Posts Tagged ‘gemstones’
GRAFF
Posted on: October 17, 2011
The House of Graff is synonymous with the most fabulous jewels in the world. Graff jewelry house is the impersonation of rarity, beauty, excellence, quality, craftsmanship and a girl’s best friend – diamonds. The name symbolizes rarity, beauty, excellence, and, above all, the best quality, craftsmanship and diamonds.
A diamond company extraordinaire, Graff produces polished diamonds from the rough sourced from the mines all around the world. One of the leading diamond companies Graff, has more than 300 qualified staff cutting raw gems inJohannesburg,South Africa.
History:
It was founded in London by Laurence Graff in the 1960s and now has worldwide operations which range from cutting the raw stones and manufacture of jewelry to the final retailing from their 26 boutiques. They specialize in stones of exceptional quality, and are said to have handled more important gems than any other dealer in the world.
Laurence Graff was born and raised inLondon, starting an apprenticeship with a jeweller in theHattonGardenjewellery district at an early age. Within a short space of time he began making his own pieces and by the time he was 24 years old he had opened two jewellery shops inLondon. He started travelling the world, creating more important diamond pieces as his clientele grew. By the age of 30 Graff had built up one of the largest jewellery manufacturing businesses inBritain, and counted some of the world’s wealthiest individuals as his customers. In 1973 Graff became the first jeweller to be presented with the Queen’s Award to Industry and Export, an award he would go on to win on three more occasions. In the same year he opened his first major retail establishment inLondon’s prestigious Knightsbridge. The Graff brand grew and the opening of the flagship store inNew Bond Streetsignalled the beginning of a new era of exclusivity and global luxury brand expansion. Soon, other stores followed inMonte Carlo,New YorkandChicagoand today Graff is a preeminent diamond jewellery brand, with more than 30 stores worldwide and corporate offices inLondon,New York,Geneva, Hong Kong andTokyo. Laurence Graff is the controlling shareholder in the South African Diamond Corporation (SAFDICO) a diamond wholesaler and manufacturer based inJohannesburg. Manufacturing operations inJohannesburg,Antwerp,New YorkandBotswana, cut and polish tens of thousands of Graff diamonds every year. These diamonds are then used to create Graff’s unique jewellery by the designers and master craftsmen based at the headquarters inLondon’sMayfair.Botswanais home to The SAFDICO Diamond Technology Park, the central hub for the country’s burgeoning diamond cutting industry, employing 500 people and using state of the art technology and skill. Graff is also a major shareholder in Gem Diamonds, a publicly quoted company, mining for diamonds worldwide.
A world leader within the diamond industry, Laurence Graff is equally devoted to philanthropic and humanitarian causes. In addition to supporting an array of charities through the Graff Diamonds Foundation, Graff also established FACET (For Africa’s Children Every Time), devoted to distributing funds for the education, health and welfare of children throughoutAfrica. The Graff Leadership Centre inLesothodirectly benefits from funding from FACET and acts as a training centre, hostel and home to 50 orphan girls, victims of the AIDS and HIV epidemic.
An avid collector of modern and contemporary art, Laurence Graff sits on the Executive Committees of the International Director’s Council of theGuggenheimMuseuminNew York, the International Council of the Tate Modern inLondon, theBerggruenMuseuminBerlinand is an International Trustee and full board member of theMuseumofContemporary ArtinLos Angeles. A diamond company extraordinaire, Graff produces polished diamonds from the rough sourced from mines around the world, making it one of the world’s leading diamond companies. Tens of thousands of carats of rough diamonds are cut and polished by a team of over 300 in Graff’s diamond cutting facility based inJohannesburg,South Africa. Each jewel is unique, from the perfectly cut diamond to the magnificent hand finished piece.
