Tis the season for marking one of life’s most important milestones for the many graduates of 2016.  And while earning that high school diploma or college degree is most certainly an achievement worth celebrating, let’s remember our little graduates, too!

Today, more and more schools are honoring students’ educational achievements along their path to higher education, with graduation ceremonies commemorating the move up from middle school, elementary school, and even Kindergarten.  This is a perfect opportunity to show your little graduate just how proud you are of him or her.  Graduation gifts for kids can certainly take many forms, but this is a particularly great time to begin a commemorative jewelry collection for your child.

I Love You Charm Pendant

Charm bracelets are a very practical choice in graduation gifts for kids, as you can add to their charm collection to commemorate all the many milestones ahead.  A charm bracelet grows with your child, even into adulthood, and they’ll be able to look back on all of life’s wonderful moments through a collection of special charms representing those achievements along the way.

Engraved bracelets and pendants are a great choice in graduation gifts, as well.  Custom engraving gives you the opportunity to add a very personal and sentimental touch with words of love and encouragement inscribed on the piece.  As your child grows and continues to achieve new levels of accomplishment, a wonderful jewelry collection can be built that, much like charm bracelets, can be looked upon in the future as a wonderful set of reminders of life’s great moments.

If you worry about investing in rings and bracelets for younger children, knowing that they will outgrow them, fear not.  Most rings can be resized to a certain point, but children’s rings also make wonderful pendants down the road.  Links can be added to many bracelet styles, creating a piece that will truly grow with your child into the future.

Graduation season is an exciting time.  Amidst all the ceremonies, receptions and parties, be sure to remember that every graduation is a milestone in your child’s life that will be recalled fondly and often.  Commemorating these milestones with lasting and sentimental graduation gifts like personalized jewelry is a great way to ensure that those memories never fade, as your graduate will be reminded of their achievements – and your perpetual love and support – each time they wear it.

When I was a kid, I broke everything I came into contact with. I haven’t grown much more graceful as I have gotten older, but I like to think there’s been some serious, measurable improvement. My mother still brings up the pair of diamond earrings she bought me when I got my ears pierced for the first time in the midst of a sweltering summer mall… and I’m twenty-two now. Talk about having a reputation follow you around. As a result of my youthful clumsiness, my family quickly learned not to trust me with anything that cost more than, say, twelve dollars. This held true for earrings, necklaces, and all other kinds of beauty accessories – hair ties and barrettes included. I started to become more responsible as I entered my teen years, but I had years and years behind me that carried a brutal reputation. It got to the point where I was excused from helping bring the dishware in and out of the dining room during Thanksgiving dinners, but I wouldn’t complain.

Heirloom Quality Pearl Jewelry

Needless to say, prom was the first occasion I can remember where jewelry became very important to me. I wasn’t expecting it to, to be quite honest. I’d floated through my teens only vaguely aware of my fashion sense. But I learned that night that jewelry can be so much more than just an accessory statement. My grandmother eagerly gave me her mother’s string of pearls to wear just moments before I left home to join my friends. The gravity of the gesture still touches me to this day. There was a huge amount of trust extended in that moment, and an acknowledgement of the transition I was making from careless child to aware adult.

Of course, by itself, the piece was beautiful; it was a family heirloom outside of the gesture, surviving years of care and wear. I haven’t worn real pearls since, but I have always appreciated them as a result because they were part of the lesson my grandmother taught me that night. Gemstones, chains, pearls, diamonds… they can mean so much. The right piece can reach beyond traditional expectations and assumptions. I’m looking forward to the day that the string of pearls passed down the line, to my mother and then to myself, and beyond to my children and their children. A string of pearls can be a legacy of love and trust throughout the generations, telling a story each time it’s packed away or gingerly taken out for special occasion to wear.

My wife and I each buy three anniversary gifts for one another. The first two are done for humor. We have found two separate lists of what each year’s gift is supposed to be made out of, or what theme it represents, and we try to find something small and silly that fits into each category. The third present is the one that really counts, however. That is the one that comes from the heart. I knew that this year I wanted to buy her jewelry, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted it to be.

Pearl Set

My wife loves diamond and silver, so that was what I had been looking at – silver bracelets, diamond earrings, things that I knew would fit into her collection. I just wasn’t finding anything that jumped out at me. The sales associate at the local jewelry store saw me looking through the display cases and asked if there was something in particular I was looking for. I just laughed and said, “Yes, but I don’t know what it is.” I told him the predicament I was in and he said he had just the right solution for me.

