money buying one of these babies off eBay? Not very much :) but still interesting.

The Jeweler's Weekly Aug. 18, 1886

R.S.F. & Co.

This ring would go nicely with a with a top hat and walking cane. No one would want to mess with you.

The Jeweler's Weekly Aug. 25, 1886

R.F. Simmons & Co.

This was the only ad that used color that I saw from the 1800s. Looks to be lined with a gold leaf-like material. Eye-catching compared to all the black and white surrounding it.

The Jeweler's Circular Feb. 6, 1895

R. Wallace & Sons Mfg. Co.

One of the more ecletic mix of products during any era, never mind the 1800s. The perfume bottle for the missus, and the knife for the gent to use on himself when he picks up the bill.

The Jeweler's Circular Feb. 13, 1895

The Dueber-Hampden Watch Factories

Nothing says "Buy our watches!" like an omnious factory pouring dirty soot into the sky.

Which one is your favorite?

Misprinted Money... What's it worth anyway?

  The numistaic term is "error print" but it's when a paper or coin currency has a malformation on it.  Okay, I'm not sure if anyone has seen the show Pawn Stars, but I happened to the other evening. This gentleman had a misprinted bill.  So, naturally I had to find out all I could on the matter :)  This is the first article that struck me.  A sticker on a twenty dollar bill is worth what?!?  Fourteen thousand dollars, read the lucky man's story... http://www.startribune.com/nation/11610811.html
    In my most recent findings, I stumbled upon this. So, the moral of the story is...  everyone keeps your eyes open for mistakes when it comes to currency!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Two-Faced-Dollar-Bill-Rare-US-Currency-Circulated-/370274979838?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item56361bcffe

Lady GaGa is Even Buying GOLD!

    Well, this isn't quite a spectacular blog, but it's AMAZING, GaGa on Delancy, on the LES!!! Buying, what else?? GOLD!! Check this out!

http://www.boweryboogie.com/2012/01/lady-gaga-at-solid-gold-jewelry-on-delancey/

Designer Costume Jewelry

                                               Designer Costume Jewelry

         Everyone sees the jewels that celebrities adorn from Harry Winston and the likes. We can try to replicate the trends by this new term.  "Designer costume jewelry” is often used to refer to two things. It can mean jewelry pieces designed and produced by a famous designer that are not made with fine jewelry materials like precious stones, gold, and platinum. Usually, these pieces are not made of faux gems or gold, but of other, more creative materials like leather, fabric and stones that were chosen by a designer costume jeweler for aesthetic appeal. The term is also used to refer to designer-inspired costume jewelry made of faux gold and gemstones that are produced by fast-fashion outlets in an attempt to emulate or imitate popular designer jewelry pieces. Technically, though, designer-inspired pieces should always be clearly labeled as such, and not as “designer jewelry,” direct knockoffs are never cute, inspiration is though :) Anyway... 
          Designer costume jewelry, a branch of designer fashion jewelry, does not usually feature traditional fine jewelry items like engagement rings, wedding bands, or diamond stud earrings. Instead, you’ll find unique and creative pieces utilizing unusual metals like titanium, stainless steel, or copper, and exotic materials like leather, beads, crystals, enamel, fabric, and even plastic. I do not wear much jewelry, so I had to do a little internet browsing myself. So, I'll share my findings.  For example, a stainless steel and purple leather woven bracelet by designer Chloe costs under $300 on bluefly.com, while a pair of huge square stud earrings made of bright enamel and gold-plated zinc by Kate Spade are only $78 at Neiman Marcus. However, a pair of woven cable studs made of 18-karat gold and set with 1.55 total carat weight of pavé diamonds by David Yurman costs $7,900 at the same store.
        Unlike knockoffs or faux precious jewelry, designer costume jewelry will look classy and appropriate.  Rather than mimicking the look of a  celebrity with huge faux diamonds that can look fake or tacky, you can embrace your own personal style and find creative, unique costume jewelry pieces by the designers you already love. I've read that this year's costume jewelry trends have gone wild, from textured, contrasting metal bracelets that are worn stacked up in sets on the arm, to oversized cocktail rings set with interesting minerals like mother-of-pearl and lapis. 
            So, you don't need to have diamonds to look great. Treat yourself to a designer costume piece from a designer you already love. Trust me, you'll be happy :0

Vintage Jewelry and it's Current Beauties...

