| AUGUST 2007 NEWSLETTER |
| “Green how I want you green. Green wind. Green branches.” – Federico Garcia Lorca, poet |
| NEW “JEWEL” |
| “Emeralds… the most intense of greens with the promise of good luck.” – ce
Seen here this month are all customized works for clients who had a wish for implementing this majestic gem. The bezel-set emerald on a wide, two-toned band is a colorful alternative to the diamond engagement ring. Two-toned band in 18k white and yellow gold, with bezel-set emerald provided by client. Earrings include emerald and diamond baguettes set in 14k white gold. Our dome ring is customized to hold a cabochon-cut emerald. |
| CED NEWS |
| Claudia Endler Designs has a new phone number: 323.225.5924 |
| CED EVENTS |
| October 6th & 7th: The Brewery Artwalk, Downtown Los Angeles
Meet artists up close and personal at The Brewery semi-annual Artwalk. This live/work complex will be open to the public. Come see Claudia Endler Designs and our new showroom (and soon-to-be art gallery)! Our Grand Opening is scheduled for 2008. Map for our new location. |
| AUGUST’S FEATURE: GREEN AWARENESS IS PRECIOUS WHEN TALKING EMERALDS |
| Diamonds aren’t every girl’s best friend. Take Victoria “Posh Spice” Beckham, for example, whom lately is rarely photographed without sporting her gumball-sized, princess-cut emerald cocktail ring. Being the trendsetter she is, the burgeoning popularity of jewelry incorporating colored stones is undeniable. This month, Claudia Endler Designs explores the unique story behind emeralds—a gemstone with a composition and classification all its own.The mining of emeralds is thought to have begun in 2,000 B.C. in the desert south of Cairo, Egypt, however, it was Cleopatra’s penchant for emeralds and all gems that perhaps led to emeralds being among the most coveted of them all. Egypt continued to supply the world with emeralds through the Middle Ages, until Spain went on to conquer the New World, and the Muzo Indians who occupied an emerald mine in Colombia. Today, the commercial emerald industry is dominated by Colombia, Brazil, and Zambia, with Brazil producing the highest volume and Colombia yielding the finest quality and setting the standards to which all others are compared. To this day, the Muzo mine in Colombia is the world’s premier emerald mine.
Flexible Character Emeralds are tops in the beryl family. Consisting of the mineral beryl, along with trace amounts of chromium (a steely gray, radiant, hard metal that gleams at a high melting point) and vanadium (a shimmery and malleable metal), emeralds commonly yield a high number of inclusions. Inclusions consist of any materials that become trapped inside a mineral during its formation. While inclusions affect the clarity of a gemstone, they are more acceptable with emeralds. Inclusions tend to be the norm with emeralds due to their brittleness, unlike with diamonds, which decrease steeply in value when included. Likewise, clarity enhancement of emeralds has been a widely accepted practice for hundreds of years, so long as the treatments administered fall under those approved by professional, registered gemologists. And unlike the flawless or nearly perfect diamond, an emerald with superior clarity, tone, saturation, and hue is so valuable that its price would go for much higher than that of a diamond of equal weight. It is important, however, to consider the type of use when choosing an emerald, as this particular stone is more vulnerable to damage, than say diamonds or sapphires, which are sturdy and more suitable for withstanding everyday wear. Acceptable treatments for enhancing the quality of an emerald include: Heating. Heating is the most common treatment, causing the color of the stone to lighten, darken, or change in some other fashion, improving clarity and brilliance. Oiling. Also quite common for emeralds, dipping them into a colorless oil, followed by a pressurizing procedure, fills fissures that reach the surface of the gem, making fractures invisible to the naked eye. It is best to avoid emeralds treated with colored oil, as this prohibits the ability to evaluate a gem’s true color. Green Screen It’s important to note that certificates for insuring emeralds are currently not of much use if a report vaguely touches on—or altogether leaves out—the most important criteria valuing colored natural stones, and that is color. For example, to describe an emerald as “green” on a certificate is pointless. According to the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), a stone’s color should be described using the following three criteria: Tone: Nine levels of tone, ranging from very, very light to very, very dark. Saturation: The intensity of the color, described as brownish, grayish, moderately strong, or vivid. Hue: How one would actually describe the color, such as blue-green oryellowish-green. If you’re gravitating towards green for that special piece you’re looking to purchase or to customize to your liking—go for it! Knowing the basics about emeralds, as discussed here, will get you on the right track towards finding the emerald for you or treating the one you already have to discover the beauty that lies within. Go green! Sources |
| FROM ONE OF OUR CLIENTS |
| “Thanks so much! The necklace is absolutely beautiful! It took me 12 years to decide what to do with this stone and I’m glad I waited—this is very special!” –Kathy C., manager |
| THE WAY OF CHIC |
| Success is personal. How do you define it? |
| STYLE RECOGNITION |
| If you’re eating organic foods to keep your “temple” in tip-top health, shouldn’t you do the same for your skin? Zbaya thinks so. New on the market of body care products, Zbaya of Santa Barbara presents luxurious, artisan-made, good-natured products using only the finest organic oils, butters, and botanicals that are not only good for the consumer, but for the environment as well. Sold in larger sizes to spas for professional use and to upscale boutiques in convenient travel sizes, the Zbaya line features both fluid and semi-solid massage butters that elevate the massage experience to a nourishing body treatment and aromatherapy session all at once. Accompanied by a wonderfully slimming, cellulite-treating serum, the exquisite bath-and-body oil is also ideal as a facial moisturizer and for post-waxing relief. Whether it’s stress-relieving simmering salts, naturally gentle body mists, or silky lip butters, the line is available in a variety of soothing aromas derived from steam-distillated, whole-plant materials for the ultimate in aromatherapy. Zbaya does not test on animals. Feed your skin with a certified organic blend of ultra-antioxidant teas and flowers, protective vitamins, and hydrating skin smoothers by visiting zbaya.com. |
| CED CLIENT REFERRAL PROGRAM |
| Claudia Endler Designs is proud to offer a new program for our clients. Send us a client and you will receive special rewards from Claudia Endler Designs. Hmmm… I wonder what it could be. |
| THE CED WISH LIST |
| Is there someone we should contact who can help us to grant your jewelry wish? What – Who – Where – When? Contact us atinfo@claudiaendlerdesigns.com with details. There are always lots of weddings during the summer. That means wedding presents and anniversary presents. Don’t forget! |
| NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE |
| All previous newsletters are available atwww.claudiaendlerdesigns.com/newsletter.html. |
| CONTACT |
| For more information visit: www.claudiaendlerdesigns.com
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