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May - Emerald
Green is the color of Spring and has long symbolized love and rebirth. As the gem of Venus, it was also considered to aid in fertility.
Cleopatra, Egypt’s tempestuous female monarch was as famous for wearing Emeralds in her time as Liz Taylor is for wearing diamonds in our time. Ancient Egyptian mummies were often buried with an Emerald carved with the symbol of verdure– flourishing greenness–on their necks to symbolize eternal youth.
The deeper and more vivid the color of green, the more valuable the gemstone. The most valuable and beautiful Emeralds exhibit an intense bluish hue in addition to their basic bold green color. Emeralds, among the rarest of gems, are almost always found with birthmarks, known as inclusions. Some inclusions are expected and do not detract from the value of the stone as much as with other gemstones.
About Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers
Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers is a full service fine jeweler and designer jewelry store in El Dorado Hills, CA , located at the heart of El Dorado Hills Town Center , one exit up route 50 from Folsom , CA . We serve the Sacramento County , El Dorado County and Placer County regions as a family jeweler , with custom jewelry design, jewelry gifts for birthday, anniversary, mothers day, fathers day, and all holidays, in addition to jewelry repairs , jewelry appraisals and gifts for guys. We have the best mens wedding band selection anywhere and we make jewelry using rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum and palladium with diamonds , precious stones and gems.
Birthstone engagement rings are totally a thing right now. Birthstone jewelry is more fun than ever.
You can shop here for birthstones and choose from rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum, silver or even palladium for your ring and then choose or customize your stone selections. Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers will make you the ring of your dreams from either our online selections or from scratch with no design fee.
Birthstones are gemstones that accompany a birth month, each having a unique meaning and historical significance. The popularity of birthstones dates back to ancient times when civilizations believed that gemstones had incredible powers such as luck, health and prosperity. Traditionally, each month is associated with a single gemstone, but as you’ll find below there are a few months with multiple birthstones. The birthstones associated with birth months today are not necessarily the same ones that were used in ancient times. In those days, color was the most important feature of a gemstone so they did not distinguish between gems the way we do today. For instance, they did not distinguish between a Ruby and a Garnet. Our list represents the modern birthstone list endorsed by the American Gem Society.
Gifts of gemstone jewelry with a loved one’s birthstone are very popular because of the desire to wear beautiful color as well as something which has personal significance. You don’t need to become a gemstone or birthstone expert to find the perfect gift. Whether you’re looking for a gemstone ring adorned with the birthstone of a child, or a beautiful set of gemstone earrings we’re here to help!
According to Elle.com, BirthstoneEngagementRingsAre 2019's Breakout WeddingTrend.
We've been all over coloured engagement ringsfor a while now, so we were super happy to hear that Etsy has named birthstoneengagementrings as one of their breakout weddingtrends of 2019.
Along with statement sleeves, sustainable tableware and unconventional seating plans, the e-commerce site has declared birthstoneengagementringsas the perfect way for brides to to express their individuality.
'One emerging trend in non-diamondengagementringsis incorporating birthstones,'Etsy’s trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson explained. 'On Etsy, we’ve seen 34K searches for 'birthstoneengagementrings'in the last three months, and I predict the trend will continue to grow.'.
2019 is going to be all about putting a twist on traditional styles,' Johnson continued. 'For generations, the diamondhas been the ultimate stone for proposing, but today’s bride isn’t tied to the norm — she wants to express her personal style and choose a ringthat reflects her personality — which is why in the new year, other gemstones will become go-to staples for engagementrings.'.
Since ancient times, diamonds have been admired as objects of desire. Formed one hundred miles beneath the Earth’s surface over a billion years ago, diamonds are the hardest gem of all. Diamonds have a long history of folklore; some of which say diamonds were created when bolts of lightning struck rocks, and others said the gem possessed healing powers. For centuries, diamonds have been adorned by women and men and regarded as the ultimate gift and a symbol of eternal love.
Today, diamonds are still admired all around the world. Until the middle of the twentieth century, there was no standard by which diamonds could be evaluated. GIA created the first, and now globally accepted standard for describing diamonds: Color, Clarity, Cut, and Carat Weight. Today, the 4C’s of Diamond Quality are the universal method for assessing the quality of any diamond, anywhere in the world.
Finding the perfect diamond is not something to take lightly. Visit our DIamond Education blog section for tips and information on how to find the diamond that is right for you.
About Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers
Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers is a full service fine jeweler and designer jewelry store in El Dorado Hills, CA , located at the heart of El Dorado Hills Town Center , one exit up route 50 from Folsom , CA . We serve the Sacramento County , El Dorado County and Placer County regions as a family jeweler , with custom jewelry design, jewelry gifts for birthday, anniversary, mothers day, fathers day, and all holidays, in addition to jewelry repairs , jewelry appraisals and gifts for guys. We have the best mens wedding band selection anywhere and we make jewelry using rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum and palladium with diamonds , precious stones and gems.
Birthstone engagement rings are totally a thing right now. Birthstone jewelry is more fun than ever.
You can shop here for birthstones and choose from rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum, silver or even palladium for your ring and then choose or customize your stone selections. Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers will make you the ring of your dreams from either our online selections or from scratch with no design fee.
Birthstones are gemstones that accompany a birth month, each having a unique meaning and historical significance. The popularity of birthstones dates back to ancient times when civilizations believed that gemstones had incredible powers such as luck, health and prosperity. Traditionally, each month is associated with a single gemstone, but as you’ll find below there are a few months with multiple birthstones. The birthstones associated with birth months today are not necessarily the same ones that were used in ancient times. In those days, color was the most important feature of a gemstone so they did not distinguish between gems the way we do today. For instance, they did not distinguish between a Ruby and a Garnet. Our list represents the modern birthstone list endorsed by the American Gem Society.
Gifts of gemstone jewelry with a loved one’s birthstone are very popular because of the desire to wear beautiful color as well as something which has personal significance. You don’t need to become a gemstone or birthstone expert to find the perfect gift. Whether you’re looking for a gemstone ring adorned with the birthstone of a child, or a beautiful set of gemstone earrings we’re here to help!
According to Elle.com, BirthstoneEngagementRingsAre 2019's Breakout WeddingTrend.
We've been all over coloured engagement ringsfor a while now, so we were super happy to hear that Etsy has named birthstoneengagementrings as one of their breakout weddingtrends of 2019.
Along with statement sleeves, sustainable tableware and unconventional seating plans, the e-commerce site has declared birthstoneengagementringsas the perfect way for brides to to express their individuality.
'One emerging trend in non-diamondengagementringsis incorporating birthstones,'Etsy’s trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson explained. 'On Etsy, we’ve seen 34K searches for 'birthstoneengagementrings'in the last three months, and I predict the trend will continue to grow.'.
2019 is going to be all about putting a twist on traditional styles,' Johnson continued. 'For generations, the diamondhas been the ultimate stone for proposing, but today’s bride isn’t tied to the norm — she wants to express her personal style and choose a ringthat reflects her personality — which is why in the new year, other gemstones will become go-to staples for engagementrings.'.
March - Aquamarine
The name Aquamarine speaks for itself, meaning seawater. Aquamarine immediately brings to mind its stunning pastel sky blue or the bright color of the sea, mermaids and celestial jewelry that sings songs of summer.
For centuries, this timeless gemstone has been a symbol of youth, hope, health and fidelity. Since this gemstone is the color of water and the sky, it is said to embody eternal life. It was long thought that Aquamarine has a soothing influence on married couples, making it a good anniversary gift.
Aquamarines are found in a range of blues; from a pale pastel to a greenish-blue to a deep color. Darker shades of blue are increasingly rare and in turn, make the value increase. Aquamarine is frequently a pastel gemstone but the color can be more intense in larger gemstones, smaller aquamarines tend to be less vivid.
About Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers
Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers is a full service fine jeweler and designer jewelry store in El Dorado Hills, CA , located at the heart of El Dorado Hills Town Center , one exit up route 50 from Folsom , CA . We serve the Sacramento County , El Dorado County and Placer County regions as a family jeweler , with custom jewelry design, jewelry gifts for birthday, anniversary, mothers day, fathers day, and all holidays, in addition to jewelry repairs , jewelry appraisals and gifts for guys. We have the best mens wedding band selection anywhere and we make jewelry using rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum and palladium with diamonds , precious stones and gems.
Birthstone engagement rings are totally a thing right now. Birthstone jewelry is more fun than ever.
You can shop here for birthstones and choose from rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum, silver or even palladium for your ring and then choose or customize your stone selections. Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers will make you the ring of your dreams from either our online selections or from scratch with no design fee.
Birthstones are gemstones that accompany a birth month, each having a unique meaning and historical significance. The popularity of birthstones dates back to ancient times when civilizations believed that gemstones had incredible powers such as luck, health and prosperity. Traditionally, each month is associated with a single gemstone, but as you’ll find below there are a few months with multiple birthstones. The birthstones associated with birth months today are not necessarily the same ones that were used in ancient times. In those days, color was the most important feature of a gemstone so they did not distinguish between gems the way we do today. For instance, they did not distinguish between a Ruby and a Garnet. Our list represents the modern birthstone list endorsed by the American Gem Society.
