Ending May Like a Queen

As we wave goodbye to the merry month of May, we consider the beautiful gemstone associated with this month. We speak, of course, of the smaragdus.

“What on Earth is that?”

Oh. Well, perhaps you’re more familiar with the English name: emerald. https://www.gia.edu/emerald-history-lore

Are you celebrating a 20^thor 25^thanniversary, or do you just happen to love a beautiful green?  Ask us about emerald jewelry. (And yes, we can set that emerald you’ve been wanting to do something with.)  

But please, don’t put that emerald under your tongue, no matter what wisdom is rumored to be gained by doing so. Honey, there are other ways to get that kind of information—and it’s quite a procedure to recover the emerald if you happen to swallow it.  

Some say looking at emeralds is restorative, relieving eye strain and reducing stress. We’re all for that. Call the doctor—the San Francisco Jewelry Doctor, that is—at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), and let’s look at some together.  

©2019 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

No More Lost Necklaces!

If you have short hair, consider today’s story a golden opportunity for you to develop empathy since what we’ll be talking about is simply not your problem.

But you say your hair is shoulder-length or longer? Good news! Your days of losing necklaces will soon be behind you.

Let’s talk about the top three ways to lose a necklace.  

1. The necklace has a hook and eye clasp. (Okay, not all hook and eye clasps. Only 99 percent of them.)

“Why?” you may ask. 

Simple. You toss your head, fiddle with your earring, run your fingers through your hair. The necklace sees its opportunity. Freedom! And off it goes.

2. The necklace has a toggle clasp.

Yes, toggles come in many very pretty designs. If you love them, feature them: we can design (or redesign) necklaces with the toggle in the front.

3. The necklace has (moment of silence here) a barrel clasp.

We know. It seems so simple, so easy to use. Tra-la-la. Then you turn your head a few times.  Goodbye, necklace.

“Fine. What do you suggest instead?”

Lobster clasps are hard to beat—as long as they’re the right size.  See “The Necklace is You—But that Clasp?”  

https://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-necklace-is-you-but-that-clasp.html

Ask for a chain instead of a jump ring opposite the lobster, and presto! You can wear the necklace at various lengths.

Spring rings (you know them as that circle with a knob on your gold and silver chains) are also fine. You could also choose a pearl clasp or box clasp. The filigree ones are especially lovely. 

If opening and closing clasps is a challenge these days, magnetic clasps are a great way to go—and there are now magnetic converters that can be attached to your existing necklaces with no restringing necessary.

As to bracelets: loop-and-button fastenings are just wonderful. The sky’s the limit when it comes to button choices, making your bracelet as distinctive as you are.

Got a necklace (or bracelet) with an annoying clasp? Help is at hand. Call your friendly neighborhood* Jewelry Doctor at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), and we’ll replace it with something just as pretty, or even more so—one with real staying power.

*If you can read this, we’re in the neighborhood.

©2019 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

The Necklace is You--But That Clasp?

Once upon a time jewelry was made with clasps that made sense. No, we certainly don’t mean they could carry on a conversation (if yours can, sing out). We mean that they were the proper size for the necklace.  

Then one day somebody somewhere had what seemed to be a bright idea.

“Let’s use smaller clasps so we can save money.”

A capital idea, said the assembled group, which certainly included nobody who ever could have, in a million years, possibly worn a piece of jewelry.

Thus arose the curse of what Roseanne Roseannadana, dreamed up by the late, great Gilda Radner, might have called the “teeny-tiny” little clasp. One that every jewelry-lover hates with a passion, but tolerates because, really, what can you do?

What can you do? Call the doctor! The Jewelry Doctor, that is (415/796-3969; text 415/596-4244). We’ll replace that little monster with something beautiful in keeping with the design of the necklace (yes, that includes chains), and in a size that is just right for you.

©2019 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

Raise Your Right Hand--And Put a Ring On It!

In the United States and some other countries as well, engagement and wedding rings are generally worn on the third finger of the left hand—we call it the “ring finger.” We tend to choose the placement of other rings based on a variety of factors, including their proximity to other rings. But historically each finger had its own significance when it came to holding a ring. Thumb rings and rings on the index finger (or “forefinger”) had special meaning. What did they signify?

Many women love wearing a great ring on their right hand. In the U. S., the trend started in the 1920s and has gained popularity in recent years. 

