They say diamonds are a girls best friend.....

With diamonds being a girls best friend, we have found a collection that every woman will love!

Christopher designs founded in 1981 by Christopher Slowinski, born in Poland and apprenticed under a master jeweler in his native country then in the United States. His created a proprietary diamond cut using his classic training with modern technology to create Crisscut® stones. This patented cut of diamond enhances scintillation, the diamond shows up brighter white and the same carat weight of a classic cut shows up to 50 - 60% larger. And what woman doesn't want her diamond to look impressive. With this collection that is exactly what you get, a diamond that is beautifully cut with a big look.

You will have to come in to see the collection in person at Provident Jewelry, as the jewelry is stunning. Any girls who loves diamonds, this is a must!

See below photos of Christopher's beautiful designs that are in store now.

Miseno

The Miseno jewelry line is a modern day collection of fine jewelry that is fashion forward. Brand founder, Antonio Cardamuro, previously was with jewelry houses such as Bulgar, Bedat and Buccellati. Buccellati is where I met Antonio approximately a decade ago. Our paths have continued to cross over the years and I have always enjoyed him as a person and to see him expand in the jewelry business with his own collection.

Antonio is from Miseno, Italy himself, the line pays homage to the town's storied past, undeniably neptunian influence pervades over the collection. Miseno's name derives from the mythical famed trumpeter Misenus, who lost a famed musical battle to the sea God Triton. A point of fact is that the Roman's believed that entering the city of Miseno through the ancient Roman arch,  Arco Felice, one would find love and happiness. What a beautiful thought!

Antonio's vision began to take shape with such rich history and incredible landscape as his muse. The collection is extremely feminine  and fashion forward with a modern twist. Diamonds, pearl and semi-precious gemstone embellishments, beautifully capture the influences of the ocean and other nature elements. 

Below are several photos of the line and you will see the soft feminine lines as well as modern look in Antonio's designs. 

I

Roberto Coin Sauvage Prive' Collection.....

The Sauvage Prive' is one of the most AVANTE GARDE collections in the Roberto Coin universe and his vision for this collection was to embody the characteristics of the woman of the future.

This collection is EXCLUSIVE to Provident "766" Naples meaning, we are the only retailer on the Westcoast of Florida and one out of two retailers in Florida to have this collection. Roberto Coin is one of Provident's leading brands and we are thrilled to have this amazing collection that is exclusive to our area and our state.

The Sauvage collection is angular, geometric shapes that co-exist side-by-side with another more exuberant, emblematic one – together eliminating superfluous elements from the elegance of the design, making way for the most instinctive and passionate side of femininity.  

Hence, the name of the collection – an unprecedented combination of exotic passion and well-defined courage – representing the woman of the future.  

It is available in 18K rose, yellow and white gold with accents of diamonds, Sauvage Privé is a collection suited for the woman who invariably seeks to make a statement.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at 239.784.2682 as I would love to show you the collection and discuss it further. Giving you ideas of how to mix and match it with your current jewelry!

Aquamarine, the transparent and versatile gemstone.....

The beryl species is one of the most notable gemstone families. Many people are only acquainted with the most famous beryl - emerald. But the family includes several important gemstones, including; aquamarine, morganite; in honor of the American banker and gem collector J.P. Morgan. Morganite is usually a soft pink to violet, yet a salmon-color is also known, helidor; also known as golden beryl and maxixe, least common and least known of the variety that is dark, sapphire blue in color. The different varieties of beryl are distinguished by their color, significant transparency and color. Deeper color blues command higher price per carat.

The traditional source for aquamarine is Brazil, yet recently some very fine Mozambique material has made it to the market for sale. Aquamarine ranges in color from a faint light blue to blue and bluish-green, with lighter colored stones being the most common type. Light green beryl can be transformed into aquamarine if heated. The green hues in most aquamarine can also be removed through heat treatment.

Aquamarine is the second most popular of the beryl, named for it’s seawater-like color. The name aquamarine is derived from the Latin words: aqua meaning “water” and marina meaning “of the sea”. It is the birthstone for March.

On the Mohs hardness scale they have a hardness of 7.5 - 8. Compared to a diamond, which is the hardest at 10 on the scale. A stone that is hard enough to wear often because it is durable, yet it may develop internal cracks if banged hard against something. Aquamarine is often completely flawless, unlike emerald. Aquamarine with visible flaws are rarely seen.

