Buccellati 100th Anniversary

Buccellati is celebrating it's 100th anniversary by offering a limited edition gemstone Opera necklace in 18k Yellow Gold designed with colorful gemstones as well as diamond accents. The necklaces are an offspring of the Opera collection which are extremely sexy in design and fashion forward. It's a dynamite necklace that will compliment any wardrobe.

Milan, Italy where the company began in 1919, is known as Italy's most metropolitan city. In 1951, Buccellati became first Italian jewelry designer with a location on Fifth Avenue in New York City.  in 1954 another location on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, Florida in 1958. In 1949 Mario Buccellati was commissioned to create an icon by Pope Pius XII for Princess Margaret to mark the extraordinary power of the first visit of a British Royal to Vatican City in hundreds of years. This magnificent work of art can be admired today at the Chianciano Art Museum in Tuscany.

The Buccellati tradition of precision and quality continues today. Let me help you find the perfect one for your jewelry wardrobe.

For the man who has everything....

For the man who has everything, Provident Jewelry has the perfect gift.... an Admin Strom watch! Armin Strom, the founder which it's names is taken started in 1938. The company motto is simple, "We show what we make",  as they create skeleton watches that are by far the most unique that I have seen.

Since 2009, the movements have all been produced in-house in Biel/Bienne Switzerland, which is located in the canton of Bern.

Of the many unique things about the Armin Strom watches the one I know our customers will find the most fun is that you can configure your own time piece. Armin Strom watches have a made to order process; from the case, to the movement, to the hands and the strap you select each item to suit your fancy. By far one of the most innovative watches on the market today for that guy who has everything.....

With only 40 points of sale world wide and 10 being in the USA, this truly is a unique time piece that will call for attention. These watches are exquisite in style as well as craftsmanship, truly they are a work of art!

Do come in to Provident Jewelry and I will be happy to assist you with the portal to custom create your newest timepiece!

Keeping with St. Patrick's Day.....the world of peridot!

I do love the color green, maybe because it's one of the colors of the Italian flag and it is the birthstone for August. Yes, I am Italian and my birthday is in August. Peridot has a fascinting history both in nature and culture. It is one of the oldest gemstones, ancient records document the mining of this beautiful gemstone as early as 1500 B.C. This gem is especially connected with ancient Egypt, some actually believe the famous emeralds of Cleopatra's were actually peridot, not emeralds. Most gems are formed in the earth's crust, yet the two exceptions are peridot and diamonds. Peridot forms in magma, which is approximately 20 to 55 miles deeper than the earth's crust. Then, brought to the surface by tectonic or volcanic activity. I think the entire gemstone growth process is absolutely fascinating.

Also, another thing that sets this gemstone apart from others is it's one of the few gemstones that forms in only one color an olive-green. The intensity and tint of the green, is determined by the amount of iron that is contained in the crystal structure. So, the color of individual peridot gems can differ from yellow, to olive, to brownish-green. In rare cases, peridot can occur in medium-dark tones, visually pure green with a secondary yellow hue or brown mask.

Truly a lovely stone for those who fancy the color green. Some yummy jewelry below; what is your favorite piece?

18K White Gold Round Martini Studs With 48 Diamonds=.18ctw GH-VS2/SI1 and Two 6.5mm Peridot=2.00ctw

"HENRY DUNAY" List price ~$32K D~4CTS 2P~6CTS

18K White Gold Ring with a Burmese Peridot=16.71ct and 68 Diamonds=.58ctw G-H/VS2-SI1

18k Yellow Gold Agate, Peridot & Diamond Pendant

* This is a pendant that I designed, thought you might like to see some of my work!

In the final days.....

It’s hard to believe the end of this five month journey is in site. All twenty members of class #207 are preparing, imagining, fearing, sweating and feeling a sense of hope they will soon complete this rigorous yet empowering Graduate Gemologist course. In the first several weeks of the course our professor told us stories of well educated people who never completed the course. They were not prepared for how intense the course was, nor were they willing to do the amount of work in a lab setting to complete the requirements for the degree. Don’t get me wrong, everyone has their own level of resilience and desire. If we didn’t know prior to attending the GIA course, we definitely know now how resilient we truly are.

