In 1994, a new opal discovery was announced in the east African country of Ethiopia. It was located in the province of Shewa, near the village of Mezezo. People always get excited about gem-quality opal, and these opals were unlike anything anyone had ever seen. They were dubbed “chocolate opals” for the dark brown body…
Opals are a pretty big deal in my store. They are one of my favorites; in fact, they are my favorite. Boulder opal especially appeals to me because of its inherent variety. They’re unique and different, like the things I design. No two can ever be just alike, and each one marches to the beat…
“It displays at once the piercing fire of carbunculas, the purple brilliance of amethystos, and the sea-green of smaragdus, and all these glittering colors mixed together in an incredible way. Some opali carry such a play within them that they equal the deepest and richest colors of painters. Others again simulate the flaming fire of…
The time is now. My annual opal show starts tomorrow. Roger, my opal dealer, will be here, and he’ll stay until Saturday afternoon. If you have never been to one of my opal shows, I would be so bold as to suggest that you are missing out. I try to have something for everyone, and…
The first of two shipments of Kurtulan has arrived and is ready to be ogled, tried on, adored, and brought into your own collection. Here’s just a small sampling: And, remember, I said this was just the first shipment. There’s more coming, so check back every once in a while. Or better yet: stop by….
I keep a modest collection of old coins and seals. I think they’re cool, and I seek out ones that are more unusual because of their provenance or because I appreciate their visual appeal. My Ancients Collection goes hand-in-hand with my Roma Collection and pairs well with designers such as Kurtulan and Steven Battelle. The…
Jewelry is not a new trend. People have been adorning themselves with bits of nature they picked up off the ground for thousands and thousands of years. But just because their processes were not as refined as our methods of today doesn’t mean their jewelry wasn’t beautiful. I love the textures and the uniqueness of…
I just wanted to toss out another reminder that my annual opal show happens in a little more than two weeks. Keep an eye out for your postcard in the mail, and I hope you’ll come out to see some beautiful examples from almost all points on the spectrum of opals. Roger always has wonderful…
Back in July, I discussed the distinction between rubies and pink sapphires, but the corundum conundrum does not end there. Another variety of sapphire exists, which is even more ill-defined. The padparadscha (that’s pronounced PAHD-puh-RAHD-shuh) is a variety of sapphire that has no official technical definition. “Padparadscha” is simply a trade name for sapphires of…
Many societies throughout history have elevated the color blue above almost any other. Royalty in the Ancient Near and Middle East wore blue. Hindu deities were often depicted in various shades of blue. Persians believed the Earth rested on a giant sapphire, the reflection of which colored the sky. The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt were…
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