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The Practical Blog

May 2017
- May 22, 2017 Kristjan Eyjolfsson Brooch Visits the Chelsea Flower Show Once Again May 22, 2017
April 2017
- Apr 21, 2017 Oscar Heyman: The Jewelers' Jeweler Apr 21, 2017
- Apr 5, 2017 Jewels Shine at the Royal Opera House in London Apr 5, 2017
March 2017
- Mar 20, 2017 Pantone Spring 2017 Mar 20, 2017
October 2016
- Oct 27, 2016 Web of Light Oct 27, 2016
- Oct 25, 2016 Pantone's Fall 2016 Colors Oct 25, 2016
September 2016
- Sep 18, 2016 Happy Birthday Tiffany & Co. Sep 18, 2016
August 2016
- Aug 17, 2016 Pearls and Pools: Olympic Swimmer Kathleen Baker Aug 17, 2016
- Aug 17, 2016 FTC to Crack Down on Influencer Posts Aug 17, 2016
- Aug 12, 2016 Japanese Emperor Akihito Indicates He Is Ready to Abdicate Aug 12, 2016
- Aug 6, 2016 Happy Birthday Lucy Aug 6, 2016
July 2016
- Jul 15, 2016 Solid Gold Godzilla Hits the Market Jul 15, 2016
- Jul 14, 2016 Bastille Day Jul 14, 2016
June 2016
- Jun 13, 2016 Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday Jewelry Jun 13, 2016
April 2016
- Apr 19, 2016 Trapiche Emerald Ring: Reverend Chauncy Hare Townshend Apr 19, 2016
March 2016
- Mar 24, 2016 Announcement: Youtube Mar 24, 2016
- Mar 10, 2016 Pantone's Spring 2016 Colors Mar 10, 2016
- Mar 8, 2016 Jewelry that Speaks Volumes: Madeleine Albright Mar 8, 2016
February 2016
- Feb 22, 2016 Instagram Giveaway! Feb 22, 2016
- Feb 7, 2016 How do you wear a torc? From the British Museum Feb 7, 2016
- Feb 5, 2016 Computer Geek Chic Feb 5, 2016
January 2016
- Jan 13, 2016 Opals and Teeth Jan 13, 2016
December 2015
- Dec 21, 2015 Embracing The Blues Dec 21, 2015
- Dec 8, 2015 Go Bold this Holiday Season Dec 8, 2015
November 2015
- Nov 24, 2015 Some of My Favorite Things Nov 24, 2015
- Nov 19, 2015 Alas Poor Yorick... Nov 19, 2015
October 2015
- Oct 28, 2015 Leave them wanting more Oct 28, 2015
- Oct 6, 2015 Cuddle up To Fall Gemstones Oct 6, 2015
September 2015
- Sep 4, 2015 Star Wars Official Jewelry Sep 4, 2015
June 2015
- Jun 5, 2015 The Diamond Plant Jun 5, 2015
May 2015
- May 14, 2015 Sparkling Times at Crater Of Diamonds May 14, 2015
- May 10, 2015 Happy Mother's Day May 10, 2015
- May 9, 2015 Sentimental Technology: The Galatea Momento Pearl May 9, 2015
April 2015
- Apr 29, 2015 News Apr 29, 2015
- Apr 29, 2015 Referred by the CIG Apr 29, 2015
March 2015
- Mar 12, 2015 Galatea Momento Pearl Mar 12, 2015
February 2015
- Feb 24, 2015 Menswear Jewelry Feb 24, 2015
December 2014
- Dec 5, 2014 HPHT Treatment of Diamonds Dec 5, 2014

Designers

October 2016
- Oct 28, 2016 Mark Davis: Hypercrafted Jewelry Oct 28, 2016
January 2016
- Jan 7, 2016 Björn Weckström: Lapponia and Princess Leia Jan 7, 2016
October 2015
- Oct 24, 2015 Falling for Hemmerle Oct 24, 2015
July 2015
- Jul 17, 2015 Victoire de Castellane Jul 17, 2015
June 2015
- Jun 9, 2015 Tiara Titan: Andrew Prince Jun 9, 2015

