Search Results

The History of Diamond Cuts

FJU Category: Diamonds | Tags: Diamond Information, Gemology, Jewelry History, Old European Diamond

…With other cuts even changing 1 facet would result in the diamond being labeled a miss-cut (often causing it to be sold at a discounted price). It just depends on the type of cut and where the deviation from the “standard” facet pattern …. The Triple cut or Peruzzi brilliant cut is another adaptation. The triple cut has 33 facets on the crown. The Old Mine and Old European Cuts When most people think of old diamond cuts they think of the Old Mine cut diamond. The Old …

Art Deco vs. Art Nouveau Style Jewelry

FJU Category: General Info | Tags: Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Comparison

… that were not just adornments but works of art. Many Art Nouveau jewelry pieces were made in silver, but white gold and platinum were quite common as well. The diamonds used in Art Nouveau jewelry were typically Old Mine cuts, but Old … 20’s formed the perfect backdrop for this new kind of art to emerge. Art Deco jewelry design embraced symmetry, bold colors, and streamlined forms influenced by Cubism and the Machine Age. Precious metals like platinum and white gold …

Gem in the Spotlight: Blue Zircon

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Blue Zircon, Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Zircon

…, Blue Zircon. Blue zircon was a specific favorite in Victorian times, when fine gems were often featured in English estate jewelry dating from the 1880s. Tiffany’s famous gemologist George Kunz was a distinguished zircon advocate. He … color. But, zircon can be almost any color you can imagine including red, yellow, orange, brown, green, champagne, golden, saffron, and colorless. Zircon colors are pure and have that distinctive fire that sets it apart from other gems…

FJU Category: Jewelry Metals | Tags: Fun, Gold Information, Trivia

The old riddle goes: what weighs more a pound of feathers or a pound of gold? Some say gold because it is heavier. Others … so they weigh the same. Both are wrong. How can this be? Tradition. Gold is not weighed in the ordinary weights. Gold is weighed in the troy measurement system. One ounce of gold is not the same as the ordinary ounce (really called …. An avoirdupois ounce converts to 28.34 grams approximately. The troy ounce is 31.1 approximately. You say, “Aha! Gold weigh more, so a pound of gold weighs more than a pound of feathers.” Unfortunately there is one more piece of the …

Gem in the Spotlight: Topaz

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Jewelry History, Topaz

The old baseball joke, “Who’s on First?” “Yes, Who’s on First…” always comes to mind when I hear people discussing Topaz. … one person say, “I love Topaz; it reminds me of a blue sky.” Then her friend says back, “Topaz may be like a golden sunset, but not the sky.” A third friend will chime in, “You’re both crazy, it’s like a beautiful peach.” Then, a … now known, the large imposter still sits in the Portuguese crown jewels today. The name “Topaz” comes from the old Greek name “Topazios” for an island in Foul Bay, Egypt (now called Zabargad). Of course, topaz isn’t found there, but the…

Gem in the Spotlight: Jade

FJU Category: Gemstones | Tags: Colored Gemstones, Folklore, Gem Spotlight, Gemology, Jade, Jewelry History

… have landed it a spot as one of the most important items in the global gem market. In fact, jadeite is often sold by the individual piece instead of by weight like most gems. This is because even small differences in color or … long as 10 years and a team of up to 50 carvers to make. Because of the incredible detail, many of these centuries old carvings are still unmatched in quality to this day. Across the world, jadeite symbolizes prosperity, success, and …