BMJ Blog

The Bow Tie Effect in Oval Diamonds

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Simply put, a bow tie in an oval diamond looks like a man’s dark bow tie sitting in the center of the stone. It occurs when center facets of the stones obscure light reflection. These black patches in an oval stone aren’t all bad, however. Some bow tie effect will be present in any fancy-cut stone, but the severity of the bow tie is determined but the stone’s cut.

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Posted in bow tie effect, diamonds, engagement ring, informative, jewelry tips, oval diamonds

Why Do Diamonds Come in Different Colors?

Posted on June 04, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Colored diamonds can occur naturally, but they can also be the result of lab irradiation (i.e. cooking the stones). If you’re in the market for a colored diamond, it’s important to know the difference between the two since the source of the stone’s color may affect its value.

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Posted in black diamonds, colored diamonds, diamonds, gemological institute of america, gems, gemstones, gia, informative

The Ideal Length-to-Width Ratio for Pear Cut Stones

Posted on April 09, 2015 by Mary Hood | 1 Comment

Pears are one of the trickiest cuts to shop for because it can prove challenging to find one with the right length-to-width ratio.

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Posted in Diamonds, fancy cut, fancy cut ratio, gemological institute of america, gems, gemstones, informative, jewelry, length to width ratio, pear cut, pear shaped diamond

Legend of the Hope Diamond

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

The idea that such a beautiful stone could spur ghastly misfortune is darkly fascinating. While skeptics may scoff at belief in such supernatural stories, it’s hard to deny that the events surrounding the Hope Diamond curse are intriguing for anyone who loves a good story.

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Posted in cursed jewelry, hope diamond, informative

What's the Difference between Gold Plated and Gold Filled?

Posted on January 09, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

While both gold-plated and gold-filled items are typically less expensive than solid gold items, there is a significant difference of durability between the two.

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Posted in gold, gold filled, gold plated, gold purity, informative, jewelry, recycled gold

Jewelry Semantics: Why Jewelry Can't Be Advertised As Made in America

Posted on November 10, 2014 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

For a company to legally label their products “Made in the USA,” the process can be a bit complicated, however. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a marketer may only label its product as such if it can “substantiate that all components of a product—including natural resources—originated in the U.S.” (MJSA).

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Posted in eco friendly jewelry, informative, jewelry, jewelry industry, made in America, recycled gold, recycled jewelry

Macabre Jewelry: Modern Poison Rings by Wendy Brandes

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

or in the bezel setting itself. This macabre accessory was used to sneak poison into an enemy’s food or drink—or, in the event of capture or torture, the wearer could kill herself with the contents of her ring.

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Posted in diamonds, gold, informative, jewelry, rings, style