The Journal · Topic
Antique & Vintage Engagement Rings
Everything we tell clients before they buy an antique engagement ring: cuts, settings, eras, budgets, resizing and the questions a dealer should answer.
Emeralds in Antique Jewelry: Oil, Jardin, and Fair Expectations
Almost every emerald you will ever see has been oiled, and that is normal. What jardin means, why emeralds are brittle despite...
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Antique Sapphires: Ceylon, Kashmir, and What “Unheated” Really Means
Origin and heat treatment move sapphire prices more than colour does. What Kashmir, Ceylon and Burma actually mean, why unheated stones command...
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Cluster Rings: From Victorian Daisies to Edwardian Coronets
A cluster ring is not a halo. It is a group of stones designed to read as one jewel — the oldest...
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Antique Cushion vs Modern Cushion: Why They Look Nothing Alike
Two stones can both be called cushion cut and share almost nothing. The antique cushion and the modern cushion differ in crown,...
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Rose Cut Diamonds: The Oldest Cut Still Worn
A rose cut has no pavilion, no culet and no table — just a flat base and a dome of triangular facets....
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Gemstone Hardness: What the Mohs Scale Means for Jewelry You Actually Wear
Mohs hardness tells you which gems survive daily wear and which belong in earrings. Here's how to read the scale and choose...
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Natural vs. Lab Grown Diamonds: An Honest Comparison (and the Alternatives Worth Considering)
Natural or lab grown? The honest breakdown on cost, value, and resale — plus the antique-world alternatives that give you more stone...
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What Is a Toi et Moi Ring? The Two-Stone Design Behind 2026's Biggest Trend
Two stones, one ring, and a love story that starts with Napoleon. Here's what a toi et moi ring actually is, and...
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Old European vs. Old Mine Cut Diamonds: How Antique Cuts Compare to the Modern Brilliant
Old European, old mine, and modern brilliant cuts are three different ways of seeing light. Here's how to tell them apart —...
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