Journal
The Journal
Field notes from inside the antique and estate jewelry trade — what to look for, what to walk away from.
How to Tell If a Bulgari B.zero1 Ring Is Real
How to tell if a Bulgari B.zero1 ring is real: the 1999 Colosseum-inspired design, BVLGARI engraving on the rims, inside marks and...
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Tanzanite vs Sapphire: How to Tell Them Apart, and Which Lasts
Tanzanite vs sapphire: zoisite from Tanzania's Merelani Hills against corundum, how to tell them apart by colour and refractive index, heat treatment,...
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Diamond Shapes Guide: Oval, Cushion, Emerald, Pear and Marquise — and Their Antique Ancestors
Diamond shapes compared: oval, cushion, emerald, Asscher, pear and marquise, with face-up size, bow-tie, length-to-width ratios, durability, colour visibility and price per...
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How Much Should You Spend on an Engagement Ring? The Strange History of the Salary Rule
How much to spend on an engagement ring: the De Beers and N.W. Ayer history behind the two months' salary rule, why...
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Why Does My Ring Turn My Finger Green or Black?
Why rings turn fingers green or black: copper in brass, plated jewelry, sterling and low-karat gold reacting with sweat and lotions, makeup...
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Alexandrite: The Colour-Change Gem of the Tsars, and How to Spot a Fake
Alexandrite explained: the colour-change chrysoberyl from the Urals, why it turns green to red, Brazilian and Sri Lankan sources, synthetic alexandrite and...
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Green Gold and Tri-Colour Gold: The Oldest Trick in the Jeweler's Book
Green gold and tri-colour gold explained: how silver and copper change the colour of gold, electrum, Georgian and Retro multi-colour jewelry, the...
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How to Tell If Tiffany Jewelry Is Real: Return to Tiffany, Tiffany T and Elsa Peretti
How to tell if Tiffany jewelry is real: the marks to look for, Return to Tiffany engraving and tag checks, Tiffany T...
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Diamond Fluorescence: Good, Bad, or Overblown?
Diamond fluorescence explained: what the blue glow is, GIA grades from None to Very Strong, what GIA research found about appearance, rare...
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