Ask an Expert
How to use a jewelry loupe
When you examine a piece of jewelry through a loupe, are you seeing everything there is to see? A seasoned expert offers tips for mastering this tricky but incredibly useful little gadget. »
Beware: That ruby may be a glass composite
If you're in the market for rubies, read this. There's an interloper among those red beauties - and it's been spotted at mainstream retailers, priced well above its true value. »
How to buy a jewelry loupe
Looking for the perfect loupe? Gem and jewelry expert Antoinette Matlins explains what to look for. »
What you need to know about jewelry hallmarks
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Buying antique or vintage jewelry means first figuring out what it is, where and when it was made, and by whom. That’s why the first thing an experienced buyer will do is hold a piece up to a loupe... »
How to photograph jewelry: Photoshop tips from the pros
For every hour they spend shooting a jewel, pro photographers spend another hour tweaking it on the computer. Welcome to the age of digital retouching. Good news: Photoshop isn't as tricky as it looks and the pros are sharing their secrets. »
How to buy ancient jewelry for $3000 or less
Fine antiquities in good condition are rare and that keeps prices high in this category overall. Ancient jewelry, however, is a notable exception. You can buy rings and earrings from Ancient Rome and Greece for the price of a David Yurman bracelet. »
How to insure your jewelry
If your jewelry is stolen, ordinary insurance will only cover so much. So I asked collector and jewelry/gem expert Antoinette Matlins what she recommends - and learned all kinds of useful things. »
How to photograph gems: tips from the pros
Last week, some of my favorite jewelry photographers shared their tips for how to shoot jewelry. Now let's look at one of the trickier aspects: photographing gemstones. »
How to photograph jewelry: tips from the pros
If you deal with jewelry, you probably tried to photograph it at some point - and came away with a new appreciation for those glossy images in magazines. How do the pros do it? Three top jewelry photographers share their secrets. »
What to call old jewelry: vintage or collectible?
In my first post on the shifting sands of estate jewelry terminology, experts set us straight on the terms estate, antique and vintage. Two well-known Manhattan jewelry dealers, Peter Schaffer and Janet Mavec, weigh in on the estate debate. Collectible jewelry. Here’s one that really drives jewelry dealers crazy. Schaffer participated in a symposium once with... »