Gifts of gemstone jewelry with a loved one’s birthstone are very popular because of the desire to wear beautiful color as well as something which has personal significance. You don’t need to become a gemstone or birthstone expert to find the perfect gift. Whether you’re looking for a gemstone ring adorned with the birthstone of a child, or a beautiful set of gemstone earrings we’re here to help!
According to Elle.com, BirthstoneEngagementRingsAre 2019's Breakout WeddingTrend.
We've been all over coloured engagement ringsfor a while now, so we were super happy to hear that Etsy has named birthstoneengagementrings as one of their breakout weddingtrends of 2019.
Along with statement sleeves, sustainable tableware and unconventional seating plans, the e-commerce site has declared birthstoneengagementringsas the perfect way for brides to to express their individuality.
'One emerging trend in non-diamondengagementringsis incorporating birthstones,'Etsy’s trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson explained. 'On Etsy, we’ve seen 34K searches for 'birthstoneengagementrings'in the last three months, and I predict the trend will continue to grow.'.
2019 is going to be all about putting a twist on traditional styles,' Johnson continued. 'For generations, the diamondhas been the ultimate stone for proposing, but today’s bride isn’t tied to the norm — she wants to express her personal style and choose a ringthat reflects her personality — which is why in the new year, other gemstones will become go-to staples for engagementrings.'.
February - Amethyst (purple) or Prasiolite (light green)
The ancient Greeks and Romans believed Amethyst would ward off the intoxicating powers of Bacchus, and keep the wearer clear headed and quick-witted. For centuries, Amethyst has been associated with many myths and legends as well as religions in numerous cultures.
Not only is it the beautiful color that makes this gem so popular but it is also widely available in difference shapes and sizes which makes it more affordable. Amethyst complements both warm and cool colors so it looks fabulous set in both yellow and white metals. This unique ability means it enhances almost every color in your wardrobe.
Prasiolite
Prasiolite is a minty-fresh-pale-green to green variety of quartz that is cut into faceted stones for use in jewelry or purchased by gem collectors. It is produced by the three processes described below:
Heat-Treated Amethyst: Most prasiolite is produced by heating natural amethyst in a laboratory oven to about 500 degrees Celsius. This heating changes the amethyst's color from purple to green or yellowish green. [1]
Irradiated Amethyst: A small amount of prasiolite is produced by irradiating natural amethyst. This produces prasiolite with a light green color. The green color is often unstable and can fade to colorless if the stone is exposed to temperatures over about 150 degrees Celsius.
Naturally Heated Amethyst: Another small amount of amethyst is heated by natural processes. It is found where an amethyst-bearing rock unit has been heated by younger lava flows or nearby intrusions.
About Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers
Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers is a full service fine jeweler and designer jewelry store in El Dorado Hills, CA , located at the heart of El Dorado Hills Town Center , one exit up route 50 from Folsom , CA . We serve the Sacramento County , El Dorado County and Placer County regions as a family jeweler , with custom jewelry design, jewelry gifts for birthday, anniversary, mothers day, fathers day, and all holidays, in addition to jewelry repairs , jewelry appraisals and gifts for guys. We have the best mens wedding band selection anywhere and we make jewelry using rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum and palladium with diamonds , precious stones and gems.
Birthstone engagement rings are totally a thing right now. Birthstone jewelry is more fun than ever.
You can shop here for birthstones and choose from rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum, silver or even palladium for your ring and then choose or customize your stone selections. Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers will make you the ring of your dreams from either our online selections or from scratch with no design fee.
Birthstones are gemstones that accompany a birth month, each having a unique meaning and historical significance. The popularity of birthstones dates back to ancient times when civilizations believed that gemstones had incredible powers such as luck, health and prosperity. Traditionally, each month is associated with a single gemstone, but as you’ll find below there are a few months with multiple birthstones. The birthstones associated with birth months today are not necessarily the same ones that were used in ancient times. In those days, color was the most important feature of a gemstone so they did not distinguish between gems the way we do today. For instance, they did not distinguish between a Ruby and a Garnet. Our list represents the modern birthstone list endorsed by the American Gem Society.
Gifts of gemstone jewelry with a loved one’s birthstone are very popular because of the desire to wear beautiful color as well as something which has personal significance. You don’t need to become a gemstone or birthstone expert to find the perfect gift. Whether you’re looking for a gemstone ring adorned with the birthstone of a child, or a beautiful set of gemstone earrings we’re here to help!
