Category Archives: Jewelry

Looking for the perfect present for your November birthday girl? Don’t forget to consider the beautiful birthstones for the month, topaz and citrine. Whether it’s a pendant necklace, custom ring, or a pair of earrings, giving the gift of the November birthstone is sure to please.

Topaz is a gemstone exhibiting an array of spectacular colors. The stone was believed to be symbolic of the Egyptian Sun God Ra, with its brilliant golden glow and fiery intensity. Owing to this quality of the topaz, it was fashioned into several amulets and talismans. The topaz is known for its associated qualities of strength, tenacity, dedication and resilience. The this November birthstone is believed to balance emotions and thoughts for a harmonious lifestyle. The gemstone is used to enhance spirituality, promote wisdom and cut through troubles and confusion to bestow clear thought and reasoning prowess on the wearer of the stone. The topaz was often used in the crowns and rings worn by rulers, diplomats, dignitaries and royalty.

Citrine is a quartz gemstone found in golden shades ranging from pale yellow to deep brownish orange. As one of the more affordable gems, citrine makes a good choice if you want a big, eye-popping ring or pendant. Citrine appears frequently in jewelry from the Art Deco era.  Citrine is also known as “healing quartz,” because legend has it that citrine promotes vitality and energy in whomever wears it.  And according to the Chinese feng shui philosophy, citrine creates wealth and abundance. Most citrine is faceted in traditional rounds and fancy shapes, but you’ll also find it fashioned into more unusual cuts and carving.

Both topaz and citrine gemstones make beautiful gifts for the Scorpio or Sagittarius signs in your life. Designing a custom jewelry piece using these birthstones creates the perfect one-of-a-kind present that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Peridot is the official August birthstone. Peridot is a beautiful green, semi-clear precious stone. It is believed to be a sign of protection from the ills of society. It is used as a sign of dignity as well. The fire-like appearance that comes with peridot is a big point that shows how this can work well.

Its history goes hundreds of years. The gem was first found nearly three thousand years ago near the St. John’s Island around Egypt. It was found by local cultures to be a gem that is capable of fighting off evil and could be especially effective when it is cast in a gold setting. Some people even ground peridot gems and used the powder that came from them to treat asthma. People in Egypt also drank from cups made with peridot because they believed that it would get them near the nature goddess Isis.

Today, this gem can be found in a number of spots. People can find peridot in Burma, Hawaii, Australia, Brazil and even a few small parts of the mainland United States like Arizona. People in Hawaii especially worshipped the peridot gemstone. People believed that it came from the tears of the volcano goddess Pele.

There are several impressive astrological points that come with the August birthstone. Peridot is famous for being a sign of loyalty and love to people. It involves devotion and faithfulness to people that one loves.  For any Leo or Virgo friends and family, the peridot would be a great gift.

The green color of this gemstone is particularly symbolic of nature. This includes the renewal of life and the ability of a person to feel refreshed and relaxed. It is one of the more interesting kinds of gemstones because it involves the beauty of the world. It is known for being a symbol of protection and durability. The beautiful green and yellow appearance of peridot makes it all the more impressive.

The birthstone for the month of July is the ruby.  The ruby has been the gemstone of passion since over many centuries. Discovered approximately 2,000 years ago, the ruby was called the King of Gems and was believed to be the stone that radiated warmth and luminosity from an internal flame. This was linked to love and passion, making the gem a perfect gift for lovers.

Rubies are the stones associated with royalty. It has been associated with nobility and virtue since the earliest times. Kings adorned rubies on the their crowns; rulers believed it enhanced their leadership skills and decision-making abilities. Ancients believed it to be more valuable and desirable than diamonds, leading to stories of Kubla Khan offering a city in exchange for a ruby and the Biblical quote about a virtuous woman being worth more than rubies. The belief has evolved through the ages, and today the stone is believed to aid wearers in making important life decisions. Similarly, the Hindu culture associates the ruby with power and protection. It was also believed to have curative properties and used to improve blood circulation. The gem is said to symbolize strength, vitality, confidence, and courage.

Ruby and sapphire are from the same gemstone family, corundum. The only difference is the color; the sapphire is blue, a green sapphire is an emerald, and the red sapphire is a ruby. The ruby is considered one of the four precious stones, along with the sapphire, emerald, and diamond.

Wearing the July birthstone ruby is said to promote a feeling of freedom from feelings of anxiety and doubtfulness. Many associate the ruby as being the most helpful to those in relationships whether personal or professional because it helps to lessen feelings of doubt and frustration.

There are many different benefits to rubies, and those who are interested in using gems to increase their energy and health are advised to consider using rubies to improve the quality of their life.

The ruby is the gemstone for those under the Zodiac signs of Cancer and Leo.

Made In America: Top 3 Reasons To Shop Local Jewelry Stores

With July 4th just around the corner, we remember our freedoms and those who have served our country. Starting a business is considered a cornerstone of the American Dream. In recent years, a shift has started that takes consumers away from large, impersonal “big box” retailers and toward people doing business in their very own cities and towns. These are local farmers, craftsmen, antique dealers, and other product and service providers, with items made locally.