"It is easily overlooked that what is now  called vintage was once brand new."- Visconti

 How well do you know your jewelry?  In addition to all the cuts that engagement rings come in (i.e., princess cut, marquise cut, emerald cut, etc), there are so many other jewelry terms out there,  it’s hard to keep track!  I've even seen words in a necklace or bracelet descriptions but wasn’t really sure what it was or how to pronounce it. Today I’m going to dispel some of that mystery for you. And after you’re done reading, you can impress some people with what you know, I know I will :)  About as vintage as I used to go was the 60's... but we're about to take a time machine to the 1920's.

• Briolette, is a stone that is multifaceted all around. If there are no facets with just a smooth surface, we would just call it briolette-shaped or pear-shaped. (Faceting is the art of cutting and polishing fine gems... Aren't they beautiful?

   

  

• Cameo, is a piece of jewelry has been in style for centuries. Genuine vintage cameo rings are hand-carved and made of shell or other natural substances such as ivory, lava, glass or stone. The foreground is a silhouette or face, while the background is a different-colored layer. My sister loves these pieces, she integrates them into her wardrobe all the time, they're timeless as pearls.



• Marquise cut, It’s pronounced “mar-keys” and it reminds me of our eyes, tapered on both ends. A marquise-cut stone is faceted, but here we might describe any jewelry with the shape as marquise-cut. The name is from Marquise de Pompadour, Mistress of King Louis XV. Who knew a mistress could revolutionize jewelry forever?

•  Cabochon, which to me reminds me of a lady bug :) It's pronounced (ka-boshon) and comes from the French term “caboche” which means “head.” Does that have anything to do with cabbage? or a head of lettuce, let me know... Anyway,I love the smooth surface that a cabochon has. (And I love how the word makes me sound really important)! The back of the cut stone is usually flat or hollowed out and encased and made into pendants or put onto bracelets. I've seen the hipster community bringing them even into barettes and rings. They are my favoite so far.

These vintage pieces have such beauty in the detail of the period but combined with today's fashion can offer fresh design interpretations to fit today’s styles and fashions...

I hope we learned together how the past and the present can fuse when it comes to jewelry.

You don't always need Karats to feed your love of jewelry...

                             You don't always need Karats to feed your love of Jewelry...

                                                                 Modern Jewelry is all jewelry that would look modern or contemporary about them. We all know that good jewelry was expensive but we never thought about showing just how much it's worth to the world! Well, as a fan of all things recycled and modern, I read about Tine De Ruysser is a professional jewelry designer who studied in different art universities.  

        She takes paper currency from all over the world, including China, USA, Australia, Europe, South Africa, Argentina, and turns them into amazing and wearable works of art. Notice the precise and detailed way she makes chains and weaves. It's all quite fascinating! I'm obsessed!  

    As a photography buff I also recently learned of re:vision.  It  brings old school cameras into an entirely new focus. Camera lenses recycled in South Australia by Craig Arnold, and now, sterling silver pieces modelled on the real thing. Each recycled cuff is custom made and one of a kind, no one else will have the same piece as you. Now, can you day that about most gold jewelry? 

Now, to the acrylics, which personally a lot of my friends adore and wear regularly. Some women don't like the heaviness or the look of a diamond, or aren't even engaged. This is a fun option for everyone. You don’t need to plan a diamond heist, these pieces are way more affordable and a lot more fun! If you’re big on symbols but light on status-obsession then wear one of these to make your statement!

Drew Barrymore's ring!!

     

          Drew Barrymore and her fiance Drew Kopelman  got engaged!!!  I love Drew as an actress and she's quite adorable.  I’m happy for them, but I’m actually congratulating them on their ring choice, more so.   It is a unique, lovely setting and a simply perfect diamond color and cut. Drew’s engagement ring features a colorless (D color) radiant-cut diamond that is just under 4 carats on a diamond-covered band. Want to learn about the look and the diamond? I had to!!! Here, take a closer look....

      Drew's ring is radiant cut, which you can see is rare, special and beautiful.  For maximum brilliance and a optimum diamond fire, a precise cut is crucial for a radiant diamond shape.   The perfection of the cut, and the talent of the diamond cutter creates the heavy reflection and refraction within the stone.   An improperly cut diamond will have a lower value and less brilliant appearance that dampens the effect of its unusual.
       The modern radiant shape was perfected by Henry Grossbard in 1977 when he successfully blended the geometry of emerald cut with the brilliance of the classic round diamond. A radiant cut is, basically, a hybrid stone that is generally square or rectangular but with slightly cropped corners that contribute to its eye-catching sparkle.  Drew’s diamond is also set in a lovely ring. If you have the means, custom-making a ring like this would be the way to go!

           This is so interesting, check it out guys!!!    http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/01/how-a-diamond-is-like-a-champagn.html.  

What the cut says about the diamond....