When I told him that I had never seen my wife wearing pearls, he said it was because I had never given her any. He said there was a belief, somewhere between a superstition and an old wives tale, where women are not supposed to buy pearls for themselves. The best he could figure out was that it had to do with men who were sailors bringing the pearls back as gifts after having been gone for months at a time. Obviously, that was rarely the case these days, but the practice seemed to stick.

The other aspect that made pearls special, he pointed out, was that they were not the type of jewelry a person would or could wear every day. They are saved for special occasions, and that helps to keep the memory of the gift alive throughout the years. She may confuse one silver necklace with another, or forget exactly when she got a certain pair of diamond earrings, but she will always remember when she got the pearl necklace and who it was that gave it to her.

The biggest challenge to choosing any gift, no matter who it is for or what the occasion may be, is choosing something that promises to stand out and be memorable. The closer you are to the person, the more important that becomes. I routinely buy gifts for the office grab bag at the deli on the corner of my business on my way to the party, but buying something for my wife on our anniversary requires a little more thought. This year, I decided I would surprise her with pearls.

7 Strand Pearl Necklace

I wish I could take credit for coming up with the idea, but it was actually her mother who planted the seed. When we were visiting over the holidays, she shared with us old family photos that a friend had helped her convert to digital files. We saw pictures from when she and her girlfriends, all single ladies, would dress up for a special occasion, and it seemed like most of them were wearing either pearl earrings or a pearl necklace. My wife mentioned something about it, and I could tell that something in the way they looked struck her.

Pearls certainly aren’t your everyday type of fine jewelry, and that was part of what appealed to me. There is plenty of jewelry out there that goes with everything, it seems, and can be worn all the time. That’s certainly a benefit because you know that you’re getting your money’s worth, but my way of thinking is that our anniversary isn’t just an everyday type of occasion. I wanted to find something for her that really spoke to how special a day it was between us.

As beautiful as something may be, if you wear it all the time, it becomes easy to forget just how special it is. Part of the joy of fine jewelry is being reminded of its rarity. I don’t think my wife needs to be reminded how much I love her and how special I think she is, but at the same time, I’m excited about giving her something that she can save and wear sparingly. That way, I’ll know it’s going to be a special type of night when she decides it’s time to wear the pearls.

When it comes to jewelry, there are certain categories that people do not necessarily advertise. Of course, you have your silver jewelry that boasts a fair price tag. Then you have your gemstone and pearl jewelry that contains a very broad selection of styles and colors. Next, you have your diamond jewelry for engagements and weddings. Lastly, there is custom design jewelry

Two Tone Amethyst Ring

that is as unique as the person who is wearing it. No one is saying that one category is necessarily better than the other. However, some jewelry is certainly more expensive than others. These categories simply differentiate between the various styles of jewelry. Some people will go an entire lifetime without having jewelry from each category and that is perfectly fine.

Custom design jewelry is very specific. Not everyone has the desire to create something from scratch and typically  will purchase jewelry straight out of the display case. There is nothing wrong with that at all. However, if you desire a piece of jewelry that is truly unique, then you will eventually seek out someone who is experienced in custom jewelry design. Not every jeweler is good at this type of work. Some are better than others and some do not do it at all. However, custom designs are becoming more and more popular as time goes on, so it would behoove every jeweler to have a good custom guy on his or her staff. Additionally, the software used to create these custom designs is becoming better and better with each passing year. We live in a technology driven world and it would behoove any business owner to get on board with the latest technological trends and advantages. This will not only make your life easier as a business owner, it will also allow you to grow as a business. Keeping paper records is great, but when computers are so readily available and affordable, there is no sense in doing things the archaic way if you do not have to.

Custom design jewelry is somewhat a thing of the future. Back in the day, it was very rare you would meet people who had a custom piece of jewelry in their collection. Now, you are seeing it more. It is not a thing solely for wealthy people and it is actually becoming much more affordable than it once was. If you are interested, feel free to inquire more about it online or at your local jewelry store.

It kind of surprised me that when people are looking to treat themselves to a new piece of jewelry, they seem limited to looking at only gold or silver items. Don’t get me wrong. These are, of course, two of the most beautiful and popular precious metals out there, and there is a certain versatility that comes with choosing a simpler piece of jewelry, but there is so much more that is out there. As beautiful as a gold bracelet or silver necklace may be, don’t you think it might look better with a ruby or an emerald? Gemstone jewelry isn’t just for birthstones anymore.

