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

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??      

Evil Eye Jewelry Isn't Evil after all :)

                    Okay, for the most part, I am not trendy, but I do, however love the evil eye motif.  It stretches all cultures and it's a huge celebrity trend right now. These clever incarnations of this mystic symbol are popping up all over the fashion sites. This kind of jewelry does not discriminate and is easily adaptable between fashion personalities.
                 Firstly, we should acknowledge that wearing the evil eye is not an evil act at all. This is no up side down cross my friends! In fact, wearing evil eye jewelry is supposed to be a protective measure. That little evil eye symbol represents ill wishes from others who are giving ‘the evil eye.’ Ooooh spooky! They say this is especially true for feelings on envy from other people, casting out negative energy when they often do not even realize it. So, as a protective measure, you wear the evil eye jewelry to mirror the ill wishes back at the gazer! So clever and USEFUL when you are an eye catching fashionista like all of our readers.
                Without taking this too literally (hey, this is fashion after all), we are currently in love with rocking this little symbol in the most backwards of ways! Colored in powder pink, stuck amongst a collection of miss matched charms and especially given as gifts to frienemies. This is a fun trend with a very distinct look. And here in the United States, the evil eye doesn’t have much of a religious or superstitious vibe. Or, rather, it has been very diluted.
            These little evil eye jewelry pieces can be found in every store, from the $5 Forever 21  to the pieces which are diamond encusted and in the thousands.  As the saying goes, if you want it badly enough… you can find it online .

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

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!!

Even Kristen Stewart Likes Spoon Rings World!!!

                   Now, I'm not a twilight fan per say but one thing I do know is that Kristen Stewart broke fashion "rules" on more than one occasion. She can pull-off casual by donning her signature worn-in Vans and stunning dresses straight from the runway. She mixes and matches her tomboy and glam-inspired looks without hesitation because she’s never been afraid of showcasing her brand of style. This includes her unique accessory choices.

               Kristen and I do have one thing is common. WE LOVE SPOON RINGS!! One of Kristen’s favorite pieces are her different spoon rings. I first noticed her wearing it on Conan O'Brien. Then I began to look for it everytime I saw her on something :) She went from Twilight screenings, to all over her hometown of Los Angeles. The antique feel of this ring makes it her go-to piece for both casual and formal occasions. Check it out!

Celebrity Engagment Rings!

                                                    Celebrity Engagement Rings

   It’s a fact that celebrities love everything class apart. They like to get exclusively best of the world. And we are always quite curious to know what is something new emerging at their end. Now, I myself am not one for the diamonds ;) But take a look at what the celebrities are weighing down their ring fingers with. http://www.celebritybrideguide.com/celebrity-engagement-rings/?pid=2358.
      Now, I may not love diamonds for myself, but what I do love is a little photography. Check out this genius engagement photoshoot!  Loves it!  http://lelanewyork.blogspot.com/2011/11/nyc-real-engagement-photo-shoot.html

Celebrities LOVE Cartier's Love Bracelets... Est. 1969

                                            Everyone loves Cartier & Everyone Loves Love.

        

         So, perfect match. Simplicity and beauty. The love bracelet (styled L⊝Ve, with the horizontal line inside the letter "O" alluding to the bracelet's locking mechanism) is a famous piece of jewelry designed in 1969 by Aldo Cipullo for the French jeweler Cartier SA. The bracelet quickly became popular for its provocative, and from what I've read, intentional resemblence to a chastity belt!  Cartier (as of 2009) continues to make the bracelets, and has since created other products based on the original bracelet's design, including cufflinks, rings, necklaces and watches, expanding the design into the jewelry line. 

      

Unlike traditional bracelets, which are either wide enough to slip them over the hand onto the wrist or can readily be opened in order to put them on, the Love bracelet is designed to be opened only using a special screwdriver that is supplied with every bracelet. The screwdriver is also available in the form of a necklace, allowing the bracelet to be "locked" onto one person while the "key" is kept around the neck of another as a symbol for their commitment to their relationship. The screwdriver does not act as a secure key, however.  The Love bracelet can actually be opened with any standard slotted screwdriver. In addition, ten percent of sales go towards various charities.  Over the past three years, Cartier has donated more than $4.5 million to 24 global charities from the sales of its Love Charity bracelet, which many celebrities have chosen to endorse.

   Check out these celebs rockin the Cartier Love Bracelet & Cartier Love Charity bracelet.

Kourtney twitpic'd this months ago, over a dinner plate, I just don't know Kourtney but she can pull off almost anything. So, it works. :)

Even Mother Monster, Lady GaGa rocks is seen wearing the Cartier Love bracelet, not just for it's beauty but in tandum with it's meaning.

Eva Mendes has been the face behind the Cartier Love Charity bracelet. She is seen here at the premiere event but has continues to strive in the awareness of the mission.

                                                    How gorgeous, romantic and timeless is this piece??

Is it Silver or Silverplate? How can one tell?

                               Is my piece Silver or Silverplate? How can I tell?
       I often encounter antique pieces marked with hallmarks other than the typical .925 to identify the piece as sterling. Sterling Silver flatware manufactured in America after 1849 is ALWAYS stamped with one or the following markings:

• The word STERLING stamped on it
• 925 stamped on it
• STER stamped on it.

