Father’s Day is right around the corner.  How will you show your dad this year that he is – and always will be – your personal hero?  Sure, Dad can always use another tie or golf accessory or “World’s Greatest Dad” mug, but if you want to give him a gift that really shows that you’ve put some thought into it, engraved jewelry is the perfect way to personalize your Father’s Day gift and show Dad just how much you love and appreciate him.

To be honest, moms are easier to shop for.  Mom is always delighted with new jewelry for Mother’s Day, or any occasion.  But we tend to forget that dads love (and deserve) nice jewelry, too, and there are plenty of Father’s Day gift options in this category to suite Dad’s personal taste and lifestyle, from the simple, casual, outdoor man to the executive, and everything in between.  So your search for that perfect Father’s Day jewelry gift should start with these “lifestyle” factors in mind, and then you can begin to personalize your gift from there.

Choosing the particular piece of jewelry, such as a watch or men’s bracelet is the first step, keeping in mind that virtually any jewelry can be personalized with engraving, provided it has enough surface to do so.  If you’re dad’s not really a jewelry guy, you can still personalize his Father’s Day gift this year with custom engraving on a variety of other items, as well.  Think plaques or mock awards, desk accessories like executive pen sets, or even certain types of fishing gear.  Get creative, and you’ll soon find you’ve come up with a truly one-of-a-kind Father’s Day gift that shows Dad he’s one-in-a-million.

Whether you choose to go with a special sentiment or add some humor with a funny saying or an “inside joke”, engraving gives you the opportunity to tell Dad just how you feel in a gift that will remind him each and every time looks upon it.  Custom engraving does require a little lead time, but there’s still plenty of time to personalize that perfect gift for Dad this Father’s Day if you get the process started now.  Your local jeweler can help you to find just the item you’re looking for to suit your dad’s taste and style, and do the engraving for you on site, quite affordably.

Make this the year you really “wow” him with a personalized Father’s Day Gift from the heart.

My son is graduating college

Professional Jewelry Services at Amidon Jewelers

this fall, and I have been searching to find him the perfect gift. It is more than just a present of “Congratulations.” You see, his father passed away several years ago, and so for most of his childhood, it has just been the two of us. I know it has been a struggle for him, watching his friends grow up differently than he did, and I wanted to somehow let him know how special he was. That was when I remembered the watch.

The men in my husband’s family had never been the type to wear fine jewelry. They certainly appreciated it, and my husband had a fantastic eye for finding the most beautiful pieces, from the diamond engagement ring he proposed with to the pearl necklace he surprised me with on our tenth anniversary. The one piece of jewelry that was important to the men, however, was a watch that my grandfather-in-law had gotten as a gift many years ago. It had been passed down from father to son, and my husband had worn it proudly.

After the funeral, I put it away with so many other things I couldn’t bear to look at. Remembering it now, I went up to the attic and started searching through the boxes. It was a bittersweet occasion, as many smiles as there were tears, and eventually I found the watch. Unfortunately, after all this time packed away, it had stopped working. I wanted my son to have this watch, but I didn’t want to give him a broken gift.

Talking with a girlfriend, she mentioned that the last time she had been downtown, she saw that the local jewelry store offered watch repair. I was cautious, because the watch was so old, it might be impossible to find someone who knew how to fix it or know where to get the parts. The repairman had the proper tools for the job, and even before he opened the case, he told me the story of the manufacturer, the history of this model, and, most importantly, that he could fix it.

I picked it up today and it looks and run beautifully. I can’t wait to give it to my son, a gift from both me and his father.

My fiancé likes to joke with me about shopping for Valentine’s Day. He says that it’s impossible for him to surprise me with anything because I already know that it’s going to be candy, flowers and some kind of diamond jewelry. Compared to me – and women everywhere, for that matter – I think he and most men have it easy. It’s easy to find romantic gifts for women, but I don’t think there’s anything too romantic about power tools, and if I try to give him flowers, I know he’ll forget to take care of him. That’s why I’m going to surprise him with some diamond jewelry of his own.