Jewelry News

May 2017
- May 14, 2017 $1.31 million Ornate Tiara Stolen From German Museum May 14, 2017
- May 12, 2017 Spring Into May Auctions May 12, 2017
April 2017
- Apr 5, 2017 The Pink Star Diamond Breaks Auction Records Apr 5, 2017
March 2017
- Mar 20, 2017 7.44-carat Diamond Found by Teen Mar 20, 2017
November 2016
- Nov 21, 2016 The Foxfire Diamond Bedazzles as Smithsonian's Newest Rock Star Nov 21, 2016
- Nov 3, 2016 Tiffany's Fall Legendary Style Campaign Nov 3, 2016
October 2016
- Oct 27, 2016 CVD Synthetic Diamond Over 5 Carats Identified by GIA Oct 27, 2016
- Oct 24, 2016 Giant Jade Stone Unearthed in Myanmar Oct 24, 2016
- Oct 10, 2016 Burmese Ruby, Jade Ban Officially Ended Oct 10, 2016
September 2016
- Sep 14, 2016 Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Gold Cuff Bracelets Wedding Gift coming up at Heritage Auctions Sep 14, 2016
- Sep 14, 2016 Diamonds Unleashed For Serena Williams Sep 14, 2016
August 2016
- Aug 30, 2016 The U.K. Bans Queen Victoria’s Coronet From Leaving British Soil Aug 30, 2016
- Aug 25, 2016 75 Pound "Good Luck Charm" May Be The World's Largest Pearl Aug 25, 2016
- Aug 1, 2016 AGTA & JA Adds Spinel as an Official Birthstone for August Aug 1, 2016
July 2016
- Jul 28, 2016 AGTA Spectrum Award Winners Jul 28, 2016
May 2016
- May 13, 2016 The Palme d'Or is set to Shine at Cannes May 13, 2016
April 2016
- Apr 19, 2016 Britain Did Not Steal the Kohinoor Diamond says Indian Government Apr 19, 2016
March 2016
- Mar 18, 2016 Shirley Temple's Blue Diamond Mar 18, 2016
February 2016
- Feb 24, 2016 Largest Blue HPHT Synthetic Diamond in GIA Lab Feb 24, 2016
- Feb 11, 2016 Hemmerle Exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt Design Triennial Feb 11, 2016
- Feb 11, 2016 Ron Arad Rocks! Feb 11, 2016
- Feb 5, 2016 Van Cleef & Arpels: Midnight Nuit Lumineuse watch Feb 5, 2016
January 2016
- Jan 14, 2016 Hemmerle Announces New Jewelry Project Jan 14, 2016
December 2015
- Dec 13, 2015 Colombia: Treasure Galleon Dec 13, 2015
- Dec 7, 2015 Harder than diamond Dec 7, 2015
November 2015
- Nov 19, 2015 History's Second Largest Diamond Found Nov 19, 2015
- Nov 19, 2015 Meteorite Skull hits Bonhams' Auction Nov 19, 2015
- Nov 4, 2015 The Victoria's Secret Fireworks Fantasy Bra Nov 4, 2015
July 2015
- Jul 15, 2015 Buyer's Beware: Fake Pink Sapphire Discovered after 16 Years Jul 15, 2015
June 2015
- Jun 29, 2015 An 8.52-carat diamond was discovered in Arkansas' Crater of Diamonds State Park Jun 29, 2015
- Jun 4, 2015 Excavation Reveals a 2,000-year-old Natural Pearl Found in Australia Jun 4, 2015
May 2015
- May 16, 2015 Doyle's New York to Hold Auction in LA May 16, 2015
- May 15, 2015 'Sunrise Ruby' Steals the Show at Sotheby's Auction May 15, 2015
- May 14, 2015 Alert from GIA Lab May 14, 2015
April 2015
- Apr 29, 2015 Sotheby's to Auction a Historic Pink Diamond Apr 29, 2015
- Apr 29, 2015 Botswana mine yields 342-carat diamond Apr 29, 2015
- Apr 28, 2015 The “Ultimate Emerald-cut Eiamond" Fetches More than $22 million Apr 28, 2015
- Apr 21, 2015 Exceptional 63.05-carat Diamond Found Apr 21, 2015
- Apr 21, 2015 The “Kimberley Purple" Apr 21, 2015
- Apr 19, 2015 Record Breaking Pearl Sale Apr 19, 2015
- Apr 10, 2015 Stunning 100.20 carat D color Diamond Apr 10, 2015
- Apr 9, 2015 GIA to Host "Dreams of Diamonds" Exhibit Apr 9, 2015
November 2014
- Nov 30, 2014 Sotheby's Breaks Record with 9.75 carat Blue Diamond Nov 30, 2014
- Nov 19, 2014 The Graff Ruby Lead the Sotheby's Geneva Sale Nov 19, 2014
- Nov 18, 2014 The Blue Belle of Asia Nov 18, 2014
October 2014
- Oct 28, 2014 AGTA Spectrum Awards 2015 Oct 28, 2014

