'America's oldest jeweler' to close shop

Easton, Pa. — Bixler's Jewelers, which calls itself "America's oldest jeweler," will close the doors of its downtown location in Easton, Pa., early next year, with store officials citing changing customer preferences and the current economic downturn as the impetus, The Express-Times has reported.

Bixler's began as a small jewelry and clock-making shop in 1785, and relocated a few times within Easton before settling in 1925 in its downtown Centre Square location.

Read more at: www.nationaljewelernetwork.com

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Michelle Obama Style Predictions

If expectations are high for Barack Obama, they're no less soaring for his wife -- at least in a sartorial sense. After two decades of Bush and Clinton women -- for whom style was not a sixth sense -- the inarguably fashionable and seemingly fearless Michelle Obama has trend-watchers in a frenzy.

Tall and taut, with the broad shoulders and self-confidence to carry off whatever she wants, Obama has spent the past 21 months being compared to Jacqueline Kennedy. And, so far, Obama has acquitted herself well, showing off recession-friendly dresses from White House Black Market and pricey designs from edgy designers like Isabel Toledo, who she wore (left) last spring to a fundraiser with fashion industry heavyweights. What will she favor for the White House?

StyleList takes a look at her past -- and offers some predictions for the future. And for those who think clothes don't matter, remember the words of JFK as he introduced his wildly popular wife at a 1961 State Dinner at Charles de Gaulle's presidential palace. "I am the man," Kennedy said, "who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris."

From: www.stylelist.com

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Platinum, from trash to treasure

(you can click the pictures to get to their descriptive pages)

Platinum, from trash to treasure

Platinum has not always been considered to be the most precious metal to make jewelry from. Although there are some nice examples of platinum jewelry, people's attitude towards platinum has been different ...

The word "platinum" is derived from the Spanish "platina", which means "small silver". The first traces of platinum date from the Thebes epoch (about 7th century before JC), from when a small box was retrieved, adorned with a platinum ribbon.

platinum bracelet

platinum ring

platinum bracelet

During the 15th century, the Spaniards didn't like the little white granules that soiled their South American gold and used to throw them away. A platinum sample finally reached Europe in 1741, and was analyzed by sir Charles Wood, who didn't manage to melt it down. It was only when oxygen could be isolated (after its discovery in 1774), that people were finally able to increase the temperature of flames enough so as to melt platinum and really start to discover its particular properties: malleable, eternal brilliance, hardness superior to that of gold, inoxydability...

platinum pendant

platinum brooch

platinum pendant

It was after the Napoleanic wars that the English managed to separate platinum from the other metals that were extracted from the platinum mines (palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, ruthenium). Around 1820, the Russians discovered huge ores in the Oural. Only from the beginning of the 20th century, platinum was being used in jewelry. Its use started to increase when scientists discovered its catalytic properties (its ability to speed up chemical reactions).

platinum ring

platinum watch

platinum ring

From then on platinum became a strategic industrial metal until the end of WWII. Today, the use of platinum is returning to the jewelry industry, but platinum has also a very wide range of industrial uses, including use in the treatment of some cancers.

platinum brooch

platinum earrings

platinum brooch

A cute urban legend does its round: As platinum has not always been considered to be a precious metal, in Russia in the beginning of the 19th century, counterfeiters used platinum as the core for their "golden roubels", this because of platinum's high gravity. When, around 1870, platinum started to be recognized as a precious metal the price of it rose accordingly, it is told that roubels were then cut in half in the hope of finding platinum inside....

See also our:
other platinum jewelry
our latest acquisitions
extensive antique jewelry glossary
antique jewelry style overview

Antiqually yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be

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DDC Warns of Fraudulent GIA Reports !!!

David Abraham, vice president of the Diamond Dealers Club of New York, issued a statement Monday warning of a scam taking place with fraudulent GIA reports. The incidents were reported on JCKonline and by other organizations.

