Last updated 10 months ago
The Birthstones for the month of July: Ruby, Sapphire, Onyx, Sardonyx and Carnelian.
Other gemstones for the zodiac signs of Cancer and Leo include: moonstone, emerald, pearl, diamond and tourmaline.
Sapphire is the Ancient Hindu birthstone; it is a talismanic stone for Cancer. The gemstone is found in all colors but the red variety is called Ruby. Sapphire is a symbol of wisdom and authority. Sapphire is known as the “Talisman of Wisdom” and considered a very powerful amulet that arouses inspiration, awakens inspiration, protects against perfidy and envy, and strengthens memory.
Ruby is the modern birthstone for July. It is known as the “King of Gems” named by ancient Hindus. It is a precious gemstone which has been highly prized throughout history. The word Ruby is derived from the Latin word “Ruber” meaning red. The history of the Ruby dates as far back as 2,500 years ago. The most sought after color is “pigeon’s blood” red and larger size stones are very rare. For more information on Ruby, visit our article on Romantic Ruby – July Birthstone
Onyx – is chalcedony quartz found in India, Uruguay, Brazil and California. The color of onyx is black. This gemstone is the ancient Hebrew, Italian and Roman birthstone for July.
Sardonyx – is chalcedony quartz found with a black or brown base with white bands. Sardonyx is the ancient Russian July birthstone. Sardonyx is a type of banded agate. And historically it was used for carving cameos. Sardonyx and Carnelian have been dating as far back 4,000 years to ancient Egyptian Dynasty. Cameos and intaglios have been dated back to the Roman Empire period.
Carnelian – is chalcedony quartz that is a reddish brown color. Carnelian is the ancient Arabic birthstone and is a Zodiac birthstone for the sign of Leo and Virgo. Carnelian and Sardonyx are found in Madagascar, Brazil, Uruguay and India.
At Morgan & Co. Jewellers we specialize in the unique and the unusual. We specialize in custom design, antique, vintage and luxury high end diamond jewelry. Quality is of the utmost importance in both our jewelry and customer service. We have been an authorized Patek Philippe retailer in Los Angeles for over 40 years. For more information go to www.morganjewellers.com.
Last updated 10 months ago
Luxury jewelry items are an investment, and keeping that investment clean and wearable can require time and effort. Check out these resources to learn how to select your jewelry and how to keep it bright and shiny through wear and tear.
If you are searching for the perfect watch or jewelry, or if you need to restore and clean the pieces you already own, contact Morgan & Company Jewellers. We offer professional cleaning and repair, and sell beautiful pieces to Los Angeles area residents. Call us today at (424) 652-5061.
Last updated 10 months ago
A luxury watch is an accessory that you can enjoy for many years and use on a daily basis. Whether you purchase a new luxury watch or prefer an antique model, good care is essential. Read this article to learn how to care for each part of your new acquisition and keep it running in top condition.
The Case
Your watch’s covering should be sturdy, but you should take care to only use your watch during appropriate activities. You should use an athletic watch for activities that could scratch or damage the watch. Only waterproof watches should be taken in water, and their water resistance should be checked yearly. For general wear, your watch should be cleaned with a soft cloth every few weeks. Metal watch bands can be washed with soapy water and a soft brush.
The Strap
Many luxury watches have beautiful leather straps, and these require special care. Most importantly, you should never allow your leather straps to get wet. Wet leather can weaken or tear. Women who wear perfume should avoid allowing the perfume and leather wristband to come into contact, as perfume can damage the leather. Extreme heat and cold can damage leather as well, so avoid leaving your watch in severe conditions when possible.
The Mechanics
Each variety of watch requires different mechanical care. A watch that requires winding will last best when wound fully, but not over-wound, at the same time each day. Self-winding watches require winding once every two weeks if they are worn daily. Quartz watches should have the battery replaced every two to three years to prevent corruption. Some vendors recommend having the watch overhauled every five years to ensure peak performance and accurate timekeeping.
