A ROMANTIC NEW YEAR CELEBRATION

You found the woman of you life and you are planning to propose to her. If you will be celebrating New Year together then what better time to pop the question?!

Here are some show-stopping engagement rings from one of the great brands we carry at OKG. Gabriel&Co.

Victorian Halo
This victorian style halo engagement ring is  for a girly girl who loves roses and lace. It is masterfully hand crafted in 14kt white gold, featuring a 1.15ct princess cut center diamond and .43ct tw side diamonds.

The matching wedding band would compliment the ring beautifully, when the time comes.

Twisted Halo 

 If she is more into unusual and unique designs, this ring is an excellent choice! With its dreamy twists and curves, this feminine engagement ring contains 1.12ct total carat weight round brilliant cut diamond, set in 14kt white gold french pave setting. The wedding band also curves around the ring.

There are so many styles to choose from. These rings are great choices for girls who like vintage style.

Gatsby Halo

Rose gold is the hottest trend for bridal jewelry at the moment. This art-deco style engagement ring from Gabriel&Co. with a radiant cut center diamond and 2 baguettes can make most woman's heart skip a beat. It is skillfully hand-made in 14kt rose gold. 

Solitaire

This ring is for girls who have a more simple style in general. The kind of girl that dresses casual and like jogging and not so much interested in glam and vavavum! This ring is crafted in 14kt white gold with 1.09ct total carat of diamonds. It is very clean cut and elegant as well as sporty. It has a european feel. 

Starburst Pendant 

If you are not ready to ask "the" question, but you want to show her that she is very important to you, you can gift her this charming starburst pendant, which is perfect for the winter season and matches the sparkle of the New Year fireworks. 

This pendant is crafted on 14kt white gold with .25ct tw round brilliant cut, pave set diamonds.  

Starburst Earrings 

We also have the matching earrings. These earrings are phenomenal! They are almost like a hoop but it is open at the bottom. 

Come check our Gabriel&Co. collection at OKG JEWELRY Little Neck showroom! 

IS IT TIME TO UPDATE? 

Is it time to update your jewelry? Sometimes the answer to this question is "Absolutely yes!!" 

Let's see the reasons: 

You inherited some pieces of jewelry that is not necessarily bad looking but totally not your style. Some people even inherit loose stones from grandma or a great aunt. 

Or it may that ring you bought with you first salary in the 90's and it went out of fashion so badly that you can't stand looking at it. 

Wasn't this the hottest ring back in the day? 

Another situation might be that you have a beautiful diamond in a solitaire style setting and you want to make it more showy and extravagant. 

If that's the case we know just the designer for you! 

Gary Azatyan 

Gary is one of the co-owner's of OKG Jewelry and of course the exclusive designer of the company. He is a very skilled diamond setter specialized in Haute Couture art pieces. In his own word "Nothing is impossible when it comes to designing the perfect jewelry for my customers"  

A short while ago one of our long time customers brought in her 2 rings and a beautiful oval shape loose tanzanite. She had put these rings in her jewelry drawer and she had not put them on for a very long time. 

They sat down with Gary and looked at some different rings from our showcase. 

Gary particularly focused on rings that would match with the size and shape of her stones. Once she pointed out her favorite styles Gary starting making some sketches and offered her a few different alternatives. She picked 2 styles and the next step was removing the diamonds form her current rings. 

Re-designing process is a very complicated and several step operation where we first create simple sketches, 

then these drawings are turned into 3 Dimensional computerized CAD designs. 

Next step is to create a wax model and a casting which is the raw version of the jewelry setting. 

Sometimes the piece is casted in separate pieces and Gary sets the diamonds in each section, afterwards all the parts are soldered together. It is very much like a puzzle. 

Re-designing old jewelry can be a  very emotional process. 

Some people are very sentimental about modifying old jewelry since they feel like it taint the precious memories related to the object. However for this very reason many people prefer to put their jewelry in a safety deposit box or a drawer and never wear it. We feel like using the stones from the piece and incorporating them into a beautiful design you will enjoy a lifetime is a much better way to pay tribute to the memories. 

Through the years we have experienced that the customers who go in the re-designing route never regret the decision and feel wonderful to be connected to the piece with their added personal touch. This way it becomes their very own special creation combined with the sentimental gems from your loved one. 

Here is a photo of the finished rings ready to be savored for a lifetime. 

And after...

Do you have old, vintage jewelry that is hidden in the drawer and wants to come out in the daylight? We are just the right jewelers for you!! 

WHAT IS YOUR GEMSTONE? 

Let's look at some gemstones, shall we?

Every gemstone is a mineral that is made up of crystals which are in constant motion the emitting an energy signature. o wonder there was always this magical and symbolic connection that has existed between human beings and gems. 

Most gemstones are hard and the harder they are the more valuable they get, since they can be made into jewelry and they would not easily scratch and keep their shine. Having said that some gemstones are particularly valuable due to their soft structure, that allows the jeweler engrave certain patterns into them air even shape them like a sculpture. Like many aspects of our modern culture, fascination with gemstones and gemstone jewelry also started in Babylon (today's Irak), and became very popular in ancient Greece. Since then all the kings and queens adored them and wanted to wear these colorful minerals all the time. 

Gemstones are usually separated in to 2 categories. Precious and Semi-Precious. Diamond, Emerald, Sapphire, Ruby, Pearl and Opal is considered precious gemstones. 

Aquamarine, Peridot and Tanzanite is also considered precious in many regions of the world. 

