August 26, 2023
I do a lot of custom work. I love the engagement with the client and the creative experience. But have I had custom jobs that went bad or did not work? For sure! Luckily, it hasn’t happened too often. I fact, I keep track. In over four decades of doing custom work, I can say […]
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July 30, 2022
Short answer is yes…but! You can if you understand that opals while incredibly beautiful are a softer gemstone that are more prone to breaking and scratching. If you are a person that is very diligent and careful, you can wear an opal in your engagement ring. Truthfully, it is more likely you are not that […]
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February 28, 2022
I am very fortunate. I live in a great city; have all the comforts I want and have been in a great industry for just over 40 years. Lately, people that come into my store tell me how crazy the world has become. In a world where any and every subject creates a polarity of […]
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August 7, 2021
A Jeweller’s Opinion on Lab Created Diamonds I don’t want to belittle man made, artisan created or lab created diamonds (LCDs). What I would like to offer is a quick overview of these diamonds. Natural Mined Diamonds x Lab Created Diamonds First, LCDs are the same as natural diamonds in chemical composition. Do they look […]
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December 9, 2020
As many of my clients have come to know, every year in late November, I celebrate my business anniversary. When I started out in 1980, it was a peculiar start. I did not have four walls and had trouble with a fire marshal. I opened for less than half a day on the 22nd of […]
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April 3, 2020
With the Covid-19 crisis, everyone is reminded over and over to wash their hands often and many of us also use hand sanitizers. Do these hurt our jewellery? Hand sanitizers are typically one of two variations: alcohol-based and non-alcohol based. The alcohol version evaporates quickly and while it leaves behind a slight film, it won’t […]
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August 2, 2019
Somethings we see in the store are a surprise. Take a look at this ring that came in last week. The ring is only a few weeks old and the diamond is on the verge of falling out. The owner came in and said she felt her ring was catching where the diamond is. When […]
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May 17, 2019
Just a few days ago I was talking to a customer in the store about my early days in business. He told me that I should tell more people about the story I was discussing with him. The story started when my customer asked me about some radio ads that a competitor of mine was […]
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May 26, 2018
Just a week ago, I was having coffee with an artist. She paints in oil and her work is very good. At least I liked her style of art. While we were talking she asked me about my creative process. To my surprise she asked if after 38 years I make the same designs over […]
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March 4, 2017
As our store specializes in bridal jewellery, being asked for a wedding band is a frequent request. We carry a huge selection of styles: with coloured gemstones or diamonds, different colors of gold or many of the alternative metal designs such as titanium and stainless steel, to name just a few. Will all of the […]
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August 3, 2016
We have all heard how diamond is the hardest substance known to man. That is true, though Marvel Comics and Wolverine may want us to believe otherwise. So how can the hardest substance break? The issue is that most people confuse hardness with durability. Hardness measured using the Mohs scale is a test that shows […]
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April 16, 2016
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that a white ring has turned yellow or is tarnishing. Simple answer is that white gold will not turn yellow or tarnish to a yellow color under normal wear. In the market today, virtually every white gold jewellery item is rhodium plated or is an […]
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