Sparkling wishes for the holiday season

From all of us at Rock N Gold Creations —sparkling wishes for the holiday season.

Christmas is almost here! We are open and ready to help with your last-minute gift needs.

Holiday hours: Monday-Friday 10am to 6pm

Saturday 10am to 4pm

• Gift wrapping available

• Centrally located

• Free, easy parking

• No waiting!

This year, choose a precious gift that will last a lifetime.

May’s Birthstone, the Entrancing Emerald, Ushers in Spring

The intense brilliant green of May’s birthstone, the emerald, is the perfect symbol of spring, a time of new growth and rebirth. The wonderful green color of emerald is without compare in the gem kingdom. Emerald’s precious green color comes from small amounts of chromium and is enhanced by traces of iron. The deeper the color, the more valuable the stone. 

Example of an emerald-cut emerald

The emerald is a member of the beryl family. The green crystals grow slowly within metamorphic rocks and are restricted in size by the rock, making large emeralds rare and costly. Although emeralds are relatively hard and durable, they must be protected from blows because the inclusions found within make them susceptible to breaking. 

Emeralds usually contain inclusions and other flaws, but they are the only gemstone for which these inclusions are not considered a flaw that reduces their value. The French call the tiny fractures or inclusions often found within emeralds “jardin,” or garden, because of their resemblance to foliage. Indeed, flaws are considered part of the character of an emerald, an assurance to the purchaser of a natural stone.


Emeralds were first mined in Ancient Egypt in the extremely hot, snake- and scorpion-infested eastern desert region of the country, 2,000 years before the birth of Cleopatra. During her reign, that famous queen claimed the emerald mines as her own, as this was her favorite stone. She often wore lavish emerald jewelry, and was said to bestow visiting dignitaries with large emeralds carved with her likeness when they left Egypt.   

Emeralds in their natural state: specimen from
the Malyshevo Mine, Sverdlovskaya Oblast', Russia.

Ancient Egyptians would also engrave Emeralds with the symbol for foliage, to represent eternal youth, and bury these jewels with their dead. In ancient Rome, the emerald was associated with fertility and rebirth, and dedicated to Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.


In the sixteenth century, the Spanish Conquistadors in the New World were amazed to find the natives wearing emeralds larger and more magnificent than any they had ever seen. Although the natives attempted to hide their emerald mines, the Spaniards soon discovered and conquered most of them. But it was not until twenty years later that they found the abundant mining operation held by the Muzo Indians, in the area known today as Colombia, and another thirty years to overtake this aggressive tribe. The Muzo mine remains the source of the most prized emerald specimens to this day. 


Colombian emeralds have a deep green color without any blue tint. Typically the deepest green gems are the most coveted. And on occasion a rare Trapiche emerald, with six rays radiating from the center, is found. The rays are actually inclusions that have formed a hexagonal shape. Emeralds are also found in Brazil, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Madagascar, Nigeria, and Russia. 


Today, the most common way to cut emeralds is an “Emerald Cut,” a long rectangular shape with large flat surfaces. Emeralds are also cut into cabochons and used as beads. Some people believe that wearing an emerald brings wisdom, growth, and patience. This explains why a gift of emerald for an anniversary is considered symbolic of love and fidelity.

Use Your Synergy Card and Earn Points Toward More Bling!

Do you have your Synergy card yet? Rock N Gold is partnering with Synergy World to bring more rewards to our customers. Synergy cards are both a rewards card and a gift card. With your Synergy card, you’ll earn points for every purchase at Rock N Gold. When you reach 30 points (at $1,000), $30 will automatically be loaded onto your card for use at Rock N Gold! As for referrals, you’ll receive 1 point for every dollar your referred customer spends. For example, if they spend $1,000 you’ll receive $10 added to your card automatically. USe your RGC card at other locations to earn rewards with them and save.

Also: give the Synergy card as a gift card, and it can be used at any place that accepts Synergy cards, to earn more points. Make sure you’re signed up for a Synergy card and start earning points toward more bling!

Forged in the Earth to Delight People Forever… April’s Birthstone, the Diamond

“A kiss on the hand may be quite continental, but diamonds are a girl’s best friend.”