Aquamarine crystals range from very small to very large and can be up to 100 lbs. in some cases. Large stones are available, yet it is difficult to use very large stones in jewelry.


Princess Diana famously wore a large aquamarine ring during her visit to Sydney, Australia. The stone was emerald cut, flanked by diamonds and set in yellow gold. The Princess had commissioned the ring herself and would often wear it together with a diamond bracelet.


The below photos; several aquamarine specimens, stunning aquamarine and diamond briolette drop earrings.

18K White Gold Earrings with Aquamarines wit a total weight of 92.57 carats and Round Brilliant Diamonds with a total weight of 2.28 carats G in color and VS in clarity. 

We have these earrings in our stock today, please contact me more information. Thank you for reading and I love hearing your comments.

Diamonds formation, from rock to beauty.....

Diamonds form under extreme temperature and pressure. Then, through cataclysmic eruption they are brought to the earth’s surface.  It’s truly amazing they survive a process so violent and explosive. There are two types of source rock that can form a diamond: igneous rock - molten lava that is formed into a solid state becoming a rock, and metamorphic rock - pre-existing rocks that have been altered by heat as well as pressure. If the temperature and pressure vary just slightly, or the diamonds take too long to be brought to the earth’s surface, graphite is formed, not diamonds. This is why large diamonds rarely survive in one piece.  Precise conditions need to be in place, and the volatility of impact is enormous. The diamonds are brought to the earth’s surface by either kimberlite or lampoite, and sometimes, a geological process called emplacement delivers them to the earth’s surface.

After arriving on the surface of the earth, diamonds can live millions of years in rivers, streams and ocean tides before being found my a miner. They might wait hundreds of millions of years before arriving at the surface. The diamonds that exist today were most likely on the earth’s surface 20 million to 2.5 billion years ago. Now those numbers I find astonishing.

Diamonds have the highest hardness on the Moh’s scale (an industry wide geological scale), and can be contaminated by very few types of impurities. Some of the diamonds are gems with non-gem qualities. They can be used as sandpaper surface, or as tools for cutting, grinding and drilling for many different industries inside and outside of the jewelry industry.

Today, diamonds are more available and affordable than at other times in history. Yet, while they are abundantly available, diamonds with high clarity and color grading are still very rare, and of course, those stones are very valuable.

The world of mining is challenging, from finding a source that will be profitable, to dealing with ecological, environment or political conditions, it is an expensive undertaking. One is looking at hundreds of millions, if not billions, as an investment to embark on the process, hoping for a profit. It requires intense exploration, years of planning and construction, and on top of it all, potentially profitable diamond sources are very rare. Yet, there are mines that produce gem quality diamonds which have been in operation for decades.

Until the eighteenth century, India was the world’s only major diamond source. Today’s diamond sources are Canada, the US, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana, Russia, India, China, Indonesia, Australia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Dominican Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and South Africa. Namibia is perhaps the largest marine diamond deposit in the world.

Please see below, the amazing diamonds we offer at Provident Jewelry. We provide a selection like no other from very petite, to 20 carat rings, and all of them have their own unique character as well as beauty. I hope that if you did not know much about diamonds, this article helped you appreciate what it takes for a diamond to be available to you, and trust me, I only shared a portion of the process. It’s remarkable what our mother earth creates for us, and what a privilege it is that we have the opportunity to appreciate this beauty.

Thank you for reading and as always sparkle on…..

Tiffany & Company Platinum Diamond Ring 3.37 (Graded by Tiffany as F,VV2) center stone in platinum baguette mounting (side diamonds =.48 cts tw)

Emerald Cut = 10.07cts Diamond I VVS2 Ring set in Platinum with two side trapezoids = 1.40cts. comes with GIA report

Platinum Engagement Ring with Round Brilliant Round Diamond=11.16ct H, SI1 GIA Triple X/ Mounting 326 Dia.=1.32ctw

Phenomenal Gems - The Feldspar Family

Phenomenal Gems - Labradorite Feldspar & Moonstone Labradorite Feldspar

Feldspar is most widespread mineral on the earth's crust and has some of the most diverse gemstones. I have designed jewelry using Labradorite Feldspar for years, not knowing that this gemstone was part of a large group of related species with several different varieties. The feldspar group has many members. Some are suitable for jewelry, while others are not because of either their lack in durability or availability. Members of this family vary slightly in chemical composition and sometimes crystal structure. The gemstones vary widely in appearance and it is the chemical elements that make up the appearance. Interestingly enough, some of this family has a phenomenal appearance while others do much the same way as some people in a family stand out more than others. 

