PRESS RELEASE

Jewels Quest Receives 2009 Best of Thousand Oaks Award

WASHINGTON D.C., June 8, 2009 -- Jewels Quest has been selected for the 2009 Best of Thousand Oaks Award in the Jewelry Stores category by the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA).

The USCA "Best of Local Business" Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2009 USCA Award Program focused on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the USCA and data provided by third parties.

About U.S. Commerce Association (USCA)

U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) is a Washington D.C. based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns, large and small, across America. The purpose of USCA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.

The USCA was established to recognize the best of local businesses in their community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations, chambers of commerce and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to be an advocate for small and medium size businesses and business entrepreneurs across America.

SOURCE: U.S. Commerce Association

CONTACT:
U.S. Commerce Association
Email: PublicRelations@us-ca.org
URL: http://www.us-ca.org

Sapphire is the Birthstone of September

From its capacity to bring mental clarity, reducing fevers and depression, guarding you from danger to taking away long-standing misfortunes; this precious gemstone has been given many duties such as representing the planet Saturn known for regular gains, bring longevity, and relief from the chaos of professional ups and downs.

Did I get your attention?

Sapphire is September's birthstone. Also the gemstone of Virgo. Sapphire will always maintain second most popular stone after the diamond. It belongs to the corundum group (aluminum oxide) with hardness that is only surpassed by the diamond. Because of its hardness (9 on the moh scale), sapphires are easy to care for, and very tough.

Sapphire comes from the Greek word sappheirios which means blue. There are many legends surrounding sapphires; for instance, in ancient Persia, they called sapphires "Celestial Gemstone", because they believed earth stood on a giant sapphire and the reflection of it colored the sky. There are also stories of lovers giving sapphires to their partner believing that the gemstone would no longer shine if there was unfaithfulness on the part of the wearer. Sapphire was also chosen for kings and high priests. And the prominent gemstone in the British Crown Jewels.

As with any gemstone, sapphire's value will be determined by its color, the rich blue (but not too dark) will be the highest prized. But sapphires don't have to be blue to be beautiful, they also come in other colors such as pink, yellow, and colorless. In fact in the corundum group you will find many colors, except red, that's what we call Ruby. But mainly when one seeks out a sapphire, that perfect blue is the target.

Sapphires are found in Kashmir, Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Australia, Madagascar and also in the US. Given usually on the 5th and 45th anniversary. Symbol of fidelity, honesty and loyalty makes the sapphire a popular choice for engagement rings, promise rings and bridal jewelry. When you wear a Sapphire, you'll know that you are wearing one of the most beautiful and prized gemstones.

FIND OUT OTHER INTERESTING STORIES ABOUT SAPPHIRE ON OUR FACEBOOK FAN PAGE!

Gone are the days of brand jewelry

Often customers will come in and ask for such and such name brand diamond, we don't carry branded diamonds and therefore we first try to understand why exactly they are focused on that particular brand, then we assure them that we can get the same diamond that is equally good.

Branded diamonds will cost more, after all they have a name and a whole lot invested in big marketing campaigns and advertising, and yes, they are laser inscribed. is that enough to pay more? Diamonds come in various clarity grades, color and cuts, you will eventually shop according to your budget. Whether they are branded or not, when you get a VVS clarity, D color (or colorless) and Ideal cut diamond, you are getting a great stone.

In reality, it all comes down to trust. People trust the brand they might be used to, and they are right to aim for the brand name when shopping in large mall jewelry stores. But they are paying for it. As an independent jeweler, we prefer to offer the non-branded merchandize at a far better value, and work hard to earn the customers trust. Once you have found that jeweler you are comfortable working with, and trust, you no longer need to misplace that trust in branding. You will save money and be better off buying locally.

Your diamond will turn heads either way. So why pay more? You can get equally quality stones buying generic diamonds. The important factor is the certification of that diamond (GIA recommended) and that you get the best sparkle for your budget.

For more information on diamonds click here

Peridot: The BIrthstone of August

If you were born in August you're in luck as it is assumed that the semi-precious gemstone Peridot brings good luck to the wearer. If you're going through hard times, either on personal matters or financial ones, wealth and prosperity is also attached to this gemstone's powers. So if you're feeling blue, reach for the green. The bright lime green gemstone set on a ring, earrings or necklace will surely encourage you to wear outfits that will compliment the stone and liven up your spirit consequently.

The Peridot color is fresh and very appropriate to celebrate a fun and light Summer season. One of the few gemstones to occur in one color though you will see many tints, from yellow green to the most valuable dark olive green. Peridot is a relatively soft gemstone with a hardness of 6 to 7 on the Mohs scale, and therefore a better choice for pendants and earrings rather than bracelets and rings that get more easily scratched up during normal wear.

