Category: Diamonds
According to Forbes magazine, the coveted gold medals being handed out at this month’s PyeongChang Winter Olympics only contain about 6 grams of 24-karat gold. The rest of that medal weight comes from sterling silver, with the medal’s overall value worth about $570 in today’s market. But the awards going to these elite athletes aren’t the only gold objects that aren’t “pure,” and for very good reasons that don’t necessarily include price considerations.
Your Precious Metal Mix
“Pure” gold is 24K or “karats,” a purity measurement that shouldn’t be confused with the “carat” in a diamond which actually refers to the weight of the stone. That 24K ring, at a degree of purity of 99.95+%, might sound prestigious. But the reality is that rings made of pure gold will bend and scratch much more easily because pure gold is a softer metal.
Most wedding bands and engagement rings are probably 14k (58.3% gold) or 18K (75% gold) which means that the gold is mixed with other precious metals to add strength. These rings contain a bit less than 60% gold in order to hold up better with less signs of wear. They’re a perfect compromise for appearance, price and durability.
Gold-plated jewelry means a thin layer of gold is applied (bonded) on top of a base metal such as copper. Gold-plated jewelry will show wear and tear since, over time, the thin outer layer of gold fades and tarnishes. Gold-Filled is a name that’s a bit misleading since the “fill” or core is actually brass, copper or occasionally silver. A thicker gold layer (at least 5% to be considered “gold-filled”) assures longevity of up to 30 years.
A Rainbow of Colors
Yellow Gold is combined with alloys like copper and zinc to add strength. White gold is often combine with palladium, nickel (the nickel makes it harder; palladium is a softer metal) or silver and then covered (plated) with rhodium which gives it the whiter color. Both yellow and white gold can be good for long-term and constant wear.
Silver looks like white gold, and, while less expensive, is a softer precious metal and may tarnish over the years. That’s why “white” wedding rings, which are usually worn daily, are made of white gold or platinum (a rarer metal that’s even more expensive than white gold) instead of silver. “Rose” gold contains copper – the more copper added the stronger the “red” look of the gold.
We could go on and on. If you’re interested in finding your perfect piece of gold jewelry, come on in and speak to the experts at David Craig Jewelers. There’s David himself— he’s got a HEART OF GOLD— and a whole team of certified consultants —they’re also veritable GOLD MINES of information! We’d love to answer your inquiries about gold, diamonds, gemstones, appraisals, or any other jewelry-related questions. You can also give us a buzz at 215-968- 8900.
On a balmy summer day in 2015, marathoner Matthew Myers stopped into Moishe and Itzy’s restaurant at Summit Square, Langhorne for a yummy respite after a run.
Afterwards, Matthew decided to head down a few shops for a peek into the nearby David Craig Jewelers for a look at their engagement rings.
Even without the added “happy” endorphins from running, Matthew immediately knew this was the place he would make his important purchase for the love of his life, Laurie Heusner.
“I had looked at different jewelers, and knew I didn’t want a chain store – I wanted a more personalized experience and David Craig Jewelers seemed like the perfect place,” says Matthew.
He purchased a sapphire ring (Matthew’s birthstone) surrounded by diamonds on a white gold base. The vibrant blue color also matches Matthews eyes – a reminder for Laurie of his commitment to her. The ring is overall “understated” since he knew Laurie wanted something more “low profile.”
The couple had started dating in 2013 when they met through friends when involved in a marathon fundraiser. Matthew proposed August 1, 2015 and the couple were married one year later on August 12, 2016 at Connecticut’s Mystic Aquarium (be sure to check out the “guest mammal” in the photo!). Mr. and Mrs. Myers now live in Langhorne. Laurie works at Swarthmore College, and Matthew for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
Matthew’s white gold matching wedding band is highlighted by an aquamarine gemstone, Laurie’s birthstone. All rings were custom made and designed at David Craig Jewelers.
The couple also purchased wedding gifts for each other from David Craig – a Citizens Eco-Drive watch for Matthew from Laurie, and a diamond and aquamarine bracelet from Matthew to Laurie which also served as her “something new” at the wedding.
“I highly recommend David Craig Jewelers,” says Matthew. “David (Rotenberg) and everyone else there was so very helpful and clearly listened to us to make sure we got exactly what we wanted.”
In 2012, Kelsey Wilhere, from Langhorne, and Dennis Lynch, from Levittown, were introduced to each other by a mutual friend.
At the time, Kelsey was a student at Penn State Abington and Dennis was studying at East Strasbourg University.
After graduation in 2014, the two moved to Las Vegas where they both began their careers, Kelsey as a kindergarten teacher and Dennis teaching 8th grade health. The couple discussed marriage and knew it was in their near future, but Dennis still wanted the proposal itself to be magical.
