NEWS FROM JFC

Latest news from JFC:

On June 6, 2010, Jewelers for Children, the industry's charity, held the 12^th We announced intentions to donate $ 3 million to our charity partners in the year ahead. We also recognized Ed Hrabak, senior vice president and general merchandise manager at Sterling, Inc., and Jonathan Goldman, CEO of Frederick Goldman, Inc., and the first board chair for Jewelers for Children starting in 1999. The evening also included the first JFC Children's Humanitarian Awards presented to former model Kathy Ireland and actress Jaime Pressly for their support of causes to benefit children in need. Annual Facets of Hope event in Las Vegas during the JCK Show.

JFC intends to distribute $ 600,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, to continue the multi-year funding of a research project on the immune systems in children being treated for cancer; $ 600,000 to the National CASA Association to fund the Champions for Abused Children program; $ 600,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America to grant wishes in all 50 states; $ 530,000 to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to fund prevention and treatment programs in Africa; $ 470,235 to Autism Speaks to fund the Toddler Treatment Network; $ 50,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation International to continue funding wishes in India; and $ 25,000 to the Santa-America Fund to fund recruitment and training efforts for volunteer Santa's and Elves.

The theme for the evening was "It's All About the Kids" and the young people representing our charity partners presented the program.

Jewels Quest is proud to be part of JFC. Donating procedes from watch batteries to various organizations helping children in need. Our program is called Change a watch battery, change a childs life.

The Best Gemstone Book of Healing!

Through out the ages, many have recognized the value of the healing properties of gemstones, their magic and beauty aside, they guard the wearer against harm and bring amazing and powerful effects such as positive energy and serenity. The ancients from Egypt to the Jewish priest and Chinese rulers among others, understood this and used gemstones in their ceremonies. Today wearing gemstones is a way to promote health, and all around well being. Boost your energy level, attract wealth, liven your love life, gemstone are not only worn for their beauty, they are magical and speak differently to each one of us.

My personal favorite gemstone is the Aquamarine.

Over and over, I have referred to many books to learn about the different healing properties of gemstones. By far Healing Crystals and Gemstones: From Amethyst to Zircon has been my favorite. From Agate to Zircon, you get complete information about the origins of a gemstone, their properties and healing effects. Comprehensive and easy to read, not to mention priced very low for the amount of information you're getting.

June Birthstone: PEARL

Pearl Bracelet

From one of the humblest of life forms, the mollusk, comes the pearl -- a gem of unsurpassed beauty and elegance. Ancient civilizations had many stories to explain the origin of June's birthstone, such as the Greek belief that pearls were the hardened tears of joy that the goddess of love shook from her eyes as she was born from the sea. According to Arab legend, pearls were formed when oysters were lured from the depths of the ocean by the beautiful moon and then swallowed moonlit dewdrops. And the Ancient Chinese thought that these gems originated from the brains of dragons.

The scientific explanation for natural pearls is almost as mystifying as folklore. When an irritant, such as a small parasite or a fish lodges in the flesh of an oyster, mussel, or clam, a protective substance called "nacre" is produced. Over years, layer upon layer of shimmering nacre coats the intruder, creating a lustrous pearl. Natural pearls are relatively rare, so a process evolved in which a piece of shell or bead was placed inside a mollusk to stimulate the production of nacre. This results in a cultured pearl, which accounts for about 90 per cent of the pearl industry.

Divers find natural pearls in The Persian Gulf as well as in the waters off Japan, the South Pacific Islands off northern Australia, and the coasts of Panama, Venezuela, and California. Most of the cultured pearl industry is in Japanese and Australian coastal waters. These gems come in a variety of colors, from pure white to pink, yellow, gray and black. They also come in different shapes and sizes.

Pearls have been a passion and even an obsession of people throughout the ages. They have been ground up and used in cosmetics and as a medicine to treat heart and stomach conditions. Some cultures swear by pearls as an aphrodisiac. These gems have adorned crowns, clothing, and temples, and were said to be a favorite of Cleopatra.

Only those with royal status once wore pearl jewelry, but eventually these gems were seen among all classes of people. They continue to be viewed as a mark of taste and refinement as well as a symbol of purity, and they are often given to celebrate a marriage or the birth of a child. Pearls are nature's perfect gift, suitable for all ages, and elegantly worn with everything from jeans to an evening gown.

