Everything that Glitters is Gold

Gold in its purest form, 24-Karat, is a soft and pliable metal. The malleability and softness of pure gold make it virtually useless for wearable jewelry. In order to make gold jewelry that is durable and long lasting, it is combined with other metals called alloys. Jewelers use the technique of alloying with other metals such as silver, copper and zinc. This process makes the gold harder and stronger, giving it durability and wear resistance in day to day activities. In an attempt to achieve the best balance between the strength of alloys and the valuable and desirable properties of gold, three different karat gold combinations have become standard: 18-Karat, 14-Karat, and 10-Karat.

18-Karat Gold

The content of 18-Karat gold is 75% gold and 25% alloy. 18K gold is the softest and purest of these three karat golds, and it is also the most expensive because of its high gold content. Higher-end jewelry where a richer yellow color is desired is typically made in 18K gold. It is the most resistant to tarnishing of the three golds, and although it is the softest, it is still hard enough to be used for fine jewelry.18K gold will show wear marks sooner and wear out slightly faster than 14K and 10K gold , but it is still the preferred choice of those wanting something finer.

14-Karat Gold

The content of 14-Karat gold is 58.3% go

ld and 41.7% alloy. Due to the higher amount of alloy, 14K gold is therefore harder and stronger than 18K. It still has a good yellow color for those wanting fine jewelry at a more reasonable price.

10-Karat Gold

The content of 10-Karat gold is 41.7% gold and 58.3% alloy. 10K gold is the only karat gold that contains more alloy than gold. It is the least pure and therefore the least expensive of the three golds. 10K gold is the preferred metal for class rings and other jewelry pieces where a lower cost is desired. 10K yellow gold is slightly paler in color, and will tarnish more quickly than 18K and 14K gold jewelry. 10K gold is generally considered to be harder than 14K; but there is much unresolved discussion within the jewelry industry about whether or not it actually wears longer than 14K.

Many manufacturers are now using international gold marks to show the purity of their jewelry items. In these cases, the fineness of the precious metal content is expressed in parts-per-thousand. This marking system, universally recognized, is actually more accurate. We have listed the applicable marks here along with their corresponding karat marks:

• 24K = .999
• 18K = .750
• 14K = .585
• 10K = .417

Yellow Gold

Whereas most other pure metals are gray or silvery white, pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster that is traditionally considered attractive. High quality pure metallic gold is tasteless and scentless. Chemically, it is unaffected by air, moisture and most corrosive agents, and is therefore well suited for use in jewelry.

White Gold

White gold is not a true white metal like platinum, palladium or silver. It is made by alloying pure yellow gold with other white metals like zinc and nickel to change its color to white. As a result, it usually has a slight yellowish tint. To enhance the whiteness of white gold jewelry, it has become a standard practice in the jewelry industry to cover or plate with another precious metal called rhodium. Rhodium is very white and reflective. It is extremely hard and virtually tarnish-free. However, rhodium coatings wear off gradually. It can be re-plated with rhodium, sometimes as often as within 6 months for rings worn every day, or as seldom as every 5 years.

Pink and Rose Gold

These Karat golds are combined with high copper-content alloys and have similar properties. They were very popular in the latter half of the 19th century and the earlier part of the 20th century, and are now enjoying resurgence in popularity, especially with the introduction of colored diamonds. The high copper addition is usually at the expense of silver, giving a warm hue that compliments certain gemstones and skin tones.

GIFTS UNDER $100.00

Diamond Sterling Silver Earrings

Amethyst Stackable Sterling Silver Ring

Stainless Steel Dog Tag

Silver Dangle Earrings

GIFTS BETWEEN $101.00 and $250.00

Silver Black Onyx Bamboo Hoop Earrings

Stainless Steel & Diamond Money Clip

Sterling Silver Dome Ring

Sterling Silver Bamboo Link Toggle Bracelet

GIFTS FOR HER

Double Heart Pendant

Diamond Cluster Earrings

Pink Opal Briolette Drop Earrings

Diamond Cocktail Ring

GIFTS FOR HIM

Golf Theme Keychain

Men's Stainless Steel Ring

Stainless Steel Chain

Sterling Silver Money Clip

GIFTS FOR CHILDREN

Children's Pink Butterfly Ring

Small Duck Frame

Gold Ladybug Children's Earrings

Children's Butterfly Necklace

Jewelry is the PERFECT Gift for any and every occasion! Browse our entire jewelry collection now at www.jrjewelers.com

THISTLE & BEE CLASSICS COLLECTION

BAMBOO & GEMSTONE COLLECTION

HONEYCOMB COLLECTION

BABY COLLECTION

Thistle & Bee sterling silver baby spoons, rattles and cups are keepsakes to last generations. Many styles are suitable for engraving.

