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Romancing the stones |
May 2013 |
| Scientific researchers continue to prove the benefits accrued to people with healthy interpersonal relationships and wide-ranging social circles. Those blessed with multiple positive interactions tend to live longer, are less depressed, and even have fewer health problems in general. These emotional ... |
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Orange you happy? |
December 2012 |
| Always an attention grabber, the colour orange is particularly hot, hot, hot right now and if you can actually remember the acid-drenched 1970s, you'll recall it was fashionable back then, too. This citrus colour dominated the collections from major couture houses just this past spring ... |
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Cocktails anyone? |
October 2012 |
| In the 1920s and early ’30s, while Prohibition was dampening spirits in America and parts of Canada, European high society was openly enjoying a creative mixture of alcoholic beverages. And voila, the cocktail hour was born, although it’s endlessly debatable as to when the first liquid cocktail was invented. |
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World events shape design |
August 2012 |
| Jewellery designs over the past few centuries have been influenced by myriad events—some international, some local. Changes in politics and diplomacy, the drama of natural phenomena, exploration, and archeological discoveries have all been contributing factors. |
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And the bead goes on |
June 2012 |
| Someone once said there are no new ideas, just reinterpretations of the old ones. With an upscale twist and a tweak, sales of the yard, garage, tag, and rummage variety now have a new cachet. Nearly everyone has bought a nifty little pre-owned item and been thrilled with the innovative choices ... |
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The state of estate sales |
April 2012 |
| Someone once said there are no new ideas, just reinterpretations of the old ones. With an upscale twist and a tweak, sales of the yard, garage, tag, and rummage variety now have a new cachet. Nearly everyone has bought a nifty little pre-owned item and been thrilled with the innovative choices ... |
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An endearing and enduring motif |
February 2012 |
| Want to ward off bad luck, the evil eye, and bewitch a potential lover, all at the same time? The all-purpose heart motif, in ever-changing variations, fits the bill. Shakespeare, his fellow poets, writers of fiction, confectioners, and Hollywood’s movie moguls have all tapped into the idea circulated ... |
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Production evolves as it revolves |
December 2011 |
| Next time you light the charcoal briquettes on your barbecue or plug in the kettle to make yourself a soothing cup of herbal tea, consider the major impact coal, steam, and electricity had on the industrial practices ushered in during the Second Industrial Revolution. Now consider their effect on jewellery production. |
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Wearable Art |
October 2011 |
How many times have you overheard the phrase, “I don’t know much about art, but I know what I like?” Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder, and if you take a look around, it’s everywhere.
If artwork displayed in museums and chi-chi sculpture ... |
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Neither faux nor faux pas |
August 2011 |
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck, right? Maybe … or maybe not when it comes to gemstones.
Synthetic gemstones have the same chemical makeup as their naturally occurring counterparts. The difference is synthetics don’t originate randomly ... |
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World of Watches |
June 2011 |
| Units of time are measured for a reason–to keep the chaos of daily life at bay and at a minimum. Consider the extent of disorder if universally agreed upon divisions of time weren't the norm. Everything from appointment schedules to driving safely in rush-hour traffic with signals adjusted for volume ... |
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Queen for a day |
April 2011 |
| Diamonds, pearls and other gemstones chosen by the bride and groom to wear on their special day can be the stuff of fairy tales. Many of these designs have a strong historic connection to notable collections from the past. Those original over-the-top selections are transformed by simpler, more affordable modifications ... |
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Future Connections |
February 2011 |
Whether you're located in a small community or a large metropolis, your regular base of customers probably consists of a mix of professionals, all in varying states of prominence.