Alternate Birthstones
June has two alternate birthstones. The first is Moonstone, a type of feldspar named because of its uncanny resemblance to the iridescent sheen of the moon. Varying in color from clear to blue-white or peach, it was considered by ancient civilizations to be a sacred stone, bestowing the wearer with great spiritual understanding. Some believed that the Moonstone could even make a person invisible! Mined in Sri Lanka, Brazil, India, Madagascar, and the United States, a gift of this stone is symbolic of health and longevity.

The second alternate birthstone for June is the Alexandrite. A yellowish or brownish green in color, this gemstone has the unique characteristic of changing color to a red hue when exposed to a glowing light source, such as candlelight. Because of this quality, it has been characterized by poets as "an emerald by day, a ruby by night." Alexandrite was first discovered in Urals in 1830 but is mined today primarily in Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Brazil, Burma, Madagascar and Tanzania. It is a rare and expensive gemstone, symbolic of joy and good fortune.

source: About Birthstones

A glimpse at how we create unique jewelry pieces using CAD/CAM matrix jewelry software.

Diamond Cutting

Helping Children in Need

Jewels Quest recently joined Jewelers For Children (JFC) an industry organization which raises funds to benefit children who are the victims of catastrophic illness or life-threatening abuse and neglect. Charity partners include St-Jude Children Hospital, Make a Wish Foundation, Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and CASA among others.

As of March 2010, an official campaign will be implemented to collect funds for children in need. "Change a watch battery. Change a child's life". We will donate proceeds from watch battery sales. A canister will be placed in our store to receive donations as well.

So if you need watch battery replacement, come to Jewels Quest, or tell a friend.

A donation link is also included on our blog site.

The Anatomy of the Diamond

Conversations about a diamond will bring up such terms as table, crown, girdle, pavilion and culet. So what exactly are these?

Table: The flat top of the stone, the largest facet which is also called "face"

Crown: The upper part of the stone between the table and the girdle.

Girdle: The edge where the crown and pavilion meet. This is where usually is grasped by the prongs in a setting.

Pavilion: The part from the girdle to the bottom point of the stone.

Culet: The lowest part of the stone, the bottom point.

The Hope Diamond Specifications

The Hope Diamond

45.50 carat

25.60 x 21.78 x 12mm

Asymmetrical cushion antique brilliant.

58 facets, 2 facets on the pavilion and added facets on the girdle.

Intense fancy dark grey and blue color

Clarity grade VS1-VVS

From Kings to a revolution, a daring theft to being labeled a curse, the HOPE DIAMOND is veiled in mystery, intrigue and three centuries of history.

Is it any wonder that it is the world's most famous gem? It was even the inspiration for the "Heart of the Ocean" diamond in the movie Titanic.

The Hope Diamond at 45.52 carats isn't the largest in the world but it is the largest known deep blue diamond and is one of the rarest and most desired hues. The diamonds historical journey has added to the mystery and intrigue of the stone. More than five million people view it at the Smithsonian institution each year.

Let's start its journey:

1668: French merchant Jean-Baptiste Trevier sells a 112+ carats blue diamond from India to King Louis XIV of France.

1673: The King recuts it to a heart shape. This reduces its weight to 67 1/8 carat but improves the brilliance of the diamond.

1749: Louis XV now had the diamond, from this date it was known as the French Blue and it was set in a ceremonial piece for the order of the Golden Fleece (the piece also featured a large white diamond). It was only worn by the King.

1792: King Louis XVI gave the French Blue to Marie Antoinette. During the revolution however between September 11 to 17, the Royal Treasury was looted, gone were the crown jewels and the French blue, and for twenty years the whereabouts remained a mystery.

1872: Twenty years and two days after its disapearance, a memorandum by London jeweler John Francillon documented the presence of a 44 1/4 ct (45.5 modern metric carats) blue diamond in the possession of Daniel Eliason, a London diamond merchant. The blue diamond most likely cut from the French Blue. The person in possession of the Blue Diamond, Daniel Eliason, was established as the legal owner.

note: according to french law, the statute of limitation for any crimes committed during wartime was 20 years.

1820: The Blue Diamond was now owned by King George IV

1830 After King George IV's death, the Blue Diamond was purchased by London gem collector Henri Phillip Hope whose name it bears today.