Diamonds:
Laurence Graff has handled the most fabulous and treasured gemstones and diamonds in the world, including The Idol’s Eye, The Emperor Maximillian, The Porter Rhodes, The Windsor Diamonds, The Hope of Africa, The Begum Blue, The Paragon, The Star of America, The Golden Star, The Wittelsbach-Graff and The Lesotho Promise, The Delaire Sunriseand The Graff Constellation to name but a few. Graff remembers, ‘When I came across my first diamond I was struck, mesmerized. I felt that I could see right inside the stone and could tell you what it contained. It was an inherent feeling which turned into a lifetime passion. The hunt for diamonds goes on. We search on a daily basis for stones in the rough or polished. The best stones are rarer than anyone could ever imagine.
Symbolising the brand and the values it stands for, Laurence Graff oversees the finding and production of the unique and exceptional diamonds he has always loved. Having set an unsurpassed standard of excellence and innovation in the industry, it has been said that he has handled more important quality gemstones than any other Diamantaire.
Laurence Graff, says about his passion for diamonds: “Diamonds excite me; diamonds are my life – I see inside the stone, look at the color and cut and assess its natural beauty and value – I was born to be amongst diamonds”.
With workshops around the world:Antwerp,London,Johannesburg,MauritiusandNew York, Graff refines the best diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphires and pearls. Graff is involved in all stages of making a jewel, from the mining, cutting and polishing of the diamond, the initial vision and design of the piece through to the final exquisite Graff jewelry.
CHARRIOL
Posted on: September 27, 2011
Charriol is a Swiss manufacturer of jewellery, watches, and other accessories. Charriol is one of the largest makers of wristwatches in the world. The company was founded in Geneva by Philippe Charriol, a French entrepreneur. It later relocated its headquarters to Geneva. The company competes with the likes of Rolex, Chopard, Cartier, and David Yurman.
Charriol was founded in 1983, when Philippe Charriol decided to launch the company all across the America, Asia, and Europe. His signature style, introduced first in watches and then in other jewelry items, is based on a twisted cable design used by the ancient Celts. Headquartered inGeneva, the brand has expanded throughout Asia, theUnited StatesandEurope. By mid-2009, the Charriol line could be found in 3,200 retailers, 485 upscale “Charriol Corners” stores, and 71 Charriol boutiques.
In 1989, he would go on to later open the first Charriol boutique in Geneva, followed by three others in Hong Kong.Following the success of his initial Celtic Collection, Charriol introduced a line of writing instruments and leather goods in 1989.
Charriol continued to expand throughout the decade, opening the company’s first U.S. boutique in 1994 and its first boutique in China in 1995. In 1999, the brand changed its name from Philippe Charriol to simply Charriol.
The Brand
- According to Luxury Bazaar, “The ‘Celtic’ concept and the brand owner’s philosophy toward life, ‘L’art de vivre la différence‘ translated as ‘the art of living the difference,’ were embraced by people who wanted to share the same experience and philosophy of life.”
“To create my special style, I work like an alchemist,” he says, “mingling seriousness with exuberance, I never tire in my insistence on the proper function and superb quality of all I create.”
- With a combination of personal charisma, design talent, and generous support of other artists, Philippe Charriol has gained great renown. Advocating a positive attitude towards life, he embraces each day with an optimistic state of mind, and is eager to share this belief with those around him.
In the first five years of the brand’s history, Phillipe Charriol had achieved a phenomenal growth. The brand has been growing on a heatlhy double-digit scale scale ever since.
TrademarkBattle
- Charriol has aggressively fought to protect his brand and threatened to sue anyone who used the Celtic twisted cable in their jewelry designs for trademark infringement. In June 2001, a federal judge in the Southern District of New York ruled that the cable design was ineligible for trademark protection. “That a ‘metallic nautical rope design as an integral feature of the goods’ could be a trademark to identify the source of bracelets, earrings and the like staggers the imagination,” wrote Judge Charles L. Brieant as he ruled in favor of plaintiffs Paul Morelli Design, Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus. The plaintiffs had filed the suit in 1999 after receiving “cease and desist” letters from Charriol.
