Austin Bling Blog | Discussing Fine Jewelry in Austin, TX | By Calvin's Fine Jewelry

Kristina Nicole for Mothers Day!

Kristina Nicole is one of our own ‘family’ here at Calvin’s Fine Jewelry, a beautiful designer, and an even more beautiful person.

Kristina’s designs are an elegant mix of casually refined, minimalist designs, hand forged in unique natural shapes. Perfect for a Mother’s Day present is her rainbow of Briolette pendants with a hand forged Argentium Silver pendant added as a frame for the birthstones. These are strung on a cable chain that adjusts from 16 to 18 inches in length, to fit any neckline.

Kristina’s choice of Argentium Silver is also an earth friendly choice; it is reclaimed silver…re-using nature’s gifts to help keep our precious Texas green. Another advantage of the fine silver is its anti-tarnishing properties, due to the process that makes it purer than traditional sterling and a brighter white; it also keeps its beautiful luster longer.

All of Kristina’s designs are made to be interchangeable, worn together or separately, and are sure to garner compliments from everyone. Stop in and see her wonderful works of art!

 

 

To visit Kristina Nicole Designs

 

Introducing the Wisteria Collection

 

Jackie Smith has brought together a new collection for Calvin’s Fine Jewelry inspired by her love of design, shapes and textures:  and her Grandmother!   Jackie fondly remembers her Grandmother’s home, the beautiful and fragrant Wisteria Vines with their opulent blooms in clusters of luscious lavenders and purples ushering in spring and summer. 

Her designs are reminiscent of the Edwardian Age…. gorgeous diamonds set in simple, yet elegant pierced filigree elements blending metals and gems seamlessly.   The series is feminine, timeless and collectible. 

We are featuring her beautiful designs in the store … ready for Mother’s Day gift giving:  special rings, earrings and pendants for the special Lady in your life! 

   

 

Shop her collection here: Wisteria Collection

 

 

Precious vs. Semi-Precious

Precious vs. Semi-Precious

The Gemological Institute of America (GIA)  decided in the 1980’s that the terms ‘precious’ and ‘semi-precious’ were inaccurate terminology and no longer a legitimate label to categorize gemstones.  Originally the precious label was attached only to the “big four”:  Diamond, Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald.  The classifications were based on availability only:  Amethyst is far more plentiful around the globe than Emerald and therefore it was determined as less valuable or semi-precious.  The decision was ultimately made to drop the terms by considering price, availability, and quality ….a beautiful, deep purple Amethyst could be far more expensive than a heavily included, poor quality Emerald ….and more desirable!  But the terms have stuck, in spite of the determination of the GIA and other authorities in the Gem and Jewelry world to do away with the demarcations.    

At Calvin’s we prefer to not label our gorgeous gems as anything other than precious!   

Amethyst vs. Emerald

Updating a Classic

 

When Chrissie Evert had her diamond bracelet fall off her wrist during a tennis match in 1987, a name for the ‘inline’ style of setting for bracelets was born…..Tennis Bracelet.  And there it has stuck.  It used to refer to just the straight line style, but somehow just became synonymous with all diamond bracelets.  The straight line bracelet has been a jewelry staple for decades now, and finally some trendy jewelry designers are stepping out and making beautiful, graceful designs to spark the imagination and start ladies across Texas, once again, wanting to grace their wrist with a diamond bracelet.  Single or stacked, they are beautiful!!!

 

 

What to do with a bunch of old gold chain?

Need a few ideas of what to do with old chains that are hanging around?  If they are sentimental, make them into something else.  An eclectic look is fashionable at the moment….mixing colors, textures and karats of gold together to make an interesting, multi strand necklace or bracelet.  The clasp can be simple or exotic, with colored stones set in it to make the ‘new’ jewelry pop with eye appeal.   Gone are the old rules of only wearing one color of jewelry at a time….mixing and matching, wearing your favorite pieces together is much more of a statement of personal style and confidence.  Stacks of bracelets, several ropes of pearls worn together , large earrings,  fun jewelry mixed with precious or vintage pieces all go together to make your look  your own. 

If you really do not have any use for broken chains and single earrings that are just collecting dust in the back of your jewelry box, bring them in to our store on Tuesdays ….we have a buyer for your old gold, here from 11am to 3pm…. and then take that windfall cash and buy a new piece of jewelry from Calvin’s Fine Jewelry that will become your favorite ‘go to’ piece for the start of all your summer looks. 

 

Pearls

 

Pearls are one of the oldest and most cherished gems, creating histories, sonnets, poems and spiritual parables.  Ancient Greeks believed them to be the tears of Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, and Egyptians believed them to be associated with Isis, the Goddess of healing and life.  No other gem has captivated our fascination and admiration like the pearl, and they have been treasured by people around the world.   Whether in strands or a single perfect gem, they invoke beauty, refinement and style and are favorites for brides and bridesmaids to wear for a wedding. 

 Pearls come in eight basic shapes: round, semi-round, button, drop, pear, oval, baroque, and circled. Perfectly round pearls are the rarest and most valuable shape.   Almost all pearls are a product of ‘culturing’, meaning that an oyster is ‘nucleated’ with a bead or piece of mantle tissue by hand, then put back in the water for several years to allow the oyster to coat the foreign object with its special luster (nacre) and produce a pearl.   