Abraham contacted www.Jewelersalert.com to issue his statement. It reads as follows:

Dear fellow members of the diamond and jewelry trade and industry worldwide, please Take immediate notice of the following urgent matter:

1.Counterfeit GIA Reports offered with HPHT diamonds or diamonds of a different Grade than described on the accompanying Counterfeit GIA Report, have been discovered in the marketplace.

2.Counterfeit GIA Reports with the exact GIA Report number and exact or similar grading information & details are being offered in the marketplace.

These Counterfeit GIA Reports are accompanying HPHTdiamonds or genuine diamonds of a slightly different, though nearly the same grade. A buying may erroneously purchase a stone assuming that because the GIA report number and grading appear to be the same, he is buying the actual item.

I urge you to protect yourself, your customers, suppliers and good name, and exercise utmost caution because of the above and report any irregularities to your bourse, trade or industry association.

You can help protect yourself by using one of the following methods recommended by the GIA.

GIA Report Check is a free online service that lets clients check the information contained in a GIA Diamond Report and GIA Diamond Dossier. Enter the diamond’s report number and carat weight, and Report Check returns all the grading information, including a cutgrade when available, that was issued for that diamond. Report Check currently serves only those diamonds graded from Jan 1, 2000 to the present. To access Report Check, go to http://www.gia.edu/reportcheck/

When in doubt or purchasing from an unknown source, the GIA recommends that the GIA Report Verification Service be used to confirm the authenticity of their GIA Diamond Grading Report and Diamond Dossier, or the information the report contains by simply requesting a free verification from GIA. People can submit their diamond along with its original report to the GIA Laboratory. The diamond will be re-assessed and the results of the new analysis will be returned to its owner, along with the diamond. Alternatively, the original grading report can be updated, meaning that the diamond can be submitted to the laboratory and fully graded again, including all of the screening steps for treatments.

Sincerely, David Abraham

From: JCKonline

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Customer Watch: The Emotional Value of Jewelry

As I write this on Election Day, 2008, the results of a historical presidential election are being tallied, and the American people have voted in record-breaking numbers. It’s an emotional day for many, many people, and so what better topic for such a day than a focus on emotions.

It is said that jewelry is an emotional purchase. At times, emotion is inevitable because the jewelry relates to a very special occasion in one’s life, most notably the beginning of a marriage. At other times, emotions come into play simply because the jewelry is inherently so beautiful. I was told by a talented jewelry designer friend that I was literally whimpering when I saw the exquisite pieces in her collection. And there can be a sense of joy when one is able to commemorate a special achievement with the purchase of a signature piece of jewelry.

Read more at: www.jckonline.com

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Rare blue diamond on the block

Democrats aren’t the only ones with a penchant for blue these days. Christie’s London is putting an historic blue diamond on the auction block on December 10th, and the little beauty is expected to fetch a whopping $15 million.

The 17th century gem weighs in at 35.56 carats and is known to collectors as the Wittelsbach diamond. The stone was originally given to Infanta Margarita Teresa by her father King Philip IV of Spain on the occasion of her engagement to her uncle, Leopold I of Austria. Um...ew.

Read more at: Jewelry Insider

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It's all about emotional value!

(you can click the picture to get to its descriptive page)

A gift says, “You are important to me.” The care that went into choosing it is often a far more accurate gauge of just how important, than the amount of money spent on it. Because antiques are by their very nature unique, you cannot just order one. Unlike mass produced consumer items, antiques have to be picked-out individually from the rest, giving extra meaning to your words when you declare, “I found something really special for you this year.”

In our impressive collection of fine jewellery we have pieces to suit every budget, every style and every mood. So this year show your loved one they are worth the effort and offer them the gift that proves your devotion and how much you value them, an antique Jewel from Adin - World leader in French antique jewellery online.

Don’t wait untill the last moment. Our impressive stock of jewels that have already stood the test of time contains pieces to suit every budget, style and mood. Our professional team of assistants will be standing by to help you find exactly what you seek.

Browse it now to find a future heirloom, testimony of your love to future generations.

rings	earrings	brooches	pendants	lockets	necklaces	bracelets

Antiqually yours,
The Adin team
www.adin.be

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