MENS COLLECTION

Thistle & Bee’s distinctive men’s sterling silver gifts suit every expression, occasion and price point. Finely crafted, many are suitable for engraving.

Explore the entire Thistle & Bee Collection now!

Rhodium is a rare chemical element found on the Periodic Table of Elements. It is one of the five main precious metals used for jewelry and a member of the platinum group.

Rhodium plating is used on jewelry items to provide a coating that will protect the underlying metal from scratches and tarnish, and will also give a shinny white, almost reflective appearance.

White gold has a yellowish color undertone to it, because pure gold is in reality, yellow. White gold is actually a mixture of gold and a white looking metal, usually silver, nickel or palladium.

Rhodium plating is applied to white gold jewelry, used to make the jewelry item more white looking and bright. The rhodium plating will not tarnish or discolor as quickly as white gold. Also, rhodium plating adds a layer of protection to white gold jewelry; due to its level of hardness it is not easily scratched.

It is also wise to keep in mind that rhodium plating does not last indefinitely. If it is on something that is worn constantly, like a wedding ring, the rhodium plate will usually last two to three years, but if it is on something that is used for special occasions then the rhodium plating can last up to ten years. Keep in mind that a rhodium plate will not completely eliminate dents and scratches, but it will make your jewelry more shiny and bright!

Rhodium is a precious metal, although it is generally not considered a feasible material to make solid jewelry from because it is very difficult to work with, and its price is very volatile. Rhodium can be 5x as costly as gold with fluctuating costs sometimes reaching 25x costlier than gold. Nonetheless, rhodium is fabulous as plating for jewelry because it is dazzlingly, white and mirror-like.

Another great feature of rhodium plating is that it makes diamonds look bigger and better. Because rhodium is so bright it’s hard to see where the stones end and the metal begins. Nothing sets off diamonds like rhodium plating does!

A good indication that your jewelry may need to be rhodium plated again is when you start noticing the color of the metal underneath. Pricing will depend upon the thickness of the rhodium plate that you want. I would recommend choosing a thicker layer for jewelry that you wear daily, like your wedding ring, so you won’t have to replace it every few years.

Stop by J.R. Jewelers today for your rhodium plating needs and we will be happy to add shine and brilliance to all your white gold jewelry!

Watches were first invented in Switzerland many centuries ago. Mechanical watches were the first to be invented, with automatic watches coming next in line. Today, both mechanical and automatic watches are still being used worldwide. It truly is a matter of personal preference as to which type of watch you decide to use.

Mechanical Watches

Mechanical watches were said to have been invented by Peter Henlein (1480-1542). The components of this type of watch are all mechanical. The number of parts varies, but usually it has about one hundred and thirty parts or more. Some mechanical watches record phases of the moon, keep a record of the date and record time on a daily basis.

Mechanical watches must be wound periodically to keep time. They use energy from a spring that has been wound. They keep time through a regulated release of energy through a set of gears. One winding can make a mechanical watch run from between forty hours to ten days, depending on the type of watch.

In order to keep a mechanical watch working for a long time, it needs to be serviced periodically. The rule of thumb to go by for servicing a mechanical watch is to have the water resistance checked every year and have the watch serviced about every three to five years.

Mechanical watches are known for their fine craftsmanship, aesthetics and tradition. This type of watch is made with wonderful precision by the craftsman who assembles the watch.

Automatic Watches

The original rotor that was used in automatic watches goes back to Abraham Louis-Perrelet (1729-1826). The modern rotor used in automatic watches was developed by Rolex. Emily Borer, the chief of Rolex at the time of its invention, is the one who is given credit for it.

In automatic watches, the movement of the wrist and body makes the rotor pivot freely. The action of the wrist, even slight action, causes the rotor to rotate back and forth in a circular motion. The mainspring is wound via the movement of the rotor, which in turn powers the watch. Automatic watches also need to be serviced regularly. They will re-lubricate the watch and check the seals on it. The seals should be checked every year. The automatic watch should be serviced every three to five years.