1/2CTTW Men’s Diamond Wedding Band

I’m lucky that he is conscious enough about what he wears and how he dresses that he is always looking for new ways to accessorize. Men’s jewelry has become more popular over the last several years, and I was actually surprised to see how many different styles of jewelry there was to choose from. Most people think men’s jewelry begins with fashion watches and ends with wedding bands, but there are complete lines of diamond rings, bracelets and necklaces to choose from, as well as more traditional items like cuff links and tie tacks.

I knew that as adventurous as he might be when it comes to fashion, he wouldn’t want anything too flashy. The last thing I wanted to do was make him think I was dressing him to look like Mr. T. I wanted to make sure that it would be something he would like to wear and that would also be a reminder of me. When I went to my local jewelry store and was talking to the woman working there, she directed me to their collection of men’s jewelry made from aircraft steel.

Far from being generic jewelry that could be worn by either gender, these pieces have a very masculine look and feel to them. Plus, I knew the uniqueness of it would really appeal to him. I can’t wait to see the look in his eyes when he opens the gift and sees the necklace I bought him, and I really can’t wait to tell him how easy it was to shop for him.

I know it sounds like a cliché, but take it from a man speaking with experience: planning the wedding is truly all about the bride. I certainly had dreams about what I wanted my wedding to be like when I was growing up, but my dreams of eventually watching the Dallas Cowboys win another Super Bowl are far more important to me, so when it came to making decisions for the wedding, I deferred to my fiancé most of the time. Besides, she has a better eye for colors and a better nose for flowers. It’s the same reason I let her decorate the house. I don’t tell her what kind of diamond jewelry to wear when we go out for the night. Do you really think I’m crazy enough to say “I think the sea foam works better than the salmon?” I didn’t even know those were colors.

Vitalium Journey Laser Wedding Band

One of the aspects of our nuptials where I did make a stand, however, was when it came time to shop for the wedding jewelry. I see the wedding bands that my father and uncles wore, and those weren’t enough for me. I knew that I wanted a men’s wedding band that was more than just a simple plain ring. If I was going to be wearing this for the rest of my life (like I planned), I wanted to be sure the ring had a little bit of personality.

We both knew that we were going to get married long before I popped the question, so when we were out running errands or just strolling through town, we would stop at jewelry stores and look at the collection of diamond engagement rings and wedding jewelry. My then-girlfriend, now-wife understood that it was important to me that the men’s wedding band we chose be something designer, and that allowed us to pick out an entire wedding set where all three rings matched. One of the best things about loving the ring she would be slipping on my finger was that it made it much easier to nod, smile and say, “Whatever you want dear” when she asked me about the flowers, the seating chart, or anything else. I had her and my designer wedding band. I was happy.

While we could rave about the fashion of the ladies at the Golden Globe we shouldn’t overlook the fashion of the gents who were just as fabulous to look at.

Since this past fall’s fashion has been inspired by jeweled tones from the catwalk we’ll focus on those who really pulled off some color outside the standard black and white tuxedo on the red carpet.

Now, in no particular order, some of the best dressed gentlemen from the 2014 Golden Globes and their inspirational fashion.

Matthew McConaughey was bold in a forest green velvet tuxedo by Dulce & Gabbana. While green isn’t typical, it’s emerald green and other deep jewel tones really made a leap to the forefront this past fall.

Amidon has any number of colorful ways you can express yourself. Here is a 7 mm titanium ring with beveled groove emerald green enamel.

Usher made a major fashion impression as usual as he walked down the red carpet in a Calvin Klein burnt umber tuxedo. He also took a giant leap in a different direction by wearing a brooch instead of a corsage on his lapel.

Sleek and stylish this Citizen’s Eco-Drive watch, carried by Amidon, embodies the warm hues and crisp lines with a dash of bling that really encompasses the bold look as seen on Usher. This Citizen’s Eco-drive is stainless steel in a rose gold-tone.

Mark Ruffalo didn’t hulk out, but rather went hunky while donning a John Varvatos tuxedo. The jacket is a textured crosshatched weave with contrasting, peak lapels and he even wore a cummerbund.

