Wearing jewelry is a great way to pull together a whole outfit while at the same time showing glimpses of your personality by having an accessory that pops. It feels wonderful to have a beautiful necklace, bracelet, or ring that turns heads as you pass by. However, not everyone can wear certain types of jewelry as they may be allergic to the metal material the piece is crafted from.

When it comes to figuring out if you have a jewelry allergy, you will want to observe areas of your body where the jewelry touches. This will be your best bet of noticing any signs of allergies as you skin will begin to itch and turn red, and sometimes leave a rash. Common signs of jewelry allergies include:

• Rash on the neck.
• Itchy earlobes.
• Red marks where the jewelry touches.
• Swelling.
• Blisters

The most common type of jewelry allergy is jewelry that is made from nickel. Nickel is a natural white metal that is usually mixed with other metals to create an alloy. In jewelry nickel can be found in earring posts, body jewelry, eyeglass frames, watchbands, buttons, zippers, and costume jewelry.

To avoid getting signs of jewelry allergies and prevent potential rashes, you will need to investigate the types of metals your jewelry is made of. Types of hypoallergenic jewelry material include:

• Platinum
• 18K Gold
• Titanium
• Copper
• Fine Silver
• Sterling Silver
• Stainless Steel

The best thing to do to prevent jewelry allergies is to simply switch the metals of the jewelry to any one of the hypoallergenic jewelry materials listed above. You will also want to stay away from plated pieces such as German silver, nickel silver, and most costume jewelry. These materials tend to rely heavily on nickel as a filler element. Another tactic you can do is keeping your jewelry clean and free of tarnish that could cause the allergies symptoms to appear. If there are pieces you just can’t get rid of and you know they cause a rash, try wearing them for short periods of time. While wearing these pieces, make sure the skin it will encounter is kept dry.

For extra protection, reach out to your jeweler to see if they can add a layer of metal or film to the parts that will touch your skin. That way, your skin will be protected and not react when wearing the allergy causing jewelry. If you are looking for a quick solution, many people have found that adding a coat of nail polish to the jewelry prevents irritation to the skin.

If you are interested in more information on hypoallergenic jewelry or would like to create your own jewelry with these metals, contact Bostonian Jewelers today!

Dating back over 100 years, antique jewelry is rare to find but for those of you who have a piece or two, it's important to keep it in pristine condition.

From the Georgian Era to the Industrial Revolution, antique jewelry is classified by which era it came from. If you adore silver lockets and gold brooches, or turquoise gemstones that glimmer in the sunlight, opt for antique jewelry from the Victorian Romantic Era. Prefer opals? You'll want to look into antique jewelry from the Art Nouveau Era. Regarldess of your unique style, antique jewelry can be found in a variety of styles depending on the era.

Before we discuss why a professional should restore your antique jewelry, let's explore some maintenance tips and why you should avoid restoring on your own.

Storage: Storing your special antique jewelry in a safe spot is critical, especially if this is a piece that belonged to a loved one. Keep antique jewelry in a cotton-lined box to avoid scratches and if possible, use an anti-tarnish paper tab for the following:

• Bronze
• Base Metals
• Brass
• Tin
• Gold
• Silver
• Nickel
• Copper

Anti-tarnish paper will last one year when placed in an air-tight container. You can also invest in an anti-corrosion zip-lock bag which is a more affordable choice.

Wearing Antique Jewelry: It may come as a surprise that there is more to simply slipping on antique jewelry. Make sure you don't apply hairspray or perfume on the jewelry and always take off antique jewelry prior to bathing, swimming, or any activity that includes water.

Since antique jewelry is over 100 years old, it's highly encouraged to bring your jewelry to a professional. If you attempt to clean your antique jewelry, you could potentially damage it which will decrease its value. You may be eager to clean over a gemstone quickly, but if it's loose in the setting you could pull the gemstone right out.

One of the most common problems with DIY antique restoration is the clasp breaking. Most necklaces and bracelets have clasps, bails, or stems and these can easily break during a cleaning when pinched too hard. Although there are plenty of cleaning solutions on the market, these may actually cause further damage such as weakening the enamel.

