Journal
The Journal
Field notes from inside the antique and estate jewelry trade — what to look for, what to walk away from.
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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How to Choose a Vintage or Antique Engagement Ring: A Collector's Guide
A collector's guide to choosing a vintage or antique engagement ring — how to read the eras, judge the diamond, check condition,...
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How to Read a Hallmark: Dating Antique Jewelry
A hallmark is a piece of jewelry telling you its own story — metal, maker, sometimes the exact year and city. How...
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How to Tell If a Gemstone Is Fine: A Collector's Field Guide
"Fine" is about the quality of the material, not the age of the piece. What separates a fine gemstone from a merely...
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How to Start an Antique Jewelry Collection (Without Getting Burned)
Most people start collecting the expensive way — they buy first and learn second. A collector's honest guide to building an antique...
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Antique vs. Vintage vs. Estate Jewelry: What's the Difference?
Three words, used as if they mean the same thing. They don't — and the difference changes what a piece is worth....
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Wear What Survived: The Story of ZHIVA
Years inside the fine antique and estate jewelry world teach you what's truly fine — and what to walk away from. That...
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