Born in April? Lucky, lucky you. You will have a lifelong excuse—as if you need one—to treat yourself to what is still the most popular and valuable gemstone on earth: the dazzling diamond.


Is there any stone more beloved and desired than the diamond, April's birthstone? Considering its rarity and value, it’s a tribute to the diamond’s appeal that so many women today own at least one, and many men do too.


The diamond is remarkably simple in its composition, yet stunning in its unique ability to reflect and refract light into vivid flashes of brilliant color, for which humans have always revered it. The ancient Hindus called the diamond “vajra,” meaning lightning, because of the sparks of light it throws off, as well as its invincible strength. The diamond is harder than any other substance on earth—four times harder than the next hardest natural mineral, corundum (sapphire and ruby). In 16th-century England, uncut diamond crystals were set into “scribbling rings,” the exposed points used by lovers to etch romantic messages into windowpanes. Diamonds have been used as cutting and engraving tools since early times, for carving cameos from stone, cutting jade, and drilling pearls.

The diamond’s value is not arrived at arbitrarily. It has many qualities that make it the most expensive and prized gemstone on earth. If you are a fan of superlatives, this list is for you:

Pear cut

• As mentioned above, a diamond is the hardest substance on earth by a wide margin. Nothing can scratch a diamond other than another diamond. And a diamond can scratch anything, even a sapphire.


• Pure diamond is completely colorless and transparent over a larger range of wavelengths (from the ultraviolet into the far infrared) than any other solid or liquid substance. Nothing else even comes close.


• Diamond conducts heat better than anything—five times better than the second best element, silver. (This is the basis for testing diamonds, as it’s easy to do and can’t be faked.)


• Diamond has a high index of refraction (ability to bend light), which gives it the high luster called adamantine. Diamond also has a relatively high optical dispersion, which gives it the flash of “fire” that makes it so desirable.


Diamonds have been revered throughout history, embellishing the items of royalty like crowns, swords, and emblems, as well as jewelry. Diamonds have also been credited for having certain medicinal properties. During the middle ages, they were thought to heal illness, but only if the ailing person took the diamond into bed to warm it up first. 


Historically, only the elite could own diamonds. In the 13th century, Louis IX of France even passed a law reserving diamonds only for kings. But as more sophisticated methods of diamond mining and exporting evolved, diamonds became more plentiful and accessible to others. 

A diamond before cutting

Formed deep within the earth where there is intense heat and pressure, diamonds are simply crystallized carbon. Volcanic activity brings the gemstones to the earth’s surface, where they are found either in volcanic rock formations or washed out into rivers. India is the first riverbed source of diamond mining, but today diamonds are found primarily in Australia, the Soviet Union, and Africa.



Believe it or not, an uncut diamond often looks like nothing more than a plain pebble upon the beach. The stones’ true beauty was not revealed until gemstone cutting and polishing techniques were perfected in the 16th century. Today, the value and appeal of a diamond depends largely upon how skillfully it is cut and faceted. Diamonds may be nearly any color in the rainbow plus browns, grays, and white. Shades of yellow are most common, followed by colorless. Blue, black, reddish, and greenish are more rare, and more valuable.

Princess or round cut

The ancient Greeks believed that the fire of a diamond reflected the flame of everlasting love. In 1477, Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented his fiancée, Mary of Burgundy, with a diamond ring, this beginning the tradition in the West of presenting the diamond as a promise of marriage and a symbol of everlasting love, now adopted the world over. It’s believed the origin of wearing the engagement ring on the third finger of the left hand is rooted in the ancient Egyptian belief that the “vena amoris,” or vein of love, runs from the heart to the top of this finger. 

From the stunning displays of designer stones flashed by movie stars on the red carpet to the modest engagement rings of young brides, diamonds continue to enjoy great popularity people from all walks of life. As actress Zsa Zsa Gabor said, summing up this universal love of diamonds: “I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back.”


“Men grow cold as girls grow old, and we all lose our charms in the end. But square-cut or pear-shaped, these rocks don't lose their shape—diamonds are a girl's best friend.”
-----------------------------------------
Carrying on the great tradition of diamond jewelry, RGC specializes in creating the most unique and perfect expression of your love and commitment in engagement rings and bridal sets. For all the information you need about buying diamonds, such as an explanation of the Four Cs, please visit our website.

