Gold and All it's Many Colors.

          Gold is one of the most fundamental base colors for jewelry. There are innumerable options that you can pick the colors of gold jewelry from. You might be interested to know how to highlights these option and then, pick the right gold jewelry up from the rest. There are lots of thing here, describe what you have to consider when you are looking for this jewelry type. Base on these descriptions, you can at least ensure that you get the right jewelry pieces from the rest.

               There are lots of different shade colors of gold jewelry that you have to keep in mind. Color of gold is already a well know, but with different shade of gold, you probably want to take a closely look and make your decision after all. But keep in mind that different in color shade is not necessary the thing you need to first look when it comes to gold.
With the white gold, the colors of gold jewelry will be very contrast in comparison with the traditional gold. Therefore, if you are looking for anything that look different from gold, but made by gold, white gold is your best option to go for. You can figure out for any jewelry accessories whether or not that is something you want to stick with the real gold shade, or you want to have it in different color format. Then, white gold would be your option to go for.

          Based on your requirement, whether you want to go for the traditional colors of gold jewelry or not. If you take a look at those jewelry set and figure out that you want to have it in the real gold color, you can just go for it. But if you want things that look different in the color tone, white gold or pink gold may be your option to go for. With some metal mixing with gold, the color shade can look differently for the traditional gold colors. It is really up to you want kind of color shade you would go for. Keep in your mind that not only the color shade of gold that you need to look at, but also the pattern of jewelry pieces is another thing to consider at the same time. You need to consider for all everything that involved with jewelry piece, before make your final decision for it... Rose gold. I'm sold :)

Natural VS. Color Enhanced Diamonds.

                                             Color Enhanced Diamonds?

       Recently, our boutique had bought a 3 carat canary colored diamond. It was color enhanced, since this was my first encounter with such a stone, I began a feverish search for the pros and cons of the stone.  Quick lesson, diamonds are made from carbon, diamonds are the hardest known substance to man and are both a naturally occurring and manufactured abrasive. It takes a diamond 1 to 3 billion years to form beneath the earth. Once formed, a diamond travels to the earth’s surface via streams of molten rock. Throughout this process, natural diamonds acquire inclusions and or flaws within them that give them their own unique “fingerprint”.
      Diamonds can be purchased in various sizes (carats), shapes, colors, and clarities. Natural diamonds are preferred over enhanced or treated diamonds because of their rarity and individual fingerprint. No two natural diamonds in the world are identical; each one is unique whether it’s because of its color or clarity or both combined. Now, here comes the deceiving part.
       The term “enhanced” may sound like a positive feature, however, any diamond that has been enhanced has been treated and altered from its natural condition to artificially improve its appearance. If you decide to purchase an “enhanced” diamond, find out what kind of treatments have been used and how they might affect the value of the diamond. You should also be concerned with the long term care and appearance these enhancement treatments may have on the diamond, as enhancements sometimes result in discoloration or cracks in the diamond.
         Enhanced diamonds, unlike high quality natural diamonds are natural diamonds that have had very specific treatments done to them to improve their characteristics, or their natural “flaws”. One type of treatment is laser drilling, which is a process that removes minor inclusions in a diamond to produce a clarity enhanced diamond. This process will typically create lines that resemble tiny trails, which are visible under side-view magnification. The laser may dissipate the imperfection, or chemicals may be injected into the resulting tunnel to bleach away the color. This is a more permanent process than fracture filling. However, it is highly debated whether or not this process damages the integrity of the diamonds, thereby decreasing the value of clarity enhanced diamonds in the long term.
           Fracture filling is a treatment that adds a glass-like resin material to a natural diamond to close small cracks. Since the filling has the same optical illusion and refraction index as a natural diamond, it’s nearly impossible to detect the “repair” to the flaws. Fracture filling is not a permanent treatment as heat from future repairs, cleanings, and even sunlight can erode the filler or possibly darken its color, making the diamond less valuable as time goes on.
          There are different ways to detect if a diamond has had clarity enhancement treatments done to it. As mentioned above, laser drilling results in very thin, white lines or tunnels within the diamond that do not follow the pattern of the loose diamond. When fracture filling is used, the diamond may appear flawless when viewed from the top, but careful examination from the sides or other angles may reveal flashes of color that disrupt the pattern of facets in the diamond. Fracture filled diamonds may also have air bubbles trapped within them. Because these hints are only visible from the sides, it is very important to examine the diamond closely and preferable as a loose diamond rather than set into a diamond ring setting.  I hope you learned as much as I did my diamond loving friends!!

