Jewelry Navigator™ Podcast

Episode 10: Champagne, Rare Gemstones, and Jewelry With Denise Forbes of California Girl Jewelry

What could possibly complement a private showing of fine jewelry better than a glass of champagne while beholding rare gems, like taaffeite, a lavender gem that sparkles as much or more than diamond, and blue color change Bekily garnet?!
Today, I visit with the daughter of the mother - daughter team of California Girl Jewelry, Denise Forbes, where from their boutique in San Francisco, they treat clients and walk in customers to champagne and an entrancing selection of gemstones, along with jewelry designs in which to enhance and showcase them.
Originally from New England and NYC, Mariel Baker, mother of the two partners, moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, and continued her executive level career in the dot com industry.
Her desire and interest in jewelry set with rare gemstones followed her into retirement, where she began California Girl Jewelry.
Denise later joined her mother in San Francisco.
Together they bring phenomenal jewelry to gem aficionados and jewelry lovers all over the world.
The rare, beautiful and exclusive gems they procure directly from mine sources are their signature.
Their gemstones are complimented by high quality settings of 18kt white, yellow, rose gold and platinum, set with full cut, F/VS quality diamonds, yet prices are comparably  affordable due to their in-house manufacturing, and guiding motto, “Jewelry made for women, by women.”                                                                                                                                                                                                            The partners and their all women design team share enthusiasm and a knowledge of rare gemstones that serves their clients’ best interests, while offering exceptional service with free ring sizing, free shipping, and lifetime maintenance.Watch for the coordinating blog post on jewelrynavigator.com for my favorite pieces of California Girl Jewelry, and you can find your favorite pieces at californiagirljewelry.com!

Episode 9: How and Where to Shop for the Best Jewelry Gifts for All Occasions

With spring and summer as popular wedding seasons, that also means anniversaries!
 
Shop smart from your heart and your wallet!
 
In this episode, I share jewelry to give as new gifts, along with tips on how to pass along an heirloom piece for a gift.
 
Having a jeweler you know and trust is so important, because they can save you lots of money through repairs that revive old pieces.
 
I also share:
unique pearl jewelry gifts that are updates to your grandmother’s pearl necklace
the difference between fresh and saltwater cultured pearls
jewelry gifts for the guys
affordable options to refurbish old pieces to gift as heirlooms
and lots of unique jewelry designs set with beautiful gems and diamonds, created to celebrate what makes us special to each other from the giver to the recipient
 
Jewelry and Designers featured in this episode:
 
Veronica Eckert Studio
Galatea
Katherine & Josephine
Paul Michael Jewelry & Geek.Jewelry
Crash Jewelry
Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry
Hugo Kohl Jewelry
Ulman’s Jewelry, Fredericksburg, VA
The Jeweler’s Bench, Hershey, PA
California Girl Jewelry, San Francisco, CA
Marty Magic, Etsy
LJD Designs, Etsy
Cythra, Dan Popkie, Etsy
Smithsonian’s American History blog and article, “Love Tokens - Where Cold Hard Cash and Romance Meet”
By Museum Specialist Robyn Einhorn, 
February 11, 2014
 

Mother's Day Jewelry Shopping Guide with Jewelry Navigator, Part 2

Jewelry that smiles?
 Dangling gold fish with diamond eyes?
This week I share this and more, like vintage treasures, old and new just in time for Mother’s Day jewelry shopping.
Last week, I introduced you to seven of my favorite designers and their jewelry, and this week’s episode is the continuation of my Mother’s Day Jewelry Shopping Guide!
If you didn’t get a chance to listen to last week’s episode, I share jewelry perfect for all our super hero moms, with photos accompanying the podcast in the blog post on jewelrynavitgator.com.
This week, I tell you about four designers who have made an impression on me:
Heavenly Vices Fine Jewelry introduces us to Love Tokens, Dan Popkie and his goldfish necklaces, Hania Kuzbari Jewelry Designs and her smiling jewelry, and Hugo Kohl jewelry, making old jewelry new again.
At the end of the podcast and in the blog post, I’ll share coupon codes and special offers from the jewelers and designers.

Mother’s Day Jewelry Shopping Guide With Jewelry Navigator, Brenna Pakes

Mother’s Day Jewelry Shopping Guide
 
With Mother’s day coming up in less than two weeks, I thought I’d share some of my favorite jewelry designers  with shopping tips on how to make our moms happy this Mother’s Day!
 
Some people shy away from jewelry shopping afraid it’ll cost too much, but I have a wide selection to share from pleasantly affordable to high value jewelry treats.
 
From jewelry created from luxury cars to rings that reveal she’s a Wonder Woman and jewelry that honors moms of human and fur babies, this episode shares jewelry that shows all moms how special and deserving they are.
 