It's unavoidable that antique jewelry will erode over time, but giving it a quick cleaning will not suffice. Professional jewelers have years of experience repairing and restoring a variety of jewelry which means they understand the problems that come with Edwardian Jewelry vs. Georgian Jewelry, etc. Jewelers have specific tools designed to recut worn gems, replace stones, and rebuild prongs.

Jewelers have a keen eye for detail and a steady hand which ensures your jewelry gets restored perfectly, and in a timely manner. There are a series of steps involved in the restoration process such as stone replacement and prong maintenance, which can only be accomplished by an experienced jeweler.

At Bostonian Jewelers, we have years of experience providing the Greater Boston Area with antique jewelry repair and restoration services. It's important that each and every client leaves with their heirlooms in impeccable condition. From cleaning and polishing to fixing bent rings to repairing broken gemstones, we offer a number of services.If you are interested in any of our jewelry services or would like to purchase any of our in-stock jewelry, contact us today!

Now that you have found the perfect partner in life, it is time to find the ideal engagement ring. You’ve decided that this is the moment, but you don’t know where to begin or maybe even what you are looking for. Do you go with a traditional ring? Do you create a custom engagement ring? What do you need to know before you go engagement ring shopping? The following tips provide direction and clarity in your journey to procuring the perfect ring.

Where to begin? It is best to start with the center stone. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) created a universal method for establishing diamond quality. This system is referenced as the 4 Cs - cut, clarity, color, and carat. These four characteristics determine a diamond’s quality.

The 4 Cs: 

• Cut 

  People often think of the cut of a diamond as its shape – round, emerald, etc. – but the cut of a diamond refers to its reflective quality of a diamond. The cut is what gives it brightness and brilliance. Diamond cut is graded on a scale of five levels: Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. 
  
  
  
  
  • The clarity scale below, courtesy of the GIA, includes 11 different clarity characteristics:
  • Flawless (FL) - No inclusions or blemishes are visible to a skilled grader using 10× magnification
  • Internally Flawless (IF) - No inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader using 10× magnification
  • Very, Very Slightly Included (VVS1 and VVS2) - Inclusions are difficult for a skilled grader to see under 10× magnification
  • Very Slightly Included (VS1 and VS2) - Inclusions are minor and range from difficult to somewhat easy for a skilled grader to see under 10x magnification
  • Slightly Included (SI1 and SI2) - Inclusions are noticeable to a skilled grader under 10x magnification
  • Included (I1, I2, and I3) - Inclusions are obvious under 10× magnification and may affect transparency and brilliance
  • Most diamonds falling into the VS (very slightly included) or SI (slightly included) categories.

• Clarity

• Color

• Carat

 A carat is how the weight of a diamond is measured. Because small diamonds are more readily available, larger stones are more expensive. While many things factor into the price of a diamond, carat size does set the bar. 

Ring Setting 

• Once you have picked your stone, choosing a setting is the next step. There are countless settings to choose from, or you can custom design your ring. Many people custom design their engagement ring and custom design other pieces of jewelry as well. The setting is considered the foundation of your ring. The setting you select can be based on the wearer’s personal style and lifestyle. There are many different types of settings. Some of these include solitaire, vintage, two/three stone, bezel, flush, tension, pave, cluster, eternity band, channel, halo and many more. For a little guidance, below are some descriptions of the most popular settings.
  
  
• Solitaire – The solitaire is a classic and common setting. It is a prong setting where the prongs hold the diamond in place.
  
  
• Vintage - A vintage setting gives the appearance of a certain period, like Art Deco or Victorian. These settings often have very intricate detail work, like filigree or millgrain. 
  
  
• Two or three stone – A two of three-stone setting has the two or three stones set close together, and they can be all the same size or different sizes. This type of ring can also be a customized ring with varying stones on the side such as a stone with meaning like a birthstone.
  
  
• Bezel - A bezel setting lends to a more modern look, where the stone is kept in place by a metal surround instead of prongs.
  
  
• Tension – In a tension setting, the diamond appears to be suspended between the two sides of the band. 
  
  
• Pavé – A pavé setting sets small diamonds tightly together, creating continuous sparkle.
  
