How long should my chain be?

Have you ever wondered how long a chain you should buy—not sure exactly where it will sit on your neck? Here's a handy guide of standard chain lengths to help you decide. 

Of course, the best way to determine whether a certain length or type of chain will work for you is to try it on. Feel free to stop by our showroom anytime to explore the possibilities!

L'Odyssée de Cartier

This beautiful short film by Cartier (it seems inadequate to describe it as a commercial) is a reminder of the beauty and glamor of one of the world's oldest and most respected fine jewelers. Cartier enthusiasts will notice some of the brand's iconic designs, including the Trinity Ring, the Panthère bracelet, the Tank watch, and the Love bracelet. Enjoy!

What does a piece of fine jewelry mean to you?

What does a piece of fine jewelry mean to you?

Jewelry is so much more than a fashion accessory. A beloved piece of fine jewelry tells your story: who you are, your background, and what you value. From colorful gems and semi-precious stones to simple chains to wear on your wrist or ankle, jewelry helps define you and your sense of style.

In many countries, it’s the custom to give babies jewelry when they are very little. For both girls and boys, a piece of valuable jewelry is a sign of love and affection from the giver. No matter the child’s age, gifts of jewelry will be cherished for a lifetime. For girls, consider a baby bracelet or, if their parents have had their ears pierced, tiny earrings. For boys, an ID bracelet in gold or white gold is a lovely gift.

Baby jewelry can be custom designed for the child, but can also be modified as the baby grows up. For example, a young girl can wear her baby ring on a chain when she outgrows it. Baby jewelry can be a gift for many lifetimes, passed down to their children and their children’s children.

Baby jewelry is just one example of how the gift of a beautiful piece of fine jewelry can last a lifetime. Our master jeweler Simon Mattar is happy to help you choose a beautiful gift for a special someone. Call us or visit our beautiful showroom today.

What is Estate Jewelry?

Sometimes clients ask us what is meant by estate jewelry. Let me let you in on a little secret: You don’t have to inherit an entire estate to own estate jewelry! Estate jewelry is just a term used in our business to describe previously owned jewelry, whether acquired through inheritance or as a gift. Usually, estate jewelry is vintage and/or antique.

Vintage jewelry includes many eras, each with its different designs. These include Georgian, Early Victorian, Mid-Victorian, Late Victorian, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, Edwardian, Art Deco, and Retro. Any jewelry you currently own is estate jewelry. It can be fine antique and vintage heirlooms, diamonds left over from old relationships, even some costume and fashionable semi-precious jewelry.

Rock N Gold provides a full spectrum of services in the estate jewelry field, including appraising and repair. We truly care for your pieces. Owners often have doubts or fears about selling their valued items. We believe in education to help you understand how the estate jewelry market works. We also believe in educating buyers to see the value in a particular piece. Sometimes it takes a little more effort to appreciate estate jewelry, but it’s worth it.

If you have questions about the value of your estate jewelry, or are looking for a special vintage piece, call me today at (858) 571-4560.

Best wishes,

Victoria Mattar

March 4 A Cause: Shop and Help Children in Need

Like a gem that reaches its full potential with tender love and care, a child can shine brilliantly with our help and support. During the entire month of March, we will be donating a percentage of sales to children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect.

Sparkling diamonds can make shining smiles. When you make a purchase in March, we will be donating a percentage of sales to children whose lives have been affected by illness, abuse, or neglect.

When you purchase something beautiful, you do something beautiful. Thank you for your support.

Simon Says... Shopping for Your Valentine

Valentine’s Day is here, and there is still time for you to pick up a beautiful item of San Diego custom jewelry for your loved one. Men's bracelets are hot right now, and designer watches are very popular. (Rock N Gold Creations stocks vintage and classic watches from many fine designers.) Heart-shaped custom jewelry (the universal symbol of love) is always a great pick for Valentine’s Day, as well as jewelry with gemstones in pink and red shades like rubies, garnets, amethyst, pink topaz, pink diamonds or sapphires, and pink tourmaline, among others.

Another great choice this year is vintage jewelry, and we have a large selection of estate items to choose from. Charms and charm bracelets are hot sellers, along with chunky rings. Charm bracelets never go out of style, and you can choose from thousands of charms, so there will always be one with a special significance to your valentine.

Think about your valentine's tastes. What does she like and dislike when looking at jewelry? Is her look big and bold or does she prefer simple and elegant? What will this gift mean to her? Will she still wear it long after Valentine’s Day, or will it end up in the jewelry box with all the other items that just didn't fit her style or personality?

Women can think creatively about gifts for the man in your life, too. One example is to give him sports tickets held in a beautiful vintage money clip, or custom cuff links for his favorite dress shirt.

Whatever you choose, the high level of quality and workmanship you receive from Rock N Gold Creations will show your valentine you want to give them nothing but the best. Come see everything we have to offer in our showroom, for all budgets.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Simon Mattar

Think Outside the Little Velvet Box this Valentine’s Day

Gentlemen (and ladies too)—why not consider a creative alternative to the little jewelry box this Valentine’s Day? If you put your mind to it, you can present your loved one with a gift of jewelry in an original way.

Here are some ideas for ways to present fine jewelry as a gift:

—Arrange the jewelry item inside a box of fine chocolates.

—Nestle a pair of earrings into the petals of a single rose. Gold looks beautiful in a red rose, while silver or platinum pop against pink petals.

—Drape a chain with pendant or a bracelet around the outside of a bottle of fine wine or champagne.

—Jewelry in a small drawstring bag can be slipped into your loved one’s pocket (or purse), for a lovely surprise later in the evening.

