Greetings!
The appreciation of beauty and the desire for adornment are intrinsic to our human nature, and the history of jewelry is a long one. Carved ivory bracelets dating from the Paleolithic era have been found, suggesting that before there was written language, agriculture or settled communities there was jewelry.
In every era since then, jewelry has reflected the society that created it. It has been used for trade, to seek favor from the gods, as a symbol of royalty and as a sign of wealth. Its aesthetics, too, have reflected its origins: from the bold motifs on the warrior jewelry of the Masai tribe to the Christian symbols on European jewelry dating from the Middle Ages.
The present era of fine jewelry--characterized by jewelry made of gold, platinum and gems, and available in a variety of styles and price ranges--dates from the mid-19th century. The predominant styles of jewelry since then conform to the general artistic movement of their times. Formation of goldsmith guilds gave it status as a bona fide art.
Today, every time we don a piece of jewelry, history lives on, as we accessorize with the same metals and stones that have been worn, literally, for ages.--David Weiss
| 
| Tips On Planning an Heirloom Piece
Creating a piece of heirloom jewelry (one that's intended to be passed from generation to generation) is a real thrill. Together, we'll work throughout the design process and the result will be a piece of jewelry your descendants will be proud to wear, perhaps hundreds of years into the future.
� Have a story in mind. To whom will the piece be passed on? On what occasion, or for what reason? Will it be worn only on special occasions, or every day?
� Keep the design basic, versatile and timeless. Avoid trendy concepts such as highly stylized designs or odd combinations of stones. Instead, create a piece that would suit any wearer, regardless of her age, size, coloring or tastes.
� Stick to high-quality, durable materials. The best choices usually are eighteen-karat gold or platinum because they wear well, require relatively little maintenance, and look good on anyone. Sturdy stones, such as diamonds, rubies, sapphires and topaz, are usually preferable to more fragile, harder-to-clean stones, such as emeralds, pearls, zircons and opals. It's usually OK to re-use old stones, but avoid re-using gold from old pieces. The alloy mixes might not prove suitable, and the refining and recasting expenses can be high.
� Have the heirloom insured to protect your investment.
Working together we'll create a treasured piece that will be enjoyed for years to come.
| | | | | | | July Birthstone, Ruby
A prized possession of kings and queens throughout the ages, rubies are a symbol of love and immortality. Bright red in color, ruby represents romance and devotion.
Called the "Lord of Gems" by ancient Hindus, rubies are one of the most highly prized gems throughout history. The fiery glow of rubies is said to come from the gemstone's internal and eternal flame. For this reason, the gift of a ruby is a symbol of everlasting love.
Rubies come from all over the world but the highest quality gemstones are found in Thailand, India, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, North Carolina in the U.S., Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Tanzania, Kampuchea, and perhaps most notably, Burma.
With its hardiness and durability, rubies are a perfect engagement gem. And, if worn on the left hand, ancient lore has it that the ruby brings good fortune to the wearer, too!
| From Our Clients ...
"David did an incredible job of creating a perfect pendant made of white and yellow gold from a drawing I created on my computer. The recipient and all that have seen it are just blown away at how beautiful it turned out. David will always be my first choice when I or any of my friends need custom jewelry. Give David a chance and you won't regret it."--David Garcia, Owner, Get it on Sportswear
| |