  
• Cluster – A cluster setting has stones clustered together, to give the illusion of one large diamond. 
  
  
• Eternity – An eternity band is where diamonds are inlaid into the entire length of the ring band. This is also a trendy style for a wedding band.
  
  
• Channel – A channel enables a set of smaller stones to be set securely in a row into the band of the ring. This style may also be used a wedding band like the eternity setting.
  
  
• Halo – In this setting, a metal halo set with small diamonds, surrounds the center stone. This type of setting makes the center stone look more substantial, and increases the sparkle of the ring.
  
  
When choosing the metal for your engagement ring setting, there are several things to consider, including price, longevity, and aesthetics. While the metal you choose for your diamond ring is primarily based on personal preference and style, it is helpful to consider the main differences in composition and price. Several different types of metals are used to create stunning engagement rings.

Stone Shape

• There ten different diamond shapes: round, princess, radiant, cushion, emerald, marquise, oval, pear, heart, and Asscher. Each shape has its beauty. It comes down to which style represents your personality.

• Round – The round cut is the most commonly chosen shape for an engagement ring. When cut, color and clarity are all equal in two diamonds the round diamond is usually more valuable.
  
  
• Princess - A princess cut diamond is a square stone with 90-degree corners.
  
  
• Radiant - A radiant diamond is a beautiful combination of a round cut and an emerald cut. 
  
  
• Cushion – A cushion shape is a square or rectangle stone with rounded corners and sides. 
  
  
• Emerald - An emerald cut diamonds are usually rectangular with beveled corners. 
  
  
• Marquise - A marquise cut is an elongated stone with pointed ends. 
  
  
• Oval – Due to its elongated shape, the oval cut can appear more substantial than a round diamond of equal carat size. 
  
  
• Pear - A pear-shaped diamond, which resembles a teardrop, is a cross between a round and marquise cut. 
  
  
• Heart - A heart-shaped diamond symbolizes love.
  
  
• Asscher – An Asscher-shaped diamond looks similar to an emerald cut. It is typically square and has a visible “X” pattern when viewed from the top.

Metals 

• When choosing the metal for your engagement ring setting, there are several things to consider, including price, longevity, and aesthetics. While the metal you choose for your diamond ring is primarily based on personal preference and style, it is helpful to consider the main differences in composition and price. Several different types of metals are used to create stunning engagement rings.

• Platinum – Platinum is a durable, white metal that is shiny and beautiful. Platinum is more rare than gold. It is also a very dense metal which will make the ring heavier on the hand than other metals. It will not fade or change color. It is also hypoallergenic. Because of its strength, it is a popular choice for engagement rings.
  
  
• Gold – Gold is a very versatile metal with several different color variations, including yellow, white and rose. The gold purity used in creating rings is usually 18K or 14K. An 18K ring has a more vibrant yellow color, as it contains more gold than a 14K. You will not see engagement rings in 24K, as its far too soft to withstand daily wear and tear. 
  
  
• Yellow Gold - Yellow gold is traditionally the most popular in the gold family. Pure gold is mixed with a little silver and copper to create a warm look.
  
  
• White gold – White gold is a combination of pure gold with palladium and silver, and on occasion, with nickel, copper or zinc. White gold and platinum look identical to the naked eye. 
  
  
• Rose Gold – Rose gold is a combination of pure gold and copper to create a beautiful rose color. 
  
  
• Palladium - Palladium is included in the platinum family of metals. It is durable, and resilient to discoloration. The main difference between the two is that Palladium is very lightweight, and has a reflective sheen. 
  
  
• Titanium – Titanium has recently increased in popularity for wedding ring metal. It is extremely lightweight and has a very modern look. It also comes in a variety of colors, including black, grey and silver. It is also hypoallergenic.

Budget 

• Before you begin shopping for an engagement ring, you must determine your budget. A common benchmark for spending for a diamond engagement ring is the equivalent of two-months’ salary, but you need to decide what works best for you. Once you have your budget in place, it is essential to find a qualified jeweler. A good jeweler will help you to pick out the perfect ring and help you work within your budget.

