JTV Blog

Happy New Year from JTV

Well 2013 is almost here and you know what that means... Time for new year's resolutions. Why not make it a resolution to learn more about the beautiful tanzanite gemstone and collect some of these gifts of nature.

Tanzanite is a relatively new gemstone in the world of gemology and jewelry, and though its history is brief, it is no less illustrious than many ancient gems. Since its discovery, tanzanite has sold for as little as $20 per carat and as much as $1,000 per carat or more, for gem-quality, finely colored stones. That price may seem like a bargain in a few years, as tanzanite is a single-source gemstone and that source is expected to be mined out within the next 20 to 30 years based on the latest mining information.

There are many interesting facts about tanzanite. The four key factors are:

1. Tanzanite is a young gemstone in comparison to others in the market.
2. Tanzanite is found and mined in only one location.
3. Tanzanian government mismanaged the mines in early years, stunting growth.
4. Advanced and ‘westernized’ mining operations have changed the tanzanite business.

 

 

JTV offers a wide variety of tanzanite gemstones and jewelry.

Visit JTV.com to learn more about tanzanite.

Jewelry Feature: Marilyn Monroe Pearls

JTV's Marilyn Monroe jewelry collection is one of my all time favorites. While looking through the collection I saw this set of pearls and knew that I couldn't live without it. Shop the pearl necklace, pearl bracelet and pearl ring at JTV.com!

JTV's Exotic Gemstone Expert Larry Pereg: Kunzite

JTV's exotic gemstone expert Larry Pereg is joining us again to tell us a little bit about the gemstone kunzite.

How lucky we are to have the opportunity to own such a unique and beautiful gemstone. I first saw kunzite in 1996, and was immediately impressed by the beautiful and unusual soft lavender pink color. It is extremely exciting to be a part of an industry at a time when the world of gemstones has opened up in such an unprecedented way. It is important to consider the limited sources for stones like kunzite. It was discovered originally in Pala, San Diego California, only 50 feet away from where a significant tourmaline deposit was found. Eventually the deposit that changed the world, as far as Kunzite being really available to the public, was discovered in the gem rich state of Minas Gerais in Brazil. But as these gems become recognized as collectible, and the demand goes through the roof, the supply dwindles, and dwindles quickly. The deposit in Brazil hasn't yielded any kunzite in years.....so where do we go? Who knows, finding gems is not a science, it is a culture and tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Would you believe that the other place where significant quantities of kunzite have been discovered is Afghanistan? Besides the fact that we all know this is a war torn country, the specific area where the kunzite is being mined is very hostile geographically. It's the Hindu Kush region, which is in the north part of the country, Northeast of Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. The towering mountains there reach up to 19,500 feet, separated by narrow steep river valleys. The road network is limited and many of these mines are inaccessible except by foot.

 

Yet , the amazing part of this story is the fact that you can tune into JTV, or go on to JTV.com and have the most beautiful specimens of this extremely beautiful stone delivered to your door...That is for now. Enjoy your kunzite and your family will for generations to come.

Merry Christmas from Jewelry Television

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your Jewelry Television family!

It is my pleasure on behalf of the Jewelry Television family to send our holiday greetings to you!

Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in us. You, our customers, mean the world to us and it remains our mission to open the fascinating world of jewelry and gemstones to you! We learn from you and are blessed to consider our customers part of the JTV family. It is our pleasure to serve you, and we look forward to many more opportunities in 2013.

In 2012 we enjoyed the opportunity to interact with many of you personally. You may have attended the 3^rd annual Jewel School Workshop and learned new jewelry-making skills. Or, you may have met many of your fellow gemstone collectors at our first ever Gem Lovers’ Conference.  Perhaps you contributed to the Beads of Courage charity program we have promoted for sick children. Or, maybe in passing through Knoxville, Tennessee you might have had the opportunity to take a personal tour of our production studios.

If you haven’t had a chance to visit us in 2012, we hope you can in 2013. We love to give tours of our facilities and show you what we’re doing. Alternatively, please feel free to offer a testimony during a live show and talk to our show hosts. We love sharing your experiences with JTV products! 

We have a fabulous group of employees dedicated to providing great service to you. Thank you for your generous words of praise for our Customer Care team and the many cards and letters we receive. We love to hear from you and our mission is to serve you better. 