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.  

Nicole Scherzinger Sparkles in just about EVERYTHING!

                       Nicole Scherzinger Sparkles in just about EVERYTHING!         

        Sparkly dresses can be a little bit tricky to pull off - not only do you need to have confidence, the dress also requires the right kind of jewelry. Former Pussycat Dolls star Nicole Scherzinger has had both and is always so chic when seen out and about.

             What Nicole does best besides singing, is dressing & accesorizing. The "Buttons" singer opted for a sexy two-toned sequined number with loose sleeves. The bottom half had a gunmetal tone while the bodice had a light beige color. The short dress was complemented by a pair of beige pumps that definitely accented her gorgeous gams. She carried a clutch on her right hand that matched her shoes as well.  When it came to the accessories, Scherzinger understood the need to keep it simple as to not detract from the dress. On her left arm was a simple gold bangle that she paired with a ring on her middle finger. Occassionaly peeking through her wavy locks was a beautifulpair of hanging chandilier earrings to accent her glowing face.
           There are the majority of times where Scherzinger takes it to the top and rests  comfortably there.  With millions of women adoring her style, coupled with men adoring her beauty, Nicole loves all eyes on her.   Here are some examples of how she has made "oversized" jewelry somewhat of a trademark for her.

Here are some links you might enjoy to replicate her style, but not her pricetag.

http://www.stylebistro.com/Nicole+Scherzinger/Jewelry
http://www.yournextjewelry.com/2011/12/nicole-scherzinger-hoops-cocktail-rings-cuffs/

What happens after you sell your Gold & Silver?

There are actually a few different methods of refining gold. Depending upon the quantity of gold you are working with and the desired level of purity, the two most common methods for refining gold are the use of high temperature flame and the use of chemicals to refine the gold.

Refining with flame is one of the oldest methods of refining metals. Mentioned even in the bible, refining by fire is the preferable method for larger quantities of gold. In ancient times, this form of refining involved a craftsman sitting next to a hot fire with molten gold in a crucible being stirred and skimmed to remove the impurities or dross that rose to the top of the molten metal. With flames reaching temperatures in excess of 1000 degrees Celsius, this job was definitely a dangerous occupation for the gold refiner. The tradition remains largely untouched today with the exception of a few advancements in safety and precision.

The second method of refining gold involves the use of chemicals. Strong acids are used to dissolve the impurities in the gold ore and afterwards, are neutralized and washed away, taking the impurities with them. The resulting product is a muddy substance that is almost pure gold (99.999% or 24K). This muddy substance is dried until it is a powdered residue and then heated with a torch or other source of heat to melt the gold powder into useable gold. The acids used for this process are Nitric acid and Hydrochloric acid.

A silver refiner provides precious metal recovery that recycles material, keeping it out of landfills. Whether it be scrap metal or jewelry, the process of refining silver separates silver from other metals and waste.   Scrap from the process, such as silver metal foil, silver leaf, and antique silver is weighed and smelted. As the scrap becomes liquified in a furnace, ash and borax are included to separate pure silver from other precious and non-precious metals.

The largest consumers of silver are Kodak and Fuji. That is because more silver is used for photography than any other product. Large amounts of silver are also used for silverware, jewelry and industrial products. Silver is also used to treat burn victims as it kills bacteria, allowing the individual to heal more quickly.  Silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal.