No matter how long you've been in the business ... |
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Function follows form |
December 2010 |
| Trends in jewellery design are so closely linked to changes in fashion that it's well worth recalling the age-old question: Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This interdependent and mutually beneficial relationship has powerful impact on the bottom line and inventory of retail and resale merchants ... |
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Engraving |
October 2010 |
| For untold eons, human being have had the primal urge to make a visible mark on their surroundings and possessions. Imagine the sense of wonderment and surprise at the revelation when primitive man first noticed a set of footprints left behind in the sand or that first line boldly sketched in the dirt with a sharp stick ... |
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Gemstones A kaleidoscope of choice |
August 2010 |
| In her infinite wisdom with regard to our planet's carbon-based existence, Mother Nature created only three primary colours: red, blue, and yellow. In endlessly imaginative permutations and combinations, these hues comprise the whole spectrum of colour available ... |
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Convertible Creations |
June 2010 |
| Across the board, buying practices and attitudes reflect the current culture and the prevailing mood of the times. Removing clutter, downsizing, and simplifying our lives and surroundings are more commonplace, as diminished square footage and miniature condo areas force changes to be made. ... |
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Enduring quality |
April 2010 |
| Certain makers just seem to have been around forever, inspiring brand loyalty among numerous generations of customers despite or perhaps due to their willingness to swiftly change design focus to suit the times. Adaptability contributes to longevity, or as Charles Darwin ... |
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Gifting: the vintage advantage |
February 2010 |
| Every sentimental or momentous occasion deserves special recognition that can be marked with the giving of gifts. However, when an item of wearable jewellery might not be appropriate or is too gender-specific or personal, suitable alternatives are still available to mark a rite of passage ... |
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An eye for detail |
December 2009 |
With Baby boomers entering their retirement years, good period pieces are springing up everywhere. As a dealer of estate jewellery, you need a keen eye for detail and experience to spot an item worth adding to your collection.
To begin, examine every part of the piece ... |
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Evolution in White |
October 2009 |
| During the 19th century, diamonds and other precious stones were set in either gold or silver. However, when the setting was silver, gold always formed the backing due to its strength and hardness. In fact, the majority of such pieces used 14-carat gold for backings, as opposed to the softer ... |
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For the boys |
August 2009 |
| Since the earliest recorded history, there is plenty of evidence men adorned themselves with jewellery of some form or fashion to convey a sense of authority, importance, or ceremony. Anthropological excavations show pre-historic males carried ornaments for luck in hunting and protection ... |
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A case for the watch |
June 2009 |
| Mechanical timekeeping began in the 15th century in the form of clocks powered by variously configured internal springs. For greater accuracy, Leonardo da Vinci’s clock measured minutes as well as hours, using two separate trains with independent weight, gears, and escapement. A 16th - century German ... |
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Vintage value |
April 2009 |
| Confronted with the looming economic crisis, bidding at recent jewellery auctions has been measured. Secondhand dealers have been more conservative in their purchases as a greater number of private buyers have entered the auction market. Such a high number of private buyers were last recorded at auctions ... |
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Gold: A standard of adornment |
February 2009 |
| From the dawn of time, man’s natural fascination with lustrous objects has driven the desire to acquire them, at times at great risk or peril. Throughout the ages, science and art have co-existed in the quest for new sources of gold, related technologies and breathtaking designs, serving to maintain the enduring desire for ... |
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Portrait of an auction |
December 2008 |
| Imagine an event combining the spine-tingling intrigue of a spy novel, the heightened excitement of a major sports event, and the subdued exclusivity of a private club. For those in the know, the seating will have been reserved long in advance and it may be standing room only for the late arrivals ... |
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Platinum
period |
August 2008 |
| The discovery of new sources of diamonds in the latter half of the 19th century brought with it designs that utilized a profusion of these stones. To complement rather than contrast the white brilliance of diamonds, jewellers switched from gold to silver settings ... |
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Demystifying auction values |
April 2008 |
| As an appraiser for nearly 30 years, and in the auction industry for 28 of those years, I have met with countless jewellery owners. The perceptions that these people expressed about the pieces they own is, more often than not, out of sync with the reality ... |
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A magnificent tiara |
February 2008 |
| As the ultimate symbol of the highest form of jewellery, tiaras carry a special aura with jewellery collectors the world over. These impressive and elegant designs usually exemplify the best craftsmanship of their era. They also conjure images of fairy tale princesses and often possess an intriguing history. When featured in an auction ... |
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Appraising the appraisal process for period jewels |
December 2007 |
