Rare Cache of Emeralds Up for Auction

Emeralds are both rarer and more valuable than diamonds.  Amanda Gizzi, a Jewelers of America’s spokesperson, explains, "Sought after for their rich color, regal history and identifiable look, emeralds are one of the most iconic gemstones in the jewelry industry." 

This month, the general public had the rare opportunity to buy some of the most valuable emeralds in the world when they were offered at auction by the Guernsey’s auction house in New York.  The offerings included 20 cut or raw stones as well as 13 magnificent pieces of emerald jewelry from the private collection of Manual Marcial de Gomar, a renowned emerald specialist.   

Some of the auction’s emeralds were recovered in the 1980s from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha that sank off the coast of Florida in 1622.   The auction catalog states that the shipwreck is considered by experts to be "the most valuable known shipwreck in history,” and the recovered gems are prized for their deep, clear green color.  The emeralds include nine rough stones totaling over 91 carats.  The “Nine Pillars of Andes” are expected to sell as a group somewhere in the neighborhood of $250,000 to $350,000.  Another stunner from the collection is the 4.39-carat emerald called the “Queen of the Sea.” Experts anticipate it will likely sell for $250,000 to $350,000. 

The La Gloria, an 887-carat emerald, which Guernsey reports to be one of the largest museum-quality emeralds in the world, should sell for around $4 to $5 million.  The once in a lifetime auction also includes the Marcial de Gomar Star Emerald that is believed to be the largest star emerald ever found and only one of 11 gem-quality star emeralds in the world. 

While our collection of emeralds at Padis Jewelry does not compete with the shipwreck stones from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha, we think you will be thrilled with what you see.  Please visit our website to browse our emerald loose stones and jewelry along with all of our other collections, as well as to set up an appointment to visit to our showrooms.       

As a family-owned business, Padis Jewelry has been a trusted source for buying exquisite certified loose diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry since 1974.  We have one of the area’s largest inventories as well as an impressive selection of top name luxury brands.  So if you are a lover of beautiful jewelry, we encourage you to schedule a visit to San Francisco and the Napa Valley’s best jewelry stores. 

Source: cnn.com/2017/03/16/luxury/guernseys-shipwreck-emeralds-auction/index.html

Shop our Selection of Fancy Color Diamonds

Padis Jewelry has something to please everyone.  Along with our huge inventory of certified loose diamonds, at least 10,000 in stock at all times, we also offer customers a select collection of magnificent fancy color diamonds.  These rare and extremely unique diamonds are treasures and will certainly become family heirlooms for many years to come.    

The Gemological Institute of America reminds us that rarity equals value, which is why fancy color diamonds are so expensive.  For the majority of diamonds, their value is based on the absence of color, and that the more colorless stones are the most valuable.   In the case of fancy color diamonds (those outside the normal color range), the GIA states “the rarest and most valuable colors are saturated pinks, blues, and greens.”   They add that “even very slight color differences can have a big impact on value.” 

The rarest of fancy color diamonds have red, green or blue hues, and stones with medium to dark tones and moderate saturations. Brown diamonds are the most common colored stones and are often called cognac or champagne diamonds.   Yellow diamonds are the second most common and come in a wide range of saturations. They are sometimes referred to as canary diamonds.   

Extremely rare blue diamonds have a slight hint of gray, which is caused by the presence of boron impurities, and the more boron, the more saturated the color.  Red or reddish diamonds are extremely rare, and pure pink colored stones are more sought after than hues of purple, orange, browns or gray. 

If you are interested in fancy color diamonds, we encourage you visit the Padis Jewelry website to take a look at some of our very rare and exquisite stones.  All of our stones are certified by the top labs in the industry such as AGS, Forevermark, GIA and EGL USA.  

Padis Jewelry, a family-owned business, has been a trusted source for buying exquisite certified loose diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry since 1974.  We are one of the only jewelers in the area that offers such an exclusive selection of top names in the industry as well as such a large inventory.  For an opportunity to view one of San Francisco and the Napa Valley’s most impressive collections, please contact us to schedule at visit.

Source: gia.edu/fancycoloreddiamond-quality-factor

Educate Yourself on Common Jewelry Terms

At Padis Jewelry customer satisfaction is important to us, and we want to make sure each piece of jewelry purchased from us not only fulfills your needs but is something you will love and cherish for years.  To help customers become more knowledgeable on what they are buying, our website offers a glossary of commonly used jewelry terms.   

If you are shopping for diamond or gemstone jewelry, you may want to start with terms used to describe the anatomy of the stones.  One word you are sure to hear is facet, which describes the flat surface on a diamond or color gemstone.  The arrangement of a gemstone's facets determines its cut and return of light.  The diamond’s table is the largest polished facet on the surface of the stone.  A diamond’s crown is the top part of the stone, beneath the table and above the girdle.  The girdle describes the middle section of the stone and is typically polished or faceted on a diamond and unpolished on a color gemstone. 

A diamond’s pavilion is the term used to describe the bottom part of the stone and extends from the girdle to the culet, which is the small or pointed facet at the very bottom of the diamond.  Not all diamonds have a culet.  The total height of a diamond is called the depth and is measured from the table to the culet.  

Fire is the term used to describe the flashes of color that are seen when the diamond or gemstone is moved or rotated.  Flawless is the highest grading on the diamond clarity scale and describes a stone without any visible inclusions or blemishes under 10 x magnifications. Symmetry is the precision of the alignment of the diamond’s facets, and the more symmetrical, the better the return of light.   

While Padis Jewelry wants customers to be informed, satisfied buyers, we also want to assure you that all of our non-commissioned jewelry consultants are here to help guide you through the process.  In addition, our staff includes GIA Graduate Gemologists, and any diamond over 0.40 carats comes with a grading report from the most trusted independent laboratories in the U.S. 

As a family-owned business, Padis Jewelry has been a trusted source for buying exquisite certified loose diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry since 1974.  We have one of the area’s largest inventories as well as an impressive selection of top name luxury brands.  So if you are a lover of beautiful jewelry, we encourage you to schedule a visit to San Francisco and the Napa Valley’s best jewelry stores.