        To understand antique diamonds, it's helpful to examine the modern diamond. In the simplest version, a modern diamond has 3 main parts. The top of the diamond is called the crown and the bottom is called the pavilion. The part that separates the crown and pavilion is called the girdle. A modern brilliant cut diamond has 57-58 facets or polished surfaces. The flat part on top of the diamond is the table, which is the largest facet. The culet is a tiny facet at the very bottom of the pavilion. If the pavilion comes to a point at the bottom, the diamond does not have a culet. 

        Antique diamonds have a soft romantic glow that many people find very appealing. Antique diamonds typically have smaller tables, higher crowns, deeper pavilions and thicker girdles than their modern counterparts. Antique diamonds were cut to maximize carat weight, not "fire". That's why the proportions of old diamonds are quite different from their modern counterparts.
        Diamonds were cut by hand until the early 1900's. This was a laborious, time-consuming process. Unfortunately, many antique diamonds have been re-cut with modern cutting techniques. This has caused demand for these old cut diamonds to soar in recent years, along with the prices that people are willing to pay for them.
      Let's go over some of the older cuts, so we can get an idea of what I mean.

(1) Rose cut diamonds were introduced as early as the 1500's and were popular until the early 1900's. The shape of a rose cut diamond resembles the petals of a rose bud. The bottom is flat.

(2) The old mine cut diamond is the earliest form of the modern brilliant cut. Also called the "cushion cut", it has a cushioned shaped girdle.

                                                       

(3) The old European diamond has a very small table, a heavy crown, and great overall depth. This diamond cut was the fore-runner of the modern brillant cut. Like the modern round brilliant, the old European diamond has a circular girdle.

Silver, the Forgotten Child of Precious Metals

                          Silver, the Forgotten Child  of Precious Metals

           

               In times of economic uncertainty, people often seek to protect their nest egg by investing in precious metals. Precious metals historically rise when the value of a fiat currency falls. In today's market, pre-1964 US junk silver coins like the 1964 silver quarter the twenty five cent piece, 1964 silver half fifty cent piece, 1964 silver dime ten cent piece and 1964 silver dollar hundred cent piece U.S.A these coins all contain 90% silver provide an affordable and liquid silver investment opportunity.

               While gold and platinum are the superstars of jewelry for sale, Sterling silver should not be ignored. Sterling silver is 92.5 percent pure silver, with the remaining fraction made up of other metals, like copper.It's understandable how clientelle overlook Sterling. The spot market price of gold today is at $1616.90/ounce and Platinum is at $1,414.00/ounce. Silver seems poor by comparison, at just $25.37/ounce. However, don’t be mislead. If you have a large amount of Sterling, such as a service for 12, it represents many, many ounces that can be converted to much-needed fast cash. It is an excellent example of why a seller’s Sterling Silver flatware which, if a seller is like most of us, only comes out on special occasions, can represent a sizeable cash payout. Don't be mislead into overlooking your Sterling.

          Here at Suffolk Gold Buyers in Northport, webuy all kinds of Sterling silver regardless of age, condition or place of manufacture.We are not interested in the quality or design of the silver pieces, only in their purity.  Our company is three generations old and has the means to pay the highest-possible percentage of actual value based upon the spot price at the time.   If it is an antique or estate piece we can assess the value for you also.

           Also, Sterling Silver is present in many coins and jewelry as well. Coins pre-dating 1964 contain 90% silver which were used as money until the mid-1960s, serve both as an investment medium and could be used as "survival" coins should our monetary system fail as many people fear. Because they were circulated coins, they can still be used as currency in a survival situation, saved to reap the benefits of a rise in silver price, or used as a hedge against inflation. Although coin collectors call them "junk" coins, they are far from what the nick name may imply. Junk silver coins are good investment in our mind.

            

 

This is what to avoid!!!!!

 Wash Your Car & Sell Your Gold?

       

     From barber shops, to church halls, home parties to craft fairs, and even store fronts that have popped up in neighborhoods across the island, seemingly overnight—it’s hard to miss the signs all around you. As the value of gold has sky-rocketed, so too has the number of people looking to buy gold and take advantage of those looking to cash in. Everywhere it seems there are places where you can bring your unwanted jewelry and walk away with money in your pocket. But beware, because what you can get in convenience can leave you less-the-richer in terms of the payment on the value of your gold.

