Estate and Antique Jewelry

WHY SELECT ANTIQUE JEWELRY AND OLD DIAMOND ESTATE JEWELRY

noreply@blogger.com (Fred) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:02:00 +0000

WHY SELECT ANTIQUE AND OLD DIAMOND ESTATE JEWELRY

For the last several years, the mining of diamonds, gold and colored gemstones is often done by essentially slave labor. Rebel groups often use rough diamonds, precious stones and metals as a means of obtaining funds for arms and sustenance. As depicted in the 2006 movie “Blood Diamonds”, the people who work the mines are often, and in some cases, slaves. Captured in raids on their villages, people are taken to the mines are worked in captivity. If they refuse to work or are slow in the endeavors, their limbs are cut off, their family members are abused or tortured or they are murdered.

Slavery does not just exist in the minds and conscience of Americans; it actually exists in many parts of the world today.

How can you help end this modern day slavery and the abuse of other human beings?

Buy antique or old estate jewelry to help prevent these abusive practices and interference with legitimate governments.

Whatever bad policies and practices that were in place at the time the antique jewelry stones were mined, and there were abuses in the past, your purchase of an antique jewelry piece does not provide financial support for past practices and does not support the current practices. By purchasing antique jewelry, you are taking away the money that supports the current systems of abuse and slavery.

Don’t buy conflict or “blood” diamonds. Don’t buy colored gemstones from countries where conflicts exist or where miners are slaves. Even in countries that claim to pay miners, the pay is often pennies a day and the living conditions for the miners and their families are abhorrent.

It is almost impossible to determine the country of origin of a diamond. Once the diamond has been polished, it is impossible to determine its origin. However, according to International Law, diamonds are required to carry certificates of authenticity from the legitimate government of the country of origin of the diamond. That certificate is required to travel with contemporary diamonds.

Yet, according to a 2004 survey, less than 11% of the diamond retailers in the United States had a policy concerning conflict diamonds. Less than 3% of the diamond retailers discussed conflict diamonds or presented the certificates of origin of the stone. If you are buying a new diamond, insist on seeing the certificate of origin before buying and make sure that you are given the certificate with your purchase.

Choosing old estate diamond jewelry or antique jewelry instead of contemporary jewelry can and will help reduce the “Blood Diamond” abuse.

ESTATE JEWELRY VS IRRADIATED GEMSTONES

noreply@blogger.com (Fred) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:30:00 +0000

Frequently we are asked “what are irradiated gemstones?” and “should I be concerned about wearing irradiated gemstones?". "Is it better to wear antique jewelry or older estate jewelry gemstones that have not been irradiated?"

Gemstones are irradiated to enhance and deepen the color of the stone and to make it more valuable. Gemstones can be irradiated by neutron bombardment in a nuclear reactor, electron bombardment in an accelerator of by exposure to gamma rays in a cobalt irradiator. Gemstones have been irradiated since 1977.

Irradiation causes realignment of the inclusions in the gemstone which changes the way the stone channels light. How the inclusions or impurities will be realigned by irradiation is unknown. Some gemstones take on poorer colors or loose definition from the realignment of the impurities. As a result, the gemstones that are most often treated with irradiation are the cheaper stones. A large number of stones can be treated at one time even though only a few of these stones will show an improvement in color. The increase in the value of the poor quality stone from the treatment justifies the expense of the treatment of large numbers of stones. Topaz is the most commonly treated stone as subjecting topaz to irradiation often produces the more valuable blue colored topaz.

Treating a gemstone is not necessarily bad. For example, Tanzanite is heat treated to turn the stone the high prized blue/purple color. Without heat treatment, Tanzanite is a not too attractive brown color.

It is difficult to tell if a stone has been treated by irradiation. It is said that some highly skilled jewelers can determine that a stone has been irradiated. What these jewelers cannot tell is how the gemstone was treated. There have been some concerns over irradiation treatments and the possible exposure of the wearer to radiation. Generally, the longer the gemstone is exposed to radiation and the higher the intensity of the radiation treatment, the deeper and more attractive the resulting color of the stone. This also increases the possibility of the impurities and trace elements in the stone becoming radioactive. The treatment most likely to cause activation of radioactivity is treatment in a nuclear reactor although treatment in an accelerator can make gemstones radioactive. Gemstones are not made radioactive by treatment in a cobalt irradiator.

Testing by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has estimated that the exposure of a person wearing a blue topaz stone at the highest levels of radioactivity would be exposed to an annual dose of 1/200th of the radiation exposure generate by a chest X-ray. There is no reason to be concern that wearing a gemstone treated by irradiation will cause cancer or will be a health risk. There are no advisories concerning irradiated gemstones from the NRC.