Now back to the refining process. The Silver refiner mixes silver in with other metal, such as gold and copper, because different amounts of other precious metals can be in a piece of jewelry. The refiner of silver creates bars of metal and dumps them into ice water to reduce particle size. The bars are dissolved in nitric acid and hydrochloric acid for six to twelve hours. Nitric acid attacks the silver and copper and puts the metals in liquid form. The pure silver is then extracted, dried and cooled.

The refining of silver puts the precious metal back into use, making a positive impact on the world around us. Worn-down jewelry, scrap silver, and silver coins can be refined into pure silver bullion. As the price of silver continues to increase, selling that bullion can be a windfall for an individual, and thus silver refining is becoming a growing business. Refining sterling silver produces silver and other metals as sterling silver is more than 92 percent silver, with the remaining eight percent being copper or another metal. The added metal provides strength as items of 100 percent silver would bend. Sterling silver is primarily used for jewelry and silverware.

Silver refiners have the expertise to melt silver jewelry and other pieces of jewelry into their liquid form and rework them into other uses. Most also buy, refine gold, silver and platinum.  I hope we both learned as much from this lesson as I.

What Does the Price of Gold Tell Us Historically?

                                
      What Does the Price of Gold, Silver &           Platinum tell us Historically?

Was gold struck down by lightning? After hitting a new high of $1921 per troy oz. the price of gold retreated in the face of some heavy selling which very briefly brought it down below $1800. Spot gold is now trading $1,581 per troy ounce as you can see on http://www.kitco.com/ daily. Following that, the silver price hit a low at $26.3 – though both metals have staged a decent rally since then.

                      Although the gold price is still up by 10.22% this year, the silver price is currently down 8.21% for the year. Platinum have failed worse, goign down by 20.35%. Simply put: gold is a safe-haven metal in a way that the other precious metals are not. All are safe havens to the extent that they represent tangible assets with unique properties and industrial utility – in contrast to currency or bonds – but as economic fears have grown over the course of the second half of the year, industrial utility has been the last thing on investors’ minds. Below, I've included the closing gold prices as we approach this new year.
                   

                More importantly, anyone who understands that gold is money can see why demand for it, by definition, rises during deflations.Whether we see ‘70s style inflation, ‘30s style deflation or a more extreme cases in our future, gold is STILL the best insurance. The price of gold rose in all those scenarios. As long as real interest rates remain negative, the opportunity cost of saving in gold is zero. Sell your gold while you can, get the highest rates while they are still fluctuating. Holding on to your gold, silver, or platinum ensures nothing. It is a seller's market.

The Truth of GIA vs. EGL Certification, all the differences involved.

                           

                       The Truth of GIA vs. EGL Certification

Before purchasing a diamond, it is important to ensure it has been certified by a credible gemological organization. Both the Gemological Institute of America and the European Gemological Laboratory are credible organizations known worldwide for grading and certifying diamonds. Both organizations offer similar diamond certification reports; however, there are a few differences between the organizations when it comes to diamond value and grading standards. Both GIA and EGL are very reliable independent diamond grading laboratories. They both employ leading gemologist and use the highest technologies to grade diamonds. Both set industry standards and are well respected.  Both GIA and EGL do not make diamonds, rather diamonds are sent to them to get a completely independent and objective diamond grading report.

The GIA in a non-profit institute, established in 1931. The purpose of the GIA is to protect purchasers of gemstones through education and research and determine the quality of diamonds through certification. The GIA is an international organization with world headquarters located in Carlsbad, California.

The EGL is an international company that also focuses on gemstone certification, education and research. The company is privately owned and was originally founded as part of an international network in Europe in 1974. The EGL USA division was founded in 1977 with locations in New York, California and Canada.