Dennis had visited David Craig Jewelers after hints from Kelsey who had already perused rings in the Bucks County, PA store. Says Kelsey: “I used to babysit for Joanne Jeuch*, (an Accredited Jewelry Professional for David Craig Jewelers), and had actually visited her at the store, so I had a good idea of the kind of ring I would like.”
In the summer of 2014, Dennis decided to pop the question in front of about 100 people gathered for a party for Dennis’s mom’s 50th birthday. “Kelsey wanted to include family and friends in all steps of our adventure,” said Dennis. “So,
after giving a speech in honor of my mother, I got down on my knee and surprised Kelsey by proposing in front of the group —people who meant a lot to both of us —which seemed the perfect time.”
The couple were married June 23, 2017 in East Windsor, New Jersey. They still reside in Las Vegas.
“I only get my ring (a dainty, princess-cut center diamond made and designed by David Craig Jewelers) cleaned when I return back to this area. I trust them all at David Craig and everyone is so personable—David always shakes our hands, asks how we’re doing and you know he means it,” says Kelsey.
“You really get a good feeling when you walk through the door,” agrees Dennis.
We wish Kelsey and Dennis happy holidays and best wishes as they complete their first year together as Mr. and Mrs. Lynch!
*Kelsey’s ring, as further explained by Joanne:
“Kelsey’s ring is set in white gold. The center diamond is flanked on each side by a round diamond. The shank of the ring is set with ten additional diamonds, five on each side, that are graduated in size with the smallest diamonds closest to the center three stones. It’s a beautiful, delicate creation that perfectly suits Kelsey. Plus, for her wedding ring, she chose a pair of curved diamond bands that fit up against her engagement ring on each side.”
Style and Diamond Jewelry Expert Kristen Trustey discusses how style and fashion can be a powerful form of self-expression, and gives a shoutout to David Craig Jewelers as one of their favorite, local Forevermark Authorized Jewelers in the Philadelphia area!
Watch below to discover how the right piece of diamond jewelry can be an extension of a woman’s unique taste, personality and story, and where to purchase your own diamond this holiday season:
[Click here to view the full story on PHL17]Cupid shot his arrow in 2008 and the recipient sweethearts were Lisa Cassese, formerly of Bellmore, NY, and Chris Groser, from Yardley, PA. The two were sophomores at Syracuse University living on the same dorm floor when they first started dating.
Fast forward to May 2015 and Chris was eager to propose. Chris shopped around at a few different places. Confused and a bit disappointed in the selections he saw, he turned to his closest shopping expert for advice – his mom, Renee. She suggested Chris head to David Craig Jewelers, where Chris’s brother-in- law, Joe, had purchased his wife Melanie’s ring a few years back.
“I couldn’t have been more satisfied,” says Chris. “David and his staff are helpful and personable, plus I really liked the kind of original styles David carries. I felt very comfortable making this major life purchase through David Craig Jewelers.”
Lisa immediately said “yes,” deciding that the ring, while lovely, might match her personality even better with a few subtle setting changes. Says Lisa: “David was very accommodating in helping us customize the ring. We had a few rounds of revisions since I wasn’t 100% sure what I was looking for. Ultimately, I ended up getting exactly what I wanted.”
The couple were married May 6, 2017 and now reside in Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Both Lisa and Chris work in the field of marketing—Lisa as a strategist for Macy’s and Chris as creative director for a digital ad agency.
Lisa wears her David Craig Jewelers ring with love and pride – it’s a “classic and delicate” Forevermark® solitaire on a thin band shank set with diamonds. The engagement ring rests comfortably against a matching wedding band, also lined with diamonds. Like many of David’s creations, the Cassese-Groser ring is registered in MOND, The Museum of Named Diamonds.
“I couldn’t be happier,” sums up Lisa. And we couldn’t be happier for the two of them and wish them much happiness!
Claire Wiley met Skyler Borgman four and a half years ago while the two were living in Philadelphia. She was attending vet school at the University of Pennsylvania and he was working towards an MBA in Finance at Temple.
When Skyler proposed to Claire last month he did so with a romantic dinner, lit candles and a special family heirloom—the Bogach Diamond. The beautiful, European-cut stone was currently residing in a necklace. It was registered in MOND, the Museum of Named Diamonds, and had been passed down through the generations from its Ellis Island entrance into the United States with Skyler’s great grandmother.
Skyler (originally from Lansdowne, PA) and Claire (originally from Connecticut) knew just where to go when they decided to re-set this heirloom stone into a unique engagement ring for Claire—David Craig Jewelers. Claire was aware of David’s reputation as one of the area’s leading experts on gemstones since her mother had previously turned to the Bucks County jeweler to re-set her own engagement ring.
