WORLD-CLASS JEWELRY ARTISTRY
CUSTOM DESIGNER JEWELRY
JEWELRY CONNISSEURS AND AFICIONADOS
ENJOY ARTFUL JEWELRY DESIGN BY MASTER JEWELRY ARTISANS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD
VISIT OFTEN TO ENJOY MY AUCTION PICKS
A GLIMPSE AT THE GLORY OF WORLD-CLASS JEWELRY DESIGN ARTISTRY
FINE ESTATE AND AUCTION JEWELRY: Auction jewelry is acquired from the jewelry collections of private individuals one piece, or one collection at a time. These heirlooms are genreally passed down to family members whose lifestyle does not accommodate them. Auction houses have long term relationships with banks, trust attorneys, estate liquidators, appraisers and dealers worldwide.
Auction houses are in the constant process of curating their inventory. Each and every piece is meticulously inspected; diamonds and gemstones are measured, weights are estimated, stones graded, metals are tested, workmanship and condition noted and period determined. Beyond the elemental value, also considered are non-tangible factors such as rarity, originality and desirability etc. Every piece is virtually one of a kind and evaluated on an individual basis. Most everything is previously owned and cherished. The jewelry belonged to someone who wore it, took good care of it, and for a variety of reasons decided that it was time to pass it on to someone else to cherish. Fine Estate Jewelry, hand-wrought from precious metals and gemstones never goes out of style. It maintains its value. The high level of workmanship, the creative skills of the craftsman, all add to the long-lasting value of estate jewelry.
Many people with discerning tastes in exceptional jewelry purchase jewelry from auctions, and hire buyers who know their tastes to watch auctions for them, and alert them to upcoming sales of jewelry they might want to add to their collections. Auctions offer one-of-a-kind jewelry.
Jewelry featured on this page is no longer available for sale but may be recreated just for you! Please Email Crystal with any questions you may have, and regarding any of the designs featured on this Web page.
Jet-setters, take note: Jewelry house David Webb just moved ten blocks, from Park Avenue and 57th Street to 789 Madison Avenue, near 67th Street (212-421-3030). Since the only other location is in Beverly Hills, customers fly in from Europe and the Middle East to plunk down $2,500 for cuff links or $15,000 for a Here, Kitty Kitty brooch.
The first recorded diamond engagement ring was exchanged in 1477 when Archduke Maximillian presented the token to his betrothed Mary of Burgandy. Prior to that event, engagement rings were either plain metal bands (iron for commoners, while gold and silver were used among royalty) or used less expensive gems. Today, solitaires are the most popular choice for many couples, but different gems are growing in popularity. Initially, engagement rings may have represented a portion of a bride’s dowry or bride price. Not only did the ring advertise the woman’s committed status, but the quality of the jewelry indicated the social position and prosperity of her groom.
It is believed that the ancient Romans began the practice of placing the engagement ring on the left ring finger, which they believed contained the “vena amoris” or vein of love which supposedly connected directly to the heart. Other ancient cultures, including the Egyptians, also used such symbolism, and even today the tradition persists both with engagement rings and wedding bands. In fact, wedding bands are placed first on the left ring finger to be closest to the heart. The engagement ring represents the circle of love between two people, and engagement rings are ultimately circles of metal, and the circle is a part of very sacred, symbolic geometry. Circles have no beginning and no end and thus represent eternity, renewal, wholeness, and perfection. They are also symbolic of the sun, moon, and planets, bringing together all life just as an engagement ring brings together the lives of two people.The Double Ring Ceremony became popular when during World War II, many young men left behind their wives, girlfriends, and fiancés, so the the practice of a double ring wedding ceremony became widespread in the United States. In a double ring ceremony, both the bride and groom receive wedding rings, whereas earlier traditions only gave a ring to the bride. Today, most couples have double wedding ring ceremonies, and the popularity of men's engagement rings is growing to extend that symbolism. Matching his and hers wedding bands today are common, and custom-made, unusual, exquisitely designed, classic, one-of-a-kind bands are more popular than ever before.