Simon Says…

The late Elizabeth Taylor wearing the Taylor-Burton diamond.

If, as Marilyn Monroe sang, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” then the incomparable Elizabeth Taylor, whom we lost recently, had a lot of VERY good friends. Taylor’s gifts of jewels from her two-time husband Richard Burton put her on the all-time list of diamond collectors. Starting with Burton’s first jewelry purchase for Taylor, the 33.19-carat Krupp Diamond, in 1968, the superstar couple’s names were on the list of important diamond auctions. (By the way, Taylor wore this magnificent stone in a ring almost daily, until her death.)


For her 40th birthday in 1972, Burton gave Taylor a heart-shaped diamond known as the Taj-Mahal, a large flat stone with an Arabic inscription on either side, set with rubies and diamonds in a yellow gold rope-pattern necklace. “This diamond has so many carats, its almost a turnip," Burton said about it at the time. But by the far the best known of his purchases was the 69.42-carat pear-shaped stone later to be called the Taylor-Burton Diamond. It was cut from a rough stone weighing 240.80 carats found in the Premier Mine in 1966, and subsequently bought by famed jeweler Harry Winston. You can read a fascinating account of how the stone came into Taylor’s possession, and what happened to it after that, here: http://famousdiamonds.tripod.com/taylor-burtondiamond.html


Hollywood icons like Monroe and Taylor helped give diamonds the meaning and significance they have today. Although you may not be looking for a 60-carat stone, in today’s diamond market, it’s a good time to add more friends to your collection! Diamond prices are currently good, but like everything else, as the economy changes the diamond market will change with it. Medium diamonds are your best value. The collection diamond prices are still holding strong, but some good values can be found depending on the size you may be looking for. Come in to see our diamonds—we only carry premium to ideal collection diamonds, along with some great non-certified diamonds with our own specifications to give you the best value.


Trust Your Instincts... RGC Designed


Best regards,
Simon Mattar

The History of Jewelry, Part 5

Jewelry of Asia

China
One of the earliest cultures to begin making jewelry in Asia were the Chinese, around 5,000 years ago. Chinese jewelry designs were inspired by religion, featuring Buddhist symbols, a tradition that continues to this day.

The Chinese used more silver than gold in their jewelry, and decorated it with their favourite color, blue. Early on, they tied blue kingfisher feathers onto jewelry, and later, blue gems and glass were incorporated into their designs. However, jade was preferred over any other stone. The Chinese revered jade because of its hardness, durability, and beauty. It is so hard that it had to be fashioned using diamonds. The first Chinese jade pieces were very simple, but as time progressed, they evolved into more complex designs. Jade rings from between the 4th and 7th centuries BC show evidence of having been worked with a compound milling machine, hundreds of years before the first development of such equipment in the west.


In China, jewelry was worn frequently by both men and women to show their nobility and wealth, and in later years, to accentuate beauty. Women wore highly detailed gold and silver headdresses and other items, while men wore decorative hat buttons to show their rank, and silver or gold rings. Women also wore bands of gold on their foreheads, much like women in the Indus Valley. This was an early type of tiara, often decorated with precious gems. The most common jewelry worn in China was earrings, worn by both men and women. Amulets with a Chinese symbol or dragon were also common. Dragons, Chinese symbols, and phoenixes are frequently found on jewelry designs. Most Chinese graves found by archaeologists contain decorative jewelry.


India
India has the longest continuous legacy of jewelry making anywhere, dating back to Ramayana and Mahabharata times. While Western jewelry traditions were at the mercy of the rise and fall of empires, India enjoyed a continuous development of its art forms for five millennia. One of the first to start jewelry making were the people of the Indus Valley (present-day Pakistan and northwest India). By 1500 BC, residents of the Indus Valley were creating gold earrings and necklaces, bead necklaces, and metallic bangles. Before 2100 BC, before metals were widely used, the largest jewelry trade in the Indus Valley region was in beads, made from rough stones, that were placed into a hot oven and heated until they turned deep red, a highly prized color. The red stone would then be chipped to the right size and be bored with a hole with primitive drills. The beads were then polished and sometimes painted with designs. Bead making was often passed down through generations, with children of bead makers learning how to work beads from an early age.