If you are interested in purchasing a long-lasting and gorgeous timepiece, visit Morgan & Company Jewellers. We provide the Los Angeles area with beautiful Patek Philippe watches, antique and estate jewelry, and cleaning and repair services. Call us today at (424) 652-5061 to find out more.
Last updated 10 months ago
Your antique and estate jewelry is valuable for more than monetary reasons; many of those pieces may be family heirlooms. Because you love them, you want to keep them in excellent shape. Storing them in a messy pile or drawer may result in scratching and damage, not to mention a headache whenever you try to find one specific piece.
One great solution for your jewelry knot is hanging your pieces in picture frames. Whether you install small hooks at the top of a frame to hang your necklaces or line a frame with a screen to hang earrings, a frame can keep your jewelry safe from damage and easy to locate. To learn how to make a jewelry frame, watch this short video.
If you are looking for beautiful antique and estate jewelry, or if you want to have your jewelry restored, contact Morgan & Company Jewellers in Los Angeles. Call us today at (424) 652-5061 for more information.
Last updated 10 months ago
Moonstone – Balance, Good Fortune and Tender Fortune – Moonstone has a play of light that is also known as ‘adularescence’ making it a very unique gemstone. Adularescence is a phenomenon where light is refracted and scattered in the stone. The refraction occurs as light bounces off of the construction of the gemstone; it displays a unique light effect.
This gemstone was used by French master goldsmith Rene Lalique who was well known jewelry designer during the Art Nouveau era. The opal was very popular during this era and was often used in jewelry.
There are price differences between finer quality moonstone and moonstone that are lacking color. The more intense the color, the larger the size and its transparency will make the moonstone more desirable and of higher value. When a fine bluish moonstone is moved under the light, it will display an amazing three-dimensional depth of color. There are a higher prices for rare specimens, where Indian moonstones are much more reasonably priced and are used in fashion jewelry.
Colors can range between beige-brown, green, blue, orange and brown. The gemstone is part of a large mineral group called feldspar. It can be found in Sri Lanka, U.S.A., Brazil, Australia, Myanmar and Madagascar.
Alexandrite – Balance, Confidence, Joy – Alexandrite is a phenomenal gemstone that displays a color change. The gemstone is green or bluish-green by daylight and turns red to purplish red indoors in incandescent light, “Emerald by Day and Ruby by Night”.
It was discovered around the 1830’s in emerald mines in the Urals near the Tokovaya River. The rare gemstone is named after the Tsar of Russia, Alexander II who had just turned of age during this time period. And because of its natural colors which show blue and red, the old imperial colors of Russia; it became the national stone of Tsarist Russia.
Alexandrite also found its way into Victorian jewelry. The gemstone is very rare to find in modern jewelry. The original source in Russia has been exhausted. There was a new source found in the late 80’s in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Other known sources where Alexandrite can be found are Madagascar, India, Burma and Zimbabwe. Though the stone sin Brazil shows a distinct color change, the green is not as strong as the Russian Alexandrite. Also, some of the Brazilian stones have been found with some chatoyancy where the Russian stones have never displayed this effect.
On the Mohs scale of hardness it is rated at 8.5.
Pearl – Modesty, Purity, Beauty, and Happiness – The Pearl is an organic gemstone that was very rare because it happened per chance. Today pearls are cultured by man, meaning that a bead is placed inside of the oyster which then secretes nacre onto the bead. As the layers of nacre form over the bead, the pearl begins to form (taking several years). The bead is made with mother of pearl and the culturing process guarantees that the pearl will then be rounded in shape.
To read more about pearls visit our Morgan & Company Jewellers website.
At Morgan & Co. Jewellers we specialize in Antique Jewelry, Custom Design and Patek Philippe watches both new and vintage. We specialize in the highest quality gemstones. For more information visit our website at www.morganjewellers.com