Emerald is a variety of the mineral beryl, colored green by trace amounts of chromium and sometimes iron. It is highly prized as a gemstone and by weight is the most valuable gemstone in the world, although it is often made less so by inclusions, which all emeralds have to some degree. Beryl has a hardness of 7.5 on the 10 point Mohs scale of hardness. However, this Mohs rating can decrease, depending on the number and severity of inclusions in a particular stone. Most emeralds are oiled as part of the post lapidary process. The amount of oil entering an emerald microfissure is roughly equivalent to the size of a period in print. Emeralds come in many shades of green and bluish green. There is a wide spectrum of clarity, along with various numbers of inclusions. Most emeralds are highly included, so it is quite rare to find an emerald with only minor inclusions. Because of the usual inclusions, the toughness (resistance to breakage) is classified as generally poor. Emeralds in antiquity were mined by the Egyptians and in Austria as well as Swat in northern Pakistan. A rare type of emerald known as a trapiche emerald is occasionally found in the mines of Colombia. A trapiche emerald exhibits a "star" pattern; it has raylike spokes of dark carbon impurities that give the emerald a six-pointed radial pattern. It is named for the trapiche, a grinding wheel used to process sugarcane in the region. Emerald is a rare and valuable gemstone and, as such, it has provided the incentive for developing synthetic emeralds. Both hydrothermal and flux-growth synthetics have been produced and a method has been developed for producing an emerald overgrowth on colorless beryl. The first commercially successful emerald synthesis process was that of Carroll C. Chatham. Because Chatham's emeralds do not have any water and contain traces of vanadate, molybdenum and vanadium, a lithium vanadate flux process is probably involved. The other large producer of flux emeralds is Pierre Gilson Sr. which has been on the market since 1964. Gilson's emeralds are usually grown on natural colorless beryl seeds which become coated on both sides. Growth occurs at the rate of 1 mm per month and a typical seven-month growth run produces emerald crystals of 7 mm of thickness (Nassau, K. Gems Made By Man, 1980). Hydrothermal synthetic emeralds have been attributed to IG-Farben, Nacken, Chatham and others but the first satisfactory commercial product was that of Johann Lechleitner of Inbruck, Austria, which appeared on the market on the 1960's. These stones were initially sold under the names "Emerita" and "Symeralds" and they were grown as a thin layer of emerald on top of natural colorless beryl stones. Synthetic emeralds are often referred to as "created", as their chemical and gemological composition is exactly same as its natural counterparts.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has very strict regulations as to what can and what can not be called "synthetic" stone. The FTC says: "...[created stone must have] essentially the same optical, physical, and chemical properties as the stone named." Furthermore, all natural emeralds, with the exception of the red Bixbite beryls from Utah which are anhydrous, have water inclusions, as emerald is of hydrothermal origin. Flux synthetic emeralds have no water, an integral part of any natural beryl (this also accounts for flux-grown emeralds being more stable when subjected to high temperatures). Hydrothermally-grown emeralds, however, contain water molecules. Wispy veil-like inclusions are common in flux-grown synthetic emeralds.
Emeralds are fascinating gemstones. They are my mother's favorite. They have the most beautiful, most intense and most radiant green that can possibly be imagined: emerald green. Inclusions are tolerated. In top quality, fine emeralds are even more valuable than diamonds. The name emerald comes from the Greek 'smaragdos' via the Old French 'esmeralde', and really just means 'green gemstone'. Innumerable fantastic stories have grown up around this magnificent gem. The Incas and Aztecs of South America, where the best emeralds are still found today, regarded the emerald as a holy gemstone. However, probably the oldest known finds were once made near the Red Sea in Egypt. Having said that, these gemstone mines, already exploited by Egyptian pharaohs between 3000 and 1500 B.C. and later referred to as 'Cleopatra's Mines', had already been exhausted by the time they were rediscovered in the early 19th century.