Sterling Silver and Amethyst Ring

If you buy something that you plan on wearing every day, it is going to quickly lose any special meaning for you. If that wasn’t the case, you’d have five of exact same outfits to go to work in and one outfit that you wore for your nights on the town. Jewelry is designed to not only accent your clothing, but to make you feel special when you put it on, and gemstone jewelry is the perfect solution to help rescue you from a boring outfit. Maybe you have a beautiful blue dress that you know you look stunning in. A gold necklace might look great with it, but that same necklace featuring rubies would make it look even better. That suit you always wear, complete with the same tie, to start your workweek with, is going to look even more impressive with a sapphire or garnet tie tack.

Finding the right piece of gemstone jewelry is going to be even easier than you think. Take the time to visit your favorite jeweler and they will work with you to not only select the style of jewelry that you are most comfortable wearing, but also in choosing the right color of stone that works best for you. Whether it’s choosing something that matches your eyes perfectly or partners up with the tone of your skin, they will help you make the right choice. Gemstone jewelry is not for everyday use, but it is going to make every day you wear it feel like the best day of your life.

Summer is in full swing! It is time for fun under the sun at the beach and mountains. It is always a good idea to take a few safeguards that can make sure that your beach day is super and full of activities.

DO WEAR SUNTAN LOTION

Skincancer.org reports that 3.5 new cases of skin disease are identified every year. Keep your family protected when having fun under the sun by taking precautions suggested by the FDA recommendations. Use a waterproof sunblock with a minimum 30 SPF. You should choose products approved by the FDA for effective UVA protection.

DO WEAR A PRETTY SWIMSUIT

This is the perfect time for the fashionistas out there to walk on the runway to present your beautiful fashion sense. Whether picking a last year piece, vintage, classic, or modern one-piece swimsuit, wear it with confidence. For entertaining, try mixing up the top and bottom of other swimsuits.

DO HAVE NO-FUSS HAIR

The sun, sea and sand can cause your hair to go from fashionable to not so fashionable in just couple of minutes. Forget the waving or flat iron and choose an easy style that will not interfere with swimming, playing volleyball or comforting in your cabana. An up-do bun can keep the twists at bay while the impeccable ponytail keeps the hair protected while still being stylish.

DO STAY HYDRATED

Sweating in the warm sun can quickly get to dehydration, which can cause tiredness, a slower metabolism and even lead to heat stroke. Stay safe at the beach and leave the sugary beverages, alcoholic drinks and the caffeinated iced-tea at home. Instead, bring a cooler full of bottled or recyclable bottles of water. Drink at least eight glasses of water through the day.

DO ACCESSORIZE WITH JEWELRY

It is important to keep it simple! Avoid wearing any gemstones that are absorbent and could be spoiled by salt water or chlorine, such as pearls. Take with you sterling silver or 14k gold in the form of a ring, necklace or earrings. Diamond engagement rings are safe to wear at the beach, though take the time to clean the ring in water at the end of the day to wash away any sand particles that may have become stuck between the diamond and the setting.  

SOME SIMPLE BEACH-GOER DON’TS

Do not forget to wear a hat and sunglasses for even more sun protection. Even if you are wearing sunscreen, a large hat can shade your face from the sun. The American Academy of Ophthalmology explains, “A number of scientific studies indicate that spending long hours in the sun without eye protection can damage your eyes by contributing to cataracts, macular degeneration, and growths on the eye, including cancer.” The organization recommends wearing sunglasses that are 99% and above UV-absorbent.

Another DO NOT: Do not forget to have a lot of fun!

RUBY

Ruby is July’s birthstone, and the gemstone of 15th and 40th anniversaries.

About Rubies

Rubies are the most valuable colored gemstone on the market today.  They capture the color of our most powerful emotions, passion and anger.  Rubies have often been referenced with their similarity in color to blood, and often believed to have held the power of life.

A ruby is made primarily the mineral corundum, colored with a hint of chromium.  High value ruby’s will fluoresce, or become more brilliant in sunlight.  Often this glow was associated with an internal fire in the stone, making it more valuable. Some of the most valuable ruby’s form in marble, although ruby’s are also found in basalt.