Just as people get mechanical watches for the tradition and craftsmanship people also get automatic watches for the same reasons.

Mechanical watches and automatic watches faded out when quartz watches came about. However, about ten years ago, both types of watches began to acquire popularity again especially among collectors.

The colors of the rainbow. The glow of the Northern Lights. The dramatic flash of summer lightning. All the light of the evening sky are captured in the mysterious, shifting hues of Opal.

With its pulsating display of fire and color, Opal was long thought to hold magical powers. Opals symbolized hope, innocence, and purity to the Greeks and Romans. Opals were often reserved for royalty. The crown of the Holy Roman Emperor held a superb example, a fiery red Opal called “The Burning of Troy”. This superb Opal was given as a gift from Napoleon to Josephine – forming part of the crown jewels of France. Queen Victoria of England also loved Opals, and often presented them as wedding gifts.

Opal is found in several different colors including: black Opal (pictured), whose blue, gray or black body color enhances the play of fire; white or fire Opal, with a lightish or white body color; and crystal Opal, a transparent version with bright color flashes. Boulder Opal has color flashes intertwined with rock matrix. Opals are not faceted but cut into rounded or free-form cabochons that enhance their play of color.

Tourmaline

Tourmaline comes in the widest variety of colors of any gemstone with green being the most well-known. Vivid reds, hot pinks, verdant greens and blues abound in this marvelous gem variety. Some are also called by individual names: chrome, rubellite, indicolite, or are called by the location from which they are mined such as, California, Maine, or Paraiba (Brazil). Tourmalines, because of their vivid, rich colors are often substituted for more expensive emeralds, sapphires and rubies.

Tourmalines occur in many forms as well: several faceted shapes, cabochons (domed), carvings, thin slices called Watermelon Tourmaline (in which the center is pink with an outer green edge), “parti-colored” (in which the cut gemstone transitions in color shades from two to several shades including, green, blue, colorless, and pink), and “cat’s eye”, in which a vertical line is centered in a dome-shaped stone, appearing as the eye of a cat.

Browse our large selection of gorgeous and affordable Opal & Tourmaline Jewelry at www.JRJewelers.com now!

Intense medium dark blue is the most sought after color for blue sapphires. Intensity, uniformity and purity of color are the most important considerations when making a decision about the purchase of a blue sapphire. Fine blue sapphires are extremely rare as they do not contain any overtones or secondary colors, for this will lessen the beauty of this gem. Dark blue sapphires will appear black under low light settings, while fine blue sapphires will maintain their color in any light setting. Blue sapphire jewelry remains one of most sought after jewelry types with rings, earrings, pendants and sapphire necklaces all making a beautiful addition to any jewelry collection.

But sapphires don’t only have to be blue in color to be beautiful. Sapphires also come in beautiful pink, yellow, orange, peach and violet colors. These other colors are often referred to as fancy sapphires. Sapphires are actually found in every color but red, because a red sapphire would be a ruby since both sapphires and rubies are made up of the mineral corundum.

Padparadscha Sapphires

The most sought-after color of fancy sapphire is the rare and beautiful padparadscha sapphire, a pink-orange stone with a distinctive salmon color similar to that of a tropical sunset. Found mostly in Sri Lanka, these ultra-rare and expensive stones are among the most coveted gems in the world. Padparadscha sapphires often draw higher prices than many of even the finest blue sapphires.

Pink Sapphires

Pink sapphires are a current fashion trend favorite. Jewelry designers are setting sapphires in bubblegum hues in platinum or white gold in exquisite styles adorned with pave diamonds. The deeper the pink color the more expensive and more valuable the sapphire is.

Star Sapphires

A star sapphire is a type of sapphire that exhibits a star-like phenomenon known as asterism. Star sapphires contain intersecting needle-like inclusions that cause the appearance of a six-rayed star-shaped pattern.

Color Change Sapphires

A rare variety of sapphire known as color change sapphire exhibits different colors in different light. Color change sapphires are blue in outdoor light and purple under indoor light; they may also be pink in daylight to greenish under fluorescent light.

White Sapphires

Sapphires are also available colorless. White sapphire is an excellent diamond substitute as it is brilliant and second only to diamond itself in hardness. Large white sapphires are rare.