—Choose a larger box from an unrelated item and carefully wrap the jewelry in layers of tissue paper or bubble wrap to hide inside. It might look like a toaster, but it turns out to be a lovely bracelet or pendant.

—Present her with a teddy bear or other stuffed animal wearing the necklace or bracelet.

Some up with some ideas of your own—the sky’s the limit. With a little creative thinking, both you and your loved one will be delighted with your Valentine’s Day gift and the little box can wait for another day.

Victoria’s Secrets: How to Clean Your Jewelry

Your fine jewelry may not look its best if you don’t keep your pieces clean. The buildup of sweat, soap, lotion, and everyday grime can make your custom jewelry look dull and dirty and harbor bacteria. Although cleaning jewelry is one of the complimentary services Rock N Gold Creations offers, many clients ask me how they can do it themselves at home. Here are some tips to keep your custom jewelry clean and gleaming:

GOLD: Soak the item for 15 minutes in a two cups of warm water with a few drops of a mild dishwashing liquid, like Joy. Gently scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush. Rinse with warm water and dry with a soft cloth.

DIAMONDS: Soak for 20 minutes in a mixture of one cup warm water and ¼ cup ammonia. Gently scrub with a soft-bristle toothbrush, getting into the small areas between the diamond and the setting. Rinse with warm water, and lay on a tissue to dry.

PEARLS: Rub each pearl individually with a soft, clean cotton cloth dampened with a solution of two cups warm water and a few drops of a mild dishwashing liquid, like Joy. (Don’t soak your string of pearls; it can cause the string to stretch.) Let them air-dry overnight.

SILVER: Rinse in warm water and pat dry. If silver is tarnished, use a silver-polishing cloth or a jar of silver-cleaning fluid. (Silver cleaner won't harm gold and platinum, but it also won't clean them.) For intricately designed jewelry, use a silver-cleaning paste to get into small crevices. (Don't use toothpaste or other abrasive cleaners, which will scratch.) Wipe with a clean, soft cloth.

Call us today to make an appointment for complimentary jewelry cleaning!

Best wishes,

Victoria Mattar

Red Carpet Jewelry Trends

It's awards season! A great chance to see what's hot in jewelry trends. Check out this article about what the stars were wearing on the red carpet at the recent Golden Globes awards.

Angelina Jolie wears diamond earrings on the red carpet

Victoria's Secrets: Break Out Your Bling

As San Diego custom jewelers, we sometimes hear this comment from our customers, whether they’re ladies or men: “I have some wonderful pieces, but where on earth can I wear them?” Do you ever find yourself looking at a one of your larger or more glamorous San Diego custom jewelry pieces and thinking, “It’s too good to wear out just to dinner and a movie,” or “How many months is it until New Year’s Eve comes back?” Well, relax. Your pal Victoria is here to tell you there are more than just a few occasions that warrant pulling out your best San Diego custom jewelry.

Impress Your Friends

Generally, other women generally tend to have a keener eye for nice jewelry than most men do. Look at occasions like bridal showers, girls’ nights out, and even spa getaway weekends as a chance to wear some of your most beautiful and valuable pieces around people who will appreciate them. Even in the daytime, some well-chosen, beautiful San Diego custom jewelry pieces can make your outfit stand out.

Hang with the Artsy Crowd

Events like fashion shows and art gallery or museum openings are a perfect excuse to bring out your most unusual, trendy, or cutting-edge pieces. If you’ve ever been to a contemporary art gallery reception, you know no outfit or San Diego custom jewelry is too over-the-top or outrageous for that crowd. Take a look at online events listings to see what might interest you, like the opening of a retrospective of artist John Baldessari’s work at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla, coming up on February 4. At just $10 to attend, this event is sure to feature a fascinating cross-section of art fans who will appreciate your funkiest pieces.

Looking Good While Doing Good

When it’s time to bring out the really big bling, nothing beats a charity gala, where the cream of San Diego society turns out to pony up for a good cause. The ticket price for some of these events may be steep, but look at it this way: you’re doing your part to help out, and most of it is tax-deductible. And where else will you have the chance to flash the multi-karat stones without feeling the tiniest bit self-conscious?

Here are just a few charity events coming up:

• 103rd Anniversary Charity Ball, Spectacular San Diego, January 21, 2012, at the Hotel Del Coronado, benefiting Rady Children's Hospital Trauma Center. The oldest charitable event in San Diego requires formal attire and features an elegant wine reception, dinner, entertainment, and dancing, at $250 per person.

• “Rendez-vous with Mozart at Versailles,” on January 22, 2012, a fundraising soirée at the Westgate Hotel to support Mainly Mozart. Champagne, costumed musicians, a concert of Mozart's music, and an exquisite French buffet, at $275 per person.

• If you’re a fan of soaring arias, San Diego Opera's Opening Night Gala is the social event of the season, with Richard Strauss’s masterpiece, Salome, on January 28, 2012. This is the biggie -- $1,250 per person includes an evening of celebration, dinner, and dancing at the US Grant Hotel, as well as tickets to the opera performance in the best seats. Trust us, you’re not going to see more bling anywhere.

• If those are too rich for your blood, consider the 2012 Red and White Ball on February 11-12, 2012. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the San Diego Delta Foundation present “An Evening of Elegance” at Paradise Point Resort, supporting educational advancement through scholarships for students throughout San Diego County. Tickets are $75 per person.

Don’t be shy, and don’t push those beautiful big pieces to the back of the jewelry box. Look for occasions and places to wear them proudly, and add to your San Diego custom jewelry collection that will last a lifetime!

Best wishes,

Victoria Mattar