1839 Mr Hope left the diamond to his nephew who left it to his grandson Lord Francis Hope.

1901: Lord Hope sold the diamond to Adolph Weil to pay off his debts. This London dealer soon after sold it to Joseph Frankels & Sons of New York. Then it was in the hands of Selim Habib.

1909: Habib tried to auction it but ended up selling it to CH Roserau who then sold it to Pierre Cartier.

1910: During a visit to Paris, Evalyn Walsh McLean saw the Hope Diamond but did not like the setting, while she had extravagant taste in jewelry, she ended up returning home to the United States without purchasing it. Cartier was optimistic, he changed the setting and traveled to the US, and presented it to Mrs McLean at her home. He told her that the stone was said to bring bad luck to the wearer, very well knowing that Mrs McLean believed any object that was bad luck for others was good fortune for her. His reverse psychology and sales pitch worked. She was sold and after negotiations, she purchased it for $180,000.00.

1932: Mrs Mclean often pawned the Hoe Diamond for ready cash, she also offered it to help pay the ransom for the kidnapping of Charles and Anne Morrow's baby boy.

1945: Mrs McLean dies.

1947: New York jeweler Harry Winston purchased her entire collection including the hoe Diamond.

1958: The diamond was removed from its setting and it was sent in a brown package by registered mail (insured for 1 million dollars) it arrived safely and was presented to the Smithsonian Institution in November of that year. Over five million people visit and view it today annually to this day!

The Hope Diamond Specifications

The Hope Diamond, an adventure that begun billions of years ago!

If you traveled back in time a billion years, went 150 km below the earth's surface where temperatures reach 2,192°F, withness the intense pressure from the weight of rocks and their compression, you would be part of the process of the formation of diamonds.

After residing in the heat of the underground, the diamond will make its way to the surface by way of volcanic eruptions. An intense and wild ride but the famous Blue Diamond got through the explosive journey without being shattered. Studies have shown that the blue diamond arrived in India about one bilion years ago, suspecting in the the Golconda area. It was discovered prior to 1668, the exact date is unknown but it was in 1668 when the french gem merchant Jean-Baptiste Trevier sold a 112 carat blue diamond from India to King Louis XIV. From that point in time in history begun the second wild ride of the "Hope Diamond".

The Hope Diamond Journey

The Hoop Diamond Earrings are the Champ!

Walk in a bookstore, glance at the magazine stand and see the beautiful Jenifer Lopez staring back at you - she's back!

And so are the classic hoop diamond earrings, the jewelry piece many celebrities are wearing lately. They come in many sizes, tiny pavé diamonds all around the large hoop make it glitter like star dust in the snow.

A timeless piece of jewelry, get the same look for less.

Photo: Tom Munro, styled by Joe Zee

Properties & Symbolic Associations of the Amethyst

Zodiac: Aquarius

Planet: Jupiter

Month: February

Element: Air

Flower: Lavender, Lilac and Violet

Herb: Chamomile, Sweetgrass

Oils: Patchouli and Lavender

Angel: Zadkiel

Read: List of Healing Properties

Legends of the Amethyst

Who said red

was the color

of Valentine?

Mythology and history states that the purple Amethyst is the stone of Saint Valentine (and of faithful lovers). Did you know Saint Valentine wore a cupid engraved Amethyst ring? Yes he did.

Other mythologies place the Amethyst on Egyptian soldiers going into battle as they believed this would maintain their courage and integrity.

Romans made their wine goblets out of Amethyst to protect themselves or guard them from the effect of excessive drinking. (if they just drank less - well good the Amethyst was around). And speaking of wine, the Greek word amethustos means "not to be drunk", the Greeks too believed this gemstone would help them against drunkenness. So next time you're headed to a bar, carry or wear an Amethyst!

In the Roman Catholic Church, Amethyst was associated with the Bishops who wore an amethyst ring, the gem represented purity. It is also the popular gem for Buddist prayer beads, the gemstone of the Buddha.

Read: Properties and symbolic associations of Amethyst

Read: February's Birthstone

Don't Forget to print out your Gift Card - Happy Valentine's!

