Blogs
How This Royal Diadem Was Set With Turquoise
December’s birthstone, turquoise, comes in many forms — the most notable being pristine sky blue. At the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, visitors can see pieces of this type of turquoise, called Persian turquoise, in a diadem once owned by Napoleon’s second wife, the Empress Marie Louise. Turquoise makes a striking contrast against diamonds in […]
Swiss Watch Brands World Market Share
Swiss Watch Brands World Market Share Keywords: Watches, Rolex, Omega, Cartier Watches, Longines, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piquet, Tissot, TAG Heuer, IWC, Richard Mille, Breitling, Hublot, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Officine Panerai, Vacheron Constantin, Breguet
Anatomy of a Diamond
Anatomy of a Diamond Keywords: Education, Learning
TPC Members Talk Pantone’s Spring/Summer 2023 Color Predictions
We know you’re in the thick of the holiday rush, but many Plumb Club members are already thinking ahead to Spring/Summer 2023 fashion trends and palettes. The Pantone Color Institute tends to be the jewelry industry’s gold standard when it comes to color forecasting and it’s already pinpointed the hues that will be the most […]
Laboratory-Grown Diamond FAQs
Are laboratory-grown diamonds “real” diamonds? Yes. Laboratory-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to natural diamonds on the basic gemological level. They have the same crystal structure, hardness, and brilliance. Laboratory-grown diamonds are not diamond simulants, like cubic zirconia (CZ), moissanite, or other materials that imitate, or are considered diamond “lookalikes.” How […]
Who Buys the Most Jewelry & Watches During the Holidays
Who Buys the Most Jewelry & Watches During the Holidays Keywords: Shopping, Market Research
How Consumers Research Diamond Purchases
How Consumers Research Diamond Purchases Keywords: Diamonds, Shopping
Guide to Turquoise
Victorian turquoise and ruby bangle circa 1850. Source: Sotheby’s History, Lore and Appreciation Turquoise’s startling blue colors and soft, slightly porous texture may be the reasons why it has been such an important opaque gem for thousands of years and across so many civilizations. Excavations from Pharaoh mummies dating up to seven millennia ago contain evidence […]
Guide to Zircon
History, Lore and Appreciation Zircon is winning over fans because of its unique colors and brilliant optical characteristics. The first thing to know about zircon is that it has nothing to do with cubic zirconia (a man-made product that has been used as a diamond simulant since the 1970s). Zircon is a natural gem that […]
Making Spirits Bright
As the jewelry industry heads into the busy holiday season, the economic forecast is mixed. In fact, it seems to change daily, with one report on JCK foretelling small gains, and another that quotes the National Retail Federation (NRF) with more positive news: “The economic situation in the United States is unsettling. Nonetheless spending continues […]