One of the most often neglected birth stones is peridot. This is a pity since I think the gem is absolutely beautiful. When clients say they don’t like their birthstone, they have only seen the more commercial material, more drab and olivey green. When I pull out one of the Pakistani peridots, in a fiery…
Color is by far the most highly touted virtue of gem stones. When you see a beautiful cornflower blue sapphire, or a gorgeous Granny Smith apple green peridot, what attracts you most are the deep colors of the stones. When jewelers determine the quality of a gem stone based on its color, they talk about…
There is significant buzz and a fair amount of contention right now in the jewelry industry about the term ‘fair trade’ as it pertains to gem stone purchase. Does fair trade actually mean something or is it simply a tag for marketing? As an American jeweler for over four decades now, I have watched interest…
The more you know about gemstones, the better you understand and appreciate the gem stones in your personal jewelry collection. That’s why I’d like to blog about two properties of gem stones you often hear about: hardness and toughness. Although they sound similar, hardness and toughness of a gem are two separate, unrelated physical characteristics…
Did you know that Aronstam Fine Jewelry offers professional appraisals? We can value any item, and since we can also recreate it, insurance companies love our concise appraisals, complete with photographs. We can also restore virtually any gold, platinum or silver jewelry, and expertly match older unique designs to bring your pieces back to life….
I don’t think I’ve ever had quite this variety of rare colored and beautifully cut gemstones in my showroom before now. The reason? I’m just back from the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, and I find the highest quality stones, the most beautiful cabochon cuts, and the most extravagant colors, all right there at the…
As the price of gold rises, so does the likelihood of theft… A couple came into the store the other day, looking at several rings and considering a beautiful pearl necklace. As we got to talking, I discovered the reason for their visit. Their home had been broken into and among the articles taken were…
When you think of Indianapolis jewelry stores, you generally think about jewelry. And this time of year, when you think about Aronstam, I bet you think: “gifts for women.” Although I’ve got some truly heart-stopping holiday jewelry perfect for the women in your life… I’ve also got some cool stuff for GUYS! Men like stuff…
My grandmother had a charm bracelet. Maybe yours did, too. As a kid, I loved to look at the charms, asking where each came from and hearing the stories. So I felt a strong sentimental pull when I first took a look at The Heather B. Moore collection of personalized jewelry. Heather Moore takes “charms”…
As much as I love working with gem stones and precious metals, part of the passion I have for them is grounded in a love of nature. It amazes me when I look at a fiery black opal, a brilliant citrine or a Tahitian pearl and think of the natural forces that formed them. So…