Introducing a New Fine Jewelry, Judith Ripka!

A New Jewelry Designer making its way back to Greenville, South Carolina!

Say ‘Hello!’ to the new Fine Jewelry, Judith Ripka, for our loyal and new customers in our local area. Please contact us via text or phone call at (864) 297-6458 if you have any questions regarding the new collection.


Judith Ripka – Silver, Gold and Two-Tone Jewelry

The Judith Ripka brand was founded in 1977, designing jewelry that fits seamlessly into a woman’s life, forming an enduring emotional connection. Judith started her namesake brand in New York, a city charged with glamour and energy. Her jewelry is about wishes and dreams, about keeping close to the moments that give life meaning.

Judith Ripka‘s design process champions innovation through advanced technology that delivers unparalleled quality. They craft all their jewelry in 3D, allowing them to create spellbinding organic and architectural forms. They use only the most exquisite elements to bring designs to life: 18k gold, sterling silver, diamonds, and other precious gemstones. Innovative styling and beautiful execution ensure that these luxurious statement styles bring wonder and excitement with every wear.

Judith Ripka continues to design collections that celebrate and inspire women. They create luxury with purpose through ongoing collaborations with leading female architects, designers and artists. Impeccable craftsmanship, timeless allure, luxurious materials – traits that have come to characterize the modern, sophisticated collections for which Judith Ripka is renowned.

ETERNITY COLLECTION IN STERLING SILVER AND 18K YELLOW GOLD

phillip gavriel, sterling sliver

Introducing a New Fine Jewelry, Phillip Gavriel!

Say ‘Hello!’ to the new Fine Jewelry making its way into Greenville, South Carolina!

We are introducing Phillip Gavriel for our loyal and new customers in our local area. Please contact us via text or phone call at (864) 297-6458 if you have any questions regarding the new collection.


Phillip Gavriel – Silver, Gold and Gemstone Jewelry

The Phillip Gavriel brand was created with the goal of making quality fine jewelry accessible to everyone. Coming from his family’s heritage in the jewelry industry, designer Phillip Gavriel launched the brand in 2010.  Phillip believes in giving customers value in fine jewelry without compromise.

Phillip Gavriel‘s designs are inspired by his experiences and travels across the world. Handcrafted in Italy and across the world, our pieces are classic with a contemporary approach, meant to be worn every day and remain timeless for years. In the tradition of fine jewelry, they use only precious materials in their pieces. Theyalways use 14K or 18K gold, never plated and the silver is always 925 Sterling. All gemstones and diamonds are natural and never lab-made.

Phillip Gavriel believes luxury is attainable at a fair price, and we encourage our jewelry to be worn every day. Enjoy and wear them in good health!

Italian Cable Bangles

Italian Cable Pyramid Bangle in Black Onyx or Turquoise and 3mm Cable Bangle

What Does Hand Sanitizer Do to Our Jewelry?

I am, on the best days, a germaphobe. My obsession with keeping germs at bay went into overdrive when I became a mom, and then throw in a pandemic, and I’m considering fashioning myself a hand sanitizer holster. Oh yeah, I’d wear it.

Years ago when I worked in retail, even then I had a small bottle of hand sanitizer close at hand. I remember being told that too much could eat away at the rhodium plating on my ring (I had a white gold wedding set at that time). Still, a quick rub here and there kept my hands feeling clean, and, though my ring definitely bled yellow over time, it’s hard to know if that was the reason why—or if it was just general wear and tear.

Currently, constant hand-washing and sanitizing isn’t just for peace of mind; it’s highly recommended. I don’t even want to write the word COVID-19—I swear it echoes in my dreams. But it’s keeping us prudently cleaning our hands, and in turn, cleaning our jewelry, too—at least, the pieces we wear on our fingers.

Let me please preface this by saying that yes, you should absolutely positively wash wash wash, spray spray spray, scrub scrub scrub—whatever keeps your hands clean. Jewelry is precious, that is true, but your health is all the more so.

However, given that I’m sporting a newly redesigned wedding ring, I can’t help but wonder what I might be doing to it with my constant use of chemicals. Am I causing damage?

