About Precious Metals is a jewelry store in Sudbury, MA. We build custom pieces that range from traditional to way out there. Check out our web store and gallery.
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With a rise in online shopping, it would be foolish for any jewelry store, or wholesaler to not get in on the chance to broaden their clientele. But buyer beware there is such thing as a bad seller or fraudulent wholesaler. One must stop and think about the consequences of buying online, especially if they ignore the obvious red flags and do not do their homework about who they are buying from. Here are a few tips to ensure you are purchasing safely and soundly:
- Stay away from eBay. The only guarantee you have with eBay is that your money is going safely from one account to another. There is no guarantee the product you are buying is real. Yes, there are such things as decent sellers, and the ratings system can help, but again there is no guarantee on returns or actual products, just a forced promise of honesty with no actual harsh repercussions if that promise is broken. Most eBay sellers don’t have phone lines listed for customer service. If you can’t speak to someone who can answer your questions, consider that a red flag and search for another vendor. While Store fronts on eBay can provide you with a bit more ease, always be cautious, and never be the first to purchase from them.
- Any vendor online has a shipping mechanism. It is important that by all means you understand the vendors shipping and return policy. No policy means no rules, which means you are probably not going get your money back if you don’t like the item. Know what the deal is, whether you’ll receive store credit, full refund, etc.
- Check the safety of the site. I go by the saying, “If there isn’t a lock, I’m on the wrong block”. This is in reference to the picture of the padlock at the bottom of your screen. Do not purchase from any site that does not have a padlock on the bottom of the screen when you checkout or purchase the item, ever. Stay away from those sites as they could be crawling with spyware, and terrible repercussions that sign you up for random sites and promos without your consent. It is also a good idea to simply Google the sites name along with the word, “safe to purchase” or “Safe to buy” or “Scam”.
The birthstone for July is the ruby. A ruby is the red gem of the mineral corundum.The only natural gems harder than a ruby is a diamond and a moissanite. A ruby has a hardness of 9 on the mohs scale. All natural rubies have imperfections in them, such as color impurities and inclusions of ruitle needles. Ruitle needles are of importance, as they distinguish a natural ruby from a synthetic one. A rarity, sometime ruitle needles will produce a six-legged star Ruby. A famous one in particular is a Sri Lankan stone, the Rosser Reeves Ruby, which is one of the worlds biggest and finest star rubies.
Rubies are supposed to cure headaches, inflammation, and can be used to predict the future. And now for the part of this blog we all have been waiting for, a pop culture ruby reference.
How can we forget the famous Ruby Slippers from the movie, The Wizard of Oz. Those sparkly heels could do wonders with just a few clicks. This timely classic movie taught us that there really is no place like home…. annnnnnd that there are timely coincidences when played with Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon”.
Precious Metals Ruby Pieces:
 Ruby Bypass Ring  Ruby and Diamond Earrings
Junes alternate birthstones.
June’s traditional birthstone is pearl (even though pearls are not a stones) but if you don’t like wearing pearls try out some of the alternative birthstones: Moonstone and Alexandrite.
Moonstone is a shimmering gemstone with a hardness of 6 on the Mohs scale. So wearers should be careful when handling it. Rainbow moonstone is known for its bluish shimmer, but is also available in peach, smokey white, and green. It is often referred to as the lover’s stone.
One might have a hard time finding the Alexandrite stone. This stone is rare due to its chemical composition which requires specific geological conditions. It is also a unique stone because of its natural ability to change color when around certain light sources. Its rarity, hardness of 8.5 on the Mohs scale, and ability to change color makes it a highly sought after stone.
Some June Stone Jewelry from Precious Metals
 Moonstone Cameo
 Black Pearl Studs  Silver sage fresh water pearls with rainbow moonstone  Moonstone Necklace
April showers bring May flowers. Along with flowers comes this month’s birthstone, the Emerald. With its rich grass green color, this birthstone looks great in the spring and summer on a piece and will make all your friends green with envy.
