Shop Our Collection of Brilliant-cut Diamonds

At Padis Jewelry, we know many of our customers often confuse the term the “cut” of a diamond with the “shape.”  A diamond’s shape refers to the appearance of the stone such as round, princess, emerald, asscher, marquise, oval, radiant, and cushion.  The cut of a diamond refers to the proportions including depth and width and the symmetry or uniformity of the facets, which controls the diamond’s brilliance as well as its ability to reflect light through the top of the diamond.   

Before a diamond is cut, the stone is evaluated to determine its best possible cut in order to maximize clarity, color, and carat weight.  The most popular shape of diamonds is the round brilliant-cut as it maximizes the diamond’s ability to reflect light and brightness better than other fancy shapes.  In fact, almost 75% of all diamonds sold today are round brilliant-cut.  The round brilliant-cut typically cost more than comparable cushion, princess, asscher and emerald shaped diamonds as more of the stone is lost in the cutting process resulting in a fairly low yield/high demand for the stone.    

According to the Gemological Institute of American, the 57 or 58-facet round brilliants of today are the result of a variation of facet sizes and proportions that have evolved throughout many years.  This includes “table size, crown height, length of the lower half facets, total depth, and culet size.”  Round brilliant-cut diamonds with 58 facets have a culet, which is the small area at the bottom of a diamond’s pavilion or tip that is cut off and counted as one of the facets.  The stone is considered a higher grade if it does not have a culet or only has a very small, or medium-sized one.  A larger culet affects the appearance of the diamond and can appear as if the diamond has a hole in it.    

Please visit our website to see our collection of round brilliant-cut diamonds.  While you are there, set up a visit to one of our beautiful San Francisco 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 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.  If you are a lover of beautiful jewels, schedule at visit to one of our showrooms.

Source: gia.edu/gia-news-research-round-brilliant-cut-diamond-pay  

Padis – A Name You Can Trust

Padis Jewelry is a family-owned business with a connection to the jewelry industry that goes all the way back to the founder, Steve Padis’ college days at the University of California in Berkeley, CA.  Steve got his start in the industry by stringing beads, which grew into creating sterling silver, turquoise, and gold chain jewelry after graduation.  Shortly thereafter, through contacts in the industry, Steve met Judy, his life-long partner both in marriage and business.  

By 1974, Steve’s passion for precious metals and diamonds lead to the inception of the Steve Padis Jewelry brand.  The brand began the family’s decades-long love affair for exquisite diamonds, gems and fine jewelry and established the Padis name as one of the best jewelers in San Francisco.  Now 40 years later, Padis Jewelry is still owned and operated by Steve, his wife Judy and daughter, Alexis and consists of three San Francisco showrooms and a store in St. Helena, CA.    

Our three showrooms in the city are located at The Jewelry Center on Utah Street.  The Gift Center and The Padis Designer Galleria are on Brannan Street.  Here, you will discover a huge collection of exquisite loose diamonds (we have approximately 10,000 stones in our inventory) and the world’s finest jewelry from some of the most sought-after designers.   To visit our showrooms, we ask that you set up an appointment, which can be easily done with a phone call or using our convenient online form.   

Our other store is located in northern California’s legendary wine country, in beautiful St. Helena in the Napa Valley.  Along with stunning designer jewelry and watches from the world’s most desirable designers and watchmakers as well as certified loose diamonds, we also are a unique gift store.    Please visit our website to learn more about Padis Jewelry and to set up an appointment to see firsthand our beautiful collection.    

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 the opportunity to view our most impressive collections, please contact us to schedule at visit.

Get an Accurate, Certified Appraisal at Padis

If you want to determine the monetary value of a piece of jewelry, you will need to have an appraisal done.  Appraisals are typically required if you want to insure your jewelry for replacement value.  In addition appraisals are done for estate planning and tax purposes to determine fair market value of jewelry as well as to learn the value of family heirlooms.  The GIA says the “value stated on the appraisal is the opinion of the appraiser based on their research and experience,” which is why you want an experienced, certified appraiser. 