The 20 stone test seemed to be months away, then before I knew it the following Friday would my first attempt at taking the test. The school allows each student five attempts at taking the test because the diagnosis of all 20 stones needs to be 100% accurate in order to pass and receive one’s GG. I have to admit that my track record in getting a 100% on any test in school was rare. Okay, so if we were talking about art, fashion or what jewelry design house created the Macri Collection with hand engraving made in Italy and the most incredible craftsmanship going back to the early 1900’s, I could most certainly tell you it was Buccellati. But, 100% accuracy on determining 20 stones with zero errors… now that is a tall order!It’s not that I am not capable or that I can not apply myself in the way necessary to accomplish the grade. However, some of the information was so complex that I needed to break it down into small chunks so I could retain and review everything. Sometimes it took four times before I could actually retain it. The course moved so rapidly, that at times I felt I was falling behind. On weekends I would study 8 hours on both Saturday and Sunday, while other students were taking trips, playing or attending class bomb fires at the beach. Unfortunately, I did not have the luxury of playing on the weekends. I knew if I were going to pass the course and obtain the level of education I wanted, I needed to apply myself as I had never done before. I was ready and I did it. Occasionally, I broke away for an early morning hike. Enjoying the amazing area of California helped me focus and prepare for a long day of study.

I found it interesting the reasoning behind the high standard of testing is that GIA is known through out the world as having the best gemological educational facility, laboratory and research department of our time. Their reputation extends far and wide, and they want to protect both the student entering the trade as well as the general public. An error in evaluating a stone for a client or making a large purchase of Columbian emeralds, if not diagnosed correctly can be a costly mistake. The school is preparing their students to enter the trade with the necessary information they will need to succeed. I have come to respect and appreciate this high level of standard. I am very grateful I was able to accomplish it.

The past five months for me was both challenging and rewarding.  I have a better appreciation of the process now that I am on the other side. I passed the 20 stone test with 100% and was thrilled beyond measure. It felt so good to select one by one the small manila envelopes, remove the stone, test the properties and then make my calls. I had a natural ruby, that prior to my GIA education I would have called synthetic because the color was slightly pinkish with a very bright tone, but through my education and knowing what inclusions only appear in natural stones, I was able to call it correctly. Next, I had an opal triplet and at first it could have gone either way synthetic or natural. With my microscope I viewed the play of color and not seeing any snake skin effect or consistent pattern throughout the opal, I knew it had to be natural. I was delighted to get what I thought was an amber stone. Once I put it in the testing solution and it floated, I had confirmation it was a natural organic gem called amber. A beautiful blue sapphire showed up as one of my stones and because it had straight color zoning, I took the RI determining it was sapphire.  Now the call was synthetic or natural and the zoning determined the call being natural sapphire with no treatment call necessary. Another of my stones was a Jadeite and this stone through out the course had made me nervous because sometimes I could see the dye band in the spectroscope and sometimes not. Calling it Jadeite could be an incorrect call if it is dyed. I had done this several times on my practice 20 tests. In this case it showed me a dye band, and all I could think to myself was thank you, thank you, thank you! Calling it dyed Jadeite was the correct call! I felt confident as I finished the test and reviewed my calls and yet not second guessing myself or changing my call too often. Turning the test in I was hopeful yet not overly confident because one minor treatment miss, natural or synthetic, and the fun ones like Scapolite or Amethyst when the properties overlap and additional testing not easy to determine need to be done in order to call it can be the one stone that takes you down.

So, as you can see in reading my blog, gemology is no only a science but also a love of mine. I am elated because I have wanted to get my Graduate Gemologist degree for several years now.  It was a goal of mine. I feel accomplished having obtained the credentials I have always wanted. It feels good! Thank you all for your support as I walked this wonderful journey, yet I have the distinct feeling this is just the beginning of a new and tremendous journey for me. I have an appreciation for colored stones, diamonds and aggregates that is so much more in-depth than when I began the pursuit of my GG and for that I am grateful.