According to Elle.com, BirthstoneEngagementRingsAre 2019's Breakout WeddingTrend.
We've been all over coloured engagement ringsfor a while now, so we were super happy to hear that Etsy has named birthstoneengagementrings as one of their breakout weddingtrends of 2019.
Along with statement sleeves, sustainable tableware and unconventional seating plans, the e-commerce site has declared birthstoneengagementringsas the perfect way for brides to to express their individuality.
'One emerging trend in non-diamondengagementringsis incorporating birthstones,'Etsy’s trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson explained. 'On Etsy, we’ve seen 34K searches for 'birthstoneengagementrings'in the last three months, and I predict the trend will continue to grow.'.
2019 is going to be all about putting a twist on traditional styles,' Johnson continued. 'For generations, the diamondhas been the ultimate stone for proposing, but today’s bride isn’t tied to the norm — she wants to express her personal style and choose a ringthat reflects her personality — which is why in the new year, other gemstones will become go-to staples for engagementrings.'.
January - Garnet
Garnets come in the most beautiful colors of the rainbow.
January babies are so lucky to have a birthstone category that even includes color change garnet as their birthstone which changes from purple to blue to green to red. Here's a fun chart, below, and here's a link to a beautiful pair of color change garnet and diamond earrings.
Garnet is available in a rainbow of colors, from the deep red Bohemian Garnet to the vibrant greens of the Russian Demantoid and African Tsavorite. We also see it appearing in the oranges and browns of Spessartite and Hessonite from Namibia and Sri Lanka and the subtle pinks and purples of Rhododendron.
Legend says Garnets light up the night and protect their owners from nightmares. Garnets have long been carried by travelers to protect against accidents far from home. Garnet is the birthstone for January but with its stunning variety of colors and its mystical powers it has been given as a gift for all occasions for centuries.
Birthstone engagement rings are totally a thing right now. Birthstone jewelry is more fun than ever.
You can shop here for birthstones and choose from rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum, silver or even palladium for your ring and then choose or customize your stone selections. Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers will make you the ring of your dreams from either our online selections or from scratch with no design fee.
Birthstones are gemstones that accompany a birth month, each having a unique meaning and historical significance. The popularity of birthstones dates back to ancient times when civilizations believed that gemstones had incredible powers such as luck, health and prosperity. Traditionally, each month is associated with a single gemstone, but as you’ll find below there are a few months with multiple birthstones. The birthstones associated with birth months today are not necessarily the same ones that were used in ancient times. In those days, color was the most important feature of a gemstone so they did not distinguish between gems the way we do today. For instance, they did not distinguish between a Ruby and a Garnet. Our list represents the modern birthstone list endorsed by the American Gem Society.
Gifts of gemstone jewelry with a loved one’s birthstone are very popular because of the desire to wear beautiful color as well as something which has personal significance. You don’t need to become a gemstone or birthstone expert to find the perfect gift. Whether you’re looking for a gemstone ring adorned with the birthstone of a child, or a beautiful set of gemstone earrings we’re here to help!
About Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers
Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers is a full service fine jeweler and designer jewelry store in El Dorado Hills, CA , located at the heart of El Dorado Hills Town Center , one exit up route 50 from Folsom , CA . We serve the Sacramento County , El Dorado County and Placer County regions as a family jeweler , with custom jewelry design, jewelry gifts for birthday, anniversary, mothers day, fathers day, and all holidays, in addition to jewelry repairs , jewelry appraisals and gifts for guys. We have the best mens wedding band selection anywhere and we make jewelry using rose gold, white gold, yellow gold, platinum and palladium with diamonds , precious stones and gems.
According to Elle.com, BirthstoneEngagementRingsAre 2019's Breakout WeddingTrend.
We've been all over coloured engagement ringsfor a while now, so we were super happy to hear that Etsy has named birthstoneengagementrings as one of their breakout weddingtrends of 2019.
Along with statement sleeves, sustainable tableware and unconventional seating plans, the e-commerce site has declared birthstoneengagementringsas the perfect way for brides to to express their individuality.
'One emerging trend in non-diamondengagementringsis incorporating birthstones,'Etsy’s trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson explained. 'On Etsy, we’ve seen 34K searches for 'birthstoneengagementrings'in the last three months, and I predict the trend will continue to grow.'.
2019 is going to be all about putting a twist on traditional styles,' Johnson continued. 'For generations, the diamondhas been the ultimate stone for proposing, but today’s bride isn’t tied to the norm — she wants to express her personal style and choose a ringthat reflects her personality — which is why in the new year, other gemstones will become go-to staples for engagementrings.'.