Moonstone has been very popular for decades. In the 1960’s during the “flower child” movement ,it was popular for it’s exquisite beauty. In the 1990’s ,the New Age movement turned to it for it’s natural beauty while the luxury jewelry industry started designing with it in the early 2000’s. I personally became aware of the gemstone then, and have loved it ever since. Several designers, whose work I admire,  such as those from Saks to Nieman’s, who have used Moonstone in their collections. It’s a stone that catches your eye because the vivid adularescence, which is noticeably appealing. Anything sparkly interested me, which most of you know by now.

The moonstone is a variety of Orthoclase while Labradorite is it’s variety as well as species. Top quality moonstone is found in Sri Lanka while commercial grade, which is primarily most of the gemstones you and I will see, is mined from Myanmar and India. Most often you will see moonstone in as a cabochon gemstone. It is so plentiful there are calibrated sizes, meaning standard jewelry size stones available a the wholesale level.  Another labradorite variety is Sunstone that is mined in Oregon and is not treated. Some buyers search out as well as it being a gemstone from the USA.  

There is a place on the Cambria Coastline in California that is called Moonstone Beach and after a heavy storm one can find moonstone gems on the beach amongst the rocks on the shore line. During the storm the water churns up gemstones, separating them from the earth's crust while the surface to the beaches shore line. This is a place on my bucket list! If it wasn't a 5.5 hour drive from San Diego I would venture there several times a week while here in California to see what I can find. 

Blind Pass Beach on Sanibel Island one can find sharks teeth on the beach on any given day. It's amazing what mother nature provides to us that is both beautiful and fascinating to explore.

Labradorite was found on the coast of Labrador ,Canada around 1770 ,by a missionary, hence the name Labradorite. This stone is used decoratively, often as carved into designs for a richly patterned look. Fine Labradorite Feldspar shimmers with a unique iridescent phenomenon that you can see below in some of the earrings shown. 

If you have not been aware of this gorgeous gemstone family, I hope you can appreciate and find a love for this stone as I have. Thank you for reading this week's blog and until next time sparkle on…..

Designer Paula Crevoshay's blackened-gold, faceted blue moonstone, fuchsia, sapphire, and diamond cymbidium orchid brooch is part of the Garden of Light collection by Crevoshay. It is a painted jewel.  ~ Moonsonte(18)=29.24ct. Red Spinel(25)=0.78ct. This brooch is from Provident Jewelry's Collection, Naples, FL.

Kaufmann de Suisse since 1954 has designed distinctive elegant jewelry and the company has won five Diamond International Awards building a reputation as a world famous designer catering to the elite of society. This estate necklace is set in 18k white gold and the 9 moonstones have a gorgeous blue sheen with a milky or cloudy look to the cabochon. This is a necklace that can be worn for many occasions from casual to elegant, it just needs the right outfit styled correctly and the right attitude!!! This necklace is from Provident Jewelry’s Collection, Naples, FL. 

      

Maryann Scandiffio Jewelry Design - Labradorite Felspar, the earrings on the left are a greenish grey with a pink and white sheen while the x-large earrings on the right are a highly prized gemstones because of the blueish grey color and the luscious blue sheen that this gemstone is known for. Although to me, it’s a personal preference in color composition that makes you happy when selecting the perfect piece for you. At the end of the day it’s about finding what gemstone speaks to you, will make you happy when you put it on and is something that won’t sit in your jewelry box. Jewelry is meant to be worn and adorned…...

* If you have any interest in any of the items above please contact me for more details.

Jade ~ The precious gem....

JADE

The precious gem known as the “stone of heaven” has been treasured by the Asian culture for thousands of years for its rich heritage. The trade name for the finest quality semitransparent jadeite with its even, and vivid color is called Imperial Jade. The modern gemologists use the word “Jade” which includes Jadeite & Nephrite. The gems are soft enough to carve, but tough enough to withstand a carvers constant pounding of his hammer on the gem. Jadeite is commercially available, but top-quality is rare. Jadeite also comes in an array of colors: lavender, red, orange, yellow, brown, white, black & gray. Green is the most valuable and most expensive, it can have a price tag of over $3 million dollars per carat. 