Jewelry History

June 2017
- Jun 6, 2017 The Pearls that Built Cartier Jun 6, 2017
May 2017
- May 10, 2017 The Crown of Empress Farah Pahlavi May 10, 2017
January 2017
- Jan 20, 2017 Mary Todd Lincoln's Tiffany Seed Pearl Parure Jan 20, 2017
- Jan 19, 2017 The Danish Ruby Parure Tiara Jan 19, 2017
October 2016
- Oct 28, 2016 Not What it Seems: The Black Prince Ruby Oct 28, 2016
September 2016
- Sep 15, 2016 Jane and Cassandra Austen's Topaz Crosses Sep 15, 2016
- Sep 15, 2016 The Stuart Sapphire Sep 15, 2016
August 2016
- Aug 16, 2016 The Baden Palmette Tiara Aug 16, 2016
June 2016
- Jun 14, 2016 Empress Eugénie’s Pearl and Diamond Tiara Jun 14, 2016
May 2016
- May 24, 2016 The Grand Duchess Stephanie Emerald Parure May 24, 2016
- May 23, 2016 The Mogul Emerald May 23, 2016
April 2016
- Apr 29, 2016 The Cullinan Diamond Apr 29, 2016
- Apr 21, 2016 Queen Elizabeth II's Engagement and Wedding Rings Apr 21, 2016
- Apr 19, 2016 The Luxembourg Empire Tiara Apr 19, 2016
- Apr 13, 2016 The Olive Wreath Tiara Apr 13, 2016
- Apr 12, 2016 The Great Table Diamond: Darya-i-Noor and Noor-ul-Ain Apr 12, 2016
March 2016
- Mar 29, 2016 Queen Victoria's Orange Blossoms Mar 29, 2016
- Mar 27, 2016 The Williamson Diamond Brooch Mar 27, 2016
January 2016
- Jan 14, 2016 Iron Clad Patriotism: Berlin Iron Jan 14, 2016
December 2015
- Dec 13, 2015 Pearl Poiré Tiara and a Crown of Light Dec 13, 2015
October 2015
- Oct 30, 2015 Remember Me When I am Gone: Memento Mori Oct 30, 2015
September 2015
- Sep 30, 2015 Goodbye September Sep 30, 2015
August 2015
- Aug 4, 2015 The Swedish Cameo Tiara Aug 4, 2015
May 2015
- May 12, 2015 Antique Tiara Adoration May 12, 2015
- May 5, 2015 Marie-Louise Emerald and Diamond Diadem May 5, 2015
April 2015
- Apr 29, 2015 Women's Sufferage Apr 29, 2015
- Apr 28, 2015 Bagration Tiara Apr 28, 2015
- Apr 5, 2015 Mizpah Jewelry: a history of affection Apr 5, 2015

Gemstones

April 2017
- Apr 24, 2017 The Diamond Rainbow: Fancy Colored Diamonds Apr 24, 2017
March 2017
- Mar 20, 2017 The Colorful World of Topaz Mar 20, 2017
January 2016
- Jan 11, 2016 Bohemian Garnets Jan 11, 2016
October 2015
- Oct 16, 2015 Tantalizing Tourmaline Oct 16, 2015
September 2015
- Sep 30, 2015 The Sunset Sapphires: Padparasha Sep 30, 2015
- Sep 2, 2015 September Sapphires Sep 2, 2015
August 2015
- Aug 17, 2015 Sardonyx Aug 17, 2015
- Aug 2, 2015 Peridot Aug 2, 2015
May 2015
- May 22, 2015 Nicholas Varnay and K2 May 22, 2015
December 2014
- Dec 31, 2014 Zircon Dec 31, 2014
- Dec 17, 2014 Quartz Varieties Dec 17, 2014
- Dec 10, 2014 Turquoise: The Desert Beauty Dec 10, 2014

Gemology 101

December 2014
- Dec 31, 2014 Useful Gemological and Jewelry Terms Dec 31, 2014
- Dec 10, 2014 The Mohs Hardness Scale Dec 10, 2014