Colored Gemstones A gemstone is the naturally occurring crystalline form of a mineral, which is desirable for its beauty, valuable in its rarity and durable enough to be enjoyed for generations. There are more than 40 popular gem varieties and many more rare collector gemstones. Although some gemstone varieties have been treasured since before history began and others were only discovered recently, they are all nature's gifts to us. Natural gemstones are courtesy of nature, with no interference from humans. Don't assume that just because it's natural a gemstone should carry a high price tag. Prices are driven by desirability, quality, and availability. A brilliantly colored ruby with "perfect" clarity will cost thousands of dollars more than a garnet of similar quality. Become acquainted with the gemstone market before you buy. Synthetic Colored Gemstones: A synthetic stone shares a natural stone's physical, chemical, and optical qualities. The difference? Synthetics are created in a lab. They've been around for a long time, but modern technology allows us to grow stones that are difficult to distinguish from their natural counterparts. Ask for a lab certificate to verify authenticity before paying top dollar for a stone represented as natural. Gem Treatments/Enhancements, and Imitation Stones: Imitation, or simulated, stones may at first look like the real thing, but that's where the similarities end. They do not share physical characteristics with natural or synthetic stones. Many are made of glass or plastic and most can be detected easily by a jeweler.
MOISSANITE - Moissanite is a newer diamond substitute that's even fooling the pros. Composite Stones: Doublets are stones that are assembled using a larger chunk of an inexpensive stone (or glass) which is topped by a thin slice of the genuine stone. The division usually isn't obvious without magnification. One type of doublet sandwiches a colored bonding agent between two clear stones to mimic a colored gemstone. Triplets are composites assembled in three parts. Bottom Line: Imitation and synthetic stones make lovely jewelry--there's no reason to avoid them. Read as many resources as possible and start looking at synthetics more closely. Ask questions when you shop. It won't make you an overnight pro, but in time it will help you become a more savvy consumer.
Pearls have been a source of fascination for centuries. They have been considered the most magical and feminine of all gems and are the only one created by a living organism. Pearls emanate a certain warmth and glow not found in other gems, due to their unique beginnings. In every 10,000 oysters, you might be lucky enough to find a single natural pearl. Because of this scarcity, most pearls today are cultured pearls. A tiny bead is implanted in an oyster, so that it is gradually coated in layers of a beautiful, pearlescent substance called nacre which build up to create a lustrous pearl. CrystalsCrystals.com can source beautiful Freshwater, Akoya, South Sea, and Tahitian cultured pearls. Read on about the qualities that define a fine pearl. The general color of a pearl is also called the body color. Typical pearl colors are white, cream, yellow, pink, silver, or black. A pearl can also have a hint of secondary color, or overtone, which is seen when light reflects off the pearl surface. For example, a pearl strand may appear white, but when examined more closely, a pink overtone may become apparent. Pearls produce an intense, deep shine called luster. This effect is created when light reflects off the many layers of tiny calcium carbonate crystals that compose the pearl. This substance is called nacre. When selecting a pearl, consider that the larger the pearl, the more nacre it has, so it will also exhibit even more luster. Compare a 5mm Freshwater cultured pearl with a 10mm South Sea cultured pearl and the difference in the amount of nacre is obvious. The difference in luster is as clearly visible as the difference in the pearl sizes. CrystalsCrysatls.com can source the highest quality, rarest pearl shape – round. Shapes that are not spherical or even symmetrical are considered lower quality.
Akoya, Tahitian, and South Sea pearls found in jewelery have a tendency to be the roundest, while Freshwater pearls can be oval or slightly off-round. As an oyster creates a pearl, the layers of nacre do not always adhere smoothly. Sometimes spots and bubbles can appear in the layering process. Pearls with the smoothest surfaces are the highest-quality, most sought-after pearls. Tahitian pearls offer a dramatic touch. The natural black color of these pearls comes from the color of the oyster's black lips. These pearls are traditionally called "black," but their color can range from a metallic silver, to the color of pencil lead. And within this range of colors they can have bluish, purplish, or greenish overtones.
South Sea cultured pearls are exceptional quality pearls with a whitish, almost silver color. Much larger than the average pearl, the smoothness and roundness of these pearls are exceptional. These are the most rare and extraordinary pearls you'll find in jewelry. South Sea pearls come from the white-lipped variety of the pinctada maxima oyster. This oyster is much larger than the oysters that produce Akoya and Freshwater pearls, so the pearl that it produces is much larger as well. Because of the rarity and sensitivity of this type of oyster, cultivation of these pearls is much more difficult, making them more expensive.