Jewelry in the Indus Valley was worn predominantly by women and girls. They wore many clay or shell bracelets, shaped like doughnuts and painted black. Over time, clay bangles were replaced by more durable ones. Today in India, bangles are made out of metal or glass. As in China, women frequently wore were thin bands of gold on their brows, as well as earrings, primitive brooches, chokers, and gold rings. Some men in the Indus Valley wore beads, including tiny ones crafted to be woven into men’s and women’s hair.


India was the first country to mine diamonds, with some mines dating back to 296 BC. Realizing their valuable qualities, the Indians initiated the diamond trade, which flourished about 1,000 AD. Today, many Indian jewelry designs and traditions are still in use, and elaborate gold jewelry is commonplace in Indian ceremonies and weddings.

March’s Birthstone: the Brilliant and Beautiful Aquamarine

Picture the brilliant blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and you’ll understand why March’s birthstone is named the aquamarine—from the Roman word “aqua,” meaning water, and “mare,” meaning sea, this pale blue gem does indeed resemble the color of seawater. The ancient Romans believed that the aquamarine was sacred to Neptune, the god of the sea, having washed onto shore from the jewel boxes of sirens. Early sailors wore aquamarine talismans, engraved with the likeness of Neptune, as protection against dangers at sea. 

This association with water led to the early belief that the aquamarine was particularly powerful when immersed. Water in which aquamarines had been submerged was used in ancient times to heal a variety of illnesses of the heart, liver, stomach, mouth and throat. Aquamarines were also used to reverse poisoning and to aid in fortune telling. 

The aquamarine is a member of the beryl family, a mineral that crystallizes within large-grained igneous rocks on the earth’s crust. As long as 2,000 years ago, beryl was used to correct vision, and it continues to be used today in the manufacture of eyeglasses. It is a very hard mineral, making the aquamarine a durable gemstone for use in jewelry. 

Aquamarine varies in color from clear blue-green to a light sky blue. The majority of aquamarines, unlike other gemstones, are flawless. The largest deposits can be found in Brazil, but other sources of aquamarine are in China, India, Australia, Africa, and the United States. 

The hardness and durability of aquamarine make it a fine gemstone, and its light blue or aqua color makes it a fine choice when the harsher colors of some other gemstones would overwhelm or distract from an outfit. Its typical delicate color allows it to be used in a larger stone where its beauty can be impressive.

Aquamarine jewelry is associated with beauty, honesty, loyalty, and happiness. A gift of aquamarine symbolizes both safety and security, especially within long-standing relationships. It has even been said that the aquamarine reawakens love in a tired marriage, so if you want to bring back that spark in your partner’s eyes, you might consider this gem as an anniversary gift!

Enter our Facebook Contest and Celebrate St. Patty’s Day with a $50 Gift Card!

Have you Liked us on Facebook yet? Why not write a review?

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish, the first five Facebook fans to write a review in our Facebook Reviews section before March 17, 2011, will receive a $50 gift card! What could be easier? Go to our Facebook page and post your review now!

The History of Jewelry, Part 4

Romanticism
Starting in the late 18th century, the Romantic movement had a profound impact on the development of western jewelry. The public was fascinated by ancient treasures being discovered through the birth of modern archaeology, and also with Medieval and Renaissance art. Changing social conditions and the start of the Industrial Revolution also led to the growth of a middle class that wanted and could afford jewelry. Driven by this demand, the use of industrial processes, cheaper alloys, and stone substitutes led to the development of the first types of costume jewelry. 


Distinguished goldsmiths continued to flourish, however, as wealthier patrons sought jewelry that stood apart from that of the masses, with precious metals and stones but also superior artistic and technical work. 


It was during this period that a unique new category developed, quite in keeping with the philosophy of romanticism: mourning jewelry. It originated in England, where Queen Victoria was often seen wearing jet jewelry after the death of her beloved husband, Prince Albert. This allowed the wearer to continue wearing jewelry even while in deep mourning for the death of a loved one.



In 1837, Charles Lewis Tiffany formed Tiffany & Co., putting the United States on the jewelry world map and gaining fame for creating dazzling commissions for people such as the wife of President Abraham Lincoln. Later the flagship store in New York would win fame as the setting of the film “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” In France, Pierre Cartier founded Cartier SA in 1847, while 1884 saw the founding of Bulgari in Italy. The modern production studio catering to the general public had been born, moving away from the dominance of individual craftsmen and wealthy patronage.