I always take my ring off to shower, lotion, make meatballs—you get it. Not trying to gunk up the jewels here! But I almost never take it off to wash my hands, and certainly not to sanitize. I’m betting most wearers are the same.

I spoke with Shan Aithal, a metallurgist at Stuller, to get the dirt (pardon the pun) on keeping hands—and rings—clean.

“To my knowledge, hand sanitizers are not capable of removing tough, albeit thin, rhodium that’s on a piece of jewelry,” says Aithal. “Hand sanitizers come in two varieties: alcohol-based and non–alcohol-based. The ones with alcohol are benign to jewelry items as alcohol is the main germ-killing ingredient. However, non–alcohol-based ones typically use chlorine-based compounds as germicides. These chlorine compounds could react with water and release free chlorine. Free chlorine radical is very reactive and could cause tarnishing of jewelry, especially if it is made of sterling silver. Also, halogens are known to cause stress corrosion cracking in low karat golds, in particular, nickel white golds.”

It is worth noting, in this case, that the CDC recommends using alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content. As long as you’re doing that, your metal will probably stay in great shape.

Soaps, according to Aithal, are a different story. “Soaps can contain abrasives, like Lava or that orange goo dispensed near hand-washing stations, that could damage the surface of jewelry and cause rhodium to be worn away.”

What about my diamonds and sapphires? It won’t damage them, but can leave a filmy residue on the stones over time, dulling the sparkle. But it’s not permanent, and nothing a quick soak in an ultrasonic can’t fix.

“If anything, people should be cleaning their jewelry more,” says Susi Smither, founder of The Rock Hound. “Think of all that horrid buildup of crud under rings and behind the setting of claw-set earrings. Hand sanitizer kills the baddies then evaporates fast—this shouldn’t have any detrimental effects on your gemstones, even materials such as gemstones and pearls. If you’re worried, at the end of the day give them a rinse and dry when you get home.”

Peggy Grosz, senior vice president at Assael, suggests erring more on the side of caution when it comes to pearls. “Sanitized skin should not come into contact with your pearls until completely dry and evaporated—wait about five minutes before putting on your pearls,” says Grosz. “As with perfumes and hairspray, the alcohol in the hand sanitizer can change the surface of the pearl, the two noticeable differences being a loss of luster and a change in color—white pearls, for example, will become yellowed if repeatedly exposed to such chemicals. Pearl rings should be removed when applying hand sanitizer, but because they have a mounting which separates them from direct contact with the chemicals, it is safe to put rings back on after a few minutes.”

Bottom line? Most, if not all, jewelry will be just fine, and of course you don’t want to discourage your customers from prioritizing their health. But it is a good idea to arm them with this information, perhaps a little extra bottle of ring cleaner, and a welcome back to the store to have their jewels cleaned professionally, regularly.

Article Provided by: JCK The Industry Authority

Fine Jewelry, Jewelry, Roberto Coin, Tirisi Moda, Leo Pizzo, Chimento, Rembrandt Charms, Benchmark, Sylvie, Ponte Vecchio, Mont Blanc, Wolf 1834

30th Anniversary for Geiss & Sons Jewelers

In celebration of our 30th Anniversary providing the Upstate of South Carolina with luxury brands from around the world, we are offering up to 50% off select jewelry and watches during our Anniversary and Holiday celebrations, now through January 19, 2020.
We have set ourselves apart as one of the finest luxury jewelry stores in the Upstate putting quality and customer experience first. We invite you to come experience our first class service and carefully curated selections of jewelry and watches… and take advantage of our first SALE of this kind, in honor of 30 Years of being a part of Greenville community.

Let us help you find the next amazing piece for your special someone or create a wish list in time for the holidays at Geiss & Sons Jewelers of Greenville.

Fine Jewelry, Jewelry, Roberto Coin, Tirisi Moda, Leo Pizzo, Chimento, Rembrandt Charms, Benchmark, Sylvie, Ponte Vecchio, Mont Blanc, Wolf 1834

October Birth Stone

Opal is arguably the most unique, diverse, and beautiful birthstone. Unlike most gemstones, Opal is amorphous which means it does not have a defined crystalline structure. It takes on many shapes and colors and in that way, it is pretty unpredictable.

Opals are very interesting and there are some myths that you’ll want to know about as well. We even have some spectacular specimens for you to admire as you learn about this fascinating gemstone.