Pearls that are grown in cold salt water oysters are called Akoya pearls.  The largest of pearls are South Sea and Tahitian pearls that come in a variety of colors and are grown in oysters that are the size of dinner plates.  They are grown in the warmer waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, around Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines.  There are some farms in the Burma and Kuri Bay areas.   All others that are grown in lakes, rivers and streams are termed Freshwater and used to have the ‘rice crispy’ texture but with new techniques are getting rounder and rounder in appearance. 

China is the largest producer of cultured pearls in the world, both salt water and fresh water.   Japan remains the largest clearing house for salt water pearls, sorting, grading and stringing the precious gems and sending them out across the globe.  Once you see a beautiful pearl, you will be under the spell of their special luster and iridescence too. 

 

Diamond Heist of the Century

The Antwerp Diamond Center was one of the most secure buildings in the world. With hundreds of millions of dollars worth of diamonds stored in its subterranean vault, it had to be. Located in the heart of Belgium’s ultra-secure Diamond District, it benefited from two police stations, armed patrols, extensive video surveillance, and vehicle barriers securing an area where 80 percent of the world’s diamonds traded hands.

But on February 15, 2003, a band of skilled Italian thieves — fronted by the charming Leonardo Notarbartolo, who spent over two years clandestinely casing the building — defeated every one of the Diamond Center's defenses and made off with a record amount:  it is estimated his team made away with nearly half a billion dollars in diamonds, cash and other valuables.

The thieves did it with stealth and smarts; no one was hurt or even threatened during what was quickly labeled the largest diamond heist in history. The bandits — members of a group of professional thieves known as The School of Turin — used cunning in lieu of violence, successfully evading security cameras, thwarting an array of electronic sensors, and penetrating a vault protected by a double-locked foot-thick steel door.

Even when the police zeroed in on who committed the crime, how it was done remained a mystery.  Maybe the imagination of Leonardo was spurred by movies of high tech heists that Hollywood has made a career of screening for our entertainment. 

 

 

April Birthstone - Diamond!

 

April is the fourth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian Calendars, and one of four months with a length of 30  days.  It also is the lucky month that has Diamond for its birthstone!

 The ancient folk of India and those of medieval Italy believed diamonds were thunderbolts that became lodged into the earth. Only a thunderbolt could cut into glass and other metals, thus the diamond became the Queen of the gems.

The tradition of giving a diamond engagement ring is traced back to 1477, when Archduke Maximilian of Austria presented Mary of Burgundy with a simple gold band set with a diamond representing pure, fiery beauty. He placed it on the third finger of her left hand, believing it contained a vein that coursed directly to his beloved's heart. Over time, this royal tradition gained popularity around the world. 

Diamond is the hardest natural substance, a perfect 10 on the Moh’s scale of hardness, but it is brittle, and can chip, break or abrade.  Diamonds come in a variety of colors, but the perfect crystal white, or colorless, is the most popular and the first choice for engagement rings and jewelry around the world.  It is the most durable of stones, so it lasts a lifetime, and beyond, getting passed down through generations.  Because of this durability, it has come to symbolize everlasting love and a lifetime of commitment, so, in a way a diamond is the "thunderbolt" of love that binds lovers forever. There is something very romantic in that.

                                         

                                        Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor

                                            Painted by Albrecht Durer 1519

Jewelry Maintenance for our Valued Customers

Just as you maintain your home, car and yard, it is necessary to maintain your jewelry to get years of wear and enjoyment from it. With spring here you should be preparing for a more active life style.  Here are some basic maintenance tips:

1. Have your jewelry checked and cleaned at least three to four times a year.  Dirt, lotion and makeup act like sandpaper on precious metals and stones.  We will clean and check all pieces from Calvin’s at no charge.
2. Be careful not to be excessively rough while wearing your fine jewelry. Be aware when you catch or snag your jewelry, and check it for damage.  Remove your jewelry while moving furniture, doing yard work or heavy lifting. Do not grip tools while wearing rings. At the very least wear a pair of heavy leather gloves. 
3. When you notice a loose stone, immediately have it tightened. The edges of most stones are harder than gold or platinum and when loose will spin and cut themselves out of their prongs.
4. Harsh chemicals can seriously damage your fine jewelry, which includes bleach, chlorine and other kinds of household and gardening agents.  Occasional swimming or hot tubs are fine, but if you are a regular swimmer it is best to remove your jewelry first. 

Remember that your jewelry is precious and to treat it gently:  if you were wearing a dress or suit that was as expensive as your engagement ring….when would you change to ‘casual’ clothes and store the ‘good’ clothing in a closet?  

When in doubt please feel free to call or come in and ask! 

                               

 

How can I ensure that I am buying conflict-free diamonds?

All diamonds sold at Calvin's are Kimberley Process approved.We are proud to be a part of the movement that is supporting freedom and human rights around the world. Although diamonds are some of the most precious stones produced on earth, nothing is more precious than life. The diamonds we sell have been purchased from sources not involved in funding conflict and in compliance with United Nations resolutions. We guarantee that these diamonds are conflict-free, based on personal knowledge and/or written guarantees provided by the supplier of these diamonds.

                                   

                                        Rough Diamond Crystal