This was also the time of the first major collaboration between East and West: collaboration in Pforzheim between German and Japanese artists lead to Shakudō plaques set into filigree frames being created by the Stoeffler firm in 1885. The summit of the Romantic period in jewelry were the masterpieces of the Russian artist Peter Carl Fabergé, working for the Imperial Russian court, whose Fabergé eggs and jewelry pieces are still considered as the epitome of the goldsmith’s art.

Art Nouveau
In the 1890s, jewelers began to explore the potential of the growing Art Nouveau style and the closely related German Jugendstil and British (and to some extent American) Arts and Crafts Movement.


The many distinct features of Art Nouveau jewelry include a focus on the female form and an emphasis on color, most commonly rendered through the use of enameling techniques including basse-taille, champleve, cloisonné, and plique-à-jour. Popular motifs included orchids, irises, pansies, vines, swans, peacocks, snakes, dragonflies, mythological creatures, and the female silhouette.


A leading figure in this trend was René Lalique, working for the Paris shop of Samuel Bing. German input came from the Darmstadt Artists’ Colony and the Wiener Werkstätte, while in Denmark, Georg Jensen, though best known for his silverware, also contributed significant pieces. In England, Liberty & Co. and the British arts & crafts movement of Charles Robert Ashbee contributed more geometric but still characteristic designs. The new style moved the focus of the jeweler’s art from the setting of stones to the artistic design of the piece itself; Lalique’s dragonfly design is one of the best examples of this. Enamels played a large role in technique, while the most recognizable design feature remaining sinuous organic lines.


Art Deco
With the end of World War I, another change in public attitudes ushered in a more sober style of dress and ornament. In the 1920 and ‘30s, more effective manufacturing techniques for mass production of high-quality jewelry, combined with growing political tensions, the after-effects of the war, and a reaction against the perceived decadence of the turn of the 20th century all led to the popularity of a simpler style of jewelry known as Art Deco. Walter Gropius and the German Bauhaus movement, with their philosophy that there be no barriers between artists and craftsmen, led to new, stylistically simplified forms. Modern materials such as plastics and aluminum were also introduced, and of note are the chromed pendants of Russian-born Bauhaus master Naum Slutzky. Technical mastery became as valued as the material itself; in the west, for example, this period saw the reinvention of granulation by the German Elizabeth Treskow, in which precious metals are decorated with small spheres fused to a base piece.

Simon Says

I see many clients each month who come in for us to clean and inspect their jewels. Sometimes they’re proud to tell us they have not taken off their wedding rings for years. That means they are wearing pieces with a lot of bacteria and dirt on their skin that can sometime cause a rash or even skin loss around their fingers. They may even think they’re allergic to their ring, while most often it is the bacteria from lotions, soaps, dirt, foods, etc. that is stuck inside and on the surface of their jewels. Not only is this unhealthy, but it dulls the shine and beauty of the ring. Why would you spend thousands of dollars on the most significant symbol of your lifelong commitment, only to let it get dirty and battered year after year?


We have a step-by-step procedure to see what is the issue, the first being cleaning and inspecting the jewelry. This necessity of maintenance is very important, and once we remove the ring we do a thorough cleaning and inspection of the piece or pieces. We make sure all stones are in a secure setting; sometimes we catch some stones that are about ready to fall out from natural wear. The setting can be repaired at a much lower prince than replacing the stone if it fell out and was lost. After the inspection and repairs, we do a complete refinishing, if needed, to make the jewels look like new again, for more years of enjoyment. 


To keep your beloved jewelry pieces in tip-top shape, especially the ones you wear every day, we recommend you return within three to six months. Regular maintenance will keep your jewels looking new and reduce the chance of bacteria growing back to irritate your skin. This necessity of maintenance service is at no charge to our clients for the cleaning and inspection, and we never charge for refinishing our own custom-made pieces. 