The young couple were happy to obtain Claire’s mom’s recommendation. They were delighted with the final ring creation which now boasts hand-set, natural light pink diamonds surrounding the family heirloom diamond. The main diamond is slightly elevated as David says, to “not only enhance its natural beauty but to signify its special history in the family.”
Says Claire: “I wanted a solitaire but David told us he could design something even more beautiful if we let him, and he was so right. My ring is more incredible than I ever could have imagined – we basically let David use his talents to create something and he presented us with this work of art!” The couple plan an August 5, 2018 wedding in New Hope.
We wish them much happiness and lasting joy!
Did you know that fewer than 1% of the world’s diamonds are selected to be” Forevermark” diamonds? And that fewer than 300 North American jewelry experts are selected (including David Craig Jewelers!) to offer these gorgeous gemstones to people like you? Some of you are lucky enough to already cherish your own David Craig Forevermark diamond. Others may be hoping to purchase one of these gorgeous, prestigious diamonds for yourself or a loved one. So, what makes this diamond brand so darn special?
Commitment to Quality
From initial sourcing from a few carefully selected mines, to sorting, cutting and polishing, a Forevermark diamond promises integrity, ethics and principles, as well as commitment —to quality, to excellence and to community. Experts at Forevermark select only the best rough crystals to be crafted by their leading “diamantaires” (master diamond cutters). Gemstones are responsibly sourced – a distinction Forevermark takes very seriously. This difference tells you that very special care has been taken to ensure “responsible business practices, support for the
advancement of women and protection of the natural world.”
Using state-of- the-art technologies, Forevermark’s expert gemologists must follow a minimum of seventeen (!) procedures in an intricate process to ensure there are no flaws or imperfections that could affect your future diamond’s beauty. A perfectly polished “table,” the largest facet of the stone, is where Forevermark’s unique inscriptions (serial numbers) are placed on each and every diamond. Buyers can feel thrilled with their beautiful purchase, as well as proud they have selected a diamond they can cherish…Forever!
David Craig Jewelers are committed to Forevermark, since, like Forevermark, we’re also committed to the protection of wild habitats and the species they support. Hear David talk about Forevermark diamonds’ high standards of environmental management here, and discover David’s fabulous collection of Forevermark Diamonds here. And there’s always more to come since we can’t say enough about this fabulous brand!
David Craig Jewelers would like to thank everyone that stopped by for the Meet Your Cutter event with Embee Diamonds. We would like to say a special thank you to master diamond cutter Mike Botha, who shared his knowledge and expertise of diamond cutting and polishing with all who attended. Continue reading Meet Your Cutter 2015 Tour at David Craig Jewelers
Just like a doctor or dentist, the initials behind a jeweler’s or appraiser’s name mean a lot, especially since not all retail jewelers are certified gemologists or appraisers. David Craig is proud to be a graduate of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) and certified gemologist and certified appraiser with the American Gem Society (AGS). David Craig is the ONLY certified American Gem Society Diamond Dealer Selling Forevermark diamonds within a 90-mile radius of Bucks County, PA, including Philadelphia, York, Harrisburg, and parts of New Jersey. Continue reading The Advantages of Buying Diamonds & Gemstones From a Certified Gemologist
Lattice Diamond Bracelet – Forevermark A. Link Collection
Wrap your wrist in this stunning diamond bracelet from Forevermark. A shared-prong, U shaped mounting minimizes the metal so you see the maximum surface area of the 48 Forevermark diamonds. Continue reading Jewelry Spotlight: Forevermark Lattice Diamond Bracelet
DID YOU KNOW that your smart phone can make your diamond shopping experience easier? Professional Jewelers like American Gem Society Jewelers have a tool called the ASET (Angular Spectrum Evaluation Tool) which will reveal a well cut diamond, or a not so well cut diamond. What you want to see in a diamond with the ASET device are symmetrical patterns with lots of red which shows brilliance, some blue which is contrast and some green which is light being reflected at a different angle. Continue reading Use Your Smart Phone To Make a Smart Diamond Purchase
The conditions that created diamonds have not existed on this planet for millions of years. Very early in the earth’s history, as solid matter became condensed into a sphere, the material at the heart of the planet became subjected to unbelievable extremes of temperature and pressure. It was the conditions in those deep layers that caused deposits of pure carbon to begin crystalizing into a diamond. A Diamond consists of pure carbon, and although there is no chemical difference between carbon powder and the diamond, the physical difference between carbon powder and the diamond crystal is both enormous and miraculous. Continue reading All About Diamonds