You may have promised yourself, after all of your Christmas shopping was over, that you wouldn’t go near a store again for another six months. Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and failing to find the right gift of gold jewelry might make an already cold winter downright frosty. Don’t make the mistake that so many other people will by waiting until the last minute to do your shopping. Now is the time to find the newest styles of diamond jewelry and the widest selection to choose from.

Open Heart Pendant

Christmas has become the busiest time of year for jewelry stores, and it might be easy to believe that the rush which started on Black Friday will just continue right through the first half of February. However, designers have traditionally used the approaching holiday as an unofficial start to their calendar year, so many of their new designs are not released until after the first of the year. People buying gold jewelry for Christmas gifts can be shopping for a wide variety of people – loved ones, children, co-workers – so the selection needs to be varied. Valentine’s Day is for lovers, however, and the jewelry that is featured then is created with that romance in mind.

Another advantage to doing your shopping early is the same reason why you should always shop early: the personal attention from the sales help. The first few weeks of the New Year are always slow in the retail world, as people are paying off their holiday bills and beginning to concern themselves with their taxes. Fewer people in the stores means more time for you to see all the gold jewelry that is available, ask any questions that you might have, and know that you are getting the perfect gift.

Keep in mind, too, that even though there may be many other gift ideas which can be purchased online, gold jewelry is best bought in person at a jewelry store. Jewelry is an art and no two pieces are alike. By being able to hold them in your hands and see them up close, you’ll be able to find the one that is perfect for her; the gift that is as unique and special as she is.

Yard Sale Treasures

Keeping costume jewelry separate from the good stuff this summer.

Are you headed out to peruse thru your neighbors unwanted items, or considering setting your own out?  Here are tips to keep you from tossing the best items, or help you spot a great find as you explore.

• Be prepared, get your tools ready. Your basic toolkit, a small 10x magnifying glass and your smartphone.
• If you’re shopping avoid using a large magnifying glass, if the seller gets an idea their item has extra value they may pull it from the sale.
• That’s right; your smartphone will let you quickly look up an item in question.  It should be at a yard sale for approximately ¼ of a similar online listing like eBay.
• Broken items can still be valuable.
• Evan if it can’t be repaired, gold and silver items can easily be sold to Amidon for their value as scrap precious metal.
• Take the time to look thru old jewelry boxes and collections of ‘junk’, one gold chain twisted in with a ball of fakes makes the whole $5 box worthwhile.
• Never believe “It’s all costume!” check it out for yourself, often sellers don’t know the value of each item they have.
• Look for markings, and know what they mean;

• Pick up everything that looks like gold or silver.  Both are very dense metals and produce a dull thump when placed on the table.  Salt shakers that produce a brassy ring are going to be plated. It’s a quick test to use before scrutinizing every piece. Also keep in mind that plated items do not dent easy and often have the inner yellow metal showing on wear surfaces like the backs of spoons and bottom of tableware.
• Have an idea what the weight is if shopping for scrap precious metal.  A stack of six nickels weighs just over an ounce.  At Amidon, with the gold spot value on 7-1, that’s worth about $11 for sterling, and $475 for 14 karat gold.

Jewelry purchases can be scary and intimidating. Unfortunately this is a scary yet true fact. Shopping mall jewelry store sales people can be compared to used car salesman, eager to make their next sale. Before you read any further, we want you to know that at Amidon Jewelers, this is NOT the case. We hope every shopping experience with us is a pleasant one.

We are aware that your options are nearly endless every time you would like to make a jewelry purchase. Racks in the mall, superstore and jewelry store are overflowing with inexpensive earrings, bracelets and necklaces that call out to you as you walk by. As respectful jewelry merchants, we believe it’s our responsibility to educate you of the benefits of buying a high-quality jewelry. Your skin will thank you from being saved from low quality metals, and in the long run, your bank account will thank you as well.