       If, for example, your flatware is stamped "Wm & Rogers" and "IS", it is not sterling silver. The IS merely indicates "International Silver" which was the company that actually manufactured the set. Because the pieces have no stamping to indicate Sterling, they most definitely are NOT sterling. Manufacturers never neglected to mention the word Sterling on their pure silver sets, while they always "neglected" to mention the lack of purity on mere plated material.

        British sterling carries 4-5 stamped hallmarks identifying the company, the location, date of manufacture, etc. These can be matched with photos in the silver hallmark database (google it). Similarly, American manufacturers employ hallmarks or sponsor's marks that can be identified by matching photos.

       The first patent for silver plating was issued in 1840. Older pieces are sterling, although they may not be stamped as such.

      Some of the early makers of silverplate flatware seen regularly in the store are Rogers Bros, Rogers & Bros. FB Rogers Silver, Wm Rogers, the Meriden Britannia Company, Middletown Plate Co. (Superior Silver Company) and others. Many of these names were used well into the 20th century. In 1898, this group of companies formed the International Silver Company.

       Some of the silverplate manufacturers also released sterling patterns, but these are stamped "sterling," whereas the plate is not. Many of the sterling pattern numbers are recorded in a database or databases.

      Some of the stamps used to distinguish silverplated tableware are: IS (International Silver), IC, Brittania, EPNS (Electical Plated Nickle Silver), A1, Triple Plate, 3x, Quadruple Plate, 4x, Silver on Copper, EP, EP on Copper, and a whole host of initial and pictorial marks that can be matched with pictures in the silverplate database.

 Myth #1: Silverplate is magnetic; silver is not. In truth, neither is magnetic. Stainless steel shows varying degrees of magnetism.

Myth #2: Silverplate doesn't tarnish like genuine silver. In truth, both will tarnish, because both are genuine silver. The difference is, sterling is sterling silver all the way through; plate only has a thin skin of silver over a base metal. Stainless steel doesn't tarnish.
      Unfortunately, to buyers, silverplate has no scrap value. Even the thickest plate is only about .20mm thick, and refineries won't buy it because the process of reclaiming silver from plate is too expensive.

     Pictured here is a William Rogers set which has a higher retail value as an antique than for silver value.

 

I have also enclosed some resources to evaluate your flatware or silverware.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5480931_identify-vintage-sterling-flatware.html

http://www.blurtit.com/q570058.html

https://www.antiquecupboard.com/



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.

Being green; recycle your gold for ca$h.

I'm not a magician, but I can turn your gold into a pile of ca$h!!!

It's the right time to recycle your gold jewelry. The price of gold tends to rise when the economy is doing poorly. Over the last two years, gold prices have risen roughly an astounding 70 percent! Though the price has dipped since reaching record highs, gold still shines infinitely.
Gold and silver are markedly recyclable. By selling your gold and silver to be refined and “recycled” we continue to be globally and ethically conscious while making you money! Gold has been recycled since ancient times. Once gold comes out of the ground, it never goes back in. It's used over and over again. Unlike paper money, you can’t reprint gold.
The kind of gold you can sell ranges from inexpensive gold trinkets to dental gold to solid gold coins and fine jewelry. Simple or broken gold jewelry, as well as parts of a set, are best for selling as scrap. If your gold contains diamonds or is a designer piece, you will get a better price if you sell them as jewelry.

Karat VS Carat

Karat VS Carat

It is an thought-provoking question as it throws quite a few people off since karat(purity) is legitimately spelled with a “C”(Carat) making the word closely the same as used for evaluating gem stones.
When it comes to the purity of gold it is quantified in karat purity. The shortened version is shown as kt. This is articulated in a system of 24, 24kt being pure gold or 100% pure.
Where people get mixed up is that gem stones such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires, including many others are measures in a system of carat weight. Carat weight is a system of very small values so it lends itself to gem stones. For example a stone with 1.00 carat weigh equal 0.2 grams. Now 0.2 grams does not seem like much but if I know many people that would be happy with a 1.00 carat weight diamond.
This can be confusing but the best way to teach oneself is to remember was that gem stones are always pure and are never diluted and to measure them you would want to know the weight of them which would give you the value.
For gold, you want to know the purity in karats and the weight in grams or penny weights to understand how much you have.
Another fact to remember is it comes down to what people really want to know most about gem stones VS gold. For gem stones one would want know how large the stone is, followed by clarity. Whereas for gold sellers/buyers, we want to know how pure it is then access it’s worth.

To your gold selling success…!!

Rolex Watches

Stainless Steel Rolex Daytona Chronograph

Rolex has long been regarded at the staple of fine watches and time pieces. If you look at the wrists of many athletes, pop stars, and watch enthusiasts there is a high likely hood you will be looking at a Rolex. The brand was founded in 1905 in London. The company produces about 2000 watches a day, and is one of the largest companies worldwide. The company has an extensive line of fine watches such as the day date, Submariner, GMT, Daytona, Yachtmaster, Deep Sea, and many more. Our company has purchased over 1000 used Rolex watches from the public in our New York, Nassau, Queens, and Suffolk locations. We find that of all the watch brands we purchase, Rolex has the best resale value on the second hand market and international market. Just recently we were lucky enough to acquire a rare Rolex Chronograph in our Huntington store in Nassau County which is a collectors item, and will be put on auction internationally. If you have a Rolex watch, or any fine watch you are interested in getting valued and sold please contact us for more information.