  Selecting a diamond that is slightly under the one-carat cutoff. Purchasing a 0.99 carat ring instead of a 1.0 carat stone will not look significantly different, but can save you money.

  According to the 4Cs guidelines for buying a diamond, the cut has the most impact on a diamond’s sparkle. Pick the highest cut grade you can afford. Go with a gold band. If you like the look of platinum, but it doesn’t work with your budget, consider white gold.

  Pick a setting that has more detail, such as a Halo. This enables you to select a smaller center stone, but the ring will still have significant sparkle. Consider a solitaire diamond with no side stones. Simple and elegant.

  Look at options other than diamonds. Customize your engagement ring with a colored stone instead of a diamond.

  Select an eternity band with diamonds around the setting, but no center stone. Be an educated consumer. Do your research.

Creating a memory

• Getting engaged can be overwhelming. When the time comes, it is important to remember that deciding to get married is about much more than cut, color, and clarity.

  Whether you decide to shop for a ring together, have a surprise proposal or custom design your ring, choosing an engagement ring is the moment that will begin the rest of your life. At Bostonian Jewelers, creating engagement rings in Boston is our specialty. Visit us for more inspiration, or contact us to schedule a consultation.

About Custom Jewelry Design Services

Searching for the perfect engagement ring for your significant other can be a slow-moving process when you’re trying to cater to their style. This also holds true when browsing rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings, which is why many people opt for custom designed jewelry instead.

It’s important to note the core differences between custom jewelry and customized jewelry. If you want to engrave someone’s name on a ring or add an inspirational quote, this would be considered customized jewelry.

Custom jewelry, on the other hand, is completely original and is used only once. You can model your ring after an item you found online but you’ll recreate it with your jeweler and put your own spin on it. Additionally, you can take a diamond from a ring and incorporate it into another piece of jewelry; there are limitless options.

Engagement rings are one of the more popular custom designed pieces of jewelry, and for good reason. Engagement rings are worn everyday so it’s worth it to tailor the details of your ring. This also acts as a symbol of your commitment and devotion to your partner. As an alternative to purchasing a mass-produced engagement ring, you are going the extra mile to create a unique design.

Rather than sacrificing your budget, you can create a ring that works for you without breaking the bank. Jewelry that is massed produced does not get the attention it deserves but custom jewelry is created using high-quality stones and metals, and the jeweler works diligently to create exactly what you need. Customized engagement rings are based on emotion which adds tremendous value. You can visualize a memory and incorporate it into your design which your fiancée is sure to appreciate.

While it does take time to create the design and get approval, you’ll be purchasing jewelry that reflects your vision

The artisans at Bostonian Jewelers create a 3-D model so you can see your design come to life. Our goldsmiths make sure to melt, forge, cut, bend, solder and weld metals into gorgeous works of art. From here, our gemstone experts find the right size, color saturation and shape for your design. We also set the gemstone in place using specialized setting techniques and buff out the end product, so your jewelry is ready to wear. We never compromise quality as it is our mission to provide our clients with timeless jewelry that they are proud to wear.

If you are interested in learning more about custom jewelry design and would like to schedule and appoint to start designing a piece of your very own, contact us today!

Jewelry is more than an accessory or statement piece, it’s a way to express your individuality and showcase how truly unique you are. Whether you’re dripping in gold or wrapped in pearls, it’s important that your jewelry remains in pristine condition.

Over time, jewelry can get worn down or damaged which prevents us from wearing our beloved pieces. Fortunately, jewelry repair services are available to quickly remedy the issue. From broken necklace clasps to broken earrings, professional jewelry technicians will provide their expert knowledge and know-how to quickly and efficiently repair your jewelry.

Prior to repairing your jewelry, be sure to ask the following questions.

This should be your first question. Don’t be afraid to research several jewelers in the area to see what they can offer and what type of affiliations they’ve had within the jewelry industry, the type of work they’ve done and who they’ve done it for. How many years of experience they have, this is generally a good indicator of the quality of work to expect, if the business has been around a long while you might expect to pay a bit more for the services but also expect to have your expectations exceeded in every way. Check out customer reviews so you hear other honest opinions. After all, you wouldn’t go to a mechanic if he isn’t top-notch, right? Finding an experienced jewelry technician is the same as any other service.