The GIA diamond report grades shape, measurements, weight, depth percentage, table percentage, girdle thickness, cutlet size, polish, symmetry, clarity grade, color grade, fluorescence, internal and external inclusions and adds comments about the diamond.  The EGL diamond report offers a more detailed report grading all of the above, plus the crown angle and pavilion angle of a diamond.

The EGL is regarded by some jewelers as offering more lenient grading standards, while the GIA is regarded as offering more strict grading standards when reporting the quality of diamonds. In other words, while the GIA tends to give borderline diamonds lower grades, the EGL tends to give borderline diamonds higher grades.

Both buyers and jewelers consider the EGL to have less strict grading standards than the GIA. Diamonds graded by the EGL are typically valued somewhat lower than diamonds graded by the GIA and can usually be purchased at a lower cost. For instance, a diamond with an EGL certification that has the same exact clarity, cut and color as a diamond with a GIA certification, will typically be less expensive.

I will say one final thing though, you will never find an EGL certified diamond that sells for the same price as a GIA certified diamond if they are the same color and clarity, the EGL will always be less. On the other hand, you will find plenty of EGL certified diamonds that are graded just as accurately as the same GIA certified diamond for much less money. You just have to do your homework and trust in a professional buyer or jeweler to help you make healthy assumptions. The choice is yours!

Round Brilliant, Timeless...

          


       Round Brilliant cut diamonds, often called ‘Round diamonds’, or ‘Tolkowsky’s cut’, are the most expensive cuts, and with good reason. They are what is called an ‘Ideal cut’. Cutting an unpolished stone into any other shape usually allows more carat weight to be retained, but the Round Brilliant cut is designed to reflect almost all the light that touches it.
    
     Besides, it takes a diamond cutter 4 to 5 times as long to cut a Round diamond to ideal proportions for the highest polish and symmetry ratings than it does to cut a diamond to average cut parameters.
Even though Round Brilliant cut diamonds are the most expensive in the market, they make up the overwhelming majority of diamonds found in engagement rings, and are popular as stud earrings and in pendants. Today, these loose diamonds account for more than 75% of all diamonds sold.


         The Round Brilliant cut is designed to maximize the brilliance of the diamond, making the stone appear to sparkle and dance in the light. It has traditionally been the choice for engagement and wedding rings, and is ideal for today’s popular vintage settings.

Useful tips

• The Round Brilliant cut is the most versatile of all the diamond shapes because it can be used in several types of jewelry and in countless styles. The round shape complements almost every design or setting, from classic solitaires to the most avant-garde designs.



• Apart from individual stones, the Round Brilliant cut is highly popular as a center stone and as side stones in both modern and vintage jewelry.



• If your Round Brilliant diamond has an Ideal cut or a Very Good cut, the setting should not be strong, but minimal, so that most of the diamond is exposed to the light.

      Round Brilliant cuts can be set into four or six prongs, based on the design of the setting, or into a bezel mounting, which is a metal band that runs around the edge of the diamond to hold it securely in the setting.


    If you have a Round Brilliant diamond, or any cut diamond, gold, silver, watches or coins, we are experts in maximizing your opportunity to make money.  We are Suffolk Gold Buyers, Voted Long Island Press' official winner, 2011.   Call us at 631-651-5100 and have an expert look at your diamond!!!!!  

 

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. 

Antique, Estate & Vintage? What are the differences?

      In jewelry terms, estate, vintage and antique jewelry have similar meanings but the differences can greatly influence the value of the jewelry pieces. If you own something that was also previously owned, specifically pieces of jewelry, it’s important to know the differences.

             Although estate jewelry connotes a piece that has been passed down from generations passed, it refers to any piece of jewelry that was previously owned, regardless of its age. It can be broken down into two types, vintage jewelry (less than 100 years) and antique jewelry (more than 100 years old.)