Ancient Hawaiians believed Peridot to be the tears of the Goddess Pele. In ancient Rome, Peridot was called the "evening emerald" because it didn't darken at night, both Romans and Greeks praise this gem then called Chrysolite. In medieval times, Peridot was used to decorate churches, at Cologne Cathedral in Germany, you will find over two hundred carat size stones in the Shrine of the three magi. When I think of Peridot, I think of Egypt where it was mined on the Island of Zabargad in the Red Sea. Today Peridot is mostly found in China and Sri Lanka, as well as Burma and Arizona.

So if you are an August child you should consider this often overlooked gemstone. And here's a bit FYI from Wikipedia:

Peridot crystals have been collected from some Pallasite meteorites. A famous Pallasite was offered for auction in April 2008 with a requested price of close to $ 3 million at Bonhams, but remained unsold.^[1] Peridot is the only gemstone found in meteorites.

Wax Model

Here is a wax model of a ring custom designed for customer who desired to change the setting of her center stone. We build the ring using 3D Matrix software. Once every curve, design element and overall look was approved by customer, design is sent to a milling machine directly from the computer to carve the wax model (as seen). The results are fine details and clean output. A model ready for casting. This wax model was cast in 14k gold and set in diamonds.

PS: It took over 8 hours for milling machine to create this wax.

Golden Rules for Buying Gold Jewelry

1. Know Your Karats*

The Karat mark tells you several important things.

First, that it's real gold. Buy from a reputable retailer. Buy solid or hollow. Buy rose or green or white gold. As long as it has a Karat mark and manufacturers hallmark, you know it's real.

The Karat mark also tells you the percentage of pure gold in the piece. 24K is 100% gold. Soft and somewhat easily damaged, it's not often used in gold jewelry today. Instead, gold is alloyed with other metals such as copper, silver, nickel and zinc, to give it strength and durability. (Different proportions of these alloys are what gives gold its rose, green or white colorations.)

18K is 75% gold, 14K is 58.3% gold, and 10K is 41.7% gold.*
The higher the karatage, the richer the color will be.

2. Know How to Tell When the Price is Right

Many elements determine the price on that little tag. Once you understand them, you'll be able to judge whether a particular piece of gold jewelry offers the value you're looking for.

Karats count, as you already know. Generally, the higher the karatage of the piece (that is, the percentage of pure gold in it), the higher the price.

But price is also affected by the total weight of the piece. So all else being equal, a larger, heavier piece is likely to be more expensive than a smaller, lighter one.

You can also expect to pay more for better design and construction. It makes jewelry both easier to slip on and off and more comfortable to wear.

Ornamental detailing, such as engraving or a diamond laser finish, or a special matte or florentine finish, also adds to the cost. And although nearly all gold jewelry is made with the help of special machines, some hand work is always involved. The more there is, the higher the price will be.

Now that you know the factors that increase price, here's some very good news. Through new manufacturing technology, large, dazzling pieces can be surprisingly affordable. And especially light, and comfortable to wear, too.

Ultimately, the way to make sure that you're getting the best value is to take your time shopping.

Try on various pieces. And compare karatage, craftmanship, and price before you buy.

3. Start Buying a Gold Wardrobe Now

Try thinking about gold jewelry as you would clothing. In both cases, you should start with great basic, that will give you a lot of wear and a lot of style.

To begin building your basic Gold Wardrobe, you need the following essentials: a necklace, a pair of classic button-style earring, and a pair of hoop earrings. And add -on pendants for a quick change of looks.

Choose these key pieces carefully, because you'll be wearing them so often. Try them on. Make sure they're comfortable - and that they fit well with your taste and your lifestyle, too.

Later, you'll go on from basics, adding special pieces for special occasions, for special drama, or just for joy.

- Courtesy of the World Gold Council

Monthly Blog - July

Lucky are the ladies (and men) born in the month of July! You have as birthstone one of the most highly prized gemstones. The eternal flame of the beautiful blood red Ruby will always be a symbol of everlasting love, sensual love as well as spiritual love.

Ruby comes from the variety of the mineral corundum. It is also known by ancient Hindus as the "Lord of Gems", the Greeks called it the mother of all gems, and the Romans "a flower among stones" The name Ruby comes from Latin rubeus which simply means "red". Found in Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Brazil; after the diamond, ruby along with sapphire are the hardest gemstones.

As with any gemstone, Ruby has healing properties. It promotes a stronger immune system, it is said to help people with low blood pressure, increase sexual energy and cure eye infections.

