BMJ Blog

7 Ideas for Treasure Hunting and Mining Adventures

Posted on July 02, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Looking to try your hand at metal and gem mining? While gems and precious metals are mined across the world, the U.S. alone offers a plethora of gorgeous stones. See our destination picks for some of the most sought-after treasures. 

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Posted in diamonds, fun, gems, gold, jewelry, mining, travel

What Are Cameos & How Are They Made?

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Hand-carved cameos are guaranteed to be unique since no shell or piece of agate is alike. The artist determines the best place to feature the carving by studying the layers and threads of color in the raw material. The design is outlined in pencil, carefully carved, and then polished. Since the process requires immense control and skill, cameos artists who follow traditional techniques are few and far between.

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Posted in Ancient jewelry, cameos, informative, jewelry, jewelry history

Precious Minerals in Beauty Products: Diamond Anti-Agers

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

Although this may seem a little strange and over-the-top, it turns out that diamond particles have been used to treat certain cancers. After absorbing chemotherapy drugs, the particles are used to deliver the medication to the right area of the body while protecting the medication from the body’s defense system. Moreover, the particles help the treatment stay in the cancerous cells for longer, rendering it more effective. 

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Posted in anti-aging, beauty, diamonds, precious minerals, trend watch

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

DIY Wooden Jewelry Box

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Mary Hood | 1 Comment

It’s true—some DIY projects look phenomenal, but many of them can instill fear in even the craftiest among us. So many steps! We promise that you don’t need a master's of fine arts to nail this one-minute project. (Yes, you can accomplish this in about a minute!)

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Posted in crafts, Decor, DIY, jewelry, jewelry box, jewelry care

Why Is Rose Gold Pink and What Are the Different Shades?

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Mary Hood | 0 Comments

Modern rose gold is created by alloying yellow gold (gold’s natural color) with copper. Although rose gold is often interchangeably described as “rose,” “red,” or “pink” gold, these terms actually describe different proportions of gold to copper and their resulting shades.

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Posted in engagement ring, engagement rings, gold, gold alloys, jewelry, pink gold, red gold, rose gold, style, wedding bands