Look for more great news from Jewelry Television in 2013, as we introduce new products and services.

From all of us at JTV, we wish the best for you during this holiday season and hope that your 2013 is a healthy, happy and prosperous new year!

 

Tim Matthews

President & CEO

Jewelry Television

2013's Color of the Year: Emerald Green

Emerald Green has been named the color of the year for 2013 by the color corporation, Pantone. Pantone is known for polling and pulling the top colors from designers and brands from their upcoming collections and 2013's color is Emerald.  You will be seeing lots of emerlad green in 2013 from emerald jewelry to emerald clothing and even emerald home accents such as bedding.  

Here at JTV we couldn't be more happy with Pantone's color of the year since we, in fact, sell Emeralds! We recently introduced Eternity Natural Emeralds and Eternity Natural Emerald jewelry into our collections at JTV and absolutely love our grassy green gemstones. If you're looking to make your purchase of the year we can't think of a better thing to buy than a beautiful emerald. It will forever remind you of 2013 and will be a fun piece of jewelry to pass on to your children or grandchildren one day.  You will have the gemstone of year in the color of the year!

Shop Emerald Jewelry and Shop Emerald Gemstones at JTV.com! 

Jewelry Feature: Gold Links

Chunky gold jewelry is my favorite kind of jewelry to wear! I love making a statement with my jewelry and lots of gold links is a great way to do so.  Shop the gold and green bangle, the gold link necklace, the gold and heart link bracelet and the small gold link bracelet all on JTV.com! 

This is a fun, casual Christmas look that would be perfect to wear to a family holiday gathering. The Christmas colors in my bracelets still keep me in the holiday spirit without losing my personal taste and personal style.  What kind of jewelry are you wearing for the holidays? 

-Katie 

Jewel School Weekly with Dale "Cougar" Armstrong

Jewel School Schedule

December Jewel School Hours: Please note that the times listed below are EST.

Sunday 10am - 1:00pm

Monday 10am - Noon

Wednesday 10am - Noon 

If you live in the Knoxville area, it's not too late to stop by Jewelry Television's Gemstore to take advantage of some wonderful deals on beautiful finished jewelry! (Located at 9933 Kingston Pike in Knoxville, TN 37922, follow this link for Driving Directions.) I stopped by the other day and observed as every single customer who came through the door was treated as a very special guest by the very friendly and professional staff. (Right to left) Nellie Freeman and Macon Rowan helped me with my purchase.

December 23 & 24 Sunday & Monday-- and December 26/Wednesday-- as all of our Guest Artists are enjoying the holidays with their families (we hope you are too!) we will not have any special appearances for these 3 Jewel School shows; however I do encourage you to take a break from the hectic festivities going on around you, make a nice cup of tea or spiced cider and relax for a while with Jewel School and Kim! Merry Christmas to all of our amazing Guest Artists!! 

December 25-- Merry Christmas to you and yours! Tune in to JTV while you are cooking or when everyone is taking a "turkey nap" :)  We will have a wonderful loop of programming all day, featuring ALL of our marvelous Jewelry Television Hosts, wishing you Happy Holidays with special video clips we have been busy recording (so our entire staff can enjoy the holiday with their friends and family).

December 30/ Sunday-- It's time for "Out with the Old and In with the NEW"!! Join Kim and yours truly, Dale "Cougar" Armstrong, for "Dale & Kim's Deals Show"!! This will be a fast & furious 3-hour show, FILLED with very special close-out deals on many products from Beadalon, Euro Tool, Jewel School exclusives, beading kits and surprises! You'll be able to pick up all types of jewelry making supplies including tools, bead strands, components, kits, and so much more!! (Definitely a "can't miss" show!) Did I mention it's going to be Fun, Fast & Furious?!

December 31-- Happy NEW Year! Our Jewel School Host "might" have a few things left from our "Deals Show" (but I wouldn't count on it) as well as some surprises to help you bring in a New Year of Jewelry Making Fun!!

"Cougarism"-- (sorry, but my article on the "Fair Use Policy" will have to wait until after the holidays, because I am as crazy right now as most of you probably are!)