On the other hand Amethyst, Citrine, Topaz, Garnet, Jade, Turquoise are usually considered as "semi-precious" 

Let's look at some of these stones:

Amethyst

Amethyst is a type of stone that is full of vibrant energy. It is great to wear amethyst jewelry, 

Oval Amethyst-Diamond Earrings, hand-crafted 14kt white gold, containing 2 Natural, Multi-faceted Amethyst 10.25ct tw, surrounded by .38ct tw round brilliant cut pave set diamonds with "huggie" style backs.

or even to use it in decoration. 

However, you should keep amethyst away from you when you are sleeping since it boost the energy levels of the body, you may not go in to a deep sleep if you have one of the decorative amethyst rocks in your bedroom. 

Amethyst is also believe to bring good luck and love to the person who is wearing it. 

Citrine

Citrine is a very delicious looking gemstone with it's beautiful orange color that resembles juicy Turkish delight (If you never tried Turkish delight, you definitely should!) Citrine contains traces of iron and that's where it's unique color comes from. It is called "success stone" since it is believed to bring success to the person who wears it. Citrine with it's sun-like properties relieves depression, draws away bad energy and stimulates circulatory system. 

Substantial Citrine and diamond ring, hand-crafted in 14kt two tone gold, centered by a 5.43ct tw cushion shape, checkerboard cut, multifaceted natural Citrine, surrounded by 28ct round brilliant cut .12ct tw pave set diamonds, created in a beautiful vintage cocktail ring style.

Caramel dark Chocolate Ring 
This ring is an eye candy! Hand-crafted in 14kt yellow gold with black rhodium overlay, it features a 10.9gr, checker board cut, multifaceted, natural citrine in the center, surrounded by .41ct tw prong set black diamonds in a halo style.  

Garnet

Rough Garnet 

With it's pungent red color garnet particularly represents sexuality. It is believed to increase fertility in women and help with hormonal imbalance. It is know as "the stone of health". Garnet was also used to relieve hemorrhages in the ancient times. This gemstone has been used since bronze age. Garnets are usually red however tsavorites which are vivid deep green also come from garnet family. 

The most interesting garnet was discovered in Madagascar which was blue. 

Jade

Jade is called the fidelity stone. They say the jade balances energy ad promotes peace and harmony. 

Turquoise

Turquoise takes its name from the country of Turkey with the turquoise colored seas surrounding this peninsula. The name originates from the word Turquie which refers to Turkey. This beautiful gemstone has anti negativity properties. It is believed to strengthen the body and prevent further injuries.

 

 Underwater Fantasy Ring with turquoise and white quartz

Turquoise is one of our favorite gemstones that we use in our jewelry. 

SAPPHIRE

Sapphire is the 3rd hardest mineral after diamond and moissanite in the Mohs scale. Sapphires are known as the "wisdom stone". Sapphires are believed to reduce mental tension and depression, as well as treating blood disorders.


Sapphires come in many different colors and varieties the most popular being the Ceylon Blue Sapphire

 Sapphire Diamond Studs

Hand crafted in 14kt white gold, these earrings contain 2 raound brilliant cut, natural royal blue sapphires 3.26ct tw, surrounded by 1.05ct tw round brilliant cut prong set diamonds. These earrings are timeless. 

 

 Other popular colors of sapphires are yellow, purple, orange (usually called padparadscha) and even green sapphires. Here is a beautiful bracelet made with these color sapphires:



Multicolor Sapphire Bracelet
Ladies multicolor sapphire and diamond bracelet, crafted in 14kt yellow gold, containing 9 oval brilliant cut 6.30ct tw green-purple-yellow-orange and cornflower blue sapphires, surrounded by 2.35ct total weight pave set  diamonds in a halo style.

 

Here is a close up!

 

Pink Sapphire Bracelet

Ladies pink sapphire and diamond bracelet, crafted in 14kt yellow gold, containing 9 oval brilliant cut 6.20ct tw pink sapphires, surrounded by 2.35ct total weight pave set diamonds in a halo style.

  

Here is a necklace also with pink sapphire however this time the sapphire is kept rough and it is sliced as a thin layer instead of a gem cut. 

Sliced Natural Pink Sapphire Diamond Necklace, 

crafted in 14kt rose gold, containing 58.50ct organic shaped, multi-faceted pink sapphire, surrounded by .34ct tw round diamonds around the center stone and on the 14kt rose gold cable chain, attached from the sides. 16" long with 2" extension loop. the Pendant is 1 6/8"  by 1 2/8"

SO WHAT'S NEW IN OUR JEWELRY WORKSHOP?

So this is one of the things Gary has been unto last week. A beautiful pair of opal earrings which he had initially created 4 months ago. However that first pair was bought immediately by one of our dear customers, before it even made it to the showcase! She loved it so much that right after Gary showed it to her, saying "look what I just finished" she tried it on and did not take it off. So that was that! 

 Since we did not get the chance to show these gorgeous earrings to anyone else, Gary decided to make another pair last week. 

What seemed to be a crazy and basic sketch, ended up as an amazing piece of Jewelry which is Haute Couture at its best! 

Gary first started with designing the general outlines of the earrings. The next step was to decide what kind of Gemstones he will be using. Since he wanted to make them high end and festive at the same time, what could be better than iridescent and colorful jelly opals, contrasted by subtlety of blush color pink opals with a touch of diamond sparkle in between. 

Once the actual cast ion was created, Gary first set the diamonds in pave style,

and the next step was gathering together the matching size and color opals for the casting 

As you can see in the picture, the earrings were created with omega backs and a foldable post so that even if you don't have pierced ears, you can easily wear them as clip ons. There is also no risk of loosing the backs, since they are a part of the earrings. 

This is right before polishing 

And here is the finished piece on the ear. 

It is an amazing piece! Very substantial and very comfortable on the ear. 

What a journey from a simple sketch to a work of art!