Black and silver for your dress-watches can get boring after a while, but just as with the above tuxedos you can find those with some great earth-tone and other colors to bring a great change of pace. Here Amidon carries this water resistant watch by designer Bulova from the Adventurer Collection featuring a patterned brown dial, luminous hands and with Arabic numerals calendar 24-hour subdial.

Amidon is proud to offer gents bands, bracelets and necklaces, select that link and see how we can spice up your wardrobe with one of our designer pieces.

While early incarnations of Mother’s Day began popping up in the 1860s, it took longer for a special day for fathers to catch on. Maybe because men are notoriously difficult to shop for! President Woodrow Wilson signed Mother’s Day into law in 1914, but it took another fifty-plus years before President Lyndon Johnson formalized Father’s Day in 1966. In 1972, President Richard Nixon made the holiday permanent.

It’s not that folks didn’t want to give Dad his due before then. Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Washington, was an early proponent of Father’s Day. Dodd thought if mothers got Mother’s Day, it was only fair for fathers to have a day in their honor. She started a movement amongst area churches. Spokane celebrated its first Father’s Day in 1910. Dodd selected June as the proper month because her own father was a June baby.

The idea spread through the nation in stops and starts. President Wilson approved of the Father’s Day idea, but never made it official. Calvin Coolidge made a point of encouraging closer relationships between fathers and their children. During the ‘20s and ‘30s, some people wanted to celebrate neither Mother’s nor Father’s Day, but combine them into a single holiday, Parents’ Day.

So why did it take so long for Father’s Day to catch up to Mother’s Day? Perhaps it has something to do with men feeling they have to keep up their tough, protective image and not give in to sentimentality. But everybody likes to be appreciated, including the fathers in your life, whether they’ll admit it or not. Even if Dad say, “Really, I don’t want anything for Father’s Day,” he might secretly hope you’ll do something a little special.

Here are a few ideas for your father or father figures:

Spend time together. Buy two tickets for an event Dad likes, whether it’s a ballgame or an opera

Cook his favorite dinner or bake a cake

For a lasting gift, choose a bracelet from Amidon. The lightweight titanium bracelets are hypoallergenic, stand up to surf and sun, and look cool like steel. Or if Dad’s a black tie kind of guy, go with the stacked black and steel cufflinks.

Most of all, tell Dad you appreciate him. Ponder these quotes by wise thinkers.

“It is easier for a father to have children than for children to have a real father.”
-Pope John XXIII

“A father is someone who carries pictures in his wallet where his money used to be.”
-Unknown

At Amidon Jewelers, we love to add new designers to our fabulous selection of jewelry.  This week, we’re proud to introduce you to Fable Designs.  Specializing in the manufacturing of high-end alternative metal jewelry, their product offerings include jewelry made from Titanium, Tungsten Carbide, Black Zirconium, Black Ceramic and Stainless Steel.

Tungsten Carbide

In its raw form, Tungsten is a steel-gray metal.  Often hard to work, it has the highest melting point of all metals – An astonishing 6,192 degrees Fahrenheit.  Mixed with Carbon, Tungsten Carbide is the only metal that can be permanently polished and scratch-free.  It is 10 times harder than 18K gold, 5 times harder than steel and 4 times harder than Titanium.

Titanium

Represented by “Ti” on the Periodic Table of Elements, Titanium is the 9^th most abundant element in the earth’s crust and the hardest natural metal in the world.  Three times stronger than steel, it is stronger than gold, silver and platinum, and 100% hypo-allergenic.  Surprisingly light-weight, it is also shockingly strong, and more scratch, dent and bend-resistant than both gold and silver.  When oxidized, Titanium offers a range of color selections ranging from blue to purple to black.

Black Zirconium

Initially discovered in 1789 by German chemist, Martin Heinrich Klaproth, Zirconium wasn’t prepared in its pure form until 1914.  Represented on the Periodic Table of Elements by “Zr”, it is very difficult to obtain in pure form, and is used widely and mostly in nuclear reactors for fuel rod protection, due to its corrosion resistance.

Black Zirconium is one of the world’s foremost scratch resistant metallic substances.  Black due to elaborate processing, it has a Moh’s rating of 8.2 – 9.2.  In comparison, steel has a rating of 6, and it is second only to diamonds which have a rating of 10.  Interestingly, Zirconium is found in S-type stars and has been identified in the sun and meteorites.