In the meantime, I would like to share a really wonderful idea that I found while delivering a custom order to Ms Hale,  a very special customer of mine. First, I'd like to tell you a little about Ms Hale, she is currently in her late 90's and is what I would call a "Southern Gentle-lady", with a lovely southern lilt and years of amazing stories to share! During our visit, I noticed her "jewelry tree" and asked permission to take a photo and to share it with all of you.

Ms Hale explained that over the many years that she traveled the world with her corporate husband and his career, she was often gifted with costume jewelry (mainly broaches, earrings and pearls) and ended up with so much that she felt she simply "had" to display it somehow; thus she made this lovely holiday plaque.

Each piece of jewelry was removed from its backing (earring clips, pins) and was then hand stitched to a heavy, forest green felt backing, which was then mounted on a piece of wood. Making this piece even more special, Ms Hale has written the name of each person who gave her the piece, that corresponds on the front. (Personally, I think this is a Very cool idea!)

I'll post again, Next Year!!   Happy "twisted" Holidays!

Dale/Cgr

Learning Library: Assembled Gems

What is an assembled gem and what is it used for?

Well an assembled gems, also known as composite stones are gemstones that are constructed out of two or more materials. They include doublets and triplets, mabe pearls, inlays, and reconstructed gem materials.

There are many reasons why such pieces are made, some of the most common are:

• Protects or makes wearable small or delicate gem materials.
• Provides an inexpensive simulant for a solid natural gem.
• Enhances or adds desirable features to a natural or man-made gem material.
• Creates an entirely new category of gem product.

   

A doublet or triplet is known when two or three pieces are cemented together.

Mabe pearls are a type of assembled cultured pearls. They form as a blister on the inside of a pearl mollusk shell. They are then cut away, the hollow area is filled and then a plain mother pearl backing is applied to the bottom.

Inlays is when thin pieces of gem materials such as opal or shell are set into recesses within metal.

Reconstructed gem materials are those that are composed of smaller pieces of natural gem materials that are bonded together. 

Assembled gems have become more and more popular throughout the last few years. They have brought increased variety, beauty, and practicality to the gem marketplace.

Click here to learn more about assembled stones at JTV.com.

Holiday Countdown and Free Shipping Day

We're officially 8 days from Christmas and today is the last day to place your online orders for standard shipping!  Today is also national free shipping day so all you last minute Christmas shoppers can finish up your shopping and not have to worry about shipping costs.

Still not sure what to get your loved ones for Christmas?  We're here to help! In addition to our well known jewelry we also have a great variety of other gifts to browse through.  Be sure to check out our gift shops for gifts for kids, watches or cuff links for him or maybe a picture frame or key chain for that person you have no idea what to get.  

A Turtle Piggy Bank would be so cute for the kids! 

Gold Cuff Links For Him

A Classic "Wear Anywhere" Watch is Also Great for Him!

A Key Chain for the Dog Lovers in Your Life 

(we have all different breeds!)

And a Picture Frame for Those Who you Really Just Don't Know What to Get!

**Note: Grandparents will ALWAYS Love Picture Frames! 

Don't forget, TODAY is the last day for free standard shipping for a guaranteed Christmas day arrival! Get to shopping! 

 

JTV's Exotic Gemstone Expert Larry Pereg: Spessartite

We first introduced Larry Pereg, JTV's exotic gemstone expert back in September for a special feature on sapphire. This past week we had the chance to meet with Larry and talk with him about his personal experiences with gemstones. He shared some extrordinary stories that we thought you, the JTV customers would really enjoy.

Larry Pereg: Spessartite

Being challenged to find brilliant orange gemstones is a day I will not soon forget. Remember, 20 years ago we had amethyst, garnet, peridot, citrine, and just the introduction of topaz. As the popularity and appreciation for gemstones grew the interest in having a large range of color also grew. In 1992 a deposit of an orange garnet called spessartite was discovered and the celebration began. Statistically orange is the color that attracts attention more than any other. In our society orange is used for warning signs like the cones in the road where there's construction or roadwork. Also on the mystical front Buddhist monks robes are orange. When you think about it, orange is a very significant color. To wear one of these magnificent spessartite is to know that every eye in the room will be uncontrollably drawn to it, and that very few if anyone in that room owns one. Spessartite orange is deep and rich, and as it is a member of the garnet family with a 7.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, you can wear it with the confidence that you would with the most durable gemstone.

-Larry Pereg