Right hand ring designs are often dramatic, like this one from Stuller. https://www.stuller.com/products/120817/?groupId=4834&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

And then there are “stacked” right hand rings, cool as you please.  https://www.stuller.com/products/63369/?groupId=32247&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

Here are a couple of our current favorites.  

https://www.stuller.com/products/63374/?groupId=32252&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

https://www.stuller.com/products/120771/?groupId=4752&recommendationSource=SiteSearch  

How about yours? Happy to help with rings for whatever finger you choose—including the one on your left hand. Call the Jewelry Doctor at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), and let’s talk rings!

©2019 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

Jewelry That Brings Back Memories

Today is Memorial Day, a time we remember soldiers who gave their lives in war. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honors those whose identities couldn’t be verified; the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt was created for those lost to HIV-related illness, to keep their memories alive.

Family jewelry can serve a similar purpose. When we wear something that belonged to someone we loved, we carry that person’s memory.   

Here’s a necklace that Carrie brought in. It had belonged to her grandmother. 

https://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2009/05/time-travel.html

Nancy brought her grandmother’s pin. 

https://myjewelrydoctor.blogspot.com/2018/02/spring-comes-early-or-then-and-now.html

Enjoy your family jewelry, and the memories that go with it.  

What’s that? You say it’s sitting in the box because it needs a little TLC? Time to call the doctor—the Jewelry Doctor, that is—at 415/796-3969 [text 415/596-4244]. Soon you’ll be wearing it again, and holding them close as you do.

©2019 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved. 

"You're the One!" Commitment Jewelry.

Some couples know they want to be together, but it’s not yet time to get engaged. So how do you signify “You’re the one!”? (aside from saying it, of course; we’re all for that!)

That’s where commitment (or “promise”) jewelry comes in. 
Commitment jewelry is not ordinary jewelry—well, any jewelry carefully chosen isn’t ordinary, but you know what we mean. Nor is it bridal jewelry. Then what is it? It's jewelry that has special meaning for two people, and demonstrates their bond.

Say you two enjoy spending time in nature. Your commitment ring may be a simple band with a leaf design. Or you might choose a gemstone that you both love, wearing it either set in a ring or in a pendant. (If you’d like to differentiate them, one of you could wear a pear stone and the other, a round one.) Or perhaps your commitment ring will have a “twist” design, signifying that your lives are intertwined.

It doesn’t even have to be a ring! You could show your commitment by wearing a locket with that special someone’s picture (or a picture of the place you met, or a calendar with that date?) inside.  

How do you envision your commitment jewelry? Call San Francisco Jewelry Doctor at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), and let’s put our heads together about the kind of jewelry that will say to your favorite person, “You’re the one for me!”

©2019 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.

A Little Something For Your Ear

Dear San Francisco Jewelry Doctor:

My friend sent me your story about earring jackets, and then the one about other pretty things to go with stud earrings, and I thought, “Okay, fine. But what if we don’t have any stud earrings? Do you have stud earrings for us?”  

Studless in St. Paul

Dear SSP:

Not to worry. Of course we have stud earrings. Try these.

https://www.stuller.com/search/results/?query=pearl+stud+earrings

Ball post earrings also work well in earring jackets. Here are some in gold (available in white gold, too).

https://www.stuller.com/products/23932/9862822/?groupId=60241&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

Of course we could make some stud earrings for you with your favorite stones, too. Just ask.

Studs come in lots of pretty patterns.  Take a look at these.

https://www.stuller.com/products/85989/?groupId=119668&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

Here are some very jazzy white gold diamond cluster studs.  https://www.stuller.com/products/651615/?groupId=120035&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

You could also have monogrammed studs.

https://www.stuller.com/products/86011/?groupId=119734&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

Or solitaire14KW studs:

https://www.stuller.com/products/86754/?groupId=198311&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

And our latest favorite, which we call “Lace Trim” stud earrings. Here they are in white gold with peridot—or maybe you’d prefer your birthstone?

https://www.stuller.com/products/86777/?groupId=198425&recommendationSource=SiteSearch

What kind of studs make your heart and soul sing? Call San Francisco Jewelry Doctor at 415/796-3969 (text 415/596-4244), and you’ll be wearing them in no time.

©2019 Laynie Tzena. All Rights Reserved.