The two most important gem labs in the world are the GIA (Gemological Institute of America - Gem Trade Laboratory) and the AGS Lab (American Gem Society Laboratories).
When shopping for something as precious and rare as a natural diamond, it’s important that the diamond includes a diamond grading report from an independent laboratory. A thorough grading report covers all 4Cs—cut, color, clarity, and carat—so that you know and understand the quality of what you are purchasing.
Most diamond grading laboratories were created as a service to the diamond industry. Not AGS Laboratories. AGS Labs was founded in 1996 by the American Gem Society (AGS), and is a nonprofit diamond grading laboratory with a mission of consumer protection. This mission ensures you will receive an unbiased opinion on the quality of your diamond.
Having a diamond grading report from AGS Laboratories reveals the genuine quality of your precious gemstone, both inside and out.
GIA is the best known lab in the world with facilities in most of the major diamond industry wholesale and broker trading centers in the world.
AGS is small by comparison but extremely important, having made a name for itself as a pioneer in the critical area of diamond cut quality analysis. Given that cut is the most important aspect of a diamond grade, AGS training, from an AGS Registered Jeweler in an AGS Guild Store, is as good as diamond retailing gets.
The discussion of AGS vs GIA reveals more similarities than differences between the two labs, with an AGS certificate shedding light in areas lacking in a GIA report.
You're going to have to rely on the honesty of your jeweler or your online diamond seller as well as on relying on laboratory grading certification to truly know and be able to bank on the validity of the quality claims of your diamond both for your own peace of mind as well as for the purpose of insurance valuation and sometimes resale value and trade-in.
Any time you have a grading certificate has the name of a company other than a grading lab, it's not necessarily a value factor of the diamond. It's subjective because it comes from the seller. The better and best grading labs only work with their own logos and their own names. Retailers and wholesalers alike use the same LAB CERTS.
Here are some photos of Lab Certs:
AGS:
These lab certs have holograms, bar codes, and on the reverse side of the document, you will see something that looks like a hologram but is, in fact, a proprietary security mark woven into the paper. Examples of unifraction embossing can be found on some foreign currency.
Bear in mind that a laboratory grading certification ("Lab Cert") comes from GIA, AGS, GAI, IGI, EGL, or a LABORATORY. Not originating from the store or the seller. For instance, Whiteflash, James Allen, Costco and Blue Nile do not generate Lab Certs. When they have a trademarked option, such as "A Cut Above(R)", or "Astor Ideal (R)" it is branding. It is that sellers internal grade with a name that the seller (retailer) makes into what sounds like an industry standard. This makes it confusing for the customer who is trying to make a judicious purchase and focus the investment on the 4 C's. These branded terminologies clutter the mind of customers.
Jewelers and Gemologists who are GIA trained and AGS Registered Jewelers and certified can produce a valuation or appraisal of a diamond using the standards of GIA laboratories; but the actual lab cert COMES FROM A LAB. Not from the store or the seller.
Know with confidence that your D-to-Z diamond is natural with GIA diamond grading reports. Included in the reports is a full 4Cs assessment – color, cut, clarity and carat weight – along with polish, symmetry and fluorescence. For standard round brilliant cut diamonds, the reports come with a GIA Cut grade. Multiple security features on GIA diamond grading reports ensure their authenticity. Laser inscription available and included with select services.
Laser inscription is awesome. We highly recommend it. It is microscopic and we can photograph it and include it with your appraisal. Here is a photo of what it looks like:
The lab cert is sold accompanying the diamond. The better the lab, the more expensive the diamond in most cases.
Try to find a jeweler who is your advocate. One who is relatively OCD, who searches for you and finds you the best diamond for the lowest price; a jeweler with the best credentials selling you a diamond with the best credentials. Those credentials, simply put, are GIA training & certification, AGS training and certification, and a Lab Cert in ADDITION to an accurate appraisal valuation for both fair market value and for your insurance valuation.
If you are buying a diamond with no lab cert, have your jeweler or seller send the diamond to GIA or AGS and get the diamond certified after you buy it.
You can send your diamond to GIA and have it certified if you don't have a GIA lab cert. Or your jeweler can do it for you if you don't have a GIA laboratory account.
Here is the link and guidelines to do it yourself.
Once certified, though, there's no question as to the validity of the grade of your diamond.
The Lab Cert is important for establishing the value of the diamond. Getting them is a pain. Laborious and expensive. To simplify your process and better enjoy your experience, insist on a lab cert when you buy your diamond.
Lab certs are developed in grading labs where there are humans performing the grading, and where the equipment is far more elite than what any jewelry store has to offer. The collective experience and laboratory standards are higher, with GIA and AGS being the very highest and most credible.