If the jewelry is sent out for repairs, it’s going to be a longer process. There are plenty of jewelry shops where basic repairs are made such as soldering chains, fixing cracked rings and sizing rings. However, jewelry that is sent out is at a greater risk for getting damaged or lost so don’t hesitate to ask the jeweler if the jewelry will be mailed out.

Numerous types of jewelry can be repaired such as diamond rings, pearl earrings, gold chains and watches. The most common types of jewelry repair are:

• Shank work - ringsizing, mountin, sodering
• Prong replacement and restoration
• Epoxy finishing, ring celaning and refinishing,
• Rhodium and gold plating
• Clasp repair - fish hooks, lobster claws, box clasps, etc.
• Pearl restringing
• Ring engraving
• Earring Repair
• Gold link rebuilding
• Watch link removal & battery replacement

There’s so much more that an expert jewelry technician can do. Regardless of how complex your jewelry repair may be, ask a jeweler to see what they can do.

There is no set pricing on jewelry repair, so you’ll need to discuss this with the jeweler. Browse a few places to get a price comparison. Sizing can start as low as $30, shanking can be between $110-$200 and ring repairs tend to be $30+. To really narrow this down, we’ve listed a few common jewelry repair services and their price range.

• Chain soldering: $20-$250
• Clasp replacement: $12-$250
• Stone resetting: $20-$250

A polishing is sometimes free but the maximum you’ll pay is around $40. Although jewelry may cost thousands of dollars, you won’t expect to pay nearly that much when it comes to a repair.

Lastly, make sure you get a time frame prior to dropping off the damaged jewelry. Every jewelry store will provide you with a reasonable time of completion, so you aren’t waiting anxiously. Small repairs can take only 10 minutes while others can take 7-10 days. Some machinery will help the jewelry technician move a bit faster, but others choose to work by hand. In some cases, you may need a specific piece that the jeweler simply doesn’t have in stock. If the jeweler needs to replace something that is missing such as a stone or mounting, this will take a bit more time.

If you’re in need of jewelry repair in the Boston area, contactthe team at Bostonian Jewelers at 617.523.2934.

What is rhodium and why it’s used; When platinum is mined, six metals are extracted during the refining process, the metals that are extracted are, Platinum, Iridium, Ruthenium, Palladium, Osmium, and Rhodium. All the metals from the platinum family group are used in many ways within the jewelry industry but this is a topic for another blog, for now we’ll focus on rhodium. As a manufacturing jeweler whenever we create an item which involves white gold the final step is always to bathe the item in rhodium solution, the reason for this is that rhodium gives the final finish a much whiter almost a platinum like appearance, giving the end result a more presentable appearance to the person receiving the piece of jewelry that has been rhodium plated, it also allows the eye to receive a much stronger color contrast particularly when the item has multi colors involved, such as yellow or rose gold or green gold.

Rhodium is purchased in liquid form in either a concentrate or in a diluted form and must be used in a well vented area due to the toxic acids and chemicals that allow the rhodium metal to stay in liquid form prior to being extracted during the plating process. both the concentrate and diluted solutions have similar end results visually, but we at Bostonian Jewelers prefer to purchase it in a concentrated form, this allows us to have more control over the strength of it and also get a much better bond to the metal that the rhodium is being applied to and keep it in good working order throughout it’s lifespan by adding fresh concentrate and distilled water when the liquid starts to evaporate or becomes weaker as the rhodium is becoming depleted from the liquid.

How it’s done

First step;
Within a well ventilated environment the jewelry to be rhodium plated is Electro-cleaned by being submerged and bathed in a solution that will remove all of the grease and any other debris that may have accumulated on the surfaces of the metal when is has gone through the process of polishing and cleaning, the end results are surgically clean surfaces.

Second step;
The liquid rhodium concentrate is mixed with some distilled water and placed in pyrex beaker, a platinum anode which we created in our workshop in platinum is inserted into the liquid rhodium and a positive output wire clamp is attached to the anode, a negative output wire is then in contact with the item being plated, and the jewelry being plated is submerged into the liquid rhodium.