Folklore says the emeralds mystical powers promotes healing and love. Aside from its positive folklore we here at Precious Metals thought of the other ways emerald has been apart of our lives. By saying thought of, I mean we came up with a list of pop culture references involving an emerald.
Pop Culture References to Emerald:
1. The infamous Emerald city, the fictional capital city of Oz in the Wizard of Oz.
2. Emerald Nuts, how can we forget the always entertaining and quirky commercials, especially the ones featuring Robert Goulet.
3. The “Emerald Isle”, a nickname for Ireland.
4. “Emerald Dawn”, a DC comic series featuring the greenest Superhero from the Justice League, the Green Lantern.
5. “Emerald Cove”, a short lived television spinoff from the Mickey Mouse Club in 1993, (also the year when lil’ and innocent Justin and Britney were apart of the cast). The show/skit featured Kerri Russell and JC Chasez.
6. Actress Marlene Dietrich, known for wearing her own Emerald Jewelry in such movie roles as “Desire” and “Stage Fright”. Once, she unable to find her 37.41-carat cabochon emerald ring which she thought she had removed in the kitchen before baking a cake for a dinner party. The house was turned upside down but the ring couldn’t be found. It was at dessert when they found her lost ring, inside the cake.
7. Emerald Martini: 1 1/2 oz gin, 1/2 oz dry vermouth, 1/8 oz Green Chartreuse®, 1 twist lemon peel. In a shaker mix all ingredients with crushed ice, and pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with twist a lemon zest.
Now that we have filled you head with useless, but extremely fun Emerald Facts and history, lets get down to business. While an emerald has a hardness of 7.5 to 8 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, which measures resistance to scratching, they are very brittle and prone to breaking. If you are going to invest in emerald jewelry, look for earrings and necklaces rather than abuse prone rings. Most natural emeralds are treated, usually by soaking them in oil. The oil fills surface fissures and makes the stone look more uniform.
Never put your emeralds in an ultrasonic cleaner or use jewelry cleaner, as both can remove the oil and change the appearance of your stone. Clean your emeralds with lukewarm water and a soft toothbrush.
Synthetic emeralds have been available since 1964. They are the same chemical compound as a natural emerald, but have been created in a lab. They have fantastic color and are an affordable alternative to the natural stone.
It is the month of April-wow time is flying by, and summer is so close. Warm moon lit nights with the lingering aroma from the cooling grill of smoked BBQ, beach days with the salty crisp ocean breeze, mint chocolate chip ice cream…whoa! I think I’m getting a bit ahead of myself, sorry about that. As I was saying, it is the month of April, and the birthstone for this month is, drum roll….. Diamond!
Now there is nothing dull or boring about a diamond, but a natural color diamond has a little more pizzazz and is rarer. With vibrant hues from every colors in the rainbow, color diamonds are quite desirable. A natural color diamond gets its hue from the different traces of elements. For example, when traces of nitrogen are present it will turn the diamond a shade of yellow or orange. Traces of boron will be blue, hydrogen produces violet, and incredible pressure will create a pink hue. Though gemologist can create fancy color diamonds by manipulating them with irradiation and high heat, you will not find any of those on this page or at Precious Metals. Remember, always ask whether it is natural color diamond, as they legally have to tell you the truth. If they say it is, you might also want to ask to see the certificate of authenticity to double check. A tip, the blue color diamonds you see in jewelry stores are often irradiated, so beware of buying a stone that you think is natural but was really manipulated. Here are some natural color diamond pieces that we are currently offering for purchase at Precious Metals.