                                   

                                                   Diamond macle with perfectly formed Trigons  

Phenomena Gemstones

       Myself, Elizabeth Ellman, Nina Spano (GIA teacher), Julie Ewer, Sierra Petey Jones & Mengshuan Lin.

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

Amber the organic gem

Amber is tree resin that has hardened over time. To be called amber, it needs to be at least 1 million years old. Anything less in maturity is known as copal. Amber artifacts have been found back as far as 10,000 BC by archeologists and used ornamentally since that time. In German, amber is referred to as the “burn stone”, or bernstein.

Interestingly enough, the most sauté after-color is red. The majority of the time we see amber in yellow to  golden orange, and transparent in appearance.  Amber comes primarily from the Baltic Sea region of Europe and near the Baltic shores of Denmark. It is very light weight helping it to float in salt water.  Weather, as well as erosion, releases the amber, and it ends up on the beaches. Then people gather and bring it to market. 

When treated with heat and oil to improve its appearance and marketability, the side effect can be circular marks, which the trade refers to as sun spangles. Sun spangles often have an attractive look, making the amber piece a little more unique. Heat treatment clarifies the gem, otherwise it would remain cloudy and not as visually attractive. 

Amber is a lovely gem that can be big and bold without a heft to the piece, making it easy to wear. See below several pieces of Amber earrings and a necklace from our collection at Provident Jewelry.

I hope you are able to walk away with at least one fact about amber you did not know prior to reading this week’s blog post, and thank you for taking the time. I wish you a good week and until next time, sparkle on!

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.

The road that is taking me on this journey....

The road that is taking me on this journey……

This week I would like to take the time to tell you exactly how this journey has been going thus far. When I originally arrived that Friday afternoon at the Gemological Institute of America, GIA, for my orientation in classroom #207, I was excited, anticipating a fabulous as well as relaxing shall we say, "VACATION" type summer-time in Southern California. Of course, I knew there would be work involved, but truthfully, I had not expected my days to be too rigorous. I have been in the jewelry and luxury industry for more than 20 years. I design jewelry and anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE everything about jewelry.

I missed the class orientation. It was held the week before I arrived.  My schedule did not allow me to be at the school at that time. So I arranged with the administrations office for my orientation on the Friday before the Monday school start date. I walked in and met my instructor, Tim, who showed me my desk assignment. There was a stack of 3 ring binders, books, pamphlets and assorted instruments on the desk. I foolishly asked him what was all that the stuff on my desk and to my surprise, he told me it was my course curriculum.  Shock rushed through out my body. Then he informed me I had three chapters to study over the weekend before class on Monday. Alarm set in as I realized this program was going to be more serious than I had expected. In high school I rarely found the subjects interesting, and sometimes it was hard to grasp all the information coming my way. How was I going to weather this storm that was about to take place. The thought came over me, maybe this idea of getting my GG wasn't the best one I have had recently!!!

Well, here I was, hitting the books again. Being older, and I would like to think more well rounded, my approach to studying at this time was different than high school.  Age and experience of life have helped me. Today, I work to achieve improvement of one small milestone at a time. My expectations are more realistic. The last eight weeks have been challenging. I have had to work my catoocas off, but my time here so far has remarkably rewarding. When I was twenty I would have compared myself to others, today I have learned to compare myself to myself. When I have a little victory, I make a big deal about it-- for me. This has helped me to stay here, in this course and finish out what I set out to do. There were two times in the past several weeks that I thought, I can't do this. The work is too hard and I just don't have what it takes. Well, I have accepted that is not true. That thought is was an out and out lie. I DO have what it takes -- one stone at a time, one question on the test every Friday at a time.

Oh, and did I tell you that by the last week of September, I will have looked at, and graded, 1,860 stones.  When I heard that number I almost fell off my chair. Not only do I need to see that many stones, but each week there is a stone count that is required, with a test every Friday on the course work, cumulative up to the date of information given. The final kicker was when I was informed that this course work in an Ivy League college would take 2.5 years. We are doing it in less than six months. This GIA course is no joke. Boy, did I embark on some character building work, or what???