Product Reviews

April 2017
- Apr 28, 2017 GemCam: Diamond and Gemstone Photography Solution Apr 28, 2017
- Apr 5, 2017 The Gemist: Stone File App Apr 5, 2017
March 2016
- Mar 24, 2016 triple d Diamond & Gemstone Photokit Mar 24, 2016
April 2015
- Apr 29, 2015 MetDia Gem: You need this app Apr 29, 2015
March 2015
- Mar 12, 2015 Friction Ball Watch Case Back Opener From Kassoy Mar 12, 2015
February 2015
- Feb 24, 2015 Precision Measuring Loupe From Kassoy Feb 24, 2015
December 2014
- Dec 16, 2014 A Review of Richard D. Armstrong’s Photoatlas of Gemstone Spectra for Gemology Students Dec 16, 2014

Newsletters Archive

November 2016
- Nov 21, 2016 November 2016 Nov 21, 2016
October 2016
- Oct 27, 2016 October 2016 Oct 27, 2016
September 2016
- Sep 15, 2016 September 2016 Sep 15, 2016
August 2016
- Aug 19, 2016 August 2016 Aug 19, 2016
July 2016
- Jul 17, 2016 July 2016 Jul 17, 2016

Fede rings depict two hands clasped. They are named for the Italian phrase mani in fede; "hands in faith" though the imagery dates back much further to Ancient Grece and Rome. The imagery is referred to as  dextrarum iunctio in La

The delicate magic of art created by René Lalique is unique in the way it enchants the viewer. This brooch entitled "L'Anémone de Bois" is no exception.
The romance of dappled light touching the delicate flowers of the fores

Kingfisher feathers with their iridescent ultramarine to turquoise-blue hues featured in Chinese ornaments as early as the Han dynasty (206 BCE-220 CE). Kingfisher feather jewelry and ornaments were highly valued and were a way to display the wearer

Tiara with corn featuring moonstones and carved horn by English jeweler, silversmith, and teacher of jewellery making Frederick James Partridge (1877-1942).
In 1910, Partridge set up a studio in Soho London where he designed for Liberty & Co. amo

🔹Aquamarine is a blueish green, blue-green, greenish blue, blue variety of beryl (emerald is a green variety of beryl).
🔹Aquamarine's coloring is due to trace amounts of ferrous iron.
🔹Aquamarine’s name comes from the Latin for seawater an

Mrs Philip (Charlotte) Newman was a pupil of, and assistant to, the jeweler John Brogden and worked between the years of 1870 and 1910. She created Classical and Renaissance revival style jewelry and her pieces were shown with John Brogden at the Int

On this day in 1911 Jean Harlow was born.
In 1936, actor William Powell gave her a ring that is described below:
"William Powell just gave Jean Harlow a ring— a big, flashy, perfectly gorgeous ring such as any woman would give her eye-teet

"An engraved amethyst bearing the figure of a little Cupid is said to have been worn in a ring by Saint Valentine. While this may be somewhat doubtful, it is by no means impossible, for many pagan gems were worn by pious Christians, who reconcil

Gold pendant with amethysts and enameling on the back. Spain circa 1625-50. Photo courtesy of the V&A Museum

One of my favorite things about the ornate jewelry from the 16th and 17th centuries is the attention paid to the entire piece. Jewelry

This book by @jasonmudlark and @rockthemudlark is out today in the UK and is available for pre-order with a release date of April 20, 2021 stateside! I cannot wait to see all the treasures and artifacts it holds. What a wonderful way to experience hi

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Heart of Eternity
27.64 carat heart-shaped stone with a ‘vivid blue’ color.
The Heart of Eternity was one of 11 blue diamond’s unveiled in January 2000 as part of the De Beers Millennium Jewels.

Fish are often used as symbols of abundance and plenty. 🐟
Aquamarine and diamond fish brooch with sapphires and a cabochon ruby set in platinum.
Sold by Sotheby's in 2007.
Happy Lunar New Year to those celebrating!

Roman agate cameo dating to the 5th century AD set in a modern gold setting. The cameo depicts a hand pinching an ear. Above is a knotted scarf or diadem. The inscription is Greek and reads: “Remember me, your dear sweetheart, and fare well, So

Queen Mary's Amethyst Parure was a set that the jewelry loving queen purchased through auction. It included a collection of large, primarily oval-shaped, amethysts surrounded by diamonds.
Mary passed the set on to her daughter-in-law Elizabeth who n

My favorite of the thistle brooches recently made an appearance on Burn's night.
The Diamond Thistle Brooch owned by the Queen Mother dates to around WWII era. The brooch passed on to the Queen when her mother passed away in 2002. It was loaned to th

© Kathleen Marino 2015, The Practical Gemologist