July 2, 2009
Jewelry Maintenance
Every day we see rings with broken prongs, chains that have been stretched, watches that have water in them and earrings that have lost backs. And these are the lucky ones. Sadly, we often have heartbroken customers who have completely lost an earring or the diamond from their engagment ring.
Perhaps even more sad is the fact that they could have avoided such heartbreak if they had just taken their jewelry in to have it cleaned and checked by a local jeweler.
As you wear your jewelry, the metal gets worn down and stones become scratched and can even break.
When rings are worn, the prongs holding the stones in place get rubbed and knocked against things (like desks, doors, countertops and other rings) making them thin. The bottom of the ring can also become thin with years of wear.
When chains are tugged on by children or get caught in clothing, the links become stretched and the chain is weakened. Bracelets also have a tendancy to wear out when the individual links rub against each other.
That’s why it is important to have your jewelry checked before things like this begin to happen. We recommend at least once a year, but two or three times isn’t bad.
When jewelry is brought in to us, we inspect each piece under the microscope to ensure that stones are tight in their setting and no breaks or cracks exist in the stones or metal. At this point, we either inform the customer of problems with their jewelry or we polish and clean it for them. If problems exist, we provide an estimate to repair them.
Some jewelry stores charge to clean and check, but we do not, so contact multiple jewelers if you’re unsure where to take your jewelry. Also, find a store that has a jeweler in-house so you are getting a professional’s opinion on the condition of your jewelry. If you’re not sure where to go, look for jewelers who are American Gem Society members.
Update on Burmese Ruby and Jade Ban
National Jeweler, a leading magazine in the jewelry industry, this week published an update on the Burmese ruby and jadeite ban.
In September 2008, the U.S. government banned the import of rubies and jadeite from Myanmar (also known as Burma). The ban was intended to cut off funds to the country’s oppressive government.
Instead of economic sanctions on the government, leaders such as Doug Hucker, the president of the American Gem Trade Association, say the ban is hurting thousands of miners in Myanmar — many of whom are trying to resist the harsh government.
In an attempt to lift the ban, the AGTA and other organizations have written to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton with their concerns. They are encouraging others to write to Congress members as well.
If you’re interested in writing a letter, visit National Jewelers’ website for more information on contacting the right people.
The full article is available at: http://www.nationaljewelernetwork.com/njn/content_display/colored-stones/color-market-reports/e3i1dc51bcd151aa706e386a2307f565906
Solar-powered Watches
Watch technology is ever-evolving giving consumers an array of options and making it easier for people to maintain their time pieces. Thanks to innovative watch companies, people no longer have to spend a hundred dollars or more to service their watch every few years.
Citizen’s Eco Drive watches use a solar conversion panel and energy cell to power the quartz watches instead of a battery like most comparable brands. Eco Drives can convert both sunlight and artificial light to energy, so the supply is limitless and doesn’t cost a dime. With other watch brands, you’ll have to replace the battery every one to three years with battery costs averaging $8 to $25 depending on who installs it. 
However, one does not have to wear the watch every day for it to keep a charge. In fact, an Eco Drive watch can keep time for up to 180 days on a full charge, so putting it in a jewelry box or drawer for a month shouldn’t be a problem. If the watch happens to be off when it is removed from the drawer, simply pulling the stem out and placing the watch under a lamp for 24 to 48 hours will allow the watch to regain a charge. Pulling the stem out allows the watch to charge without trying to run at the same time. Once it is fully charged, the time can be set and the watch is wearable.
In addition to being hassle-free, Eco Drive watches are more earth-friendly than other brands. The Eco Drive cells do not contain any of the chemicals used in ordinary watch batteries and there is no need to dispose of used cells since the Eco Drive cell doesn’t need to be replaced.
Natural vs. Treated Jade
Mason-Kay, the leading producer of fine jade jewelry in the United States, provides great information on the various qualities of jade. Here is a basic run-down, and for additional information, visit http://www.masonkay.com/jade/whatisbjade.php.
- ‘A’ Jade: Natural, untreated jadeite jade
- ‘B’ Jade: Acid bleached, polymer impregnated jadeite jade
- ‘C’ Jade: The dyed form of ‘B’ jade
- ‘D’ Jade: Dyed jadeite jade with no polymer; predates the the polymer treatment
While dyed jade has existed for many years (‘D’ jade), a new kind of jade hit the market in the 1980s. It had a light but bright body color and good translucence. This type of jade is what is now referred to as ‘B’ jade.
To produce ‘B’ jade, poor quality jade that has internal stains is immersed in acid. Sodium, which is a part of jade’s chemical composition, is leached out during this process, and with it, the stains are removed. At this point, the jade is put into a neutralizing agent and a polymer is injected into the stone using a centrifuge. A clear, plastic-like coating is then put on the jade and it is cut and polished like any other piece of jade.
‘B’ jade is not as tough as natural ‘A’ jade and can actually fracture and discolor. According to Mason-Kay, ‘B’ jade is valued at about 5 to 10 percent of ‘A’ jade’s value, and ‘C’ and ‘D’ jade is worth $20 or less. The selling of ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ jade is acceptable as long as it is disclosed to the consumer.
-Information provided by Mason-Kay, www.masonkay.com
Jadeite and Nephrite Jade
The term “jade” refers to both nephrite and jadeite. Jadeite (pronounced jade-ite) is the finer type of jade. While some jadeite has been found in other areas, the exceptional, gem-quality jadeite is mined in Burma (or Myanmar).
There are six basic colors of jadeite: green, lavender, red, yellow, white and black. Green is the most traditional color and varies from deep emerald greens to apple greens and even black greens. Ideal shades are strong, vibrant and translucent, and shades that are very dark or very light are considered less desirable. However, white jade or “ice jade” is perfectly fused jade crystals. Unlike the other colors of jade, white jade is pure and lacks the color-inducing impurities.
It has been said that jade grows richer in color when it is worn by a person in good health, and illness drains the color. However, jade is not affected by perfumes, oils and most acids, so it does not actually change color.
For hundreds of years, jade has been carved into animals, religious figures and jewelry, including solid discs, rings and bangle bracelets. The rarity and beauty of jadeite has made emperors prize it and the wealthy covet it. In Chinese culture, important occasions such as birthdays, weddings and births are celebrated with the giving of jade.
On the contrary, nephrite jade is not rare and, therefore, not expensive. A fine jadeite cabochon could cost several thousand dollars or more, whereas a nephrite cabochon should be no more than $100. Since nephrite has been around for at least 5,000 years, antique nephrite carvings have value based on their age but not their gem quality.
Selling Gold
We recently wrote about reusing gold and in May, Denver news station CBS4 had a similar online article about selling gold. While not entirely the same topic, we thought they had some good points.
CBS4 took unwanted gold around to pawn shops, coin and jewelry stores and a traveling gold show to see where they’d get the most money. They found the coin stores to be the best bet, but prices varied at each place.
-Photo from http://cdn-write.demandstudios.com/upload//5000/100/40/5/15145.jpg
Jewelry Expert 