Think about it: How many pairs of superstore earrings have you had to throw out because the fake gemstones fell out of their settings? More than a handful, we’re sure. When you buy a pair of earrings or piece of jewelry from a reputable establishment such as Amidon Jewelers, you also buy peace of mind. To start, we have the Amidon Jewelry Assurance Plan! Let’s say you need to have your ring sized. Or you need to have the prongs tightened around the stones on your favorite earrings. When you purchase our Extended Service Plan, we will make any covered repairs needed, up to the amount of the purchase price, at no additional charge (Please see site for details).

Next, here’s a thought that may not have come to mind before… When you purchase jewelry from a reputable jewelry store, you’re investing in your future. History shows that the price of diamonds and gold has increased not decreased, over time. And if you’ve watched cable television lately, you have probably seen numerous commercials discussing jewelry buy-back promotions.

We sincerely hope you will never face a hardship where you have to consider selling your jewelry, however by buying a piece of quality jewelry, you’re investing the futures of both you and your descendants. Your retirement account, savings account and CD’s can be complemented by your new liquid, investments – your jewelry.

The staff at Amidon Jewelers is always happy you make educated jewelry purchasing decisions. Please don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions about how to invest in the best jewelry pieces for enjoyment now and in the future.

Choosing your diamond engagement ring is a once-in-a-lifetime affair, and one you want to know you’ll be happy with for the rest of your life. There are many options for purchasing a diamond engagement ring, and many-brides-to-be draw inspiration from some of today’s most magnificent diamond engagement ring designers.

An engagement ring from A. Jaffe, for instance, is a finely crafted artisan piece of jewelry in the old school tradition. Fine jewelry artisans create intricate bridal engagement rings, wedding rings and anniversary bands that are recognized for their quality, craftsmanship, and high quality diamonds. A Jaffe uses palladium-based 18k white gold and Platinum 950/ Iridium, the purest of all platinum for their rings settings, guaranteeing a lifetime of wear with no tarnish or color change.

A. Jaffe rings all come with a signature shank designed to insure that every bride’s ring fits properly. Their unique shank design helps prevent the ring from turning on the finger, insuring the most comfortable fit and a lifetime of durability.

Alishan Halebian, another original jewelry artist is a talented self-taught goldsmith whose is a master in his treatment of precious metals. Alishan uses sophisticated techniques to create diamond engagement and wedding rings that seem weightless, while maintaining textures within the precious metals for a truly elegant and inspiring look.

Since he began his jewelry career in 1970, his talent was recognized almost immediately. Alishan started his jewelry career in 1970 and soon thereafter, private clients recognized his artistic talent. The California-based designer is an award winning jewelry designer whose diamond engagement rings and wedding rings are as remarkable for their bold and beautiful use of precious metals as they are for the magnificent diamonds set within.

Scottish designer and artist MaeVona creates diamond engagement and wedding rings that express her love for details. Inspired by the lines of Celtic artifacts growing up in Scotland, Maeve learned the art of goldsmithing and jewelry design as a teenager, and fine-tuned her craft over the years. An award-winning engagement and wedding ring designer and jeweler, she completed traditional training and earned two degrees in jewelry and goldsmithing from the Edinburgh College of Art in Scotland, and a master’s degree from the prestigious Royal College of Art in London.

She worked in a family-run retail jewelry store while she was completing her studies, and it was the diamond engagement rings that most influenced her passion. She said she learned to anticipate which designs worked with brides, and she learned to relish the rewards that go with making a bride feel special through the design of her ring.

There are plenty of options when it comes to purchasing a diamond engagement ring that feels personal and unique. But it pays to look at the designers who devote a lifetime of artistry to creating some of the world’s most spectacular diamond engagement rings and wedding rings.

###

There is something so romantic about a boho bride, a light and airy beauty that combines the elegant style of the  Great Gatsby with a late 1960’s flower child ease. Today’s jewelry artisans are happily incorporating the boho influence in their modern wedding jewelry, beginning with the engagement ring.

Earthy styles and precious metals, hand crafted to free-spirit perfection. Some boho brides are choosing gemstones over diamonds for their engagement and wedding rings, or combining diamonds with a birthstone or a favorite gemstone.