Black Ceramic

Created by combining ceramic with exotic alternative materials like Zirconium as well as specialized bonding agents, Black Ceramic is a superior material which remains polished indefinitely.  Often compared to Tungsten Carbide due to its extreme hardness, it doesn’t scratch, discolor or fade.  Lighter in weight than Tungsten, Black Ceramic is hypo-allergenic and contains no Cobalt.  Unlike Black Tungsten which is black due to a coating, Black Ceramic is black all the way through.  In the event that a Black Ceramic ring did scratch, the scratch would only expose more of the black color underneath.

Offering all of the finishes mentioned above and more, Amidon Jewelers is thrilled to present Fable Designs as one of our esteemed jewelry designers.  As always, our incredible customer service team is available to help you during any stage of your jewelry buying process.

A kiss is just a kiss – that is until it is a Hershey’s Kiss. A childhood favorite, who doesn’t have sweet memories of peeling back the silver wrapper and letting the creamy milk chocolate melt in your mouth?!

Now you can keep those sweet memories close to your heart at all times; the iconic Hershey’s Kiss has been transformed into a line of jewelry, available at Amidon Jewelers.

If you’ve been holding back giving a kiss to someone special, for fear she’ll say ‘no’, then perhaps a shimmering jewel-toned kiss is the answer. You are guaranteed to bring a smile to any girls face, big or small, with one of these gems. White gold, yellow gold, diamond encrusted – even kisses for a cause – all make the perfect gift for a young girl’s first piece of jewelry, a tweener gift, commemorating a sweet 16 or to any woman that has a sense of style, flair and fun.

The Hershey’s Kiss line of jewelry at Amidon Jewelers replicates foil wrapped famous treat with the traditional blue and white paper tag, peaking out of the tip of every chocolate kiss. Earrings, bracelets, pendants, rings and even cufflinks are available to savor and share.

Kiss Stud Earrings

Designed in Sterling Silver this Small Flat Back Hershey’s Kiss stud type pair of earrings shines as an expression of Love. The Kiss measures 10MM in height and 4MM at the base. The Hershey’s Kiss earrings feature a comfortable push back closure. Available in diamond-covered as well.

Hanging Kiss Earrings

This Kiss measures 10MM in height and 4MM at the base. The Hershey’s Kiss earrings feature a comfortable lever back closure.

Sterling Silver Charm Kiss Ring

Available in several sizes, this particular hanging Kiss ring 15MM in height and 6MM at the base.

Sterling Silver Flat Back Kiss Ring

Available in several sizes, this Kiss measures 15MM in height and 6MM at the base.

Diamond Kiss Pendant

For the girl who really loves her Kisses, this 3D diamond pendant is designed in 14KT White Gold. The Kiss measures 20MM in height and 15MM at the base. The diamond color is G and clarity is SI. The Hershey’s Kiss includes a 22 inch (20 inch with a 2 inch extension) 14KT white gold cable chain w/ lobster lock.

Sterling Silver Hershey’s Kiss Cufflinks

Men like Kisses too!! Designed in sterling silver these flat back Hershey’s Kiss cufflinks shine. The Kiss measures 15MM in height and 6MM at the base.

And the best part, no calories!

View all of our Kisses.

On the First day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
A partridge in a Pear Tree…

Well, no partridges here, but how about a Men’s ring made with tree bark? (not a pear tree, but still a tree)

8mm Black Zirconium Ring with Raised Center Brush/TREE Bark Finish

On the Second day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Two Turtle Doves…

This sterling silver diamond dove is pretty close!

On the Third day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Three French Hens…

Something tells us she would rather have this A. Jaffe 18kt White Gold Engagement Ring with French Pave Setting rather than hens…and you probably only need to buy one, not three.

On the Fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Four Colly Birds…

A Colly bird is a black bird, which we don’t have here at Amidon, but we do have black diamonds.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
FIVE GOLDEN RINGS

Yup, we got that!!
One Ladies Champagne And White Diamond Ring Set In 14k Rose Gold

14 Karat White Gold Ring With Prong Set Round Blue Diamonds

See more here!