            Vintage jewelry is jewelry that was created up to the point it is considered an antique. Today, vintage generally means a piece that was made after the 1920’s and includes the “Retro Era” the glamorous, Hollywood-inspired 1940’s jewelry, the Jacqueline Kennedy inspired 60’s jewelry, and even the dramatic and bold jewelry of the1980’s.

              According to government guidelines, antiques are items that are at least 100 years old. Popular jewelry created in historic eras that are still commonly found in the U.S. through estate sales generally being in the rare Georgian Era (1714-1837), in which every piece was hand-crafted and therefore very valuable. The Victorian years provided jewelry fashion with three distinct eras that include Early Romantic Victorian (1837-1850), Grand Mid-Victorian (1860-1880) and Late Aesthetic Victorian (1885-1990). The simplified jewelry of the Arts & Crafts Movement (1894-1923) was a hand-made jewelry artisan’s rebellion to the Industrial Revolution, while at the same time Art Nouveau Jewelry (1895-1915) was popularized by the famous French jeweler LaLique. Edwardian Era-jewelry, named after Queen Victoria’s son, Edward was popular during 1901-1910, followed by the visually forward Art Deco Style (1920-1935.)

Since the cost of buying estate jewelry often costs much less than its original price when it was new, it can be an excellent choice if you’re considering buying gold and diamonds as investments. Also a great way to make money as you want to see. The most valuable pieces will be those fine jewelry pieces that are considered antiques and are still in excellent condition.

          Contact us at 631-651-5100 or visit us online at http://www.goldbuyernewyork.com/, come see us at our beautiful boutique location in Northport, NY.  837A Ft. Salonga Rd. Northport, NY 11768. 

        We pay out the highest prices out as we are luxury buyers.

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!

The Golden Age is now.

The golden, gilded age is now & the power of knowledge is always immeasurable. The time to sell gold and silver is current. Begin by briefly understanding the process of the quality of gold you own.
Gold is one of the most exquisite and valued metals in the world. Found in bodies of water and the earth’s shell, gold jewels have been eternally popular. Naturally gold can varies in its forms, there is an arranging system designed to alert the buyer and the seller what value it holds in the forms of the term “karats.” This system is used to designate the ratio of pure gold a piece contains.
Ranging in titles from 10K to 24K, the number is also indicative of the worth of the jewelry. Twenty-four karat is too soft to use for jewelry, so other alloys are added to strengthen the gold. Although pure gold is yellow, it can also vary in color. When mixed with certain metals, a rose, green, white and even a two-tone hue. This allows for beautiful variations in style and color, but also affects value. Certainly, as the purity of the gold decreases, the alloy in the jewelry increases.
Geography and the karat number of the gold are also linked. In Europe, the most popular are 18K and 14K. In the US, it’s 14K and 10K. In Australia it’s 18K and 9K. In India, the Middle East and South East Asia it’s 22K. While in China and Hong Kong the most popular is 23.76K, nearly pure gold.
Pure gold, or 24 karat gold, is soft and yellow. As aforementioned, the karat determines the ratio of gold to alloy. Eighteen karat gold is 75 percent gold, 14 karat gold is 60 percent gold, 12 karat gold is 50 percent gold and 10 karat gold is 40 percent gold.

Gold Price and 1st Blog Post

Gold Prices are near all times high still! With the price of gold closing at 1743 on this Halloween weekend. The price of silver is also gravitating towards the all time high level of $50+ dollars an ounce. Long Islanders have been out and about selling their precious metals and valuables while the iron is hot! At our locations in suffolk county we have been seeing a rise in the number of gold sellers and silver sellers getting the best prices for all jewelry, gold, silver, platinum, and diamonds.
The picture above is of a 1 Ounce silver bullion coin. It is from 2006 and we just recently purchased a handfull of these beautiful coins. The silver content in this coin is 1 ounce of silver! This is a great coin and a beautiful pieces. The gentleman who sold us this coin was from Huntington and had a nice collection of pieces.