The word sapphire comes from the Greek "saapherios", which means blue. These are the blue gemstones most often seen in jewelry, with colors ranging from pale, ice blue to deep, cobalt blue, but did you know that sapphires also come in other colors? Blue is just the more highly prized variant of the mineral corundum. Sapphires also come in orange-pink, golden, white, and even black. Some more interesting varieties of sapphire with rutile (the ore form of titanium) intrusions cause light to be reflected in a six-point star, creating what is known as a star sapphire. This star shaped effect is known as an asterism and is a less pure form of sapphire. All colors of the translucent form of the mineral corundum are known as sapphires. If, however, there are just the right quantities of chromium in the corundum a deep red ruby is formed.
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Dark blue sapphire will allow one to use their full creative potential. it is like a mother stone because it tends to your needs as your creative juices flow so that you do not become scattered about but remain grounded. It is also good for helping solve problems, sexual relationships because it tends to make deep bonding between people and creates loyalty. Light blue sapphire is the inspiration stone. It helps to bring in new thoughts or ways of thinking. it is also an excitement stone as it helps to bring the feeling of life being exiciting and full.
Green sapphire brings a lucky sense to ones life for it allows things to run smoothly and rightly. lilac sapphire allows your creativity to flow freely however intensely. This would be used by someone who already uses their creative potential but may be feeling a bit blocked. Orange sapphire works on a totally different level for it does not allow you to deceive yourself at any level. It makes you look at things in their basic and pure form without distorting it to conform to what you want it to be. It helps you learn true knowledge. this is a good stone for students, teachers, writers and researchers. Pink sapphire allows one to surrender to another for the good of the all. It allows us to not need to be the one in control of what is happening but to allow another to take charge and trust that they will get the job done better than we can.
White sapphire is a personal stone for it helps you to take care of yourself and to tend to your personal needs. Yellow sapphire helps you connect to your inner self, and accept your inner knowledge, and is said to reduce inner turmoil.
The tourmaline mineral group is chemically one of the most complicated groups of silicate minerals. It is a complex silicate of aluminium and boron, but because of isomorphous replacement (solid solution), its composition varies widely with sodium, calcium, iron, magnesium, lithium and other elements entering into the structure.
Tourmaline belongs to the trigonal crystal system and occurs as long, slender to thick prismatic and columnar crystals that are usually triangular in cross-section. Interestingly, the style of termination at the ends of crystals is asymmetrical, called hemimorphism. Small slender prismatic crystals are common in a fine-grained granite called aplite, often forming radial daisy-like patterns. Tourmaline is distinguished by its three-sided prisms; no other common mineral has three sides. Prisms faces often have heavy vertical striations that produce a rounded triangular effect. Tourmaline is rarely perfectly euhedral. An exception was the fine dravite tourmalines of Yinnietharra, in western Australia. The deposit was discovered in the 1970s, but is now exhausted. All hemimorphic crystals are piezoelectric, and are often pyroelectric as well. Tourmaline crystals when warmed become positively charged at one end and negatively charged at the other. Due to this effect, tourmaline crystals in collections may attract unsightly coatings of dust when displayed under hot spotlights. Tourmaline's unusual electrical properties made it famous in the early 18th century. Brightly coloured Sri Lankan gem tourmalines were brought to Europe in great quantities by the Dutch East India Company to satisfy demand as curios and gems. Tourmaline has a wide variety of colors. Usually, iron-rich tourmalines are black to bluish-black to deep brown, while magnesium-rich varieties are brown to yellow, and lithium-rich tourmalines are practically any color: blue, green, red, yellow, pink etc. Rarely, it is colourless. Bi-colored and multicoloured crystals are relatively common, reflecting variations of fluid chemistry during crystallisation. Crystals may be green at one end and pink at the other, or green on the outside and pink inside: this type is called watermelon tourmaline. Some forms of tourmaline are dichroic, in that they appear to change color when viewed from different directions. This necklace showcases the color variations of tourmaline.
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