I would like to end this blog with a quote that differs from the famous and over used saying by Marilyn Monroe. “If God wanted us to bend over he’d put diamonds on the floor!” ~ Joan Rivers
 Natural Fancy Color Light Yellow Diamond Earrings  Natural Light Yellow Green Diamond and Pink Diamonds Earrings  Deep Brown Cognac Diamond With Yellow Diamonds Necklace  Natural Color Yellew Diamonds Branch Earrings
Corundum is a mineral formed from aluminum oxide and can come in a variety of colors when mixed with other minerals. If corundum is red and has a specific amount chromium oxide and a specific gravity of 4.0, it is the rarer corundum gem the ruby. Every other form of corundum is considered a sapphire, making it a sibling of the ruby, as it is made of the same mineral. The only difference is that a sapphire has hues and colors which are due the traces of iron, chromium, and titanium acting as coloring agents. Most people associate sapphires with the color of blue, but sapphires come in a whole rainbow of colors. The most popular colors of sapphires are yellow, pink, and blue.
Sapphires are the second hardest mineral. Since they come in so many colors, and are durable, sapphires are a great choice for rings and bracelets that take a lot of wear. Precious Metals is pleased to show you some dazzling sapphire pieces perfect for the spring, summer and all year round.
 14k White Gold Studs with Round Cut Sapphires  14k Yellow Gold Pendant with Orange/Red Sapphires  14k White Gold with Diamonds and Emerald Cut Pink Sapphires
Wearing Inspirations and Paying Homage to a New Level
Most of the custom pieces we make at Precious Metals are non-representational, and use classic elements such as filigree, beading, and traditional diamond settings. Every once in a while we are commission to do a piece that uses images and symbols that are close to the customers heart. Recently a customer asked us to design an intricate bumble bee ring.
This blog post is dedicated to representational designs that go above and beyond the typical and ordinary, and create the distinctive and extraordinary. Some of these pieces are whimsical, and some of these pieces are funny. No matter what their aim is, one must admit they are very clever. The themes of the jewelry pieces were inspired by nature, mythology, science, art, and more.
* Precious metals Will Not copy the designs of another artist. If you like the works below follow the links to the designers’ websites, where you may make purchases directly from the artist.
 This ring was based on a Japanese wood cut. Please note the original art work does not have a copywrite.  A swallow necklace by Julez Bryant that can be purchased at Precious Metals. The swallow bird symbolizes health, wealth, and loyalty.  An Au (thats gold, for those of you who dont know) element inspired ring. Perfect for a chemist, and much better than that boring old periodic table poster that we had to stare at in chemistry class. Available at the Itsnoname website.  I guess you might say I'm blinding you with science with all these scientific themed jewelry pieces. Check out the Made with Molecules site for these molecular structure themed pieces. Why settle for drinking red wine, when you can wear it?  This chalet might not fit any people in it, but it will sure get their attention. It would be a real estate agents dream to be able to flip a house with an easy swift motion of one hand. Check out more of Philippe Tournaire's architecture themed inspired rings.  Warning, pouring tea or coffee into this cup with saucer will result in third degree burns. Doesnt mean you cant sport this adorable ring by Kacchan on Etsy.
About 6,500 U.S. citizens get married a day, according to the jewelry information center. Finding wedding bands can be a tricky task. Remember, this ring is going to be on your finger, hopefully, for your entire life. Don’t settle for a ring you sort of like, or don’t mind wearing. Why not create the band that is ideal to your needs?
You be the designer! Choose your metals, styles, inscriptions, designs, settings, and more. Precious Metals can help you create the perfect wedding bands for you and your spouse. We can customize and recreate rings.
The safe, plain, boring wedding band is out. Say “I do” with chic and stylish bands. Some of the newer trends are stacking rings, colorful stones, vintage inspirations, and diamonds. Yep, mens bands are starting to be decked out with diamonds.
 Vintage Inspiration Double Band
 Crossed Band Sapphire Ring  Matched Wedding Band and Engagement Ring  Matched Dual wedding Bands
 Stacking Rings
Yellow or white?
This is a question that arises often when buying jewelry, especially an engagement ring. It really all comes down to personal preference. Most pick one color over the other, and while two-tone jewelry is fun, very people mix the colors. So if you plan on buying your significant other a piece of jewelry, be sure to note what which color and metal they like the best.
