Hello everyone! It’s the month of March and I’m here to talk about one of my favorite, colored stones: Aquamarines! These stones are commonly confused with Topaz because of the commonly associated blue color. The thing is, Aquamarine is a Beryl; the same species as that of an Emerald. Topaz come in an array of … Read more

Hello everyone! “How much is a 1 carat diamond?” “How much pag bumili ako ng engagement ring?” These are the commonly asked questions I encounter from clients who are in the market to buy diamonds, so I decided to write this blog on what factors come into play when talking about diamond prices. I’ve written … Read more

Hello everyone! In this merry month of March, and there are two birthstones commonly associated on this month namely Bloodstone and Aquamarine. For this blog, though, I’ll be discussing Bloodstones (also known as Heliotrope), a type of Quartz. Before I go any further, I must briefly discuss Quartz and Chalcedony, and the crystal sizes associated … Read more

Hey everyone! As a licensed gemologist and as a jewelry appraiser, I get asked this question A LOT: Are lab-grown diamonds good or bad? As in my previous blogs, I discussed with you the merits of lab-grown or synthetic stones. They’re neither good nor bad. It all boils down to DISCLOSURE; customer awareness. It’s when … Read more

For today’s post, I’ll be talking about gold and its unit of measure, the karat. You’ve probably seen descriptions of jewelry that say made with 14k, 16k, and 18k gold, but what exactly does this mean? And if you’re a first-time jewelry buyer, you’ve also most probably come across the term “carat” and wondered whether … Read more

Hello everyone! For this post, I’m here to discuss Color, the 2nd of the 4Cs of diamonds. Prior to GIA coming up with a precise and scientific means of grading color, the jewelry industry used color terms based on locations where diamond mines were located. There were terms like “jagers,” which pertained to diamonds that … Read more

Understanding clarity is an essential part of the process for anyone looking to purchase a diamond. Clarity can confuse those unfamiliar with diamonds, but it’s critical when considering price and quality. Knowing what factors determine a diamond’s clarity gives purchasers the confidence they need to make an informed decision. This comprehensive guide on diamond clarity … Read more

When it comes to diamonds, there are a lot of terminologies that many don’t understand—especially when selecting a diamond for the first time. The four Cs (short for color, cut, clarity, and carat weight) are key components you must consider before purchasing your diamond to fully understand its quality. Knowing what each of these categories … Read more

Hello everyone! This will be a long post since I’ll be sharing with you a modus that I recently discovered whilst helping a client. I will deliberately not include names to protect the identity of the people involved; I will be using monickers instead. Also, I have referred the matter to NAJA and GIA International. … Read more

Hey everyone! Yes, as the title states, I just had my bout with Covid hence the long absence. I won’t bore you with the complete details of my sickness but suffice to say, my symptoms were bad enough to warrant a hospital stint of more than a week. I’m fully vaccinated so I shudder at … Read more