You already know that the 4Cs of Diamonds - cut, color, clarity, and carat weight - are the most important characteristics to understand when making a diamond purchase.
Diamonds are a commodity. At Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers we charge 25% above wholesale plus tax. We show you how the fluorescence is affecting the grade of the diamond. We show you what's good or bad about the cut. These are aspects you don't get with online retailers or Costco.
We show you the entire wholesale market, and we show you our invoices. at Talisman
We are very competitive diamond buyers; our proprietor has 40 + years of contacts in the business and staff & vendors who go back into the jewelry industry for up to five generations.
The diamonds we buy come from vendors who have been in the industry for generations, and who have the lowest competitive pricing.
My point: We're working to get you the best diamonds for the lowest price. We're not a mass commercial retailer who is giving loose parameters and not looking you in the face when sourcing your diamond. We are sourcing you an ethical, fair trade, diamond with provenance and certifcates of credentials proving the value. Good luck finding that at Blue Nile, Costco or James Allen. Good luck finding the pricing we are offering at Brilliant Earth or Tiffany & Co.
There are two reasons why diamonds cost less:
1. Because they have lower grades in one or more of the 4 C's. When they cost more, they have higher grades in the 4 C's. Don't let anyone try to tell you differently. It's very methodical and simple. Grading a diamond is always based on the 4 C's.
and / or
2. The buyer is getting better deals and passing the savings to you. Transparently. So that you're getting a better deal - not a lesser diamond.
When shopping with any honest retailer you should receive a very clear report in the form of a lab certification; ideally from the GIA or AGS laboratory - showing the grade of the cut, color, clarity, and the dimensions of the diamond as well as the accurate carat weight. A branded certification from the retailer - whether it's Shane Co, Robbins, or any jewelry retailer - is not a Lab Cert. It's just a receipt or an appraisal from a store.
We know shopping for a diamond or diamond jewelry is a big investment, and at times can be intimidating. Always ask for an AGS Laboratories Diamond Grading Report to help you make an informed purchase. And, be sure to shop with an American Gem Society credentialed jeweler. They will explain your desired diamond’s AGS Laboratories Diamond Grading Report, as well as tell you about the qualities and characteristics that make your diamond unique.
The American Gem Society (AGS) was founded in 1934 by a small group of leading jewelers. Their goal was to create an organization that could help protect the jewelry-buying public from fraud and false advertising. Today, we’re proud to say their vision has become a reality.
Approximately 3,400 jewelers, retailers, suppliers, individual titleholders and affiliates have joined the American Gem Society and have dedicated themselves to consumer protection, ethical business practices, and development and maintenance of superior gemological skills and knowledge.
Only one in twenty jewelers have met the exacting requirements necessary for membership. To join the AGS, every member must go through a peer-reviewed application process followed by an annual recertification exam. This process ensures that every AGS member you meet is at the top of their game, and more importantly, each one has pledged to protect you, the consumer.
Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers and Andrea Riso are AGS Guild Members and a Registered Jeweler thereof. It's hard work, with an annual exam and a lot of studying. Talisman upholds the mission statement of the AGS which is:
The American Gem Society (AGS) is a nonprofit trade association of fine jewelry professionals dedicated to setting, maintaining and promoting the highest standards of ethical conduct and professional behavior through education, accreditation, recertification of its membership, gemological standards, and gemological research.
The Society is committed to providing educational products to inform and protect the consumer and to contributing to the betterment of the trade by creating industry standards to protect the jewelry-buying public and the fine jewelry industry as a whole.
AGS Laboratories, founded to support the AGS mission, is a nonprofit diamond grading laboratory with a mission of consumer protection. Adhering to the AGS Diamond Grading Standards, AGS Laboratories is dedicated to offering diamond grading reports that provide consistency and accuracy based on science.
Join us for a wonderful Mothers Day weekend.
Designer Martha Seely will be at Talisman Collection Fine Jewelers Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May, 10, 11 and 12th. Martha Seely will be showing her jewelry designs in a trunk show here at Talisman Jewelers in El Dorado Hills Town Center.
Martha Seely is a designer of world reknown. Her designs are evocative of intergalactic planetary gemological brilliance in contemporary precious metal designs with vibrant gemstones and sparkling diamonds. Martha's convertible earrings are an award-winning unique statement of good taste in handmade designer jewelry.
Manya & Roumen jewelry will also be on exhibit and for sale during this event. Their jewelry designs feature marine life, botanical and bird life. Whether in sterling or gold, the handmade designs delight the wearers and recipients of these gorgeous pieces.
