Elegant Survival

...of jewellery ("jewelry" in the U.S.) and watches. New information is continually being prepared on the subject, relevant to Elegant Survival's reinterpretation of luxury. 

How to Economise on Your Watch's Batteries

 While you are not wearing your battery-operated watch, pull out its stem. This stops the watch from running, thereby saving battery-power. 

Smart Jewellery Shopping

 When considering a jewellery purchase, keep in mind that small jewellers who custom-make an item for you will charge an exorbitant amount for their service, and may not offer an iron-clad guarantee. In fact, they may go out of business and disappear completely.  The same goes for pieces on display in their vitrines. The smart place to shop is a jewellery chain-store like ZALE'S in the U.S., who not only will sell you an affordable insurance policy on the stones and settings, but, because of their high volume of sales, can afford to offer beautiful jewels at low prices.

High Value for Your Money:  Impeccable Swiss Watches by  Tissot 

Tissot has been making fine watches in Switzerland since 1853. Not only do we own a couple of their well-priced watches, but my husband is a friend of Mr. Tissot. This Swiss company receives high accolades from watch fanciers worldwide.  www.tissot.ch

I think that the time has come to discourage people from buying trophy-watches like Rolex. The enormous amount of money paid for such shallow, trite status-symbols isn't representative of the comparative value, when you consider the excellent watches made in Switzerland (Tissot) and Japan (Seiko) for a fraction of the price.

 Copyright M-J de Mesterton, 2009

 M-J would like to suggest an reliable source of fine watches--here. 

Elegant Survival Presents a Seasonal Article by

The Elegant Gemologist, Anna Gallucci

Brilliant Kunzite Gems, Like Elegant Ladies, Must Avoid the Summer Sun 

The summer months are always fun and exciting, with activities that take place outside in the sun. The first thing that we ladies consider is our skin. It must be protected from sun rays at all cost, although we do not consider our jewelry to also be at risk. Those sun rays can create as much permanent damage to our jewelry as to our skin. One stone in particular to be very protective of is Kunzite.

Kunzite Necklace, Courtesy of the Smithsonian Institution 

The species to which this precious gem belongs is known as spodumene, consisting of stones that come in a variety of colors. Kunzite can range from a soft pink to lilac pink due to the trace element of manganese that it contains. Violet-pink is considered one of its most valuable variations. The Kunzite gemstone was discovered in Pala, California, in 1902, by a gemologist and buyer for Tiffany & Co., George F. Kunz, for whom it was named. 

Many things need to be considered when fashioning Kunzite into a piece of jewelry. It is rather fragile (6 ½-7 on the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness), and can chip or break easily. The gemstone is very difficult to facet because of its perfect cleavage characteristic. Jewelers must consider this at the design stage of a piece of jewelry made with Kunzite or any other soft, fragile stone. Whereas you, the consumer, must consider where and when the article of jewelry will be worn. Kunzite is considered an evening stone. If the gem is exposed to intense sun its color will fade. It would be very upsetting if, after enjoying a beautiful pink bauble all day in the sun, the lovely object of fond memory had now faded to a clear crystal color. Some gems must never be worn in daylight, hence the term “cocktail ring”. Jewelry made with Kunzite should be worn in the evening at dinner, where it can truly be appreciated. If fashioned into a ring, Kunzite's fire can be seen by your friends while dining in the evening; the color is soft and romantic, perfect for a candlelit dinner. The safest setting would be a necklace, where, unlike in a ring, Kunzite would not be bumped during manual activities. This beautiful, delicate jewel would rest most safely on your neck, and if while wearing it you should be exposed to outdoor light, just drape a lovely scarf over yourself for protection.   

I was able to enjoy viewing a spectacular necklace offered at Neiman Marcus, consisting of over 40 carats of Kunzite gems in 18-karat white gold. I asked the gentleman who showed me the piece if he was aware of its delicacy: he simply made a general comment about fine jewelry. No, too simple an answer, by far! Jewelry made with Kunzite requires full disclosure. The necklace in question was priced at more than $35,000 and I am sure that its future owner would be appalled if, after wearing it while yachting in the sun, she discovered the next day that the gems in her necklace were now a comparatively sad shade of clear white. One cannot blindly trust salespeople these days. You must take the initiative and do some research before making substantial purchases. 

The proper cleaning method of a gem must be disclosed, as well. Kunzite is temperature-sensitive. Do not clean it at home using an ultrasonic device. Instead, have Kunzite professionally cleaned by a reputable jeweler. Boldly ask what method will be used to clean your piece, and insist that it be done by someone with knowledge of your particular gem stone. A jeweler should not just pop it into an ultrasonic high-tech cleaning unit. The temperature at which these machines are set for cleaning diamonds is much too high for Kunzite. The heat alone will craze and fracture the stone.

Kunzite is a beautiful gem that should be enjoyed with consideration and care. It is a rare stone that can be found in the United States in very large carat sizes. Just be aware of the gem’s characteristics, and its original, colorful fire can be experienced for many years.

 By Anna Gallucci 

Copyright August, 2009