Sapphire has a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale and is also extremely tough. With hardness just below that of diamonds, sapphires are one of the toughest gemstones, and with no cleavage, breakage rarely occurs. Sapphires are beautiful, durable and timeless gems that are certainly a wise investment.

Mini-pendants are a fashion trend that can’t be stopped. The reason these small sized pendants are so popular may be due to the opportunity its owner has to wear a meaningful motif close to their heart.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to expressing yourself! Hearts are always popular motifs, as are initials and disks engraved with meaningful words or messages. Whimsical designs are also popular.

These mini-pendants are not only fun, but very versatile in how they are worn. Sometimes these mini pendant necklaces are pictured worn in a small cluster of nearly identical lengths. For an alternate look, wear delicate pendant necklaces in multiples at staggered lengths so that each of the pendants is visible.

Also, a similarly delicate necklace of a different style can be included in the mix. Mini-pendants on delicate chains feel light and are easy to wear any time of day.

You are sure to find your inner voice as you browse our large selection of trendy mini-pendants at www.JRJewelers.com.

So have fun, be creative and speak your mind!

Gemstone 4C’s

While there are no official 4 C’s for grading colored gemstones, like there are with diamonds, many of the same principals apply. Following are the 4 C’s as they apply to colored gemstones:

Clarity

Clarity in most gemstones does not influence its value or beauty unless it breaks the surface or affects the integrity of the gemstone. In lighter colored stones, clarity may be more important than in darker stones that can mask imperfections.However, flawlessness in colored gems is even rarer than in diamonds.

The four flaws that occur in gemstones are fault, fissure, fracture and gas bubbles.

It is the type and location of a flaw that is more important than the fact that there is a flaw, since some flaws can affect the stone’s durability. Some stones are typically eye-clean such as topaz, while others are expected to have inclusions, such as emerald.

Citrine and Diamond Earrings

Aquamarine & Diamond Earrings

Amethyst Silver Dangle Earrings

Diamond and Amethyst Earrings

Color

Color has the greatest impact on value. The color should be pure, vibrant, even and fully saturated without being too dark or too light.

Sapphire and Diamond Bypass Ring

Green Tourmaline and Diamond Ring

Platinum Orange Sapphire Diamond Ring

Citrine and Diamond Ring

Cut

Cut affects the amount of brilliance the gemstone returns to the eye, the depth of color seen and the size of the stone. Well-cut gemstones will enhance the color of a stone, while poorly cut gemstones can turn out looking dead and lifeless.

Tanzanite and Diamond Pendant

Garnet and Diamond Pendant

Citrine and Diamond Pendant

Green Tourmaline Pendant

Carat

Carat weight determines value in two ways. First, the carat weight multiplied by the price per carat equals the total price for the stone. Second, the rarity of the size of stone compared to the normal size found will affect price.

Amethyst & Diamond Ring

14Kt White Gold Amethyst Ring

Amethyst and Diamond Ring

Modern Amethyst & Diamond Ring

Enhancements

Many gemstones have historically and traditionally been enhanced before bringing them to the customer. Most enhancements have been around for a very long time, some for hundreds of years or longer. The result is an improvement of nature’s beauty. It makes gems available and more affordable. Most of these enhancements are stable and no special care is required.

Gems that are not usually treated include alexandrite, black star sapphire, cat’s eye chrysoberyl, garnets, hematite, iolite, moonstone, peridot, spinel and chalcedonies such as bloodstone, fire agate, onyx and sardonyx.

Gemstone Ring

Grape Garnet Ring

Peridot Pave Diamond Ring

Gray Moonstone Diamond Ring

Hardness vs. Toughness

Hardness describes a material’s resistance to scratching. Mineral hardness is measured using the Mohs’ scale. The higher the number, the harder the mineral is to scratch. The scale goes up incrementally from 1 until it reaches 9. The difference from 9 to 10 is greater than the difference from 1 to 9. For example, a diamond, which is a 10, is 100 times harder than a sapphire or ruby, which receives a 9 hardness.

Toughness refers to how easily a gemstone will chip, crack or cleave. Ratings range from poor to excellent. An emerald receives a poor toughness due to internal fractures, which make emeralds prone to chipping and cracking. However, rubies and sapphires receive very good to excellent ratings.