List of Healing Properties of Amethyst

Here are a few of the problems the Amethyst is believed to sooth and even heal:

1. Treats insomnia

2. Reduces bruising and injuries

3. Treats hearing disorders

4. Cleanses the blood

5. Relieves physical, emotional and psychological pain

6. Relieves stress

7. Helps focus

8. Boosts production of hormones

9. Helps the healing of lung diseases and respitory problems

10. Balances body mind and soul

February's Birthstone: Amethyst

February's Birthstone, the Amethyst

Color purple, the color of royalty and the mystical color of Amethyst and both color and gem have extremely powerful and spiritual vibration. The Amethyst a purple variety of quartz, is the gemstone of choice for psychics as it can take you to higher states of consciousness.

It is also attributed to strong healing and cleansing of body, mind and soul. If you're feeling scattered, Amethyst will help you refocus, and bring you spiritual insights and a better ability in decision making.

The most protective of all crystals, the Amethyst is known as the all-healer. Are you having problems getting a good night sleep, or suffering headaches lately? Wearing an Amethyst while sleeping can help you rest. It would be a wonderful gemstone to take along to work, it will sooth you and guard you against anxiety, anger and impatience. If your daily tasks are overwhelming you at work, the Amethyst will be the gemstone to sooth you. Place an Amethyst on your computer table to avoid eye strain.

Indeed the healing properties of the Amethyst are many. A beautiful crystal one should appreciate.

Shown here: 14K white gold ring. Center stone is a large oval amethyst.

List of healing properties of the Amethyst

What is a Diamond?

The diamond is a plain, crystallized carbon. This crystallized form, brilliance and its hardness is what makes it highly prized and desirable. The colorless (transparent white) diamond is the most popular, however they do occur in other colors, usually pastel. These are called Fancy Diamonds. The rarer colors are pink, light blue and green and most expensive.

One of the most important sources of diamonds is also one of the earliest known sources: India. Discovery of diamonds in Brazil took place in 18th century while in Africa it was in the 19th century. The 20th century brought many other sources such as Russia, Australia and Canada.

Take the Gamble out of Buying a Diamond.

A qualified jeweler has scientific training and a wealth of practical experience; and can provide the consumer with far greater information. We always try to educate our customers so they can learn to judge a diamond and know its critical factors which are the four C's: color, clarity, cut and carat.

We strongly suggest spending time to ask the questions before making the purchase but you've got to know what questions to ask, here are five:

1. What is the color I want?

2. What shape would I like my stone to be?

3. Is the stone I've chosen lively?

4. Am I excited by it?

5. Can I afford it, does it fit my budget?

Once you've narrowed these top five, you're then ready to examine the stones that fit your request.

Diamonds Dazzle your Eyes and Delight your Ears.

Sorry Neil, this post isn't quite about you, though I do enjoy "I am, I said" occasionally. But what you are not is a diamond, you know the one Shirley Bassey sings about.

Today, with the advance technology you may soon want to hear what your diamond stone sounds like. Yes, you heard me. It is now possible to translate light wave patterns into sound waves, and each diamond has a unique pattern that creates a unique sound. World renowned diamond cutter Gabi Tolkowsky* pioneered this new innovation called "diamond melody". At a conference, he once demonstrated it by playing a CD of abstract sounds that filled the room with random, yet beautiful melody, he played a couple of tracks of this other-worldly new age sound and then announced the composers: two diamonds!

One day you may go to your local jeweler and select a diamond not only for its visual properties but also for its unique sound, now how cool is that!

* Cousin of Marcel Tolkowsky who developped the "ideal cut".

The Magic of Diamonds

Diamonds were first discovered in India thousands of years ago, and since have been one of the world's most coveted gem in history. For a long time diamonds were only known to kings, today they remain still a substance that has great value and desired by many. The word diamond comes from the Greek adamas, in Roman it was called diamas meaning "the unconquerable". How strange then to see diamonds to be the ultimate gift a woman is given by the lover who wishes to conquer her heart.

Diamonds are indeed magical, when your eyes catch a glimpse of its beauty, you can't help but admire it. When clustered together on a jewelry piece, these bright little gems fascinate and make you gasp. Legends of the diamonds are many. Beliefs of their healing and protective powers passed on from generation to generation through out the centuries. The diamond was thought to protect the wearer from fire, illness, and thieves. (Thieves? Diamond jewelry should be the one thing you leave behind in a safe today when traveling abroad!). Ancient astrologers associated the diamond to Aries the ram and believed to bring strength of mind to those born under this sign. (Feb 19-March 20). Every culture attributed different unique properties to it. For instance Romans would wear diamond on their left arm for bravery and victory in battle, while Hindus classed diamonds and their magical properties according to their color. Diamonds come in every color of the rainbow and a variety of shapes.

