Friday Fun: 20% Off for Girlfriends!

Bring a girlfriend into VALLEY JEWELERS between now and Monday, August 1st (National Girlfriends Day), shop together and if you both make a purchase, you’ll both get a 20% discount on any item on display in our showroom (excluding Pandora) if you mention this blog! There’s nothing like a shopping buddy oohing and ahhing to make it more fun!

Thursday's Thought: Go Green with Our NEW ARRIVALS!

Harness some of this sun with a solar-powered Eco-Drive watch.

Never needs a battery, so it's as green as it gets. We just expanded our selection on this fantastic, best-selling watch line.

Wednesday's Bride: More Meaningful When Kept in the Family...

Here is an example of incorporating old with new...

This client had a yellow diamond and a chocolate diamond (known as a "brownie") from her grandmother. She wanted to incorporate these sentimental gemstones along with her own white diamond into a new engagement ring. Craig executed this 3-stone ring in 14K white gold.

Tuesday's Trend Outlook: Break Out The Bracelets!

Statement bracelets are hot in every conceivable variation --wide, light-weight, comfortable cuffs --thin, stackable bangles --and of course, Pandora’s personalized, beaded charm bracelets (below)!



Photo: Pink Leather Cuff with Amulet Charms from ELLE available at VALLEY JEWELERS.

MONDAY'S MESSAGE: The Price of "Ice"

Above: Custom Designed 3-Diamond Platinum Engagement Ring by Craig Brady

Why are diamonds prices going up so much? In short: 1. No new mines. 2. Weak dollar. 3. Increasing global diamond demand. We have to mine over 100 tons of the earth's crust to get one diamond large enough to cut a fine one carat gem! Over one million diamonds are mined to get that one gemstone!

FRIDAY FUN FACTS About "The Sweat of the Sun"

Above: 14K triple-strand "coffeebean" necklace available at VALLEY JEWELERS.

Did you know that gold is eternal? The gold in your jewelry was floating around in space before our planet was formed and even before our solar system came into existence! The Incan people considered gold to be "the sweat of the sun."

Karat refers to purity of gold. Pure gold is 24 karat and 14 karat gold (14k) is 14 parts gold out of 24. All of the gold in the world could be compressed into an 18-yard cube, which is about 1/10 the mass of the Washington Monument.

THURSDAY'S THOUGHT: A Rare Opportunity for Watch Collectors

We have something special for watch collectors or Tiffany enthusiasts... A completely intact, operational pocket watch from the 1800's. This rare find is in gorgeous condition. Often, timepieces this old have been tampered with by unknowing hands in an effort to repair, effecting the integrity and value. This watch is all original. And we would love to see it go to one of our loyal customers. If not, it will soon be up for auction in NYC...

For pricing details, speak to Craig.

WEDNESDAY'S BRIDE: Design Your Own Engagement Ring & Wedding Bands

Often, designer Craig Brady sketches as he talks to a couple. The idea evolves into a wax mold, then a casting in the precious metal of choice. Once the finishing work is done on the mounting and the gemstones are set, the sketch comes to life.

Other couples use the "Design Your Own" function on the top toolbar of our website to start building their dream ring. Sometimes their website creation is a home run; othertimes they use the website creation as a jumping off point which gets further refined when they meet with Craig.

Check out this neat "Design Your Own" feature on the website-- to build, to dream, or just to play!

TUESDAY'S TREND OUTLOOK: Get Personal!

Personalization continues to be the juggernaut of trends in the jewelry industry. Traditionally, personalization meant engraving inside a ring, birthstone jewelry or charms hanging on a link bracelet. Today, it’s beaded charm bracelets, interchangeable tops on bangle bracelets, hoop earrings with interchangeable dangles, even map jewelry. Yes, a map of your hometown -- or your college town -- in a sterling silver pendant, available at VALLEY JEWELERS.

MONDAY'S MESSAGE: Get Out Of The Doghouse Today!

This may be your last chance. Today is National "Get Out of the Doghouse" Day. It's not too late to use it to your advantage. Does he/she have a sense of humor? Just maybe you can wiggle back into good graces today. Remember: flowers are fleeting, but jewelry is forever. Good luck!

FRIDAY FUN FACTS: Share Some Joy!

The word jewelry comes from the ancient French, "joaillerie", meaning joy and gladness.

Photo: A little "joy" from Artistry Ltd... A Whimsical 14K Cuff available at VALLEY JEWELERS.