Many consumers with concerns regarding irradiated gemstones have altered their jewelry buying patterns and now instead of buying “the new, the exceptionally clear, the bright colored irradiated gemstones” are choosing antique and older estate (pre-1977) jewelry pieces. These consumers say that estate jewelry is more desirable in respect to their environmental and health concerns. This group of new consumers are finding renewed beauty in old-mine cut diamonds, emeralds with visible inclusions and corundum (sapphires and rubies) that are not 100% transparent.

Learning to Appreciate Antique and Diamond Jewelry

noreply@blogger.com (Fred) — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 19:13:00 +0000

Years ago, I was a diamond freak. Any diamond, any shape, any size. If it sparkled, I was sold. Ten carat gold, fourteen carat gold, white gold, yellow gold, who cares? I was sold by the sparkle. Dazzle me and I am all yours.

But I have learned about jewelry. As with most things of value there is real value and there is passing value. As I have learned about the real value of jewelry, as I have been taught about jewels and the art of jewelry making, I have been drawn more and more to antique and estate jewelry.

Don’t misunderstand; I still love the sparkle and the shine. But I have learned to tell the difference between the Mona Lisa in the art of jewelry design and the large sofa print sold at the starving artist sale.

There is no greater pleasure than finding a quality old piece of jewelry. An antique ring or old pair of earrings made before machinery made mass produced pieces. Finding a rare piece of estate jewelry that is, and always will be, unique. There may be other pieces that are similar but no piece will be exactly the same. Those are the pieces of jewelry, of art, that will stand the test of time. Such treasures are rare but they are well worth waiting for.

The only way to become a connoisseur is to sample. Buy a piece of antique jewelry. Wear it, admire it and see what others say.

Then, enjoy. Continue to look for the older, the rarer pieces. The gemstones and designs that are indicative of another era. The pieces of jewelry that will not match what everyone else in the room is wearing. That unique piece of jewelry that will never be offered at a department store or mall jewelry store. Look closely at the craftsmanship of the rare piece of jewelry that you now own. You are wearing art.

That is what makes Estate and Antique Jewelry collectible. A unique piece of art, a piece of history, for you to wear and enjoy and for you to pass on.

Sentiment Behind Your Wedding Ring - a husband's viewpoint

noreply@blogger.com (Fred) — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 00:02:00 +0000

My sister’s oldest son is to be married in August. When his grandmother passed away she left my nephew her engagement ring for his future bride. Unfortunately, to his dismay, the diamond appeared to break when he went to his mall jeweler to have the diamond placed in a new setting. His mother quickly offered the diamond from her engagement ring, as she had always wanted a larger, higher grade diamond. This caused my brother-in-law to have a fit.

I agreed with my brother-in-law. This is a gift of love that should be kept!

Neither my wife nor my sister understood why the men would object, strenuously, I might add, to my sister giving her engagement diamond away.

And women think men are not sentimental! We are! They think that the gifts of jewelry are not important to us. However, men are not allowed to openly express their sentiments or deep feelings. Other men ridicule a man’s deep passions. Women tell other women of their man’s deep passions and sensitivity. Men are embarrassed by such disclosures. Whether its genetics or training, it doesn’t matter. Men cannot bear to be ridiculed about things that are extremely near and dear to them. So we bury those passions, deep inside. Where no one can see.

But we do express them. In acts, that may be simple. In giving up watching a football game to go and visit our mother in law. In praising a meal that is truly terrible. By complimenting a dress we hate. By attending piano recitals. And through gifts.

No other gift will reveal the depth of feelings. As financial conditions change, the engagement ring may not be the most expensive gift ever given, but, to the husband it will always be the most valuable.

It is not the issue of money that makes it valuable, but the expression of the heart.

It is one of the very few times a man can express his deepest feelings openly, without fear of ridicule. The expense of the engagement ring may not matter to the woman. It matters to the man. Men will spend as much as they can possibly justify to express the depth of their love, of their commitment, of how they treasure you.

All men glow inside when their intended first puts the ringon their finger. If the love is true, the glow returns everyday. Unmentioned, unnoticed and undeniably there.

All other purchases of jewelry evoke the same emotions in men. Any man can buy his wife an article of jewelry without chastisement from his friends. Falling at his wife’s feet and crying out the depth of his feelings would only expose the man, at least in his mind, to contempt and ridicule. An emerald, great or small, allows the expression of love and adoration without exposure to ridicule.

So, when your man gives you an article of jewelry, be it gorgeous estate diamond earrings, a big unique ring,a dainty antique ring or a vintage emerald ring, he is telling you that you are his treasure. It is your ultimate assurance of his continuing love and affection.

Enjoy it. Delight in it. You cannot judge him by the gift he can afford. Finances will always vary. Judge only that this is his ability to express his true love for you.

And back to my nephew, his future bride now wears a new engagement diamond. One to treasure forever.

Fred
Ten Two Three Estate, Antique and Contemporary Vintage Jewelry