Category: Diamonds

The Ruby Brothers

Posted in Collecting, Diamonds, India Gems, Jewelry, Memoir, Rubies, Sapphires, Uncategorized3 Comments

My jeweler friend Nan has a knack for making me fall in love with jewelry I didn’t think I cared about. Pearls, for example. She once walked into my house dressed all in black, her hair upswept, wearing a long strand of large, luminous freshwater pearls. They reached well below her waist; you could double… Continue reading The Ruby Brothers

The Normandie

Posted in Casting, Computer-Aided Design, Diamonds, Fancy Yellow Diamonds, Jewelry, Memoir, Uncategorized1 Comment

Here’s how it happened. I once said it would be nice to have a yellow diamond, or as they’re now called, a fancy yellow diamond. I say a lot of things, but my husband heard this one. With no prompting from me, he decided I should have yellow diamond earrings, and asked a wholesale dealer to… Continue reading The Normandie

Carbon Taxed

Posted in Collecting, Diamond simulants, Diamonds, Jewelry, Lab-grown diamonds, Memoir, Uncategorized2 Comments

Diamonds shouldn’t be confusing, but they are. Or at least the diamond market is confusing, a minefield of prevarication and hype. I know this because I’ve just been doing a little diamond shopping, more out of curiosity than the itch to buy. Though I do frequently have that itch. Diamond, my favorite gem, is made of… Continue reading Carbon Taxed

Love For Sale

Posted in Diamonds, Estate jewelry, Gold Jewelry, Jewelry, Memoir, Selling Jewelry, Uncategorized4 Comments

Buying jewelry is like buying a car: the minute you drive it home, it’s worth substantially less than what you just paid for it. If you go to sell it, you will not get all your money back, or even most of your money back. You’ll get whatever pittance the market offers you. I’ve bought many… Continue reading Love For Sale

Dirty Diamonds

Posted in Brown diamonds, Collecting, Diamonds, Jewelry, Memoir, Old European Cut, Old Mine Cut, Uncategorized7 Comments

Yes, I know all about the 4Cs of diamonds—Color, Clarity, Cut, Carat weight—the things you’re supposed to care about when you’re shopping for a stone. The best diamonds are whiter than white and clearer than clear, with a cut that brings out their inner fire, yada yada yada. But I’m here to sing the praises of… Continue reading Dirty Diamonds