Opals have been the muse of artists, writers, and other creatives since what seems like the beginning of time. The exact origin of Opal‘s name is disputed, but historians are confident that in ancient Rome Opal was known as opalus which translates as the “precious stone.”

Was the Opal the ancient Romans admired the same as the one we admire today? No one is sure. However, evidence of Opal artifacts date as far back as 4000 B.C.

Not only has Opal been in the minds and hearts of mankind for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, Opals take a very long time to form.

Though the exact cause of Opal formation is still disputed, many believe that silica was carried down into rock crevices by heavy rains. Once the water evaporated, what was left was a silica gel that then hardened over the course of what some believe is millions of years. This didn’t happen overnight! It takes roughly 5 million years to solidify just one centimeter of Opal.

This theory makes sense considering Opal has water in it. The water content of an Opal can be upwards of 20 percent but is usually in the 5 percent range.

It is estimated that nearly 95% of the world’s opal comes from Australia. Other countries that commonly mine Opals include Ethiopia, Brazil, and Mexico.

There are two types of Opals: precious and common. Precious Opals either have vibrant color (fire Opal) or exhibit a play of color. Play of color is a term coined to describe the unique multi-dimensional color display that the more precious Opals have.

Precious Opals have two basic colors, their background color and their play of color. The background color is caused by impurities within the silica. Within the precious Opal family, there are many different varieties of Opal. Each has their own unique color combinations and character traits. Opals can be found orange, yellow, red, green, blue, or purple.  Black Opals are considered one of the rarest gemstones, though they too can be a variety of dark colors.

The other colors are caused by the way silica forms together. Silica is composed of a bunch of tiny spheres that adhere to one another. When they fuse, tiny gaps are created between them that allow the light to diffract. This diffraction causes a magnitude of different shapes and color combinations.

Opal became the official birthstone of the month of October in 1912. The National Association of Jewelers came together at that time to finalize the longtime debate as to which gemstones represented each month. Opal has been a clear winner for the month of October since the 15th century.

Many cultures throughout history have associated different gemstones with astrological signs. The stone that aligns with your sign largely depends on which list or culture you choose to follow. Opal has commonly been

ated with the signs Scorpio and Libra, which aligns with October.

Opal is also the official gemstone gift alternative for the 14th wedding anniversary.

 

 

Diamond, Jewelry, Necklace, Diamond Rings, Diamond Earrings, Jewelry Stores, Engagement Rings, Geiss and Sons Jewelers, Greenville, South Carolina

Good Time to Buy Natural Color Diamonds

It’s a good time to buy natural color diamonds. “The recent price declines in the white goods created an overall negative psychological effect on all diamonds. This is probably the reason we also witnessed a decline of 0.1% in the Fancy Color Index in Q2,” said Fancy Color Research Foundation (FCRF) advisory board member Eden Rachminov.

According to the FCRF, yellow diamonds displayed a decline of 0.8% vis-a-vis the 0.2% increase in the second quarter of 2018. The prices of yellow diamonds declined by 0.8% overall in this quarter, primarily influenced by the 1–3 cts. categories, with the sharpest downturn of 2.7% in the 1 ct. category.

Blue diamonds showed a 0.3% decrease in the second quarter of 2019 compared to a 1.5% increase in the same quarter in 2018. Blue diamond prices decreased overall by 0.3%, affected mainly by the decline of 0.9% in the weight category of 8–10 cts.

Only pink diamonds showed an upturn of 0.4% in the second quarter of 2019, compared to a 0.5% decrease in the same quarter in 2018. The pink category continued to outperform all other categories, showing an increase of 0.4%. All fancy vivid pinks rose by 1.3%, with fancy vivid pinks of 2 and 3 cts. showing a rise in the second quarter of 2019, increasing by 2.8% and 2.6%, respectively.

Despite the temporary psychological negative effect at the moment, the long-term price trend for natural color diamonds looks positive. According to research by Knight Frank, within the last 10 years, the price of colored diamonds went up by 85%, outperforming some “classical” luxury investment objects such as art and watches. “It’s definitely a good time to buy colored diamonds now,” says Rachminov.