Expansion
- Even though he lost the trademark lawsuit, Charriol continued to expand his line. In 2002, Charriol celebrated the brand’s 20th anniversary by launching three new collections. In 2007, Charriol expanded his market again by debuting the Celtic Classique collection, a less expensive line that ranges in price from $295 to $795.
Today, the brand has blossomed into an international luxury brand with multi-product collections that range from fine watches, jewelry, and leather goods to writing instruments and eyewear. It has strong market positioning in the Far East region, U.S.A., and Europe. The brand has penetrated into over 2,500 outlets and built up over 40 freestanding boutiques, known as Phillipe Charriol Boutiques.
These achievements are quite impressive for a brand with such a short history. The great success of the brand had been attributed to the suitable pricing, the impeccable “Celtic” design concept, the reliable quality and its coherent, consistent marketing communication program on a worldwide scale.
Azurite Malachite
Posted on: September 26, 2011
Chemical Symbol :
Azurite – Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Malachite – Cu2CO3(OH)2
Chemical Make-up :
Azurite-Malachite is made up of Azurite and Malachite banded together. Both gemstones are made up of basic copper carbonate minerals. The blue of azurite is exceptionally deep and clear, and for that reason the mineral has tended to be associated since antiquity with the deep blue color of low-humidity desert and winter skies. The modern English name of the mineral reflects this association, since both azurite and azure are derived via Arabic from the Persian lazhward (لاژورد), an area known for its deposits of another deep blue stone, lapis lazuli (“stone of azure”).
History:
There is not 100% agreement regarding the exact origins of the name Azurite, but the two most widely accepted opinions are that the word Azurite is derived from either the Arabic word azul, or the Persian word lazhward, both of which translate to the color blue.
Malachite gets its name from the Greek word moloche, meaning mallow, which makes reference to Malachite’s green color.
Azurite-Malachite was previously said to help cure convulsions and to act as a local anaesthetic. Malachite was cited as a natural healer and Azurite helped the wearer to listen to themselves and to unlock previously hidden talents.
In some ancient civilizations Malachite was thought to be a protection from evil if worn as jewelry.
Malachite was a popular decorative stone in Czarist Russia, and was used to make the columns of St. Isaac’s Cathedral in Leningrad. Malachite also adorned many walls and even whole rooms of other religious and public buildings.
The European name Chessylite is from a famous Azurite locality inChessy,France.
Azurite-Malachite promotes wisdom, increases psychic awareness / ability by unblocking mental blocks and dissipating negativity. Azurite-Malachite enables the wearer to look inside themselves with greater ease and understanding. Azurite is associated with the Third Eye and Throat Chakras and considered an aid to meditation.
Sources :
There are known Azurite-Malachite deposits in Australia, Chile, England, France, Germany, Greece, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, United States (Arizona, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Utah), and Zaire.
Evaluation :
Azurite-Malachite is rated at 3.5 – 4 on the Moh’s Scale of Hardness, meaning that this gemstone is best suited to brooches, earrings and pendants, although it is often set in rings.
Cleaning :
Azurite-Malachite is a soft stone and particularly susceptible to acids, even in diluted form. The best way therefore to clean your Azurite Malachite is with warm, soapy water and a soft cloth. Always be sure to store your Azurite- Malachite jewelry away afrom and seperate to harder gems / jewelry which may scratch this softer stone.
Jewelry
Azurite is used occasionally as beads and as jewelry, and also as an ornamental stone. However, its softness and tendency to lose its deep blue color as it weathers limit such uses. Heating destroys azurite easily, so all mounting of azurite specimens must be done at room temperature. The intense color of azurite makes it a popular collector’s stone. However, bright light, heat, and open air all tend to reduce the intensity of its color over time. To help preserve the deep blue color of a pristine azurite specimen, collectors should use a cool, dark, sealed storage environment similar to that of its original natural setting.
One important point about the ISG courses is that they combine the materials of the FGA and Graduate Gemologist programs. Allowing students to get the best of both worlds for a very small price. And due to the easy to understand nature of the courses, even GIA and FGA students are enrolled in the ISG as additional study help with their other programs.