In China & Europe, during the Stone Age, workers shaped Jadeite into weapons, tools, ornaments & ritual objects. The carvings are believed to invoke the powers of heaven, earth, and mystic forces of life & death. The ancient relationship between this gemstone and humanity persists today among native societies in New Zealand & parts of North America. In China it became an artistic tradition that has prospered for more than 3,000 years.

The Chinese culture associate jade with clarity of mind and purity of spirit. Some of the ancient symbolic motifs still used in modern carvings are: the bat for happiness, butterfly for long life, dragon for power, prosperity & goodness, peach for immortality and the Bi, the flat circular disk with a hole in the center which is for heaven. In China there is a tradition that a girl's parents give her a Jadeite bangle to wish her a good and prosperous life, it is something the girl does not take off.  She will wear it into adulthood.

The Jade gemstone has never been a powerful or important stone for our culture in the United States, but I have seen some amazing carved pieces here.  Designers today are creating modern looks that are stylish with a chic contemporary feel. Below you will find several pieces that are my favorites of the Jade we we have to offer.

Carved Jadeite Earrings

Jade "Spirituality of Vitality" Pendant

Tasteful & timeless turquoise......

Turquoise is valued for a combination of its ancient heritage and attractive color. Its finest color is an even, intense, medium blue, sometimes described as “robin egg” blue.  Although, some prefer a greenish blue as seen in some contemporary designer jewelry.  This color is anywhere from avocado to lime green turquoise. The source for top color is the Nishapur district in Iran, the country formerly known as Persia. That’s why you may have heard of “Persian turquoise” before. American & Mexican turquoise is light blue, or greenish blue to bluish green in color. While Egyptian turquoise is greenish blue to yellowish green. The bluer the shade the more copper it contains. 

The stone is often cut into cabochons, but you will see it in beaded jewelry as well as flat pieces of inlays often found in Native American jewelry. In the 1970's, this gem was extremely popular. The largest and most consistent market for this beautiful stone is the American Southwest. The Sleeping Beauty mine is in Globe, Arizona, which is the world's top turquoise producer. 

I found it interesting that in the Victorian era there was a surge in ornate turquoise jewelry designs. I have always associated it with the Native American culture. Fine estate pieces from the Art Deco period of the early twentieth century are often set in platinum combined with diamonds. Such vintage treasures occupy the high end of today’s turquoise market, and Provident Jewelry has a dynamite collection of turquoise time period pieces. Below are two pairs of earrings that are absolutely stunning.

Until next week, remember to sparkle on and thank you for reading!

One of the "BIG THREE".....

This week we spent time learning about the “Big Three,” as they are referred to in the jewelry industry: ruby, sapphire and emerald. I would like to focus on emeralds because I feel that I have misunderstood this stone more than any other. Emeralds are a precious stone variety of beryl, and typically have natural inclusions noticeable to the unaided eye. Inclusions will decrease or increase the value of the stone depending on numerous factors; such as size of inclusions, placement in the gem and type of inclusions. Eye-clean emeralds are extremely rare and exceptionally valuable. Frankly, most of us will never see an eye-clean emerald in our life time. Trade members and some consumers accept emerald inclusions as part of its character and charm, yet others do not see inclusions this way. I myself have not liked the way inclusions look in a gemstone until I arrived at GIA and have started to learn about the complexity of them. I am acquiring an appreciation for what mother nature does in gemstones.

The emerald inclusions are sometimes described as mossy, plant roots or garden-like.  They are also referred to as “jardin," which in French, means garden. Leave it to the French to make anything sound good!!!

Most emeralds on the market today are treated with fracture filling, improving the clarity of the gemstone. Although this does not make the stone eye-clean it does enhance the color and clarity of the gemstone. Just about everything we buy today is treated. For example, the fabrics in the clothing and the furniture we buy have been treated before selling. Without treatments, supplies of many gems would decline in the jewelry world, and their prices would rise astronomically, making them unaffordable to most. Why should jewelry be any different from anything else we buy. So, all-in-all, treating gemstones sounds like a good thing to me. Would you agree?

Just a few emerald bobbles below for you to view from Provident Jewelry at 766 5th Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102. We would love to talk to you about the variety of items we have to offer and I especially would love to talk to you about everything or anything jewelry related. Until next week and thank you for your interest! M xo