Third step;
The liquid rhodium is then heated so that it’s hot but not boiling and the item attached to the negative current is submerged into the solution. Electronic currents are then applied which then force the rhodium that is within the rhodium liquid solution to adhere to the surfaces of the jewelry item being plated.

Fourth step;
The item rhodium plated is then put into a box of woodchips which absorbs any remaining rhodium solution on its surfaces then ultrasonically cleaned and steamed.

Rhodium plating when there are other metal colors involved;

First step;
The jeweler will mask all the colors that not going to be plated with an acrylic that can easily be removed once the process is complete, this leaves the un-masked white metal to be the only metal exposed to the liquid rhodium solution.

Second Step;
The Item masked then is submerged into a rhodium bath with some slight agitation for eight to ten seconds. Once removed from the liquid rhodium the item is put into some fine wood chips which will absorb the remaining rhodium liquid from the item and then it is ultrasonically cleaned and steamed.

You say it costs less to buy your engagement ring online? Save taxes? Bigger selections? It pays to buy your ring at your local jewelers for a few reasons, and I’m happy to point them out before you decide on your future important jewelry purchases.

Our love of valuable gems hasn’t waned for centuries. Diamonds have continually been held in the greatest esteem, and are of infinite worth, both emotionally and monetarily. And it goes without saying that the single most important piece of jewelry purchased is the engagement ring.

Recently, a young man visited our showroom, intent on designing a custom engagement ring that captured all of the feelings of his heart. During the course of our conversation, he asked about the difference between real diamonds and their synthetic counterparts. His questions included:

In the following, we will both explain what a synthetic - or created - diamond is, as well as provide answers to these common questions.

“Synthetic” is an adjective used to describe a substance made by chemical synthesis, especially to imitate a natural product. In other words, a synthetic diamond is one that has been created in a lab. ( Please note: do not confuse “synthetic” with “imitation” or “simulant.” Synthetic - or created - diamonds have all the characteristics of their natural counterparts. ) These diamonds must be - and are - physically, optically and chemically identical to natural diamonds. Synthetic diamonds are indeed real.

There are two types of synthetic diamonds. The first is called a CVD (Carbon Vapor Deposition) diamond. Its creation is achieved when a thin, wafer-like diamond host is introduced to carbon atoms, which find their sweet spot as they drop onto the host and build up in layers. All of this is done strategically within a clean and controlled environment. Once the desired thickness is achieved, then the host is separated from the new, uncut gem. The host can be used again. The remaining material is cut and faceted into what we know as a brilliant diamond. The second type of synthetic diamond is called an HPHT (high pressure high temperature). There are a few different ways that this is done, but to keep it simple, this process is also accomplished by introducing a seed along with what will become solvents. When molten by high temperature and pressure, the molten metal dissolves and high purity carbon is then transported to the diamond seeds. This precipitates and forms into a large synthetic diamond. The HPHT process has been around a lot longer than the CVD process.

The answer is yes. To the human eye, there is no difference. Even professionally trained gemologists cannot tell the difference. Only a grading laboratory, such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) will be able to spot any differences using very elaborate scientific equipment. It is literally impossible to see a difference otherwise.

A diamond is a diamond. Remember, synthetic diamonds hold their value, and in fact, increase in value, just as their natural counterparts do. They do cost a bit less in the current marketplace than mined diamonds, somewhere between five and 10 percent less. The synthetic diamond industry are keeping their margins low in order to be competitive, thus procuring more funding, which ultimately leads to improved research and increased production.

The answer to this question is subjective and personal. Synthetic diamonds are certainly worthy enough in quality to be presented in an engagement ring. Educating yourself and your partner in comparing natural versus synthetic diamonds is an important step in choosing what direction you want to take.

At Bostonian Jewelers, our designers and gemstone experts know how crucial finding the right gems and the right setting are in your engagement ring journey. We have decades of experience as Boston jewelers, both in creating heirloom pieces that will capture a legacy of family memories, as well as in understanding the story behind every piece of jewelry we design. Come and sit with us, and let us help you keep that story alive. Visit us at www.bostonianjewelers.com for more information.