Jewelry is a serious business because we deal with high value, very personal merchandise. But sometimes, nature makes us laugh. Herewith, a natural agate geode, which when split, revealed Cookie Monster, who is apparently thousands of years old although his fur is only 47 years old. Someone offered $10,000 for this geode, which under normal circumstances, might cost around $150. Gotta love it.
Similar Posts
Now, the Good News
Last week, I sent out a client letter about Alrosa and the current government sanctions against Russian diamonds. Read it here. Today, I received notice from GIA (Gemological Institute of America) that the body will soon offer GIA Source Verify, a geographical origin notation for natural, mined diamonds that will be included on the GIA…
Put Yourself on the Gift List
We all work so hard giving time and energy to the things that matter most—our family well-being, people in desperate need from afar, our close communities, and our chosen careers, some of which intersect with the above categories. I’m preparing my latest “Who are You?” client newsletter so you’ll get the annual profile of what…
Pearl Divers of Japan: The Ama Culture
Off the coast of Okinawa, a 2000 year old culture of the Ama or free-divers is still going strong. These gutsy, fearless divers had a major role in developing the cultured pearl industry started by Mikimoto. They dove down and planted the oysters and brought them back to the surface. Amas live in tight knit…
Mixing and Matching…or just Matching
We’ve had so many conversations about whether something is “right” to wear with something else of a different color or texture. Are drop earrings too dressy? How many layering necklaces are “too much?” How many bracelets can I/ should I wear at once? Many of you tell me about Coco Chanel saying “get dressed, look…
The Love Behind Heirloom Renewal
Clients bringing heirloom pieces for renewal always tell the story behind the piece. We talk about possibilities for design and then we settle in to talk about the former owners…mother, grandmother, aunt, father, best friend… We talk about who they were in the scope of your life and in doing so, we honor that person….
Clasps: Secure or Fragile?
If you are a bracelet girl like me, you want to wear all of them all the time. Over many years, I’ve made and repaired so many bracelets I can’t even count them. The single biggest weak spot on any bracelet is the clasp, as you might figure, so I thought I’d write about the…