Sincerely,
Simon Mattar

Victoria's Secrets: The History of Jewelry, Part 3

The Middle Ages

Jewelry-making skills continued to develop in post-Roman Europe, with the Celts and Merovingians in particular noted for their jewelry, whose quality matched or exceeded that of Byzantium. The most common artifacts found from this era include clothing fasteners, amulets, and to a lesser extent signet rings. The torque, a large, rigid neck ring, was common throughout Europe as a symbol of status and power. By the 8th century, jeweled weaponry was common for men, while other jewelry (with the exception of signet rings) became the domain of women, who were often buried with all their jewelry. The Celts specialized in intricate continuous patterns and designs, while Merovingian designs are best known for stylized animal figures. The Visigoths also made quality pieces, as the numerous decorative objects found at the Anglo-Saxon ship burial at Sutton Hoo, in Suffolk, England, can attest. On the continent, cloisonné and garnet were perhaps the quintessential method and gemstone of the period.

To the east, the Byzantine Empire continued many of the methods of the Romans, although religious themes came to predominate in its designs. Unlike the Romans, the Franks, and the Celts, however, the Byzantines used lightweight gold leaf rather than solid gold, and placed more emphasis on stones and gems than just metalworking. As in the West, Byzantine jewelry was worn by wealthier females, with male jewelry apparently restricted to signet rings. As in other contemporary cultures, jewelry was commonly buried with its owner.

The Renaissance

The boom in world exploration brought major changes in jewelry development in Renaissance Europe. By the 17th century, world exploration and trade led to the increased availability of a wide variety of gemstones, as well as exposure to the art of other cultures. This period saw the increasing dominance of gemstones and their settings. A fascinating example of this is the Cheapside Hoard, the stock of a jeweler hidden in London during the Commonwealth period and not rediscovered until 1912. Among his treasures were Colombian emerald, topaz, amazonite from Brazil, spinel, iolite, and chrysoberyl from Sri Lanka, ruby from India, Afghani lapis lazuli, Persian turquoise, and Red Sea peridot, as well as Bohemian and Hungarian opal, garnet, and amethyst. Large stones were frequently set in box-bezels on enameled rings. It was in the 1660s that Jean-Baptiste Tavernier brought the stone that was to become the Hope Diamond to France.

When Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Emperor of the French in 1804, he revived the style and grandeur of jewelry and fashion in France. Under his rule, jewelers introduced parures: suites of matching jewelry such as a diamond tiara, diamond earrings, diamond rings, a diamond brooch, and a diamond necklace, all part of a matching set. Both of Napoleon’s wives had beautiful sets such as these and wore them regularly. Another fashion trend resurrected by Napoleon was the cameo. Soon after his cameo-decorated crown was revealed to the public, cameos became highly sought-after. 

The Renaissance period also saw the early emergence of costume jewelry, with fish scale-covered glass beads in place of pearls or conch shell cameos instead of stone cameos. New terms were coined in France to differentiate the arts: jewelers who worked in cheaper materials were called bijoutiers while those who worked with expensive materials were called joailliers, a practice that continues to this day.

Next time: Romanticism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco

Simon Says…

2011 is here, and it’s a great time to look into your jewelry box to see which pieces are outdated or haven’t been worn for a while. Bring them in for us to evaluate, and we’ll transform them into a new piece for you. The newest addition to our services is Rock N Gold Estates, reconditioning new and vintage estate jewels and fine watches of good quality and great value. We are seeing more clients every day who want to use existing jewelry they’re not wearing any more as credit toward purchasing custom-designed new or vintage jewels, allowing them to clear the miscellaneous scraps out of their jewelry boxes and fill them with unique quality pieces. Let’s set a time and we’ll see what will best fit you in 2011!

Happy prosperous new year, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Valentine's Day Offer: Dinner, Roses, and Sparkle

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

What could be more romantic for Valentine’s Day than dinner, roses… and a small box to give to your sweetie with the sparkling proof of your everlasting love inside?

 

Right now through Valentine’s Day, Rock N Gold is offering a special deal to our fantastic customers. We’ll give you a $100 dinner gift card, a dozen roses, and a RGC $50 gift rewards card, with the purchase of one of our fine jewelry items, all for just $800! (The jewelry item will be chosen from our available stock and must be purchased three days prior to February 14th to receive the roses for Valentine's Day.) Make an appointment today to make this a Valentine’s Day to remember!