Gem & Jewelry Industry

Written by Yvonne Raley

All Sales are Final: How to Save When Buying Gems

Apr 17, 2011

Written by Yvonne Raley

The wholesale price of any particular gem can vary drastically – as much as, I kid you not, 90% - depending on the context in which it is bought. But: is extremely hard to get super low prices on gems, and unless you live in the right place, know the right people, and are willing to do a lot of hard work, it is simply not possible. While I do manage to get gems at very good prices most of the...

Written by Yvonne Raley

This Ring in Your Size: A Note on Ring Resizing

Mar 19, 2011

Written by Yvonne Raley

Every time I get an Etsy order that says in the note to seller something like: “please change the size to ….,” my heart sinks. I need you to feel my pain.

Adding to, or subtracting metal from an existing design requires cutting and soldering. To size a ring, you have to cut it open with a saw and then either take out metal or add to it. Then you close the seam with a torch and solder, pickle it...

Written by Yvonne Raley

Bead vs. Gem: What is the Difference?

Feb 16, 2011

Written by Yvonne Raley

When I first started to play around with gemstone beads, I was really confused. I didn’t know you could buy the genuine article – peridot, amethyst, ruby – in bead form. I thought all beads were glass or plastic or what have you. The second thing I wondered is why the beads were so cheap. “Cheap” here is relative, but when you see, let’s say, aquamarine jewelry in a jewelry store, it might...

Written by Yvonne Raley

The Ten Things I Learned in 2010

Dec 27, 2010

Written by Yvonne Raley

It is snowing outside, and the wind is howling. So long as you don’t look down at the cars, Jersey City feels a tiny bit like a Winter Wonderland. The year is drawing to a close. This is when we reflect on what was good, or bad, about the year that has gone by, and make New Year’s resolutions. I’m not the reflective type, however, not in that sense anyway, and I make resolutions whenever they...

Written by Yvonne Raley

Holiday Rush in the Diamond District?

Dec 16, 2010

Written by Yvonne Raley

There’s certainly a noticeable change in the diamond district these days. But not all of it is for the better. As my tie bar orders are going through the roof (I thought I was selling jewelry, but ok), I found myself having to rush into the city on short notice to get more wire. A great opportunity, I thought, because there are some other things I could get done the same day. It’s now or...

Written by Yvonne Raley

Stone Setting Pro’s and Woes

Oct 18, 2010

Written by Yvonne Raley

I don’t set my own stones. Or hardly ever. And this is not much of a confession, because being a stone setter is a separate job from being a jeweler or goldsmith. Both of those employ setters (as well as casting services and polishing services). A good friend of mine - a 40 year industry veteran who has taught at a well known goldsmith school in Germany - has never set a stone. My aunt, who...

Written by Yvonne Raley

Chronicles of a Tsavorite: Part II

Oct 10, 2010

Written by Yvonne Raley

In my previous entry, I started to take you through the process of cutting a gemstone. I picked a Tsavorite because they have become somewhat of a quest for me. Tsavorite has a truer green than emerald – with less blue in it – and it is definitely more rare as well. Think about it: if a gemstone were hard to get, why would the jewelry industry bother with mass marketing it? If you are a large...

Written by Yvonne Raley

On Cutting a Stone: Chronicles of a Tsavorite

Sep 27, 2010

Written by Yvonne Raley

Some of my fellow jewelers have been asked if they cut their own stones. And a friend of mine once wondered if all the stones I buy are cut specifically for me. The answer to both questions is “no.” For one, becoming a lapidary – a stone cutter – takes a lot of practice, and gemstone cutting is best left to those who specialize in it. Secondly, cutting takes a lot of time (and hence money). A...

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Posts & Pages

Gem & Jewelry Industry

All Sales are Final: How to Save When Buying Gems

This Ring in Your Size: A Note on Ring Resizing

Bead vs. Gem: What is the Difference?

The Ten Things I Learned in 2010

Holiday Rush in the Diamond District?

Stone Setting Pro’s and Woes

Chronicles of a Tsavorite: Part II

On Cutting a Stone: Chronicles of a Tsavorite