El Dorado Hills clothing purveyor Anya Mark will have a clothing fashion pop-up shop on Saturday and Sunday at Talisman. Affordable, chic clothing designs will be available to purchase on these two days only.
The El Dorado Hills Chamber of Commerce Art, Wine & Beer Festival will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday.
A gorgeous weekend of culture, community and beauty awaits you in El Dorado HIlls Town Center at Talisman Collection Fine Jewelry
Treat her to luxury that she is sure to love. Shop fine jewelry today! New, timeless designs - the Talisman Collection Fine Jewelry collection is a celebrity favorite.
Mothers jewelry, birthstone jewelry, initial or name jewelry, pendants, earrings, rings, bracelets, with diamonds or gemstones.
Custom jewelry design for moms is so much fun. Grandmothers, daughters, aunts and godmothers - we all love the surprises that jewelry beholds.
When I was in GIA gemology school, taking lab classes in Carlsbad, CA at the GIA campus to become a Graduate Gemologist, it was the most exciting time of my life. Among the leaders who taught me not only coursework was a tremendous man - Russell Shor. I'm thrilled today to see an article in my email from GIA by Russell that I'm sharing here on our blog. We love the hues of Montana Sapphires. Blues, greens, purples, lavenders. The article below and all the photos are courtesy of GIA (Gemological Institute of America), and if you get a chance to take coursework at GIA, definitely look up one of my heroes - the inimitable Russell Shor. We love him!!
Montana sapphires mystify me. What a cool US-mined, ethically-sourced, beautiful alternative wedding stone. As well as a gorgeous all-around jewelry gem. We have lots of sapphire jewelry at Talisman including some unique designer pieces you can see by following the link right here
April 19, 2019
Despite its Atlantic-to-Pacific land mass, the United States never has been known as a major source for gemstones. The one exception has been sapphire, though the story of Montana sapphires always has been obscured by more exotic locations.
Montana has been an important source of blue sapphire off and on since the 1890s and have unique gemological properties that distinguish them from those mined in other locations around the world, including Kashmir, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Australia. GIA researchers Nathan D. Renfro, Aaron C. Palke, along with Richard B. Berg of the Montana Bureau of Mines, conducted an extensive analysis of gems from the Yogo Gulch deposit, reporting their findings in Gems & Gemology’s Summer 2018 issue.
ogo sapphires’ chief trait is that many of them have an attractive violet to blue color coming out of the ground and are generally not heat treated – the gem-quality stones rarely, if ever, respond to treatments. In addition, the color is generally evenly spread throughout the stones, so they lack the zoning that can be common in sapphires from other locales. Unfortunately, nearly all of the rough crystals are flat, tabular pieces that can only be cut into small gems. Thus, carat-plus sapphires from this source are quite rare.
Deeper gemological examination found that Yogo stones are unique in other ways as well. Most blue sapphires contain tiny needle-like or “silk” rutile inclusions. In the case of the classic Kashmir stones, for example, the clusters of near microscopic rutile impart a velvety glow to the gem, making them highly prized, with price premiums to match, for more than a century. This silk also can be a distracting clarity characteristic of some sapphires at times and heat treatment is relied upon to improve their clarity and color. On the other hand, Yogo sapphires rarely contain fine, needle-like rutile silk which was found in only one of the samples examined.
Inclusions are often the most tell-tale signatures of a gem’s origin and Yogo’s primary signs are stress halos that surround very small pieces of other minerals trapped inside the still-forming sapphire. The halos (also called decrepitation halos) were formed when the mineral inclusions expanded inside the sapphire during its formation and caused tiny stress fractures. Other common, but distinctive inclusions are negative crystals – very small hollow areas filled with other materials.
Even deeper examination found that Yogo sapphires have a distinct trace element signatures with specific values of manganese, chromium, titanium, iron and gallium that are different from other sapphires.
While Yogo sapphires, and most other sapphires emanating from Montana, have an attractive natural blue color that commands premium prices, their small sizes and the complexities of working the deposits made it economically difficult to mine them.
The first Yogo source was discovered in 1895 and by the turn of the century, production averaged 400,000 carats a year. About 25% were gem quality and the remainder industrial goods used in watch movements and abrasives. This mine, sometimes referred to as the English Mine, operated until 1929. In 1910, it yielded the largest sapphire ever found in that locale, a 19 ct rough that was cut into four gems, the largest 8.5 cts.
The mine site is located within a long dike (a geological formation of volcanic rock layered above older, pre-existing rock) that held other sapphire deposits. Three other mines went into operation but, by the late 1920s, competition from synthetic sapphires for watch movements and abrasives, coupled with a disastrous flood and declining yields, made mining unprofitable.
