THE SEMIPRECIOUS BLOG

One major concern with purchasing anything online is the possibility that the photo will look much better than the real item you receive. Think about the difference between an ad for a Big Mac and what you get at the Drive-Thru. So, some people have asked us if we doctor our photos and I wanted to set the record straight. Yes, we do retouch our photographs, but only to make sure the photo represents the product. Continue reading →

While many of us have always appreciated the aesthetic value of jewelry, Google is looking to add a practical function to our accessories (yes, I know about the beer-opener belt buckle, but that doesn't count). Over the years, we've been encouraged to create longer, more complex passwords to protect our online assets. Not only that, but we've been told we need unique passwords for everything. It's getting increasingly difficult to keep track of all these cryptic keys, so Google is proposing a simple solution: rings. Continue reading →

Each year, the Jewelers of America present the CASE Awards to honor accomplishments in fine jewelry design, and the 2013 winners have just been announced. Overall, the winning pieces embrace traditional design elements, but there are some slightly avant garde designs as well. We've assembled a gallery of the top selections. Let us know your faves in the comments. Continue reading →

Fans of our jewelry may not be as familiar with the healing stone section of our website. There's a lot of debate about whether or not stones do possess healing qualities, but no matter what you believe, there's no question that our stone objects are perfect for home decor. For a fancy Easter display, all you need is a basket, some traditional grass filler and some of our Semiprecious eggs. Continue reading →

You may have seen that some of our pieces feature rhodium plating and wondered just what that means. Wonder no more because we are here to tell you what it is and why it’s used! Continue reading →

And now it's time to continue our education on March birthstones with a look at how to spot aquamarine impostors. Genuine aquamarine is from the beryl family just like the emerald, with color that varies from light blue to sea blue. It is common for aquamarine to be heat treated for color enhancement, which does not affect their authenticity but the treatment should be disclosed. As shown by the photo to the left, aquamarine can be opaque or completely translucent. Fake aquamarine (usually blue glass) is sometimes sold as the real thing, luckily there are few tricks which can help you to differentiate between real and fake gems. Continue reading →

Looking for the newest trend in earrings? It's hard to ignore the monumental styles that are popping up all over the place lately. Like we say in Texas, bigger is better. Instead of wearing a little of this and a little of that, more and more trendsetters are opting for a single statement piece. We've seen quite of bit of this on the red carpet lately, as showcased by Mila Kunis at the Oz premiere. She wore a very simple, classic dress, but had a massive raw ruby (to match her slippers, naturally) circled with diamonds dangling from her ears. Of course, fine jewelry like that isn't an option for all of us, so we're here to help you make your statement without having to break the bank. Continue reading →

It's officially March! Spring is just around the corner and it's warming up outside. It's also time to pay tribute to all our pals with March birthdays, so we're taking a closer look at this month's birthstones: bloodstone and aquamarine. Although they both share a rich history, these stones really couldn't be more different at a glance. Bloodstone with its deep green and trademark red spots seems to have nothing in common with aquamarine, which is prized for its clarity and bright blue color. While bloodstone may always be a runner-up to aquamarine in a beauty pageant, the substance and power of bloodstone is unrivaled.
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Earlier this year, the color experts and trendsetters at PANTONE announced that Emerald is the official hue of 2013. Look for this color to be everywhere from the runways of Paris to the Home Depot down the block. But, if you're not quite ready to splurge on a new outfit or redecorate your house, our jewelry makes it easy to incorporate a pop of emerald in your look. Continue reading →

One of the most common questions we get is “how do I clean my silver?” First, let’s understand why your silver loses its luster. The dull dark color (tarnish) that starts to appear on your silver is a completely natural process caused by the outermost layers of the metal being exposed to oxygen and/or other chemicals. Unlike a rusty piece of metal that is actually destroyed and corroded, tarnished metal can be restored completely with a proper cleaning. The tarnish is only on the surface and does not damage the metal. Continue reading →