      When looking to sell your gold, it is important to get it evaluated by a professional jewelry buyer. It may seem like an easy transaction, but there are factors involved when appraising jewelry that goes beyond just its weight in gold:

1. A professional buyer as ours has their reputation at stake. Look for a buying company that has been around for a number of years who will pay better because your repeat business is important to them. We are a family run business who has been feautured on CNN, NBC, Newsday & The New York Post.
2. Gold prices fluctuate day-by-day. A professional buyer will know today’s value.
3. In addition to simply weighing your gold, reputable buyers such as us, will be able to identify its karat, or level of purity .
4. A reputable buyer can explain how your gold is weighed, and how you will be paid (dollar amount per gram, troy ounce or pennyweight).
5. If your piece is an antique, vintage jewelry or from a famous maker such as Tiffany, a professional buyer will take that into consideration and pay you what its worth, not just by weight.

       If you’d like cash in your pocket, now is a great time to sell the gold you can part with. Make sure you get the price you deserve by doing your homework and dealing with a buyer who has earned your trust. When you know that your gold was evaluated by a reputable buyer what is TRULY worth (and not just thrown on a scale by a non-professional looking to cash in) you’ll walk away with confidence that you haven’t been taken advantage of. More importantly, you’ll walk away with more money for your gold. 
     Customer service and sastifaction are of number one importance to Suffolk Buyers, Long Island premier luxury buying company.  Our location is Northport, 837A Ft. Salonga Rd. is equipped with state of the art facility and trained professionals.  Our phone number is 631-651-5100. 

'Bright and yellow, hard and cold. Molten, graven, hammered and rolled. Heavy to get and light to hold. Hoarded, bartered, bought and sold. Stolen, borrowed, squandered, doled. Spurned by young, but hung by old. To the verge of a church yard mold; Price of many a crime untold. Gold! Gold! Gold! Gold!' Thomas Hood. 1799-1845

I am sure that lots of us have seen small kiosks at the mall to sell your gold quickly. Seller beware! They will not give you much for your gold because of the overhead they have to pay for their location and staff. Do you research but stay away from these small stands. However, I encourage you to take your stuff up there and get a quote. Then call Suffolk Gold Buyers (631) 651-5100 to look at your items, we'll give you ours. Don't tell us how much they offered you. We beat them every time!

The focus of my blog today is hosting a gold party. It is honestly a fun and easy way for you and your friends to sell your old, used, unwanted or broken gold jewelry for cash! Join thousands of people across the country who have hosted the one party that pays for itself, a gold party!!

We provide the equipment and professional staff for your engagement. We only use registered scales and precise testing methods. Food id served while we appraise and pay you and your guests immediately After the party has ended and everyone has had a great time, we pay you ten percent of the total payout for the party. You even gather commission on your OWN gold sale! :)

Suffolk Buyers in Northport, will buy your gold, silver & plantinum items in any conditition. We are not concerened about your materials condiditon or appearance, the value of your belongings are based on two determings factors : weight & purity. That’s it! We buy everything in any condition including unwanted, broken and even ugly gold jewelry! You may have some gold jewelry that is no longer fashionable, something that’s been sitting in your drawer. Or you may have some sterling silver serving pieces that were passed down you. We also buy diamonds, and watches! Either way, we will offer you and your guests the highest prices in the business. And there’s no obligation to sell! We have been featured on CNN, NBC, Newsday & The New York Post.

Unwanted or unused jewelry.

         All women have jewelry that they don’t wear anymore. Maybe you don’t like the style or design or maybe it came from an ex-boyfriend that you would rather forget. Maybe you just don’t wear gold anymore but have changed to silver, or traded up to platinum. Whatever the reason may be, there are pieces in your jewelry box that haven’t been touched in years. Instead of just letting them accumulate dust, you can have a monetary gain from them.
        All those extra gold pieces that have been lying around that you kept saying you were going to sell, but too busy to do so. Now is the best time and you are going to get back a lot more money than you would have even just a couple of years ago. Why wait longer and risk the prices dropping again? You might wind up with a small fortune.
      Again, visit our newest location, 837A Fort Salonga Road Northport, NY 11768. Hope to see you all very soon!

Considering Selling a Watch?

Rolex GMT2 Stainless Steel Watch

As you consider selling your watch, you must first gather all of the important factors which help increase the value of the watch. The original Box, Papers, Certificate, and Extra Links are all ways to increase the re-sale value on any fine, used, or vintage watch. In our store in Long Island we purchase many brands of fine watches such as Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe, and Many more. We always urge our clients to bring in all the materials which came with the watch so we can pay out the absolute highest price. Another factor to consider when selling a watch is the retail price vs wholesale price. Watches are usually marked up during the first sale, so the price will drop a certain % depending on the brand. Fine watches such as Rolex usually hold their value fairly well over the course of years. If you are considering selling a fine watch in the New York area, please contact us for more information.