The area remained abandoned for nearly 30 years before a group of investors renewed mining activities in 1956, but were unsuccessful. Several other failed attempts to revive mining at Yogo Gulch were made until 1980, when a mining engineer named Harry Bullock acquired the mining operations for $6 million and set out on a well-publicized effort to mine and market “Royal American Sapphires” under the corporate name Intergem. After some initial success, competition from inexpensive heat-treated Sri Lankan sapphires, mounting debts and increased mining costs sank the venture in 1985.
That year, prospectors found a new deposit in the southwestern tip of the dike. They called it the Vortex Mine and produced about 45,000 carats of cuttable rough a year, but closed in 2004. The following year, a miner named Mike Roberts took a part ownership of Vortex and successfully mined it on a small scale until he was killed in a mine site accident in 2012.
New owners are trying yet again to resume mining the Yogo Gulch and have been working on making necessary improvements to bring the mine back into production.
This research project, Renfo and Palke noted, “was a few years in the making.” One motivating factor for the study was the demand for Yogo origin, instead of the more general USA (Montana) notation on GIA lab reports.
A second factor, Renfro said, was that there was a “hole in the literature. Previous publications generally focused only on the geology (of the Yogo area), but there was no thorough gemological characterization of the material.”
And a third motivation was, “I just like Yogo sapphires,” he said.
Nathan Renfro completed his undergraduate studies in geology in 2006 and enrolled in GIA’s resident Graduate Gemologist (GG) program as a recipient of the William Goldberg Diamond Corporation scholarship. Renfro also completed his FGA in 2014. After finishing the GG program, he was hired by the GIA laboratory as a diamond grader and soon transferred to the Gem Identification department in 2008. Since then, Renfro has authored or co-authored more than 100 gemological articles and lectured to several gem and mineral groups throughout the U.S. His primary areas of gemological interest are inclusion identification and photomicrography, gemstone cutting and defect chemistry of corundum. Renfro is manager of the Gem Identification department and also is a microscopist in the Inclusion Research department. He is also the editor of the “Microworld” column in Gems & Gemology and a member of the editorial review board.
Dr. Aaron Palke started his career in gemology as a postdoctoral research associate at GIA after earning his Ph.D. in Geology from Stanford University. During this time, Palke investigated the geological history of rubies and sapphires by studying minute inclusions in these precious gems. A senior research scientist at GIA, he helps lead colored stone research efforts in order to provide more reliable country of origin determinations and treatment identification for rubies, sapphire, emeralds and other colored stones. See Palke's profiles on ResearchGate and Google Scholar.
Russell Shor is senior industry analyst at GIA in Carlsbad.
We have mens wedding bands and womens wedding rings using meteorite inlay. Click here to view but a few of the many designs we carry.
The brands we carry with meteorite include Lashbrook and Chris Ploof.
Our meteorite rings are from the Gibeon Meteorite from Namibia, Africa. Meteorite, aside from being tens of thousands of years old, as well as magnetic, holds a special classification as a "fine octahedrite" metal, due to the distinctive crystalline structure visible on the surface of this ancient precious metal that fell from space to the earth. These structures are called Widmanstatten lines. This pattern varies slightly in appearance from piece to piece and may contain natural characteristics or "inclusions" which make every ring unique.
The Gibeon flamed into our atmosphere as a visible star-like streak an estimated 30,000 years ago. The extreme slow-cooling of its trip through deep space created an original crystalline pattern into the resulting meteorite.
Though “officially” discovered in the desert in 1838, local craftsmen have made spear points and other tools out of the fragments for many years. The metal of the meteorite is estimated to be about four billion years old, and today it is a rare commodity.
Not all Gibeon Meteorite fragments are of equal quality. For every piece of meteorite that is suitable for use in jewelry, we reject nearly 20 others. Much of the meteorite has suffered deep fractures and inclusions on its travels to our planet, and many pieces have lain exposed to the elements for several thousand years. We use only the best quality meteorite for making rings and due to its nickel content, the Gibeon meteorite is naturally stain and rust resistant.
The Gibeon meteorite is cut, forged and fabricated, and then combined with platinum, gold or mokume gane to form an extremely strong, durable ring with a comfort fit interior. Our meteorite rings are available in many styles, and can be custom made to meet client specifications. We etch the meteorite in the final stages of creating the rings to enhance the Wiidmanstatten pattern, which is random and beautiful, original to each ring.
Our black diamond rings shown here are the only rings in the world made entirely of diamond. A diamond press fuses millions of diamond crystals together under one million pounds of pressure.
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