My fellow students are from all around the world.  Some of them are the most fascinating, lovely, kind in spirit people I could ask to meet. Angel, my study partner, car pool buddy and dear friend, makes me laugh so often that I remember not take myself too seriously. He truly is an angel and the smartest, most driven person that I am fortunate enough to know her at GIA. Elizabeth, a real Nicole Kidman look alike, could not be any more encouraging. She is as beautiful as she is kind and an extremely well rounded woman. Julie, a hippie girl from Berkley, is a third generation jeweler and as cool as they come. She’s an incredible sketcher and very spirited with a joy for life to that is infectious. David, second generation jeweler and race car driver is totally laid back. He really knows how to enjoy the moment. He’s a perfect example for me of someone wearing life like a loose garment. Then, we have Bruce, who surprises me more often than not, with something I do not expect. He reminds me of my brother, big heart, funnier than funny and appreciative of life. He is a veteran who has served three tours and for that alone he deserves applause as well as admiration in my book. And lastly, I can not finish without mentioning Faris.... A 6" 4 inch, smile to melt your heart, and our class president. If I was 20 years younger I would be trying to get in all sorts of trouble with him! A true gentleman and remarkable young man that his parents can be truly proud of the person they brought into this world. These people are some of the finest human beings that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. I learn from them and my admiration continues to grow the more I get to know them. M xo

Course curriculum.... who knew?

Mined rough _ A Gemologists Heaven

Left to right; Faris, Julie, Andrew, Elizabeth, David, Seth, Derek & Chin

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

This week’s blog is called Amazing Amethyst…..

Well, this week’s educational lecture began with Amethyst, which is in the quads family and highly prized for centuries. During the time of the ancient Greeks, this stone was thought to be magical and have medicinal properties. It was considered to be equal to ruby, emerald & sapphire. Russia was the major source of this gemstone until the 19th century, when a huge deposit was found in Brazil. The finest amethysts are strong in saturation, medium-dark to dark reddish-purple, or purple with no visible color zoning. Color zoning means uneven distribution of color throughout the gemstone’s body.

Fine and commercial-quality amethysts recently emerged from the Four Peaks Mine in Arizona. Other sources of amethyst include Canada, India, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, Namibia, Sri Lanka & Tanzania. 

Something I found interesting was that amethyst when heat treated becomes Citrine, and with further heat treatment you will have Prasiolite.

These stunning 14k White Gold Amethyst & Diamond Earrings are a lovely color with enough pizazz to complete any outfit. You will notice the amethyst stones are accented by yellow gold to show off the color perfectly. The two center amethysts are 5.55 carats in total weight with 1.09 carats of white diamonds. Of course we have much more of a selection in fine gemstones.  These range in price, as well as style and adorn a variety of rings, bracelets, necklaces and pins.

The second photo is four 18k Roberto Coin faceted gemstone rings from top to bottom; Prasiolite, Amethyst, Citrine & Blue Topaz. All of which have diamonds surrounding the gemstone adding brilliance to the look.

What’s your favorite gemstone & why? I’d love to hear, so let me know.  Thank you for reading this week’s course of learning. Until next time, be sure to sparkle on….

Heading to GIA for my Gemology Degree....

And so the journey begins in obtaining my Gemologist Degree with concentration on colored stones. The process entails leaving the quaint little town of Naples, FL,  my family, co-workers at Provident Jewelry and two decades of friendships for the next four plus months. Heading to Carlsbad, CA to attend the Gemologist Institute of America where I will be in a classroom setting Monday through Friday from 8am - 3pm learning all about colored stones, new treatments, where the stones originate from and much more. As I contemplate, I am reminded how long it has been since I attended school full time and I assure you, it's several decades.

With a Gemologist Degree I will still be buying, selling & trading jewelry plus able to do appraisals.

My coworkers Alexis, Rachel & Andrew are with me in the photograph below. Thank you all for the support and encouragement as I go out on this adventure to pursue my degree.