By the way, These ideas are for anytime and anyone, so don’t think they’re limited to Mother’s Day.
 
Be sure to Download this episode or bookmark the blog post for future reference for future gift ideas.
 
Thank you, and enjoy the episode!
 
Jewelers and designers featured in this podcast are:
-California Girl Jewelry of San Francisco
-Crash Jewelry, Los Angeles
-Paul Michael Jewelry, Pittsburgh
-Patrick Mohs Jewelry, Wayzata, MN
-Nayla Shami, Lubbock, TX
-Julers Row & Katherine & Josephine, New York

Part 2 of Diamonds Demystified with Diamond Industry Insider, Marc Knobloch

Welcome to episode 6 of the Jewelry Navigator Podcast, and the part 2, and conclusion to last week’s episode, Diamonds Demystified with diamond insider and wholesaler, Marc Knobloch, vice president and third generation with Aron knobloch, Inc in New York’s Diamond District.
Last week, Marc called on his 30 years of experience to explain the importance of seeing a diamond and how leaning on its statstics on paper can lead to faulty comparisons;  what the most important of the 4C’s are in choosing a diamond;  the magic ingredient to choosing a diamond;  and explained the primary purpose for diamond certificates.
If you missed it, go back after this episode to catch up on what you missed in Part 1 from last week.
Today, we continue as Marc explains the process put in place by the industry to prevent conflict diamonds from entering the market.
Marc also shares a diamond’s journey from mine to market, and how diamonds positively affect communities and regions of their origins.
We share what our favorite diamond shapes are, and discuss what makes certain cuts different from the rest.
 
Thanks so much for joining us today for the conclusion of my visit with Marc Knobloch.

Diamonds Demystified With Diamond Industry Insider, Marc Knobloch, Part 1

Welcome to the Jewelry Navigator Podcast! I'm your host, Brenna Pakes!
What are diamond certificates? How should you use them to shop for diamonds?
Diamonds. Their sparkle has captured our attention and adorned women and men for centuries.
Last episode, we dispelled four common myths and misconceptions that make diamonds mysterious and sometimes confusing to shop for.
Today, we continue with how what you don’t know about diamonds could become expensive mistakes.
We visit with a third generation diamond specialist who provides diamonds to stores, jewelers and designers from his office in New York’s Diamond District.
Marc Knobloch, with thirty years in the diamond industry, and VP of AKI Diamonds and Jewelry, instills reason to shop with confidence for anyone preparing to purchase or upgrade a diamond, and explains why they’re still the go-to gemstone to stand the test of time for all generations.
Listen to find out what you need to know about a diamond’s certificate, what its real purpose is, how to choose the right diamond, and how the Kimberley Process  safeguards the industry’s supply of diamonds against questionable sources and intent.
This is part one of two podcasts. Marc shared so much great information with me that I separated it into two episodes, so I leave you hanging,but not to worry!
Look forward to next week’s conclusion from today’s episode!

Diamond Shopping Tips & Debunking Four Common Myths and Misconceptions

Diamond Shopping Tips & Debunking 4 Common Myths and Misconceptions
April is showered with diamonds as its birthstone.
In today’s episode, I help take the mystery out of understanding diamonds by revealing truths surrounding common myths and misconceptions about them.
Diamonds that glow?A unicorn trapped inside a diamond?Diamonds that swallowed other gem crystals?
It sounds like a surreal circus!
No - It’s just the world of diamonds!
What you don’t know about diamonds is a mystery now, but after today’s episode, your understanding about diamonds will be clearer, as we debunk a few of the common misconceptions about diamonds.
Featuring Stepping Stone jewelry, set with diamonds that glow, from Patrick Mohs Jewelry in WAYZATA, MN.
For show notes and photos of diamond inclusions and jewelry mentioned in the episode, please see the show notes in the blog post under the same name at jewelrynavigator.com.

Q & A With Crash Jewelry Founder Christi Schimpke

Using luxury car parts to make jewelry as exclusive as the cars from which they were formed, Crash Jewelry is a unique line of jewelry created from a body shop garage in Los Angeles that specializes in repairing late model, high performance and luxury cars.
Cuffs, bangles, earrings, necklaces, cufflinks, and rings made from the luxury, high gloss paint parts of Mercedes, Teslas, Maseratis, Porches, Ferraris and more, Crash Jewelry was started by accident, from accidents!
None of the vehicles used originate from incidents that result in totaled damages, only minimal damages sustained in parking lot dings and scratches.
A line of sustainable jewelry made from the cars we dream to drive, Crash Jewelry founder, Christi Schimpke shares what inspired her to make jewelry from car parts otherwise destined for landfills and scrapyards.