Ruby is a good luck stone for those seeking love. Symbolizing love and passion and promoting strong emotions and vitality.

Not bad having it as your birthstone is it?

The Eternal Gold

If you're going to invest your money in something it might as well be the eternal gold. Gold jewelry will always be in style, whether in white, yellow or rose. With the price of gold rising, it might be tempting to look at silver jewelry as it is far more affordable but if you have the money, buy gold. In the long run it is the wiser choice.

When you know more about this precious metal, you appreciate your gold treasures even more, here is a brief history of the eternal gold http://bit.ly/BFVGm

PROMOTE PEACE!

These are hard times with the economic situation, the fear and the bigotry that is on the rise, yes the news is bombarded by such unfortunate occurrences that threaten peace in our country, and all around the world. But Peace will always prevail as long as good people stand up for it. Small gestures of goodwill or a helping hand can ignite people's heart and every kind smile we give can be contagious. If each of us does a little act of kindness each day, we perpetuate love and peace.

We can also promote peace through the jewelry we wear and display. I recently ran into a customer who was wearing a peace pendant we had specially made for her; and even though that day I was feeling unsettled having just heard the shooting at the Holocaust Museum, the symbol of peace around her neck reminded me that for every bad seed in the world there are 100 great souls. 

As for a cleaner earth, you can also do your part where jewelry is concerned by wearing pieces that are custom made by old jewelry you bring in and recycle. 

So when it comes to jewelry, we can use it to be promoters of peace and of a cleaner earth. At Jewels Quest, we specialize in custom design of any kind. We can help you express yourself with the beautiful yet meaningful jewelry you wear and display.

Let your jewelry sparkle hope in others.

LET IT SHINE AGAIN!

The next best thing after coming into our store to get your dull diamond jewelry or silver jewelry sparkling again, is Jewel Jet Steamer 

What you need to know before you buy a Diamond.

"It's important to do your homework before purchasing a diamond" my husband will inform his customers when they walk into our family owned jewelry store in Thousand Oaks California. He will give an hour long of advice that helps the customer be less intimidated by this very important purchase they are considering. Knowing the four C's of Diamond is a good basic start.

So what are the 4 C's?

The 4 C's as known through out the industry are: cut, clarity, color and of course carat (the weight). You might want a great clarity and a smaller carat size, or you're willing to sacrifice the color to have the larger rock. Maybe you want perfection on all levels! Then you will pay a higher price. For example, often we will recommend a 1.90ct stone over a 2.0ct as the size difference will not show that much but the price will significantly be lesser even if the quality grade of the rest of the "c's" remain the same. So there is a lot to consider indeed. Taking the time to sit with your jeweler to discuss your options is important and your local jeweler will more likely be better informed than the mall retail store you might consider at first. So do shop around.

Below is a chart most jewelers carry explaining the four properties of the diamond:

1) Cut: this is the shape of the stone, shapes come in ( round, oval, square, pear, marquise, cushion, emerald, trillion, baguette ). The most popular shapes overall are the round and square also known as princess cut. Our personal experience at Jewels Quest lately has been a stronger preference for the cushion cut. Cut also refers to the facets of a diamond, the amount of facets determines how much light is reflected. The more facets, the more light. We always desire more sparkle and therefore the cut and facets are often a very important consideration but not as important as the "clarity grade".

2) Clarity: is the amount of blemishes found in the diamond. The grading ranges from flawless (perfect) to I (included). The cost of a diamond is strongly dependant on the clarity grade.

Below is a chart used in the industry, you can find this chart on any jewelry site or at your local jeweler:

Flawless: perfect inside and out, no inclusions, no blemishes.

Internally Flawless: minor blemishes on the outside

V-VS1, V-VS2: very small inclusions. 
V VS1 inclusions can only be seen through the pavilion. 
V VS2 inclusions are more visible.

VS1, VS2: small inclusions. 
VS1 most common choice because inclusions are harder to see than VS2.

I1, I2, I3: these have inclusions which are visible to the naked eye.

3) Color: most diamonds will have slight yellowish tint when under a magnifying glass, but to the naked eye will appear white or colorless. Increasing the color grade will increase the value of your diamond. The color grading goes from D (most valuable) to J and beyond. Most sold diamonds will range G-H.

4) Carat: is the size and weight of your stone. 
The larger the carat the more expensive the stone.

Now you have a basic knowledge of the four main properties of diamonds. You can better make a decision what is most important for you. The size or the flawlessness or the perfect color? Usually customers will look for a balance of all these properties according to their budget, and a budget will be the very first thing you should determine and then go see your local jeweler.

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