One of the opportunities to buy is the upcoming True Colors auction by Alrosa, the worlds’ largest diamond miner. The diamonds will be available for viewing during the September Hong Kong Jewelry & Gem Fair (Sept. 16–20). For the first time, the auction will be conducted via the Alrosa online platform, diamonds.alrosa.ru. The first True Colors auction was conducted in 2018. It finished with a total sale of 210 diamonds. The bidding was very active, and most of the lots were sold for well above their starting prices.

At this year’s auction, Alrosa is offering a comprehensive origin story for every stone for the first time. Thanks to Alrosa’s traceability programs, the consumers can witness the diamonds’ fascinating journey from mine and market. “With a closed production cycle, the company can guarantee the origin of every polished diamond, especially since it has its own unique ID,” revealed the miner.

This year, the collection includes about 200 polished diamonds of various shapes and colors, and all have GIA certificates. Each of them is a masterpiece of diamond production created by skillful professionals who put their hearts into their work, keep the traditions, and know what a real Russian cut is (Russian cut describes both the origin of the diamond and the location where it was cut).

Alrosa operates its own in-house cutting and polishing branch, Diamonds of Alrosa. Beginning in 2018, it concentrated on fancy color and unique diamonds. Alrosa’s goal is to become the leader in the natural color diamonds market. Being the largest miner, Alrosa aims to be the largest producer of natural color diamonds by volume.

Article Provided By: JKC

Gold, Jewelry, Fine Jewelry, Watch, Bracelet, Necklace, Jewelry Stores, Geiss and Sons, Greenville, South Carolina

Citigroup Sees Gold Heading to $2,000

The second gold rush may just be getting started, with a Citigroup report released today predicting that the yellow metal will cross the $2,000 an ounce mark within the next year or two.

That would be a new record. Gold’s previous high was in August 2011, when the price hit $1,917 an ounce.

Citigroup senior analyst Aakash Doshi tells JCK that the rise will be fueled by a combination of factors, including global economic uncertainty and historically low interest rates.

“We think there is a probability the Fed will take the policy rate back down to zero, as global central banks converge,” he says. “We think that recession risks, which are exacerbated by the U.S.-China trade war, are far from resolving. We believe that trade tensions will persist through 2020 and that the recession risks will likely increase.”

All of which will cause investors to look for safe haven assets, he says, and gold has traditionally filled that niche.

The environment is “bullish to the investor case for gold in the long run,” he adds, noting he’s been bullish on the metal since January.

He adds that central banks have also increased their gold purchases since the beginning of the year.

Doshi says certain events could send the price of the yellow metal in the opposite direction, including a “surprise trade deal,” a sudden increase in worldwide manufacturing, as well as a “sudden hawkish turn” from the Federal Reserve and other central banks.

At press time, gold was trading at $1,496 an ounce, below the $1,500 an ounce mark it hit last month.

All in all, though, gold has had an impressive year so far, rising 17%—its best year since 2010. Doshi notes that at the beginning of the year he predicted gold would hit $1,400 within six months—and it has. He expects gold to stay under the $1,500 mark for the next few weeks before starting to climb again.

Article Provided By: JCK

Geiss & Sons, Jewelry Store, Jewelry, Fine Jewelry, South Carolina

Peridot Gemstone

History of Peridot.