Folklore of Rubies

Hindus believed someone possessing a fine ruby, had the advantage of perfect safety.
In ancient India, it was believed that possessing ruby’s allowed you to live in peace with your enemy’s.  The history of Burma, accounts warriors inserting ruby under their skin to make them invincible in battle.

History of Rubies

The name Ruby is derived from the Latin word ‘Ruber’ meaning red.

Rubies have had a long place in history, in the bible they are mentioned four times, associated with wisdom and beauty.  When ruby or ‘ratnaraj’ is translated from Sanskrit, its meaning is ‘king of gemstones’.

Ruby Care

Rubies are for the most part quite stable for everyday wear.  Some rubies available today, with surface reaching fractures, have been treated with a high lead glass to fill small natural cavities.  Treated rubies require extra care.  Mild acids such as lemon juice may etch the treatment.

Warm soapy water is always your safest option.  Use a damp cloth and baby toothbrush to gently clean all surfaces.  Untreated rubies may be safely cleaned in an ultrasonic or steam cleaner.

In United States, we celebrate today our nation’s independence day or else known as Fourth of July.

“On July 4, 1776, the thirteen colonies requested their independence from England, an affair which ultimately led to the foundation of the United States. Every year on Fourth of July, also known as Independence Day, Americans have a good time on this historic event,” says Military.com. “Clash between the colonies and England was already a year old when the colonies convoked a Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776. On June 7 at the conference that took place in the Pennsylvania State House later known as Independence Hall. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia read a resolution with the prominent words: “Resolved: That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are liberated from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.”

Red Color Genuine Mozambique Ruby & Diamond Ring

Some fun Fourth of July facts, courtesy of United States Government webpage:

The number of signers to the Declaration of Independence totaled to 56. Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Robert R. Livingston comprised the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration. Jefferson, considered as the strongest and most expressive writer, wrote the most part of the document.
In 2013, the trade value between the United States and the United Kingdom is at $100 billion dollar value, making the British, who were our adversary in 1776, our seventh prominent tradeoff partner today.

White Pearls offered by Marco Bicego Jaipur Earrings with Mother of Pearl

Emblematically, you can use this day as your own independence from something special on July 4th as well. Whether that comprises of breaking out of a bad habit, or going after that long daydreamed career, getting in shape, beginning a new relationship, ending one that has outlasted its time, or simply undertaking a long desirable goal.

Sparkly jewels, especially rubies, pearls and sapphires (red, white and blue) can help you feel revitalized, fresh and self-determining. In case you are joining a grill party, family gathering, beach festivity or a simple get together with associates or family, the right jewelers can support you to feel as if you have acknowledged your own unique independence.

Blue Color offered by Genuine Blue Sapphire & Diamond Ring

Grace of Monaco premiered earlier this month at the Cannes International Film Festival. The biopic, starring Nicole Kidman, depicts the marriage between Grace Kelly and her husband, Prince Rainer III of Monaco, as a cold-spirited union endured by an unhappy woman trapped between loyalty to her husband and her Hollywood career.

In character films such as Grace of Monaco, the costumes, fashions and jewelry are pivotal aspects for submerging the viewer into a specific moment in time and for transforming Nicole Kidman from Hollywood actress into royalty.

Many of Grace Kelly’s favorite designers were enlisted to recreate the princess’s classic and beautiful wardrobe, such as Christian Dior, Chanel, Saint Laurent and Hermes. Written in the Daily Beast, “It was not a big challenge to dress Nicole Kidman as Grace of Monaco because she is so graceful and she has such a beautiful body. It is a dream to dress like a model. She is taller but it does not matter. The biggest challenge was the hair and the makeup, but with these three together, she became Grace of Monaco.”

PopSugar also honed in on the importance and classic elegance of the costumes and fashions worn by Nicole Kidman in the new feature film. They say, “a collection of classic suiting, retro sheath dresses, and gowns, and of course, gloves and hats that transform Nicole Kidman from modern-day movie star into the stunning Princess Grace. We wouldn’t be surprised if the film inspires a ’50s fashion resurgence.”

Jewelry was always a staple in Grace Kelley’s wardrobe and that important detail was not lost in the film. A combination of original pieces and recreations were used during filming.

Amidon can help you to channel your own inner Princess Grace with just the right gem or jewel.

The infamous 1953 three strands diamond necklace.

Adorn your own neck with diamonds with a pendant from Amidon.

Pearls were a signature piece for Princess Grace.

Freshwater Cultured Pearl 7-Strand Necklace available at Amidon.