Just announced is their new Gemology Classroom-At-Home program that provides students with practical gemstone identification and grading experience at home. So the ISG is the first pick in gemology for those seeking a quality education at an affordable price.
Courses:
Registered Gemologist Appraiser
The ISG Registered Gemologist Appraiser Program is the world leader in gemological and jewelry insurance appraisal education. This package includes eight (8) courses in gemology and jewelry appraisal as listed below. It includes the full Gemology Classroom-At-Home DVD lecture series of study. This program is for those who wish to study gemology and jewelry insurance appraisal. Successful completion of this program awards the student the ISG Registered Gemologist Appraiser title.
This program does not require any previous gemological training. Courses are delivered online and through CD via PDF Adobe Reader files, and through the ISG DVD Lecture series videos. There are no other books or other materials required. Gemological equipment is required as outlined below.
1. introduction to watches
2. pearls cours
3. diamonds course
4. colored gemstone indentification
5. colored gemstone grading
6. indentification of synthetic and treated gemstones
7. jewelry insurance appraisal
8. evaluating damages jewelry
Certificates and Diplomas: A Certificate of Completion after each course, the Registered Gemologist and Registered Gemologist Appraiser diplomas are awarded after completing all courses, final exams, and practical exams. Final exam includes online written exam and a practical gem identification exam sent to you for completion and return to the ISG office.
ISG RGA Program for Professionals
Eligibility: The ISG Registered Gemologist Appraiser title is now available to graduates of other recognized gemological schools and institutes. Graduates holding the following professional gemology titles may participate in the ISG Appraisal Program without the need to take the full Gemology Program:
- ISG Registered Gemologist
- Canadian Institute of Gemmology
- GIA Graduate Gemologist
- Gemologist, GIA
- FGA of the Gem-A
- TIJT Gemology Program Graduate
- AIGS, Thailand
- FCGmA Canadian Gemological Association
- GAA Australia
- Certified Gemologist, American Gem Society
- Certified Gemologist Appraiser, American Gem Society
Program Description: The ISG Appraisal Program for industry professionals is composed of five courses: Introduction to Watches, Pearls Course, Identification of Synthetic Gemstones, Jewelry Insurance Appraisal and Evaluating Damage Jewelry. The Introduction to Watches, Pearls and Identification of Synthetic Gemstones courses are intended to bring your gemology education up to the level required for our Registered Gemologist Appraiser program. The Jewelry Insurance Appraisal and Evaluating Damaged Jewelry courses are unique in the industry and are required of all RGA candidates. Both of these courses are based on our insurance industry certified Continuing Education courses that we teach to insurance agents and adjusters. These courses have been developed by licensed insurance professionals with many years experience in the handling of actual jewelry insurance claims. The courses are based on studies of actual insurance claims, with photographs and case study that can only be found in our program. Courses are delivered via online or .PDF downloads of the course notes, and DVD Lectures that accompany the individual lessons. You will be studying with professional, licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Adjusters with professional designations from the GIA, Gem-A, AGS, and ISG.
Registered Gemologist
The ISG Registered Gemologist Program is the world leader in gemological education. This package includes the full ISG Gemology Course Program. It includes four (4) gemology courses listed below and the full Gemology Classroom-At-Home DVD lecture series of study. This program is for those who wish to study gemology for professional or personal use, but do not want to go into jewelry appraisal. Successful completion of this program awards the student the ISG Registered Gemologist title.
This program does not require any previous gemological training. Courses are delivered online and through CD via PDF Adobe Reader files, and through the ISG DVD Lecture series videos. There are no other books or other materials required. Gemological equipment is required as outlined below.
Also there is many specific courses like: diamonds, Gem ID, Gem Grading, Synthetic ID, Watches, Pearls, Damage, Appraisal.
for more information check thir official website: http://www.schoolofgemology.com
jewelrypassion 