Fearlessness, bravery and courage, invincibility, and superior strength believed to be gained by wearing diamonds are just a few of the magical powers attributed to diamonds. But there still is a little catch, it was also believed that its powers would only work if the diamond was found naturally, or, when given as a pledge of love and friendship; now here we finally understand the reason for its strong presence in engagement rings.

Why Platinum?

So you're shopping for an engagement ring or maybe you're looking to upgrade the look of your existing ring. You hear many people say platinum is a stronger and tougher metal than gold. The truth is, yes it is. However this doesn't mean it is scratch proof, in fact it scratches more easily. Its heavy density will make the piece heavier, and since cost is by weight it will also be costlier than gold. Platinum is more expensive as it is nearly used in its purest form with only 5-10% of alloys, something to keep in mind. It is also the metal of choice for very delicately constructed pieces, since it is a harder metal, it will ensure that the stones will be held securely. When the design of a ring doesn't have a fragile construction, you might as well go for white gold.

Another important factor why platinum could be the right choice for you is if you have allergy to gold. Well no one can really be allergic to this eternal metal which is gold, it is the whitening agent (nickel) in the alloys mixed with the gold that can cause sensitivity to some people. The small amount of allows added to platinum will be another form of platinum group metal.

One great reason to choose platinum over white gold is that its native color is white, unlike the gold which receives its whiteness from the added alloys and with time will need re-polishing and re-dipping to regain the bright white finish. Platinum also isn't as white as the gold, somewhat grey white, this flatters the diamonds making them that much brighter, even color gemstones shine. The color grey will always enhance the color it accompanies, even in clothing; wear grey pants with a fushia top and that top's color will be brighter.

When ordering a platinum piece, keep in mind that platinum melts at higher temperatures and requires different tools and special skills and most often will take longer to create.

Overall, platinum is a metal that demands better skilled smiths and must be done right from the get go, unlike gold, it is very difficult to correct platinum if there are issues in the design. Therefore, platinum jewelry is made sure to be made perfectly in the first place and tends to be more "exclusive".

Hope this helps in your decision, I personally like my gold, the eternal metal, but there's something to be said about platinum isn't there?

The Key to Her Heart

The key to her heart comes in white diamonds.

Shown here a custom made key in white gold with antique finish. The key was first drawn, inspired by the many shapes of hearts, it was then rendered in a 3D computer software for perfect lines and curves. The outcome is a detailed model which is cast in gold and set in brilliant round diamonds, finally hand polished to a perfect shine.

It is an enchanting piece of jewelry, one that can become an heirloom. If you wish to add different stones, we can. Or even if you need the key shape to be more customized to a particular style you like, we can make it. The beauty of custom work is that we can turn your own vision into reality.

Energize your sex life -with garnets, January's birthstone.

Garnet Dangle Earrings:

Here's some history about January's birthstone, the garnet. In antiquity it was famous for its inner sparkle, and the most famous garnet of all was called "wise one" decorating the crown of German emperor in 912-973. Also it was often found decorating the weapons of nights and warriors.

In Indian mythology garnet is known as "Kundalini fire" which is that sensation beginning at the base of your spine and rising rapidly upwards, with a sudden surge of energy. The rise of kundalini energy is also called "the Serpentine Fire". (more about Kundalini Fire).

Legend says that garnet gives wisdom to the wearer but when it comes to its healing properties, garnet is said to strengthen blood circulation and the heart, and if that doesn't help energize your sex life, well... There's always magic, mystics believed garnet had magical powers and could brighten dark souls and bring hope.

This gemstone is found in India, Africa, Australia, Mohemia, Canada and is best known in the color red, but it also comes in dark red, rust red, yellow, green and black. It isn't a very hard stone, ranging 7 to 7.5 on the mohs scale.

Although garnet is January's official birthstone, it is particularly good for those born under the astrological sign of Aries and Scorpio.

If you own a garnet, don't forget to recharge it by placing it in the sun!