If you like yellow, you will be getting gold. In the U.S. Yellow gold typically comes in 10 karat, 14 karat, and 18 karat. . Pure gold is 24 karats. The other karats are alloys, part gold and part other metal (usually copper or nickel). The number in 10k, 14k, 18k, and 22k represents the parts out of 24 that are pure gold.
The purer the gold means the richer the yellow color. An 18 karat piece has a rich and luxurious yellow hue. Contrary to popular belief, 18k is not significantly softer than 14k. The two karats wear about the same way.
If you like to don a white piece there are several options. They are Silver, white gold, platinum, and palladium. Silver is the least expensive, and is one of the most popular metals for jewelry pieces. Silver is very soft, and sterling silver tarnishes easily (this means lots of up keep). Sterling silver is 92.5 % pure silver. Fine silver (pure silver) is 100% silver.
White gold comes is the same karats as yellow gold. The other metals (nickel and palladium) mixed with the gold are what gives it that white color. Because gold is so yellow, white gold is actually off-white, and is plated with rhodium to make its appearance a bright white. As the rhodium plating wears off the gold will appear yellow. Most rings need be re-plated at least once a year to maintain the brilliant hue. Precious metals can re-plate for $50.00, while you wait. Keep in mind the considerable up keep of white gold when purchasing your nest piece.
Platinum is the king of precious metals. It is the most expensive, and the most coveted. The high price is because most platinum is 95-98% pure platinum. This dense (heavy) metal does not tarnish like silver or wear away like gold. Settings in platinum can last twice as long as gold. The color of platinum (clean grey-white) does not change over time and is a fantastic choice for an engagement ring that will last a long time. Platinum is hypoallergenic and is a great for those with sensitive skin and fine taste.
Palladium is the newest kid on the white metal block. This Precious Metals favorite has all the benefits of platinum without the high price. Like platinum it is hypoallergenic and is mostly pure. Palladium is twelve times harder than platinum, but weighs less. This means you can make bigger pieces that keep their shine and resistance, and will not weigh your hand, neck, and wrist down. I can not express how incredibly affordable this metal is, with a price close to 14k gold. You may not have heard of it, but trust me, this divine metal is on the rise of popularity. You can expect to be seeing it in your jeweler’s case as consumers become more budget conscious.
 18K Yellow Gold Bracelet By Precious Metals  Sterling Silver Tie Dye Cuff By Precious Metals  14K White Gold Humming Bird Earrings By Precious Metals  Platinum Engagement Ring by Precious Metals  Palladium Ruby Earrings By Precious Metals
The month of April is almost here, which means so is wedding season. Precious Metals is pleased to inform Brides and Grooms that we not only create and customize wedding bands, but also offer a selection of stylish and chic bridesmaids gift.
Colors for weddings are typically based around Pantones Fashion Spring 2010 report. This spring the colors are warm, bold, and vivacious:
Turquoise
Amparo Blue
Violet
Aurora.
Fusion Coral
Tomato Purée
Pink Champagne
Dried Herb
Eucalyptus
Make your wedding the best it can be. Say NO, to giving your bridesmaids a typical tote. Say NO, to giving silly t-shirts that will only collect dust in their closets after your special day is done. Give them something that will look great with your wedding colors, and make them appreciate your special day even more. Something they can wear on and off your aisle.
We have a few pieces that will look great with these spring colors and for your wedding day. They can all be purchased at Precious Metals. We also create custom pieces for a reasonable price. Be sure to check the website for more details and descriptions.
 Party Ring  Gorgeous Pattern Tops with Green Saphire and Diamond  Peacock Fresh Water Pearls and Natural Zircon Beads  Fleur De Lis  "Electrum" Fresh Water Pearl Necklace with Leaf Clasp  Black Fresh Water Pearl Studs  Flat Oval Bracelet  Flower Earrings  Pink Precious Topaz Necklace  White and Grey Fresh Water Pearls with Rainbow Moonstone Necklace
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