The look is an understated Bohemian chic that transcends time, and varied enough to give every boho bride the ability to make it her own.

Hand crafted necklaces and bracelets utilizing the earth’s precious metals in some remarkably hand crafted jewelry in silver and gold woven into lace, sculpted into wildflowers, and pieced together with gemstones and other elements found in nature to create tomorrow’s vintage pieces.

In the meantime, boho brides can wear their wedding jewelry every day after the ceremony.

Bohemian brides are finding artisan jewelry made of a variety of  metals and gemstones colors, which makes choosing her wedding day jewelry even more fun.

Color and texture are the heart of boho chic wedding jewelry. It’s up to the bride to devise her own look, which can complement a wedding theme or

encompass a range of beautiful colors – blues and browns, yellows, pinks, and oranges. Against white gold, yellow gold, pink gold or silver settings, your boho-chic wedding jewelry will capture more than just a style – it will capture your spirit.

Jewelry sculpted into florals are hot and perfect for the boho bridal look. Bridal jewelry artisans are combining gemstones and metals for some of the most exquisite jewelry on the planet. Each piece makes a bold statement, whether its soft and muted or bold with vivid gemstones. Some brides choose a necklace to become their “bold statement” piece, and accessorize with other pieces. Depending on the look she is going for – chic simplicity or all-out gypsy, the boho bride doesn’t have to fear replicating any other bride’s look, since it’s all about self expression here.

By combining multiple metals and gemstones into one piece, jewelers are also exclaiming that nature has many elements to offer that are just as precious as diamonds.  Sometimes all it takes is the right pop of color, or a special stand-out cuff bracelet or pendant to bring the bride to her own “ah-ha” moment, when she knows she’s achieved the look she had in mind.

Nothing is more expressive than than the perfect bridal jewelry.

###

With Labor Day just a week away, what better time to consider the fall jewelry trends we have to look forward to? Of course, September  is the month of the sapphire – the exquisite blue gem that is the symbol of loyalty, love and longing. Perhaps for this reason more and more brides are incorporating sapphires into their diamond engagement and wedding rings; or maybe it’s because they’re just so beautiful.

Sapphires come in a range of colors besides the traditional blue, but it is the blue sapphire that most people connect with. In ancient times, it was believed that the earth was contained within a massive blue sapphire dome; today, it represents beauty and luxury in fine jewelry, making it a perfect gift for the September birthday girl.

With the sapphire’s earthly connection in mind, fall jewelry trends include colors associated in nature, including citrine and emerald greens, silvery-blue topaz, the deep purple of amethyst and fiery reds of rubies.

This fall, romantic jewelry designs will take center stage, and that includes intricate gold and diamond accents that bring an unexpected thrill to new jewelry designs. Soft, muted designs in gold and silver have never been more prominent, with designers incorporating a fall color palette of traditional browns, oranges and yellows into textured jewelry including rings and bracelets.

Look for jewelry designs with brown diamonds, garnets, topaz and blends of gold and silver this fall, as some of the world’s most talented jewelry designers take their craft to new levels with color and texture, pushing the envelope to create visually impactful, wearable art with unexpected details. Small and delicate as well as big and bold designs are on call for fall, and layering is encouraged.

Crosses are back, and this fall we see crosses in all sizes and precious metals. Big, bold silver and white gold, with or without chunky gemstones make for great layering or solo accent looks.

Designer Lois Hill reaches back through time to create these sterling silver cross pendants that combine  her trademark granulation and filigree, inspired by wire work from contemporary Scandinavian filigree. She adds tiny granules of sterling silver, incorporating her own unique interpretation of granulation, which dates back to 3000 BC.  Hand weaving of sterling, combined with other unique techniques in non-traditional ways, Hill creates signature collections rich in texture and detail.

Fall is a spectacular time for fashion accessorizing. This year’s fall jewelry trends are more exciting than ever, with bold looks combined with vibrant colors borrowed from nature, and plenty of unexpected details to keep us happy as the days get shorter and the temperatures begin to dip.

###