Endless talk of all things sparkly.

My Jewel Box

Reader Response: Where did you get that ring?

I got a great question from a reader named Marissa. Here is what she asks: "wow im in love with the plain diamond ring on your index finger its gorgeous where did you get it and i wanted to know where i can get really pretty jewlry superrrr cheapp if you have any clues thanxs" The ring is an antique quarter carat diamond ring with two triangle shaped sapphires. The prettiest part of the ring is the filigree work done in the setting. The ring is from an old watch shop in upstate New York that had a small selection of antique rings. At the time I had no extra money whatsoever, but I knew they bought "old gold jewelry." I loved the ring so much that I asked if they would accept a trade. I had an old diamond cluster ring from the 80s that I didn't like anymore and it always seemed to have loose stones. I got a $200 trade-in price for my old ring, and gladly put the antique diamond ring on layaway. I paid the difference in price over time. My advice on finding good jewelry deals is to go to local flea markets, old jewelry shops that sell vintage and antique jewelry, and scanning eBay weekly. Two quality online jewelry websites that have nice jewelry for low prices are Ross-Simons and Beladora2. You have to be willing to bargain for a better price. You also have to understand that if you want fine jewelry, it is not going to come extremely cheap. A pricetag of at least $100 is typical. Read More

Antique & Vintage Jewelry

Treasure Trove Spotlight on Erie Basin

Love this photo!, Erie Basin If you can't hop on over to Brooklyn, NYC anytime soon, the world wide web pulls through yet again bringing you Erie Basin's hand-picked jewels on your computer. I love how the selection is always changing--an aspect you don't often see with other antique shops' online items. New arrivals are broadcasted live through twitter feeds, making it feel as if you've just arrived from a flea market in France with a find of a lifetime. I know I am always clicking to check out the latest, because the selection is always unique and fresh. If you want to as well, check out Erie Basin for yourself! 1920s White Gold Bloodstone Signet, 1890s Opal Band, 1880s Pyrite Ring, 1910s 1.7ct Diamond Ring Read More

My Jewel Box

Best Spots for Treasure Hunting in Tennessee

Free days from work are few and far between, and I have taken advantage of those that seem to suddenly come up by antiquing and treasure hunting.  Can’t forget about a favorite that has become easier, at least for me, to scoop up a deal: eBay!  I’ve been… Read More

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Museum Exhibits

Trip to GIA Museum: Carlsbad, CA

Huge sculpture of Rutilated Quartz (it is three pieces) from Bahia, Brazil Place: Gemological Institute of America (GIA) Museum 5345 Armada Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008 Scheduled Tour (make sure to email guestservicesmailbox@gia.edu to schedule your tour, they won't let you pass the gate otherwise) Closeup, this Rutilated Quartz sculpture weighs 800 pounds! The tour was very informational, and the aspect I enjoyed most was the entire ambiance of the facility. The bright and open atmosphere was reflective, shiny and truly captured what a gem-filled building should be like. The tour was an hour long, and although many of the facts and figures shared were not new to me, I learned an interesting fact about opals. I wondered why the opals were displayed with tiny shot-glass size amounts of water--well, the opals need moisture since they tend to dry out if they are not exposed to any. News to me! It's always fun to learn new things, but even better to see cases upon cases of gemstones. Each case was labeled with several examples of each, anything from maw sit sit, to tourmaline, to zircons. Each picture highlights my favorite parts of the GIA Museum. Some examples of gemstones Rough diamonds on an old sketch "El Itoco" Emerald: 471.6 carats! Love these earrings with the stones cut into star shapes 21,290 carats of Rock Crystal: took 500 hours to cut, one of the largest stones cut to date Shovel full of a variety of gemstones, the ultimate gift I want this For more information about GIA, including featured exhibits. Read More

Celebrity Jewelry

Double Take: Maria Sharapova & Gem Gossip

Top: Maria Sharapova, InStyle magazine, August 2009 issue Bottom: Myself at the Hoorsenbuhs jewelry studio, May 2009 Read More

Designer Jewelry

Maybe in another Lifetime…

...I will be able to wear necklaces like these, jewelry so amazing it belongs in a museum. There are 559 carats of moonstone and 13 carats of diamonds! Assil New York has all the bold, statement-making jewelry you would only find on red carpets. Always fun to browse online! Moonstone has been more and more a favorite of mine--the more I see pieces featuring moonstone, the more intrigued I get. And seeing moonstone in person--breath taking! Read More