[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Academy Awards have always fascinated me. Not because I love movies or am infatuated with Hollywood. No, I watch for the red carpet coverage, the fashion, and the jewels. In fact, I am so enamored of awards season that I host a little party with my girlfriends on Oscar Sunday. We eat decadent snacks,…
Read more
Like Peanut Butter and Jelly: Perfect Pairings
[dropcap]S[/dropcap]ome things just go together; we all know that. In fact, there is an entire day dedicated to the perfect pair: Monday, April 2 is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. Honestly, peanut butter and jelly may be the perfect pair according to the people who have a vested interest in those products…and my…
Read more
Smithsonian Spotlight Series: the Spanish Inquisition Necklace
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he first piece in our Smithsonian series focused on something that was breathtaking in its beauty, if not fabled in its history. Our second entry, by contrast, is ensconced in mystery and intrigue. The Spanish Inquisition necklace is a multi-strand necklace of diamonds and emeralds. The emeralds in particular are exquisite specimens of the…
Read more
A Rainbow of Gold: Using Science to Produce Colored Gold
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] few weeks ago, we had an in-depth conversation about the gold mining and refining process. Part of that discussion focused on the alloying process. Alloying gold is the process through which different metals are added to pure gold. We alloy gold for different reasons. Gold, in its pure form, is quite soft. To…
Read more
Style Spotlight: Rihanna
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen it comes to emulating celebrity style, there are a handful of obvious women who pop into my mind, most of whom are known by just one household name: Jackie, Wallis, Liz (Liz, my greatest jewelry soulmate). Their individual styles have become synonymous with taste, sophistication, and pushing the envelope. Where time has had…
Read more
Gem of the Month: Aquamarine
About the Dom Pedro Aquamarine, gem dealer Jurgen Henn said this: “What Mother Nature has made large and beautiful, we should not make small.” The Dom Pedro Aquamarine is the largest aquamarine in the world (at least, that has been discovered). The crystal from which it was carved was gargantuan at the time of…
Read more