The experts recommend that you have your jewelry appraised every three to five years (some say every two to three years) because the value of the piece may have increased resulting in it being under insured.  A safe bet is to check with your insurance company to see if they have any requirements or recommendations on updating appraisals. 

An updated appraisal includes reexamining the piece, a detailed description of the item, and documentation regarding its current condition.  The value of the piece may change based on the current market and will be reflected in the appraisal.  It should also include the appraiser’s name and their qualifications.   

At Padis Jewelry, our staff includes an American Gem Society (AGS) certified gemologist appraiser (CGA) who has gone through the training and certification process set forth by the AGS.  In addition our appraiser is a GIA Graduate Gemologist, which is where they learned to identify and grade diamonds and colored stones.  For you convenience, Padis Jewelry also has an in-house bench jeweler that can handle same-day repairs, ring sizing and settings.  Please visit our website to learn more, and while you are there set up an appointment to view our jewelry in person.   

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 our impressive collections, please contact us to schedule at visit.

Source:  4cs.gia.edu/en-us/blog/appraisal-tips/

Need Help Choosing an Engagement Ring?

One of the most significant pieces of jewelry you will ever buy is an engagement ring.  In addition to representing your love and enduring bond, you want it to be something she will be proud to wear for years to come.  This is why you want to make a smart decision.

Along with considering the 4Cs of the diamond’s quality - cut, color, clarity, carat – there are other decisions to make such as the setting, the metal, the stones, and the price.    In many designs, the center stone is the largest and the most expensive.  Since the cut of the diamond is responsible for the stone’s sparkle, most experts say it is better to get a smaller diamond with a better cut than choosing a larger diamond with a lesser cut.   

The setting is used to showcase the center stone and a prong setting is commonly used in engagement rings.  This type of setting makes the stone completely visible and allows the maximum amount of light to enter the diamond.  You will also find a choice of metals including white, yellow, and rose gold or Platinum as well as two-tone options.   

It is recommended that before you even start shopping, set a budget and stick to it, and remember that the metal, setting and stone determine the price.  Working with the jewelry consultants of Padis Jewelry, we want you to know our goal is to see you get the best engagement ring within your budget.  Our inventory includes some of the top names in the industry and at least 10,000 loose diamonds.  We invite you to set up a visit with one of our expert, non-commissioned jewelry consultants for a stress-free, knowledgeable engagement ring shopping experience.    

Since 1974, Padis Jewelry has been a trusted source for buying exquisite certified loose diamonds, engagement rings and fine jewelry.  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.  If you are a lover of beautiful jewels, please schedule at visit to San Francisco’s finest jewelry showrooms.

Find the Top Jewelry Designs at Padis Including Gabriel & Co

Padis Jewelry is proud to offer our customers many of the finest luxury brands such as Tacori, Verragio, Jeff Cooper Designs, Ritani, Forevermark, Henri Daussi, Sylvie, Simon G., Scott Kay and more.  Included in our inventory we are also honored to carry a large selection of exquisite Gabriel & Co. bridal engagement and wedding rings. 

Considered among the finest in the world, Gabriel & Co.’s rings are individually handcrafted with careful attention to detail and styling by exceptional craftsmen.  In addition each ring has superior quality diamonds that are thoroughly examined by skilled gemologists.   

The company was started by two brothers who recognize that unique, quality jewelry is important to people and want each piece to radiate “personality and an awareness that everyone is an individual who deserves to be noticed."  Jack and Dominick Gabriel understand jewelry is used to celebrate special occasions, to commemorate momentous accomplishments, to honor the deepest relationships, and to capture the unspeakable beauty of life.   

Gabriel & Co.’s magnificent jewelry designs draw inspiration from artistic and cultural influences from around the world and their extensive bridal collections offer a variety of styles in a choice of metals and settings.  They also offer custom-designed rings.  