On the Sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Six Geese-a-Laying…

Nothing even close, but we do carry beautiful sterling silver bracelets, such as this heart clasped bangle with diamond accent.

On the Seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Seven Swans-a-Swimming…

No, no swans. But swans remind us of weddings, and our wide array of bridal jewelry makes it easy to find the piece that’s just right for you. Like this 5/8 ctw stunning engagement ring.

On the Eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,

Eight Maids-a-Milking…

Pearls are milky-white.

On the Ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Nine Ladies Dancing…

What makes a lady dance? Diamonds!
1ctw Diamond Earrings

On the Tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Ten Lords-a-Leaping

Men’s jewelry, we got it!
Titanium Bracelet

Boxed set

On the Eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me,
Eleven Pipers Piping…

This yellow gold Marco Bicego Jaipur Ring With Amethyst will make her forget all about pipers and piping!

On the Twelfth day of Christmas my true love smiled with glee,
as she said Yes!, when I asked her to marry me.

Maevona 18kw Bluebell Semi-Mount Solitaire Engagement Ring

Happy Holidays!!!

Have you ever wanted to give someone a kiss? Sure you have, although you have probably held back giving kisses as freely as you’d like. Perhaps you’re unsure of the reaction you’ll get, and asking to give a girl a kiss can backfire. What if she says “no”?

Here’s a Kiss you don’t  have worry about giving; in fact, you can rest assured it will be warmly received. This Kiss is one any girl will gladly accept.

The chocolate-y goodness of the iconic Hershey’s Kiss has been transformed into fine, fun jewelry that’s as quirky as it is cute. After all, who doesn’t love Hershey’s Kisses? From the sterling silver traditional Hershey’s Kiss locket (it holds two photos!) to a 14K white gold, diamond encrusted pendant, this sweet symbol of creamy smooth love makes a perfect gift, in one version or another, for a tweener birthday girl, a grown up birthday girl who has everything (and loves her kisses), and all the girls in-between.

Each little Kiss shimmers with reflective light.

The Hershey’s Kiss line of jewelry at Amidon Jewelers is designed to replicate the famous foil wrapped chocolate treat with the familiar blue-and-white paper tag that peeks out at the tip of every chocolate kiss we savor.

You can get sterling silver ring kisses (two versions available), and Hershey’s Kiss drop earrings in sterling silver, white gold, yellow gold, pink (rose) gold, and of course, there’s the extra sweet diamond encrusted Hershey’s Kiss earrings.

Yummy!

For the girl who wears her Kisses on her sleeve (sorry, it was just too tempting), check out these 14K white gold, diamond encrusted 3D shaped Hershey’s Kiss charm bracelets.  Delectable.  

There are even Kisses for him – sterling silver Hershey’s Kiss cufflinks in two sizes. If he has a sweet tooth and loves kisses, these will make a fun gift that he’ll enjoy wearing anytime cufflinks are called for.

For something that might seem a bit silly at first glance, Hershey’s Kiss jewelry is actually a clever option for gift giving that is sweet, unassuming, and beloved by everyone. You can give Hershey’s Kiss jewelry to your girl and your Mom, your sister and your sister-in-law. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, although it certainly can be. There’s a Hershey’s Kiss pendant smothered in chocolate cz – perfect for the Hershey’s Kiss lover who is looking to watch her calories.

No calories here.

Women of all ages indulge in the Hershey’s Kiss Jewelry designs because they’re fun and they’re familiar. We all have a personal relationship with the Hershey’s  Kiss, after all; why not own it?

Hershey’s Kiss Jewelry pieces come in such a wide variety of precious metals and gemstones, there’s something a little bit tasty for every budget. Let’s face it, the Hershey’s Kiss is a part of Americana. People have enjoyed them since 1907, and no one is immune from the temptation to have “just one more” little Kiss.

We’re as smitten with the Hershey’s Kiss line of jewelry as we are with their edible counterparts. Give Kisses to your girls, and they’ll love you forever.

At Amidon Jewelers, a Kiss is not “just” a kiss.

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