The Curator's Journal

Spinel Jewelry Care: Maintaining Radiance and Durability

Spinel, with its vibrant colors and remarkable durability, is a captivating gemstone that adds a touch of elegance to any jewelry collection. Whether you own a sparkling red spinel ring or a dazzl...

Caring for Sapphire Jewelry: Essential Tips for Long-Lasting Beauty

Sapphires, renowned for their wide range of captivating hues and timeless elegance, are cherished gemstones used in many types of jewelry. Whether you own a dazzling blue sapphire ring or a vibran...

Gem Care and Handling: Emerald

With their captivating green hue and mesmerizing beauty, emeralds have been cherished for centuries. As a proud owner of emerald jewelry, it is essential to understand how to properly care for and ...

Flush Mounting Setting Explained

Flush mounting is a type of gemstone setting in which the gemstone is set directly into the metal of the ring, level or "flush" with the surface. Here is a simple step-by-step process that explain...

Why do Emeralds, Rubies, and Other Gemstones Have Inclusions?

If you're a fan of colored gemstones, you've probably come across the term "inclusions" before. Inclusions are tiny imperfections or impurities that can be found within a gemstone, and they can ha...

The Perfection of Peridot, part 6: The Zephyrs of Zabargad

Despite the presence of peridot in mediaeval Europe, evidence suggests that mining operations of the island of Zabargad were still stagnant during the middle ages. The 12th-13th Century C.E. Arabic...

Jewelry Nomenclature Glossary Part 1

Types of Jewelry Jewelry can be classified into various types based on different criteria such as the materials used, the intended use, and the design. Some common types of jewelry are: Fine Jewe...

The Tantalizing Tale of Tanzanite

The story of Tanzanite began not all that long ago.  It was discovered by Masai tribesman Ali Juuyawatu of Merelani Hills, Tanzania, in 1967, and it hit the market in 1968. Tiffany and Co was respo...

The Zing of Zircon, Part 8: Mystery of the Mountain

Most famous for its 79 C.E. eruption, which devastated the Roman settlements of Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum, Mount Vesuvius is a volcano located in southern Italy that has violently erupted nume...

The Zing of Zircon, Part 7: The Story of Starlite

One of the most valuable varieties of zircon, and certainly the most popular, is blue zircon. In some cases this zircon variety may be referred to as “starlite”, a trade name originally proposed by...