At Padis Jewelry, our large collection of Gabriel & Co. includes engagement rings in solitaire, classic and halo designs to fit a range of budgets.  One stunning example from our collection is a 14K white gold, halo diamond setting for a round center.  The 0.85 Cttw of diamonds have a G Color and a SI2 Clarity Average.  The ring is shown with a 1 Ct. center diamond for scale.  Remember our inventory also includes 10,000 diamonds at any one time, which should make choosing your center diamond easy.  Please visit our website to set up an appointment to visit one of our beautiful San Francisco or St. Helena 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.  If you are a lover of beautiful jewelry, we encourage you to visit to one of our showrooms.

Why You Should Buy an Engagement Ring from a Reputable Jeweler

When you buy something as important as an engagement ring, a ring that will be worn every day for years to come, you want to get the best ring within your budget.  This is one reason it is helpful to buy from an established and credentialed jeweler.   

The Internet should be able to tell you some facts about the jeweler you are considering such as how long they have been in business and do they have positive reviews from actual customers.  An established jeweler typically has high marks for their jewelry as well as their service and will probably be around in years to come for regular ring maintenance.  Respected jewelers are also more likely to have GIA Graduate Gemologists on staff and a bench jeweler, who can help repair or resize your jewelry.   Their services may also include designing custom pieces if that is something you are interested in.   

Another important thing to consider when looking for a jeweler to buy an engagement ring from is how big is their selection?  Also if you want a ring from a particular designer, does the store you are considering have rings from the designer or other similar designers.   

Finally we think the service you get when shopping for this important of a purchase is another consideration.  If you want a stress-free experience, we recommend shopping with a jeweler who has a non-commissioned sales staff and is committed to taking your needs and budget seriously.  

As a family-owned business, Padis Jewelry gets an A+ on all of the above.  In business for more than forty years, we work with every customer to ensure their experience meets or exceeds expectations.  From the moment you walk into our warm and welcoming showrooms, you are treated like part of the Padis family.   

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 the opportunity to view our most impressive collections, please contact us to schedule at visit.

Buying a Diamond? Educate Yourself on the 4Cs

At Padis Jewelry, we want our customers to be 100% satisfied with their jewelry purchases.  It is one reason we encourage diamond buyers to learn something about the worldwide standard for describing diamonds known as the 4Cs – carat weight, cut, color and clarity. Created by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in the mid-twentieth century, the universal method is used to assess the quality and the value of a diamond.  

The GIA states that the “cut” of a diamond has the greatest influence on a diamond’s sparkle and is critical to the ultimate beauty and value. Additionally they add of the 4Cs, the cut is “the most complex and technically difficult to analyze.”  Also the cut is not the same as the shape of a diamond such as a round brilliance or a princess cut.  Rather it defines how well the diamond’s facets interact with light to allow the maximum amount of light to return through the top of the diamond.  Before the diamond is cut, the depth, table size, crown height and angle, girdle thickness and other factors are taken into account.      

The “color” in the 4Cs refers to the amount of color in a diamond with the most perfect ones having no hue whatsoever.  The D to Z color-grading system rates colorless diamonds with a D and diamonds exhibiting a measurable amount of light yellow in their hue with a Z.  

“Clarity” measures the amount of inclusions and blemishes in the diamond.  An “F” rating means there are no inclusions or blemishes visible to a skilled grader and an “IF” means that no inclusions and only blemishes are visible to a skilled grader.  The carat weight of a diamond is the actual measure of the diamond’s weight.  Each metric carat is 200 milligrams and a carat is subdivided into 100 ‘points.’  This means a diamond weighing 0.25 carats is twenty-five points. 

At any time, Padis Jewelry has at least 10,000 exquisite diamonds in our inventory, and we have been selling diamonds and fine jewelry to the San Francisco area for over 40 years.  Please visit our website to learn more.    

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 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.  If you are a lover of beautiful jewels, schedule at visit to one of our showrooms.