Green diamonds - feel the envy!

By Rachel George

Natural fancy colored diamonds are rare and expensive; so if you're thinking of buying them, you're definitely prepared for both. And since the rarer the better, you'll love green diamonds!

Green diamonds are among the rarest of the rare, second only to natural red diamonds. With its vivid shades of green ranging from light mint to grass green, wearing a green diamond is akin to

wearing a piece of nature herself in all her varied hues! Rough green diamonds are mined in Brazil, South Africa, India, Australia, Congo, Ghana and

Siberia, and olive-colored diamonds have been found in the Central African Republic, the Congo and Sierra Leone.

Why are green diamonds so special?

Green diamonds get their color from natural radiation, which causes absorption in the yellow and red layers of the spectrum , which results in the green color. They do occasionally contain a

yellowish, bluish or grayish modifying color however, as the green hue is usually restricted to the surface and rarely penetrates the entire stone. Naturally then, the more vivid the color, the rarer the diamond and the more valuable (with the only exception being if the secondary color is

blue – they trump a vivid green for even more rarity!). Natural green diamonds are unusual enough that only a mere handful make it into the market each year!

You can see we weren't joking about their rarity...it's almost a once-in-a-lifetime deal to find a natural green diamond. Ironically, even treated ones are unusual to come by...so if you own one,

then you're in an elite group of extremely lucky people. To own one is to incite some rather well-deserved envy!

Why we love estate jewelry and you should too!

By Rachel George

Have you ever given thought to estate jewelry? Since estate jewelry refers to previously owned pieces, you're probably wondering why you'd want to pick one of these pieces over a brand new,

completely modern piece. Allow us to tell you why.

Why would you choose estate jewelry?

Contrary to popular understanding, estate jewelry doesn't always come from an estate of a

deceased and it's not always antique. Jewelry over a century old is antique; some estate jewelry is dated from the 1940s and is considered vintage, and estate jewelry can even mean jewelry less

than a year old! The immediate question is why does estate jewelry stand apart? Simply put, it's the chance to

own something truly unique – in style, in craftsmanship, and in availability – a one-of-a-kind piece from a world of incredible historical and cultural beauty.

Whether modern, antique or vintage, many estate jewelry pieces were designed by jewelers according to each patron's tastes. Some of these pieces were painstakingly worked on by

hand...which explains both the immense quality of the work, and why they're so unique. Estate jewelry also represents the style of the era it was created in – the jewelry setting itself ,and the

technique in which the piece was created. A technique that will have since, either been modified to fit today's mass production requirements, or been lost to time; either way, you don't see it anymore.

Any way you look at it, estate jewelry is timeless and when you wear it, you wear a piece of

someone's history, someone's treasure! How to buy estate jewelry

There are several things to consider when you're looking to buy estate jewelry:

1. Find an authentic seller – a good place to start looking is a jeweler who is experienced with estate pieces and has an expansive stock. If you're buying it online, make sure there aren't multiple pieces of your estate piece available!

2. Look for a jewelers mark, especially for antique pieces, since almost all pieces before the 1950s were marked in some way.

3. Look for patina and wear. 4. Think about the price – an authentic estate piece is priced for its heritage; it will be

expensive.

The Cartier Love Bracelet - ultimate symbolism

By Rachel George

The Cartier Love bracelet is, without a doubt, the ultimate symbolism of inseparable love. In keeping with the times though, Cartier has no expanded this collection beyond bracelets and now

has Love Earrings, Love Rings and Love Necklaces – a true Love collection!

The story behind the Cartier Love bracelet

Designed for Cartier by Aldo Cipullo in 1969, the love bracelet bears a striking and intentional

resemblance to medieval chastity belts, thanks to its locking mechanism. The reason behind this resemblance is that Cipullo was a student of history and consequently, his designs revolved

around modern interpretations of ancient items, jewelry or otherwise! As the chastity belt was that era's symbol of the purity and fidelity of the love of a married

couple, so Cipullo created the Love bracelet to be a modern sign of fidelity – proof of being "locked up" in a committed relationship!

Aldo Cipullo – the man behind the Cartier Love Bracelet

Aldo Cipullo, a man of Italian descent, migrated to New York City when he was in his early twenties to pursue lofty ambitions in the jewelry world. Having worked at Tiffany & Co. and

David Webb, Cipullo joined the Cartier New York team in 1969, and that is where he made his mark in the world of high jewelry. Of all the stunning designs he created over his lifetime, the Cartier Love Bracelet is one of

Cipullo's most iconic creations!

So, what makes the Cartier Love Bracelet so special?

The most distinctive feature of this bracelet is its locking mechanism – where other bracelets can

be slipped onto the wrist or can be easily opened, these bracelets are designed to be opened with a special screwdriver, which comes with each bracelet. This screwdriver is also available as a

necklace, so that one person is wearing the "locked" bracelet and their other half is wearing the "key" – a very real life representation of holding the key to someone's heart...er...love!

From a wearable perspective as well, these love bracelets are are perfect for all occasions. Whether you're looking at yellow gold, white gold, rose gold or platinum, and with or without

diamonds and other stones, the simplistic and understated design of these bracelets makes them perfect for dressing up or casual, as the occasion demands!

Fame and Cartier Love Bracelets

When the collection was first launched, to push the "lovers only" perspective, Cartier presented "his-and-hers" bracelets to 25 famous couples in the entertainment, business, communications,

sports and high society worlds. These couples making appearances wearing their trademark gold love bracelets kicked off a demand that not even Cartier had anticipated! In a few years, couples

like Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Nancy and Frank Sinatra, Cary Grant and Dyan Cannon, Ali McGraw and Steve McQueen, and Mai Britt and Sammy Davis, Jr. also featured on

the list of love bracelet owners. The Cartier love bracelets have been nothing if not eternal and as such, have continued to be a

style favored by celebrities even today. It's definitely great fun to look down at these bracelets and know that Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, Kanye West, Sarah Jessica Parker, Paris Hilton,

Mila Kunis, Demi Lovato and who knows how many more have one exactly like it! As diamond rings are to engagements, so the Cartier Love Bracelet has become to love...after all,

the saying goes, "do you love me enough for a Cartier Love Bracelet"?