THURSDAY THOUGHT: Looking for Unique? Look to Estate Jewelry.

Above: 14K Alexandrite Cocktail Ring Circa 1960 Available at VALLEY JEWELERS.

A statement estate piece can provide that extra depth for women with their own style sense. Typically but not necessarily, estate jewelry is vintaqe or antique and duplicate pieces simply aren't readily available. As everything about jewelry these days is trending away from cookie-cutter looks, estate collections offer a treasure trove of unique choices. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, they'll have to come up with another way to compliment you for an estate piece.

Below: 14K Cultured Pearl & Diamond Pin available at VALLEY JEWELERS.

WEDNESDAY'S BRIDE: One-of-a-Kind Wedding Bands with Elements of the Couple's History

Photo: One-of-a-kind Handmade Gents' Rose & White 18K Wedding Band with Diamonds by Craig Brady

Often, the bride or groom has a piece of jewelry in the back of a drawer or bottom of a jewelry box that they won't part with for sentimental reasons but won't wear for style reasons. One of the benefits of having a custom ring made is that gemstones or precious metal from family heirlooms or emotionally significant pieces can be recycled into the new design -- making the new wedding band that much more meaningful. This process of incorporating elements of a pre-existing piece into custom design is a common practice for Craig Brady at VALLEY JEWELERS.

TUESDAY'S TREND OUTLOOK: Organics Are It!

Organic elements are hot in all jewelry categories! A slice of turquoise geode set in a sterling pendant. Polished, rough-cut sapphire earrings. A rose-cut colored diamond ring. The more one-of-a-kind, the better and that often means inclusions (imperfections) are obvious. It’s all part of a more natural, more casual lifestyle attitude.

Photo: One-of-a-Kind Necklace of Agate, Cultured Freshwater Pearl & Tribal Silver Beads from Heather Outlaw Designs available at VALLEY JEWELERS.

MONDAY'S MESSAGE: July's Birthstone is Ruby

Above: A round ruby is the centerpiece of this contemporary 18K cocktail ring custom designed by Craig Brady.

A ruby is a red sapphire. Traditionally a symbol of passionate love, rubies are nearly as hard and often more expensive than diamonds. Hindus believed that a fine ruby could boil water! The Black Prince's ruby in the British Crown Jewels is really a very fine natural spinel.

Below: Two pear-shaped rubies with diamond accents are the focal points in this 18K infinity pin custom designed by Craig Brady.

FRIDAY FUN: July 18th is National "Get Out of the Doghouse" Day!

Were you naughty? Looking for a way to make up and get back to the good life? Just maybe you can use this day to squirm out of it! Flowers are fragrant but fleeting. If you’ve got one shot to get out of the doghouse, your best bet is jewelry!

You've got 10 days until Monday, July 18th. Start planning! Start shopping!

THURSDAY'S THOUGHTS: A Designer's Perspective

Above: Modern Solitaire Diamond in 18K Gold.
Below: Sterling Silver Dog Tag featuring icons significant to client.

Both are custom designs by Craig Brady.

“I enjoy hearing a customer’s vision for their custom piece and the challenge of making that materialize. The focal point may be a gemstone, a symbol-- but the design is what intrigues me. People are always so amazed to see that idea they had actualized.” -- Craig Brady, Owner/Jeweler, VALLEY JEWELERS

WEDNESDAY’S BRIDE: Alternative Bridal Rings

Photo: Custom Designed Yellow Sapphire & Diamond Engagement Ring in 18K by Craig Brady.

The popularity of alternative bridal rings is emerging. For the center stone on their engagement rings, more and more brides are choosing colored diamonds in yellow, champagne, cognac and pink. Younger modern brides are increasingly picking sapphires -- made popular again by the royal wedding -- as well as other gemstones for the focal point of their ring.

For wedding bands, many couples are opting for wider, bolder looks with textural interest. There seems to be movement toward greater self-expression, craftsmanship and good design.

TUESDAY'S TREND OUTLOOK: Teardrop Earrings Big This Fall & Winter!

Celebrities on the red carpet and models on the runway are wearing teardrop earrings. From big colored stones to cut-out metals, geometric to feminine, antique to contemporary, they compliment almost every face shape. Dressed up or down, they’re a great way to update an outfit.

Photo: An Assortment of Teardrop Earrings in 14K & Semi-Precious Gemstones by Zoe B. available at VALLEY JEWELERS.