This gemstone is named after the French word peritot, meaning gold, because the mineral can vary towards this color. Peridot is the birthstone for the month of August. It is also the stone given to celebrate the 16th year of marriage. Peridot has a very long written history. Ancient papyri record the mining of these stones as early as 1500 BC. The main source of peridot in the ancient world was Topazo Island (now Zabargad or St. John’s Island) in the Egyptian Red Sea. In Ancient times, peridot stones were used for carved talismans. Island habitants were forced to collect the gems for the Pharaoh’s treasury. Legend says that jealous watchers who had orders to put to death any trespassers guarded the entire island. The story continues that the miners worked in the daytime as well as night, as the gems could be found after nightfall due to their radiance. The miners would mark the spot at night for retrieval the following day.
Peridot is the National gem of Egypt. Ancient Egyptians knew it as “the gem of the sun.” Peridot was mined for over 3,500 years on St Johns Island. As late as the 19th Century, the Kedhive of Egypt had a monopoly on the mines. At one point, the island’s exact whereabouts became a mystery for several centuries until being rediscovered in 1905. Joel Aram, from the “Color Encyclopedia of Gemstones 2nd Edition,” writes “Zabargad is an island in the Red Sea that is often shrouded in fog, making it difficult for ancient navigators to find. The location has been lost in fact, for centuries, and was rediscovered in about 1905. The island is located 35 miles of the Egyptian coastal port of Berenica.” In the 19th Century, the mines on Zabargad Island produced millions of dollars worth of peridot. After 1905, production of the gems peaked, but by the late 1930’s it tapered off to practically nothing and reached a virtual stand still in 1958, when the mines were nationalized. Although parcels of St. Johns peridot still come into the market once in a while, it is not known whether it is new or old. Most assume it is old.
Peridot is also very beneficial when it comes to treating psychological afflictions as well. It is a wonderful stone to help someone who is going through depression. It is a stone of lightness that counters the effects of negative emotions. It has the ability to balance the process of emotional release and detoxifies negative emotions, bringing them to comfortable levels. Peridot fosters emotional balance, security, and inner peace. It soothes nervousness, heals emotional and physical pain, and lightens suffering. Such usages date back to ancient Roman times when rings of peridot were worn to relieve depression. Because it is calming to the nervous system, peridot is also useful in promoting sleep. Peridot banishes lethargy, which can attack someone who is experiencing depression. The stone’s energy balances bipolar disorders and other forms of depression and helps one’s self esteem or bruised ego. It also brings about necessary change, which is much needed to someone who is depressed.
Peridot is a relatively soft stone, rating a 6.5 to 7 on the hardness scale, making it a little softer than amethyst or emerald. Peridot should be spared rugged wearing if mounted in rings. The stone is also highly sensitive to rapid temperature changes. Peridots can also lose their polish if they come in contact with commonly used hydrochloric of sulfuric acid.
the best and safest way for you to clean your peridot, is with warm, soapy water. You should take special care of your peridot to ensure that it does not come in contact with drastic temperature changes, which can damage the stone. You should also protect your stone from scratches and sharp blows and avoid any contact with chemicals. Peridots should not be cleaned in ultrasonic or steam cleaners.

Fine Jewelry, Jewelry, Roberto Coin, Tirisi Moda, Leo Pizzo, Chimento, Rembrandt Charms, Benchmark, Sylvie, Ponte Vecchio, Mont Blanc, Wolf 1834

HISTORY AND MEANING OF APRIL’S BIRTHSTONE!

April babies get one of the most popular and most precious gemstones as their birthstone: the diamond.

The diamond is the traditional birthstone of April and holds significant meaning for those born in that month, thought to provide the wearer with better relationships and an increase in inner strength. Wearing diamonds is purported to bring other benefits such as balance, clarity and abundance. diamond jewelry is an ideal gift for a loved one born in April. As the gemstone with the highest rating on Mohs Hardness Scale, with a score of 10, diamonds have the unique ability to be cut and polished with the utmost brilliance. Their incredible shine and luster have captivated wearers for centuries. diamond add light and beauty to any occasion—especially birthdays!

HISTORY AND MEANING OF APRIL’S BIRTHSTONE: diamonds are billions of years old—in some cases more than three billion years old. There is evidence that diamonds were being collected and traded in India as early as the fourth century BC. In the first century AD, the Roman naturalist Pliny is quoted as having said, “diamond is the most valuable, not only of precious stones, but of all things in this world.” During the Middle Ages diamonds were thought to have healing properties able to cure ailments ranging from fatigue to mental illness. diamonds are the traditional birthstones for those born in April. However, it’s no surprise that diamonds are known as the “love” stone. The ancient Romans believed that Cupid’s arrows were tipped with diamonds (perhaps the earliest association between diamonds and romantic love). It is believed by some that diamonds enhance the longevity and honesty of relationships. Since they are the strongest of the precious gems, they are also thought to increase the wearer’s strength. Many ancient cultures believed that diamonds gave the wearer strength and courage during battle, and some kings wore diamonds on their armor as they rode into battle.

Round cut diamonds on black.

A blue diamond on a black background with reflection. 

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