When you support local business owners, you enjoy benefits you can’t get from shopping at national chains. Here are some of the reasons to support your local jewelers:

1. Improve the Local Economy. When you buy local, significantly more of that money stays in the community. Studies have found that for every $100 spent at a local small business, $68 remained in the city, compared to just $43 when spent at a chain retailer. Local jewelers often have incentives to support other local businesses, patronizing local establishments, or attending big community events. Master Jewelers proudly sponsors the Indianapolis Colts, Joy’s House, Fair Haven Foundation, and Dream Alive. All of these organizations are local to the Indianapolis community.
2. Get to Know the People Behind the Products. When you personally know the people behind the business, you will enjoy a connection you would not otherwise have at a big-box retailer. Along with the rest of the community, you celebrate when the local small business succeeds, and even mourn when it closes its doors. This personal investment isn’t quite as present when a chain business closes. When you walk into Master Jewelers, the entire team is on your side to find or create your perfect jewelry item!
3. Better Service. You know calling a 1-800 number for service is often difficult. Even when you speak to a customer service representative, that person is far removed from the decision-making process. When you shop local, the business owner is usually directly connected to every employee in the store. This leads to a personalized approach that often means any problem you have is taken seriously and that the owner gets to know his customers one-on-one. Master Jewelers takes pride that its owner, Michael Neylon, and his staff knows the jewelry industry inside and out and can offer you a very tailored jewelry-buying experience.

Buying at your local jeweler has benefits beyond mere convenience. When you support local business owners, you get a better level of service, as well as helping make your community a better place to live. This — in addition to the access to unique products that you usually can’t find with chain locations — make shopping a local small business an important part of experiencing the American Dream.

The month of June announces the beginning of summer, the end of the school year, and the start of vacations. June also marks another occasion is on the horizon:  The frantic scramble to find a Father’s Day gift that dad will actually appreciate.  This year, instead of buying dad a necktie or another item that is practical and boring, buy him a gift that will stand as a long-lasting token of affection. Custom designer jewelry is your perfect present.

Men’s jewelry is often understated and under-appreciated. Unique designer jewelry is a gift that represents strength and unwavering love. It’s not just women that like to receive jewelry. Consider how much your dad might enjoy receiving a unique ring or pair of cufflinks. Colored gemstone rings or cufflinks symbolize the strength and beauty of a father’s love. They are ideal gifts of love from sons, daughters, or spouses as the present can be tailored to the relationship of the giver. Men’s rings are the perfect gift for a spouse or significant other, but they can also be given by a child or a sibling. A basic metal band with a modest colored gemstone can be a great gift for a father or brother.

Rings for men are more intimate gifts, conveying an everlasting bond. Such a personal gift demonstrates a deep and powerful bond of love and appreciation. A colored gemstone ring shows the father in your life just how much he means. The ring represents both a small gesture and a grand emblem of love. From classic to contemporary styles, the options are endless.

A designer watch is another option for the man in your life. Whether the design is grandiose or more reserved, a watch is not only a practical gift, but also very stylish. Add a personalized touch with an engraving on the back. Nothing says “thank you” to your father like a timeless treasure.

Cufflinks are often overlooked as an option for men’s jewelry. They are so small that it’s easy to understand why that happens. However, cufflinks are a classic and essential jewelry piece that elevates the style of any man. By giving dad a stylish set of cufflinks you are showing him just how much you care, while also giving him a gift he is sure to remember for years to come.

The month of June has three birthstones, the pearl, alexandrite, and moonstone gems. Alexandrite is the most recently discovered among the three birthstones, while Pearl and Moonstone have been in use for centuries. The pearl is the only gem that is organic in nature, occurring in certain living mollusk shells and at times is considered to be as precious as diamonds, emeralds and rubies. Pearls signify faithfulness, friendship, and loyalty. Alexandrite is associated with good omens and good luck. Alexandrite is believed to strengthen the intuition and creativity of the wearer and creates a balance between the physical and spiritual world. Moonstone, the third June birthstone, signifies longevity and good health and is a talisman for safe travel.

Pearls formed on the inside of a mollusk shell are usually irregular in shape and have little commercial value. However, those formed within the tissue of the mollusk are either spherical or pear-shaped, and are highly sought out for jewelry. Pearls possess a uniquely delicate translucence and luster that place them among the most highly valued of gemstones. The color of the pearl depends very much on the species of mollusk that produced it, and its environment. White is perhaps the best-known and most common color. However, pearls also come in delicate shades of black, cream, gray, blue, yellow, lavender, green, and mauve.

Alexandrite possesses an enchanting chameleon-like personality. In daylight, it appears as a beautiful green, sometimes with a bluish cast or a brownish tint. However, under artificial lighting, the stone turns reddish-violet or violet. Alexandrite is a hard mineral, only surpassed in hardness by diamonds and corundum (sapphires and rubies). The unusual colors in alexandrite are attributed to the presence of chromium in the mineral. Alexandrite is an uncommon stone, and therefore very expensive. Sri Lanka is the main source of alexandrite today. The stone is named after Prince Alexander of Russia, who was to become Czar Alexander II in 1855. Discovered in 1839 on the prince’s birthday, alexandrite was found in an emerald mine in the Ural Mountains of Russia.

The shimmering moonstone occurs naturally in shades of peach, blue, green and champagne. Since very early times, the Moonstone has been thought to have a tangible connection to the magic of the moon — a path to wisdom and a channel for prophecy. The connection of humankind to the attributes of the moon is known to have been very strong.

These stunning June birthstones are also associated with the astrological sign of Cancer. These gemstones not only add an exotic touch to jewelry but also enhance the sense of well- being and stability of the wearer.