| One of the trickiest challenges in the jewellery industry is providing clients with appraisals for period pieces made prior to 1950. Authentic pieces are becoming increasingly rare, while more and more copies of period jewellery are being manufactured and represented as the real ... |
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The story of the Asscher cut |
August 2007 |
| As with fashion, everything old is new again. Witness
the renewed interest in cushion cuts, rose cuts,
briolettes, diamond beads and rondelles, which
have all found new life in contemporary jewellery. In a very
unique category, you'll find the cool beauty of the exclusive
Asscher cut - a stone with incredible ... |
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The Timeless Elegance of Art Deco |
June 2007 |
| Little did the organizers of the 1925 Paris Exposition des Arts Decoratifs know that what they were about to celebrate would become one of the most influential styles ever envisioned - a style that would encompass art, architecture, furniture and jewellery Only works demonstrating "new direction and true originality" ... |
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If jewels could talk... What stories they'd tell! |
April 2007 |
Retailers of fine jewellery often have customers come in to inquire about selling jewels. Their reasons for selling vary, but in general, they sell because the jewels are not suitable for the owner's current lifestyle. |
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Solving the puzzle of period pieces |
October 2006 |
| With the growing popularity of period pieces, there has been a corresponding rise in the manufacture of reproductions. As buyers become more willing to pay a premium for these pieces, the design and execution of reproductions is getting more sophisticated and sometimes indistinguishable ... |
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The jewellery of 1918 to 1939 |
August 2006 |
| Jewellery production, like most non-essential work, came to a virtual halt during the First World War. Jewellery making was revitalized in the 1920s, however, and while many of the pieces created between the wars seem banal to today's taste, the work during those 20 years ... |
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The Magnificence of Micromosaics |
June 2006 |
| The burgeoning tourist trade between England and Europe, particularly Italy, triggered a neoclassical revival in art, objects and even literature. This revival also spurred a renewed interest in pietre dure, a micromosaic jewellery-making technique invented by the ... |
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Jersey Jewellery |
April 2006 |
| Several historical and social events converged in the mid-19th century to create a jewellery manufacturing centre in Newark, New Jersey, that would become the epicentre of American jewellery design. The building of the railroad, the output of the 1849 California Gold Rush ... |
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Love, Victorian style |
February 2006 |
| Love token jewellery, with its elaborate symbolism of affection, was abundant during the Victorian era, particularly during the romantic period of Queen Victoria's reign. The 21 years following her marriage to Albert in 1840 were the happiest of Victoria's life, and Prince Albert often ... |
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Fabergé: Jeweller to the Czars |
December 2005 |
| In 1870, at the age of 24, Carl Fabergé took over his father's quaint St. Petersburg jewellery store. By then, he had already formulated the principle that the value of an object should be determined by the quality of the craftsmanship and not by the intrinsic worth ... |
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Untouched jewels retain their value |
October 2005 |
| Throughout history, jewellery pieces have been remodelled and updated to reflect current designs. As a result, few jewels of bygone eras remain in their original condition. There is renewed interest in those rare pieces that remain untouched, and whenever they appear at auction ... |
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‘50s design full of optimism, exuberance |
August 2005 |
| The 1950s were characterized by a quest for stability following the turmoil of the Second World War. The U.S. began to show its industrial might, and the American middle class was soon able to afford automobiles and other tokens of prosperity. The ‘50s were also a time of optimism, and this was reflected in ... |
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Cufflinks with the Past |
June/July 2005 |
| Cufflinks have the power to convey the personality or mood of the wearer. They can make a formal impression or a more casual, playful one, depending on their style and use of materials. From single, large diamonds connected by chains to basic gold-plated discs with brass connections, they are available in myriad ... |
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Cameo Appearance |
April/May 2005 |
| While the majority of cameos are made of shell, and have been since the 15th century, these miniature sculptures were also carved from various shades of lava as early as the 17th century. By the 19th century, souvenir cameos were being made of low-grade gold. Historically, gold cameos ... |
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Diamond aristocrats: a history of cut |
February/March 2005 |
| A few years ago, on a warm day in early May, a fur-wrapped woman attending one of my previews walked nonchalantly up to the case I stood behind and, in a loud voice, announced that she could never wear a piece of jewellery that had been worn by someone else. I smiled, but thought "Look what you're missing!" ... |
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Estate jewellery as a source of rare and fine gems |
November 2004 |
| Most of us have heard the expression "hidden gem." In the case of estate jewellery, the phrase is more than just a metaphor. Estate jewellery can turn up anywhere - it's often sold in the same shops as newly made pieces, where it is often overlooked, yet turns up frequently at auction, where it can sell for ... |
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The beauty of authentic Deco |
September/October 2004 |
| The organizers of the 1925 Paris Exposition des Arts Décoratifs declared with great exuberance that only works of jewellery demonstrating "new direction and true originality" would be worthy of their event. AH of the anonymous entries were screened by a committee of mysterious ... |
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